What are the differences between witchcraft and wicca?

[WillowPhoenix]

I have been doing some reading but it seems witchcraft and wicca are used interchangeably, so I am confused. Please help me understand

[Kaylee]

I'm headed to bed so this is just a quick, basic explanation.

Basically, the way I interpret it is that witchcraft is the practice and Wicca is the religion. They don't neccessarily go hand in hand but often do. You can practice witchcraft and not be Wiccan, just as you can be Wiccan and not neccessarily practice any witchcraft. Does that make sense?

[Nox_Mortus]

Wicca is a religion, witchcraft (by it's most common neo-pagan definition) is just the practice of folk magic, however a lot of lder Wiccans will use Wicca and Witchcraft interchangeably because it was taught by a lot of Wiccans that they where interchangeable (this goes all the way back to Gerald Gardner) and sometimes peple will still claim that they are.

Also Wicca has much more nudity.

[aluokaloo]

one is more religious specific (wicca) and one is not (witchcraft)

[aluokaloo]

Wicca is a religion, witchcraft (by it's most common neo-pagan definition) is just the practice of folk magic, however a lot of lder Wiccans will use Wicca and Witchcraft interchangeably because it was taught by a lot of Wiccans that they where interchangeable (this goes all the way back to Gerald Gardner) and sometimes peple will still claim that they are.

Also Wicca has much more nudity.

:hahugh: ah. i see

[WillowPhoenix]

That helps thank you all :thumbsup:

[Louisvillian]

I have been doing some reading but it seems witchcraft and wicca are used interchangeably, so I am confused. Please help me understand
Simple way to put it: it's the difference between the terms "Islam" and "Monotheism".
One is specific, the other is general.

Wicca is a particular religion and manner of practising witchcraft; witchcraft is itself far broader but includes Wicca within it. However, when Wicca was first around, there wasn't that much of a clear difference because Wicca had not yet developed strong conventions and traditional practices; so early books on Wicca used "Wicca" and "Witchcraft" interchangeably because at the time, they largely were.

EDIT: Or, hell, what Nox Mortus said. :D

[Tahlea]

I personally differentiate them as so:

- A Wiccan is a follower of the religion of Wicca, which was popularised in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. Wicca is a religion based around the worship of nature and the earth we live in, achieving balance and positive change in our lives, and involves the practise of Witchcraft. A Wiccan is always a Witch. The main difference is that a Wiccan will follow their beliefs and also practise ethically and responsibly.

- A Witch is a practitioner of Witchcraft, the artform originating thousands of years ago. Witchcraft itself is not a religion, but a practice. A Witch can be a Wiccan and embrace the beliefs and ethical views of a Wiccan, but some choose to practise soley as a Witch. Witches are not bound, unless they choose to be, to any specific ethical or moral doctrine (which is not to say they're immoral or lack belief; it's just a personal choice as to if they follow some sort of doctrine or not).

Remember, this is my personal opinion and is probably far from the universal view :P

[talamh]

Being somewhat old school (Is there such a thing as second-wave Wicca?) I have always held that Wicca is not so much a religion, with it's associations with dogma, hierarchy and the written word) but more of a spirituality. Coming from a strong but moderate Protestant Christian family background, I have always been attracted to the freedom and eclectisism of Wicca.

However, since some Wiccan groups have gone to a great deal of effort to get Wicca legally recognized as a reiigion in Canada (and members of those specific groups eligible for such benefits as the right to have a paid holiday on specific "religions" days of observance and celebration, perhaps the distinction has blurred to the point of disappearance.

However, I still understand Wicca not to be a religion as is usually recognized by western societies. Maybe I even like it that way. But as I said, I find that these days I, and many of my beliefs and practices, are viewed as "old school". But the good news is that in some circles I am also viewed as an elder.

But as to the topic, a Wiccan can self identify as a witch and a witch can self identify as a Wiccan. In my view the dividing line is not so much between witch and Wiccan as between pagan and people of the book. I truly can't see how Wiccans and witches can self identify as Christians, Jews or Muslims.... but perhaps that's because I grew up as a Christian and experienced a sense of liberation and home coming when I found my way to the Craft.

[TheLittleWitchy]

I personally differentiate them as so:

- A Wiccan is a follower of the religion of Wicca, which was popularised in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. Wicca is a religion based around the worship of nature and the earth we live in, achieving balance and positive change in our lives, and involves the practise of Witchcraft. A Wiccan is always a Witch. The main difference is that a Wiccan will follow their beliefs and also practise ethically and responsibly.

- A Witch is a practitioner of Witchcraft, the artform originating thousands of years ago. Witchcraft itself is not a religion, but a practice. A Witch can be a Wiccan and embrace the beliefs and ethical views of a Wiccan, but some choose to practise soley as a Witch. Witches are not bound, unless they choose to be, to any specific ethical or moral doctrine (which is not to say they're immoral or lack belief; it's just a personal choice as to if they follow some sort of doctrine or not).

Remember, this is my personal opinion and is probably far from the universal view :P

This is exactly how I feel 100%. :thumbsup:

[Lunacie]

I personally differentiate them as so:

- A Wiccan is a follower of the religion of Wicca, which was popularised in the 1950s by Gerald Gardner. Wicca is a religion based around the worship of nature and the earth we live in, achieving balance and positive change in our lives, and involves the practise of Witchcraft. A Wiccan is always a Witch. The main difference is that a Wiccan will follow their beliefs and also practise ethically and responsibly.

- A Witch is a practitioner of Witchcraft, the artform originating thousands of years ago. Witchcraft itself is not a religion, but a practice. A Witch can be a Wiccan and embrace the beliefs and ethical views of a Wiccan, but some choose to practise soley as a Witch. Witches are not bound, unless they choose to be, to any specific ethical or moral doctrine (which is not to say they're immoral or lack belief; it's just a personal choice as to if they follow some sort of doctrine or not).

Remember, this is my personal opinion and is probably far from the universal view :P

Would just like to clear up one little point. Wiccans do not worship nature, they worship a God and a Goddess. They do, however, try to attune themselves to the natural cycles of nature, and respect all of nature.

[~*Trinity Aura*~]

Then would witchcraft be viewed as something that's evil? It's a concept I don't quite understand

[Deerwoman]

No, witchcraft is a magical system practiced universally in almost every culture under the guise of many different names - it is more than just folk magic. Wicca is one type of witchcraft, there are hundreds of others; Brujeria, Stregha, Curanderia, Santeria, shamanism, the cunning art, sorcery, conjure, rootwork, sabbatic witchcraft, luciferian witchcraft, traditional witchcraft, Feri... Witchcraft and magic are neither good nor evil, as it is up to the practitioner to decide how s/he will use magic. Witchcraft can be mixed with religion, deities and pantheons -- or practiced as purely ceremonial with belief in self -- but always there are beliefs and faith in spirits, in magic, and in the will of the witch. Wicca is a small part of the whole much as Greek reconstructionism is a small part of Paganism.

[Louisvillian]

I have been doing some reading but it seems witchcraft and wicca are used interchangeably, so I am confused. Please help me understand
Witchcraft is a catch-all, often retroactive term for a wide variety of folk magic practices. Wicca is a particular religion that integrates folk magic practices (i.e., witchcraft) into it as a core concept.

EDIT: crap, I already replied to this earlier. With pretty much the same response. Oh, well.