Wicca, not the same as Witchcraft?

[The gypsy Queen]

On another website, someone was saying that the 2 are nit the same. And I was wondering what you all thought on this...

By reading what the discussed I can say that it's like "all communist are socialist, but not all socialist are communist"

What do you think?  

[Angel Bruja]

I read that the difference was that witchcraft was all about practicing magic and that Wicca, though magic is practiced, is mostly about spirituality. I think they are related, even with whatever the differences might be.  

[Dragoness Arleeana]

Wicca is a religion, witchcraft is a form of worship, they are completely different. You practice witchcraft if you are Wiccan, but practicing witchcraft does not MAKE you Wiccan. You can practice witchcraft and be a Satanist, a Neo-druid, or just someone who practices witchcraft without being part of ANY religion.

Like I said though, Wicca is a religion, where as witchcraft is just the creating of spells and is a form of worship.  

[LadySorcha]

In the framing of popular connotation, you can use the terms interchangably. However, as Arleena mentioned, at their core they are a religion and a religious practice. Actually, witchcraft doesn't even have to be a religious practice, it can be purely cultural or personal. For example, Voodoo or Santeria are not always classified as religions in their own right, but much like the language of the area from which they emanate, they are termed "creole", meaning the cultural result of two or more practices/faiths/cultures coming in contact. Certainly, some of their practices are witchcraft, but they are not exclusively religious in nature. In fact, more often than not, the rituals are pragmatic rather than esoteric.  

[WitchyBoy]

wicca is a religion and witchcraft is a system simple really  

[unicornangel33]

Wicca is a religion based on natural beliefs and healing by totally natural means. Witchcraft is when you call upon otherwordly elements to aid in magic and scorcery etc...  

[WitchyBoy]

unicornangel33

Wicca is a religion based on natural beliefs and healing by totally natural means. Witchcraft is when you call upon otherwordly elements to aid in magic and scorcery etc...

ive never heard that one whats your source on that?  

[Dragoness Arleeana]

WitchyBoy

unicornangel33

Wicca is a religion based on natural beliefs and healing by totally natural means. Witchcraft is when you call upon otherwordly elements to aid in magic and scorcery etc...

ive never heard that one whats your source on that?

Source? That's what it is! Using otherworldly sources as a magical means to get something done, that's EXACTLY what it is. Why ask her for a source?

Nice way of putting it by the way unicorn, i never thought to say it like that.  

[Madam Hare]

Wow that makes alot of sense.
I like how you guys put things into perspective.  

[tigerstriped_candy]

If you look up the language dirrivitive, you will find that they are one and the same...

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=10563 READ THIS  

[LadySorcha]

Dragoness Arleeana

WitchyBoy

unicornangel33

Wicca is a religion based on natural beliefs and healing by totally natural means. Witchcraft is when you call upon otherwordly elements to aid in magic and scorcery etc...

ive never heard that one whats your source on that?

Source? That's what it is! Using otherworldly sources as a magical means to get something done, that's EXACTLY what it is. Why ask her for a source?

Nice way of putting it by the way unicorn, i never thought to say it like that.

Asking for a source is a way of saying "Is this your opinion or is this a fact?" Magic is not fact. It cannot be, simply because it is supernatural and therefore can be interpreted by each individual a different way. However, in discussing theology, one may ask what religious source is the root of your knowledge, ie, a teacher or your own experience. Remember, it is our duty as children of the Craft to not only question our beliefs, but find foundations for them. And yes, this means asking for sources.  

[Dragoness Arleeana]

LadySorcha

Dragoness Arleeana

WitchyBoy

unicornangel33

Wicca is a religion based on natural beliefs and healing by totally natural means. Witchcraft is when you call upon otherwordly elements to aid in magic and scorcery etc...

ive never heard that one whats your source on that?

Source? That's what it is! Using otherworldly sources as a magical means to get something done, that's EXACTLY what it is. Why ask her for a source?

Nice way of putting it by the way unicorn, i never thought to say it like that.

Asking for a source is a way of saying "Is this your opinion or is this a fact?" Magic is not fact. It cannot be, simply because it is supernatural and therefore can be interpreted by each individual a different way. However, in discussing theology, one may ask what religious source is the root of your knowledge, ie, a teacher or your own experience. Remember, it is our duty as children of the Craft to not only question our beliefs, but find foundations for them. And yes, this means asking for sources.

We're not talking about magic itself though, that's a completely different subect, in which, yes, you WOULD want sources stated. But that's NOT what we're talking about. We're talking about the MEANING of the word, not the the source of the power of that which the word represents. That's why no source is really needed. Witchcraft IS the use of "magical" elements to make something happen, while Wicca is a religion. We're not talking about the source actually being magical, or mundane or anything like that, we just have it stated as magical so as to better word it to make it easier to understand. We're not actually talking about the source of magic.  

[Dragoness Arleeana]

tigerstriped_candy

If you look up the language dirrivitive, you will find that they are one and the same...

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usmo&c=words&id=10563 READ THIS

Just because two different words have evolved from the same one does NOT mean they are the same thing. In their basis, they are similar, yes, but in their entirty, they are completely different.

Wicca is a religious practice that USES magic, which is called witchcraft. Witchcraft IS that magic which is used. Wicca IS witchcraft, but witchcraft is not ALWAYS Wiccan. It's much like saying Wiccans are pagan, but not all pagans are Wiccan.

Wicca and witchcraft are NOT the same thing. Wicca USES witchcraft, but that doesn't MAKE it witchcraft.  

[WitchyBoy]

i just meant did you hear it or read it like that somewhere i just never saw it put to words like that  

[Dragoness Arleeana]

WitchyBoy

i just meant did you hear it or read it like that somewhere i just never saw it put to words like that

That's what I'm saying. That's not something that's reallg going to HAVE a source. How have you never heard witchcraft described as using outside forces to aid in magic and sorcery? That's just what it is, plain and simple, it's not an interpretation of it in any way. It's the most simple way to state it. It'd be like asking someone for their source if they said "Wicca is a nature based religion that practices witchcraft." How are you supposed to give a source to that?