5 definitions by Brother Pigeon
Witchcraft is the practise of any Magickal Art from any religious or spiritual system, regardless of alignment or intent.
This can include the very diverse and even opposing forces of the religious doctrines of Wicca, Druidism, many sects of Hinduism, Sufism(a branch of Islam), Asatru, Satanism; Also included could be certain rites and practices of the Golden Dawn, Ordo Templi Orientis, Temple of Set, Freemasonry and the Roman Catholic Church (see Transmutation of the Holy Eucharist).
When the Roman Catholic Church was in control of Europe, simply being accused of Witchcraft was enough to have you summarily executed on the charge of Heresy. This Witch-Craze spilled over into Protestant territories in Europe and even into the United States for a brief period. In Europe, it was quite common for Roman Catholics to accuse Protestants of Witchcraft and for Protestants to do the same of Roman Catholics. Caught in the middle of all this what would seem today as "in-fighting" within Christianity were the Nature-Based or "Pagan" religions of Europe of which Wicca is a revivalist product.
Wicca has the best claim to the title "Witch" due to the etymology of the words, but it is not incorrect for practitioners of other Craft religions to identify themselves in the same.
Witchcraft can be both beneficial or detrimental, depending on the Magical Intent of the practitioner and because of this, Witchcraft in itself is seen today as "evil" by many religious groups; however, it should be noted that Witchcraft is merely a tool and has no more goodness or evilness as a car or a hammer -- it depends entirely upon what it is used for and the person weilding it.
This can include the very diverse and even opposing forces of the religious doctrines of Wicca, Druidism, many sects of Hinduism, Sufism(a branch of Islam), Asatru, Satanism; Also included could be certain rites and practices of the Golden Dawn, Ordo Templi Orientis, Temple of Set, Freemasonry and the Roman Catholic Church (see Transmutation of the Holy Eucharist).
When the Roman Catholic Church was in control of Europe, simply being accused of Witchcraft was enough to have you summarily executed on the charge of Heresy. This Witch-Craze spilled over into Protestant territories in Europe and even into the United States for a brief period. In Europe, it was quite common for Roman Catholics to accuse Protestants of Witchcraft and for Protestants to do the same of Roman Catholics. Caught in the middle of all this what would seem today as "in-fighting" within Christianity were the Nature-Based or "Pagan" religions of Europe of which Wicca is a revivalist product.
Wicca has the best claim to the title "Witch" due to the etymology of the words, but it is not incorrect for practitioners of other Craft religions to identify themselves in the same.
Witchcraft can be both beneficial or detrimental, depending on the Magical Intent of the practitioner and because of this, Witchcraft in itself is seen today as "evil" by many religious groups; however, it should be noted that Witchcraft is merely a tool and has no more goodness or evilness as a car or a hammer -- it depends entirely upon what it is used for and the person weilding it.
by Brother Pigeon May 26, 2004
1) Any person engaged in or practicing the varied Magickal Arts of Witchcraft.
2) A term commonly misused in a derogatory manner, referring back to the time of the Witch-Craze.
2) A term commonly misused in a derogatory manner, referring back to the time of the Witch-Craze.
1) "Scott Cunningham was a Wiccan Author and self-proclaimed Witch."
2) "That girl in class is such a witch for doing that thing that time with so-and-so!"
2) "That girl in class is such a witch for doing that thing that time with so-and-so!"
by Brother Pigeon May 26, 2004
by Brother Pigeon May 26, 2004
An historical period which has no specific start or end dates yet spanned just over two centuries, beginning in Continental Europe, spreading to the British Isles, and finally ending in the United States.
Due to Church-promoted mass hysteria and paranoia, the Witch-Craze was a time when simply being accused of Witchcraft could have you summarily executed without even having the benefit of a fair trial. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 4,000,000 people were slaughtered on the charges of witchcraft and heresy during this time, a European genocide almost as devastating as the Holocaust yet little remembered due to its socio-political rammafications.
It is because of the Witch-Craze and the hordes of maddness it ensued that the West adoped a separation of Church and State, known as Secularism with the intent of never letting any single religion commit genocide against another.
Also out of the Witch-Craze we find fraternal organizations such as Freemasonry establishing themselves with the intent of fostering inter-religious dialogue and the cooperation between religious groups so necessary for any functioning society.
The only path to avoiding another Witch-Craze or Holocaust is interreligious understanding and mutual tolerance of differing interpretations of what we mean when we think of "God."
Due to Church-promoted mass hysteria and paranoia, the Witch-Craze was a time when simply being accused of Witchcraft could have you summarily executed without even having the benefit of a fair trial. It is estimated that between 500,000 and 4,000,000 people were slaughtered on the charges of witchcraft and heresy during this time, a European genocide almost as devastating as the Holocaust yet little remembered due to its socio-political rammafications.
It is because of the Witch-Craze and the hordes of maddness it ensued that the West adoped a separation of Church and State, known as Secularism with the intent of never letting any single religion commit genocide against another.
Also out of the Witch-Craze we find fraternal organizations such as Freemasonry establishing themselves with the intent of fostering inter-religious dialogue and the cooperation between religious groups so necessary for any functioning society.
The only path to avoiding another Witch-Craze or Holocaust is interreligious understanding and mutual tolerance of differing interpretations of what we mean when we think of "God."
"History teaches us from the Witch-Craze that interreligious tensions are what leads to tragedies like the Holocaust"
by Brother Pigeon May 26, 2004
A Wiccan is a member of the Pagan-Revivalist religion known as Wicca. Can be a male or female practitioner or lay-follower, either solitarily (on their own) or members of a Coven (group). See Wicca for more details on the religion and its practices.
1) I didn't know that the Pentagram she was wearing meant she's a Wiccan
2) Wiccans are generally very nice people, if you're playing nice...
3) That Wiccan on TV is a sad portrayal of the Craft and does little to relieve interreligious tensions.
2) Wiccans are generally very nice people, if you're playing nice...
3) That Wiccan on TV is a sad portrayal of the Craft and does little to relieve interreligious tensions.
by Brother Pigeon May 26, 2004