I have a fairly simple question, that you will hopefully know the answer to…What is the difference between wicca and pagan? i keep hearing different explanations but everyone i ask are my piers and im hoping that because you are an expert, you’ll know a little more. thank you and blessed be,

ZANDi

Merry Meet Zandi!

Thank you for your question – and a very interesting one at that. You are quite right in saying that there is a difference between the term Pagan and the term Wicca. You are also quite correct to find an expert opinion to put the issue to rest.

I am going to keep the answer simple.

Strictly speaking Pagan means anybody who is not part of the three mainstream religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. In modern and general usage terms, Paganism is broadly applied to those who are following the Old Ways – even in its modern form. Now, the Old Ways comprised of many different religions in many different countries on each and every one of the continents (and inhabited islands).

Witchcraft or Wicca is one of the many religions that resort under the classification “Pagan”. Druids have a different religion to Witches, but are also Pagans. The same applies to the Shamans (Sangoma) in Africa. They too have a religion different from that of the Witches and that of the Druids, but are also classified as Pagans.

So, Paganism is a very, very broad category. Under Paganism, there are many religions vastly different from one another – in terms of what, who, how and where they worship.

Put simply, all Witches are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Witches! J I hope this clarifies the question for you, Zandi.

In Love and Light.

Blessed Be!