difference between Wicca and Witchcraft???

[Emerald Victorianna Rose]

I was wondering what the difference between Wicca and Witchcraft was.  I was reading on the reasons why Silver Ravenwolf wasnt liked was because she said that they were two different religions.... so if they are different, whats the difference??? sounds naive I know but I honestly want to know.

[danae]

Greatly simplified, Wicca is a religion, with specific beliefs and practices.  You cannot be both Jewish and Wiccan, Christian and Wiccan, etc.  

However, Witchcraft is the practice of magick.  You can be a Wiccan Witch, a Jewish Witch, a Christian Witch, an Aethist Witch....the list just goes on and on.  

Lark will no doubt zoom by with a more detailed explanation, plus she has the link to a great essay that compares the two.  I know that essay is on the main site somewhere, but I can never find anything when I'm looking for it!

[Emerald Victorianna Rose]

thank you for replying, that does make a lot of sense. So Wicca is less open to merging two religions(i couldnt think of a better way to write it, sorry) I think Wicca is more structured., but then again I am new to this so... I could be wrong. I think a strong structure is good, its more organized and clean.

[danae]

Well, kind of.  Wicca is a religion of its own.  It has specific beliefs.  If you do not subscribe to these beliefs, then you are not Wiccan.  There's not really any kind of 'merging' more than one religion going on.  

Wicca is fairly structured in it beliefs.  We believe in the duality of nature, as evidenced in the God and Goddess (or Cerridwen and Cernunnos, Hecate and Pan, whatever names they may take for you).  We believe in and adhere to specific writings, such as the Rede.  

Obviously, there's much more to it than this, but these are some examples to get you started.

[NachtSorcier]

As danae said, Wicca is a religion, witchcraft is magic.  That is not to say that witchcraft is more open to merging two religions, however.  The fact that witchcraft is not a religion, but a magical practice is what makes it possible to go alongside a religion.  I know it's a bad example, but take yoga for instance.  Yoga is not a religion, so a Christian can practice yoga, as can a Wiccan, Hindu, or Jew.

[Lark]

The answers you've received are correct.

Wicca is a specific religion with very specific beliefs and practices.  As a part of their spiritual practice, Wiccans also practice magic...so we are considered to be Witches as well as Wiccans.  Because it has its own religious beliefs it is difficult to blend Wicca with another religion.  It would be like someone trying to be both Hindu and Catholic..it just doesn't mix well.

Witchcraft is a magical system that has nothing to do with religious choices.  It is possible to practice Witchcraft while following the beliefs of any religion.  or no religion at all.  Some Witches chose to also be Pagan, but that is a personal choice and not tied to the practice of Witchcraft.  One could as easily be a Christian Witch, a Jewish Witch, or even an atheist Witch.

Here's an article that explains the differences more fully..
http://wicca.timerift.net/wiccans.html

-Lark-