Wiccan/Pagan....Difference?

[SweetLover661]

I have a question I've been wondering for a while ... What is the difference between being Wiccan or a Pagan. What exactly is the difference???

I know my Mother is Wiccan, but seems to be very secretive about it. I've always been interested, and I know the basics but I need to learn more in depth. I would ask her, but like I said ... she's very secretive about it. So hopefully someone could help me out here.

[Earthcup]

Pagan is a broad term for non-Abrahamic religons of which Wicca is only one example.

The basic difference is that being Pagan can mean you follow any number of different polytheistic or even monotheistic religons, while being Wiccan means you follow a specific religon called Wicca.

Other religons that might fall under the Paganism heading are Hinduism, Religio Romana, Hellenismos, Egyptian Traditionalists, Celtic Traditionalists, Asatru, Santeria, Druidism, Voodoun and many others.

Hope this helps!:D

[Euphoria]

there is more about this in the thread below this one ... "arent we all wiccan"

[Myst]

Great explanation of Paganism. I remember there was a good thread on this awhile ago with tons of info - http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10657&highlight=Paganism

now what *is* Wicca..?

Wicca is one type of Paganism (as mentioned), and usually highlights a few principles and practices. This includes

celebration of the cycle of life (ie. seasons, sabbats, esbats)
somewhat ceremonial practice
highlight of balance and equality of men and women
work with polar deities
some moral/principle such as the Rede and Threefold Law


You can find a wealth of info here. You will find recommended books to read in our Books forum, and recommended links in Pagan Geek and the Links for Newbies thread stuck here. You can learn in our History forum, and learn herbcraft, spellcrafting, divination, and discuss politics, science, fertility, music, etc. here. The best place to ask questions is here in New Pagans.

Good threads to help you get started learning are Where to Start, and Help for New Pagans which are stuck to the top if this forum. You can also find the first two lessons of our "study group" stuck at the top.

We welcome any and all questions; we love helping out here.

Welcome!

[Covy]

Ok, that helped out a bit however, for me I still need a little bit of clarification. I can't get in touch with my teacher at the moment so I will ask you guys and gals here. I have Hawaiian dieties as my pantheon, I celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats, I follow the Three Fold law and Rede. Am I a Wiccan? I figured I was but then some of the posts on this board started to confuse me, lol. Thanks for any help.

[Karma Chameleon]

I have a question I've been wondering for a while ... What is the difference between being Wiccan or a Pagan. What exactly is the difference???

I know my Mother is Wiccan, but seems to be very secretive about it. I've always been interested, and I know the basics but I need to learn more in depth. I would ask her, but like I said ... she's very secretive about it. So hopefully someone could help me out here.


Well, simply put, Pagan is a umbrella term for a bunch of different earth based and/or indiginous type religions, whereas Wiccan reffers to those who practice Wicca, which is one of many Pagan religions.

On a side note: One of the reasons I stopped calling myself Pagan is because too many people just assumed I was Wiccan. ;)

[Karma Chameleon]

Ok, that helped out a bit however, for me I still need a little bit of clarification. I can't get in touch with my teacher at the moment so I will ask you guys and gals here. I have Hawaiian dieties as my pantheon, I celebrate the Sabbats and Esbats, I follow the Three Fold law and Rede. Am I a Wiccan? I figured I was but then some of the posts on this board started to confuse me, lol. Thanks for any help.


Well I would venture to say that you'd be...but I'm not all that familar with what makes one Wiccan or not.

[Covy]

I get it now, lol. Thanks for the help.

[StarCraftLia]

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html (http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html)


^ That website has awesome wicca information.

[wolf]

wiccan : pagan :: presbyterian : christian

[Lady Valkyrie]

http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html (http://wicca.timerift.net/ravenwolf.html)


^ That website has awesome wicca information.


It is also very anti-Christian Wiccan. I happen to be a Christian Wiccan and that website you listed has a very anti-Christian Wiccan essay. There are some articles on that website that are good and informative. However, I don't hold much faith in a website that is bigoted towards blended faiths. Especially when the Wiccan religion itself is a blended faith. Wicca is mostly based on English and Celtic Folk-lore, the Enochian system of John Dee, Thelema, the Golden Dawn, Stregheria, Tantric Yoga, the KJV Bible and even Kipling.

Sorry for kind of taking the thread a little off topic. But I guess I have "issues." :rotfl:

[wolf]

I think that the Wiccans who don't understand/accept the blended nature of their path are the ones with issue.

You're okay.*


*DISCLAIMER: with respect to this particular issue. I can't vouch for any others.