What is the difference between Wicca and Pagan?

Answer 1

Paganism is an umbrella term for a variety of religious beliefs, including Shamanism, Asatru, Witchcraft, Stregha etc.. Wicca is one of those.

Pagans generally believe on the forces of nature and individual power and individual being a part of the collective life force of the 'Earth'.

Pagan religions are not organized hierarchal religions. The only hierarchal structure in pagan groups the leadership of the more experienced adepts to the newbies joining that group. Pagan religions are actively practiced by the followers and there is no distinction between followers and priests as such. There is no authoritative organism above all the groups of a pagan religion.

Though there are similarities between many pagan paths and traditions, each pagan religion has its own lore, roots, history and core beliefs that distinguish between them. Even among Wiccan covens (groups of practitioners) there are slight differences of their lore and techniques of practice

Answer 2

Pagan is the umbrella term. Wicca is one of a great many spiritual paths that fall into the category of Pagan.

Wiccan practice is entirely part of paganism, but paganism has many, many other forms of observance.

I explain it like this: Wicca is to Paganism, what Baptists are to Christianity.

(Just one of many, and not necessarily the first to come to it or the sub-group with the largest number of followers)

Note: Wicca/Wiccan is not the new politically correct term for Witch/Witchcraft.

Answer 3

Paganism, in its most simplest form, is an "umbrella term".

In its broadest sense, it is used to lump together any religion or philosophy of life that does not come from one of the 3 Abrahamic Faiths (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). This is a poor definition because it lumps together religions that have little to no similarities with one another under the same roof, such as Buddhism and Native American Spirituality. In a more logical usage, it is still an umbrella term, but one that generally references religions that are "earth based" and that are often polytheistic (meaning acknowledging and/or worshiping many gods and/or goddesses or spirits). With this definition there is still a lumping together of religions, but in this instance they have much more similarities with one another, such as the case with Wicca, Native American Spirituality, and Tribal and/or Aboriginal Faiths from Africa, South America, and Australia.

In the United States and Western European countries, the word Paganism has a slightly more refined meaning, and is used to represent the indigenous faiths of the people of Pre-Christian Europe whose practices and beliefs systems, which have only survived in bits and pieces, are adhered to by people in the modern age. These people who practice any number of these indigenous faiths or the modernized version of these indigenous faiths, are often known as "Neo-Pagans", where "neo" means new, or more generally just as "Pagans".

Neo Pagans, when referencing "Paganism" in general conversation are often speaking in relation to one of the religious practices or belief systems of Pre-Christian Europe or one of their modernized counterparts. .A common exception to this smaller definition would include beliefs and practices stemming from Egypt which is likely due to the popularity of its pantheon and practices for many westerners. Pagans in the English speaking world are quite welcoming and have no problems extending their definition to also include belief systems from other areas of the world, but will often qualify their statements by defining which form of "Paganism" to which they are speaking, such as the case with Afro-Carribbean traditions or other non European forms. Despite this welcoming attitude, many of these religions from other parts of the world would prefer to not be included under the header of "Paganism", but instead prefer to stand apart and recognize the validity and sovereignty of their own faith and its ability to 'stand alone'.

Wicca specifically, is a modern form or denomination of Paganism originating out of England. It is the most "main stream" of modern Pagan faiths. All Wiccans are Pagans, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Many will claim Wicca has ancient origins, but this is mostly untrue. It is a modernized form of English Witchcraft and folk belief and practice made popular through its introduction to the world by Dr. Gerald B Gardner. Through the years Wicca has evolved to include other practices and beliefs and even deities from different cultures throughout Europe and even the world. One core principal remains the same in all of them though, and that is the "rede" An it harm none, do what thou wilt", which means you may do what you wish so long as it harms no one. "No one" is often interpreted as meaning animals, nature, and yourself as well as other humans.

To explain Wicca vs Paganism in a manner that is more easily understood by someone who is not Pagan or Wiccan, I will compare them to Abrahamic Faith and Christianity. As was previously stated, Paganism is a word representing more than one type of belief system much in the same way saying Abrahamic Faith represents Christianity, Judaism, and Islam due to their similarities and origins. And just as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have similarities they are very much different in their own respects much in the same way the different faiths that fall under the Paganism heading are. Wicca in its most basic sense can be compared to Christianity in its most basic sense. From their initial concepts of belief came further more refined concepts of belief, practice, and interpretation. In Christianity, these are known as denominations such as Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic and so on. Wicca also has denominations but they are known as "traditions" such as Alexandrian, Georgian, Dianic, and so forth. Each tradition of Wicca will have many similarities but are distinct and individual much in the same way that Catholic and Baptist are similar but still very different.

Answer 4

Paganism is an umbrella term for non-major religions, and wicca falls under that term. Wicca is somewhat an umbrella term since their are many forms of it.