The broadest defintion of the term pagan is.... any member of a Non-Judeo-Christian-Muslim religious group. This definition would enclude Hindu, Buddhist and other Eastern Religions, and the Western Pre-Christian Religions.
The historic origins of the word is latin, pagani which means "home dweller". The Roman use of the word was somewhat derogatory, and was use to describe simple country folk.
Pagan, in my oppinion, should be reserved for those religions that have be mostly unaltered over the years, such as Hindu and Buddhism. Neo-Pagan is better suited for the newer Western Religions, simply because we are, in a since, recreating long dead religions.
Wicca and the Wiccan religion has its start in the mid-1950's. It is baced in the folk-lore and traditions of the Celtic peoples of the British Isles. It is a poly-thesest religion, focusing on the duality of Nature and the Universe. Wiccans celebrate the God and Goddess in many ways. There are eight High Holy Days and 13 Holy Days in the year. The eight Sabbats celebrate the sowing and reaping of crops and the Solar Events (equnixes and solstices). The 13 Ebbats celebrate the turning of the Moon and are usualy held on the night the moon is fullest.
Wiccans are traditionaly called Witches.
The simple answer is no. Witches do not beleive in the Devil or in the Christian ideal of God.
Now the complicated answer. When the Church took over the Christian religion, and conversion became the main goal of the Church, things began to change. The Church began to deem all things not in line with its doctrine Evil. The Church needed an antaginist, to try to convert the pagans faster the Church deemed the pagan God evil, the anit-God. Since the pagan God was generaly shown with horns and sometimes shown with goat legs (Pan) the modern concept of the Devil was born.
Study, study, study. Being a witch isn't like Hollywood makes it out to be. It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort. Read everything you can get your hands on. Buckland, Gardner, Ravenwolf, Cantrell and the like. Surf the net. Find a group in your area and study with them. Being a witch is a lot more than wearing penticals and casting spells. First and formost being a witch is being a member of a religion.
I personaly recomend "The Complete Idiots Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft" for the beginer, this book can be found on-line and usualy costs no more than $17 (American). If you are in the Arizona area e-mail me at [email protected] for lessons and more information on becoming a witch.
