Who believes in Witchcraft?
85069
Those who believe in witchcraft fall into two basic categories, those who practice the Craft in a thaumaturgical and those who practice in a theurigical way.\n\nTheurigical practioners believe in invoking or evoking deity in order bring about events and/or worship deity.  These are Witches who have faith in the religious aspect of Witchcraft.\n\nThaumaturgical practitioners believe in a type of Craft that is based on correspondences.  These correspondences bring about events through the non-religious employment of magic.  You do not have to believe in deity to practice thaumaturgical witchcraft.  Many who practice this type of Craftwork do not call themselves witches per se.\n\nWitches and Witchcraft are terms that are commonly used and misused to cover a lot of applications of both religious and secular practices.  Without knowing what, exactly, you are defining witchcraft as, I cannot actually give an accurate answer to your question.\n\nAs far who believes in it, personally, I do not although I have seen it work and I know that [from a religious standpoint] it is as valid as any faith and is held dear by its believers.
1143533
voodoo? who do? you do?\n\nI really don't know much about voodoo. I don't want to say no because I still have hope that there is some magic in the world, but from what little I have heard it just does not seem realistic to me. I should become more informed
314379
Most all Pagans believe in it. Shinto, Wicca, Asatru, Animism, Egyptian Pantheonic Religion, Greek/Roman Pantheonic Religion, Maya, Incan, Aztec, Shamanism, and many other religions believe in it.
417197
Tradtional Witchcraft is coupled with ancient Pagan ways.  The original witches worshipped the God amd Goddess as equals who created the world through their unity.  \n\nWe believe that the Gods can be found in nature and its elements.  We use those elements to attune ourselves with Nature and the the Gods.  We then beseach the Gods for their power and do our magickal works.\n\nContrary to popular belief Wicca was not started in the 1950's, it was simply publicized at that time because the laws banning witchcraft had just been repealed.
14597
As a wiccan practioner we are taught that it is because we do not rely on the Gods or Godess to do things for us. We do it ourselves through magic. We ask for their help and strength but we do not rely on them for everything. Also it is viewed as the devils work because magic is involved and alot of times at night. If something went wrong in the community they could blame it on "witches" since they preformed magic.
988446
I don't know how many. I am a pagan. I follow a path that closely resembles Wicca.
298128
First, ignore the bible thumpers.  Here are some good sites to start with.  They have some of the basic info.  Need anything else just post a question and we will try to help you!  Also, a good book to start with is Bucklands Complete Book of Witchcraft.\n\nhttp://www.collegewicca.com/\nhttp://www.glasstemple.com/\nhttp://www.witchipedia.org/index.php?title=Main_Page\nhttp://www.wicca.com/\nhttp://www.betwixt.org/\nhttp://www.pagan-heart.co.uk/home.html\nhttp://www.bewitchingways.com/\nhttp://www.witchway.net/\nhttp://www.wiccan-refuge.com/main.html\nhttp://www.jackowitch.com/\nhttp://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm\nhttp://www.paganlibrary.com/reference/wiccan_information_network.php\nhttp://wiccanet.us/\nhttp://www.witchology.com/\nhttp://www.witchvox.com/\nhttp://www.witchs-brew.org/masterindex.html
67723
Yes, but some take offense at the word "Witches" because it has implications of bad. \nWicca is a branch of Paganism. Wiccans are sometimes reffered to as witches. It is a religion with Gods and Goddesses, and yes, magic. A lot of the rituals are based on nature, and most Wiccans don't belive in hurting people or cursing people, as that can have strong reprecussions.
821992
I investigate them. I believe in a wide range such things---spirits, ghosts, demons, elves, lephrachauns, faeries, pixies, dragons, sasquatches, aliens, non-organic beings, etc. I have investigated all of these thinsg and experienced them with my own senses. \nHowever, for many people it wishful thinking. For example many people come to find these creatures through a fantasy that they exist--because they want them to exist. Howver cultural pressures also play a part in it. Many people believe in god just because their parents did and everyone else they know does.
1002796
I believe God and Goddess exist.  I have had experiencs with them and they have helped me get through many difficult times.  I pray to them regularly and they have helped me learn so many things.\n\nSome Wiccans see some traditions as more true than others and many do not.  There is some dissagreement in the Wiccan community over faith as there is in many religions where there are multiple denomonations.  Personally, I believe that the majority of Wiccan traditions are valid.  I have not been exposed to all traditions so I cannot say that I believe all are.  Moreover, I believe that the majority of existing religions around the world are valid as long as they are positive and lead their practitioners to do possitive things.\n\nWicca isn't really about catering to one's own desires.  In fact, most Wiccans I know have a healthy background in charity work.  Wiccans feel a responsibility to take care of others as well as nature itself.  Wicca does help me learn about myself and really forces me to take a look at who I am and how my actions affect the world around me.\n\nBecause our religion has no central authority or text, it is malleable, however, there are still certain core beliefs that a Wiccan must adhere to such as a belief in divinity, belief in the rede, belief in the three-fold law or law of return, etc.  Individual practices may vary as one person's relationship with the divine is not the same as another's.\n\nVery few modern religions are able to be wholly discredited and Wicca is no exception.  Religion is about faith.  It can't be scientifically proven true or false, it's practitioners believe in it based on their own experiences.\n\nNot all Wiccans cast spells.  Although Wicca embraces the belief in witchcraft, the practice of it is not mandatory.  I believe the results behind spells comes from God and Goddess.  I believe God and Goddess are neutral.  They are everything and everything is a part of them.  There is good and evil as explained in human terms, but there is no absolute good or evil.  Because of this, I believe there is nothing evil behing the religion or the practices themselves.  However, as is all faiths, there are a few bad apples.  \n\nRituals help establish a connection with God and Goddess.  It is basically prayer with actions.  If prayer can bring about change by way of the divine, then I believe rituals can as well.  Also, not all rituals are meant to bring about change in the world around us.  Wiccans frequently perform rituals to help facillitate change within ourselves.  We also perform rituals as a means of celebrations for holidays, special events, etc.  They are also used as simply a way of giving thanks to the divine.\n\nI hope I have answered all of your questions to your satisfaction.  If there is still somethingyou would like to know, please feel free to ask me.  Have a wonderful day.
1129397
Yes there are witches and wizards,only these days they call them Wiccans.These are people who use a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics require that magical activities are limited to good purposes only.
611338
I'm Wiccan, Celtic Generational Tradition.  My family, on my mothers side, have practiced Wicca for hundreds of years with PROOF to back that up!  While most now days are Gardierian there are traditions that date back before that, in some cases hundreds of years.  To make a blanket statement that we can't is a fabrication. Most of those in a generational tradition do not advertise or promote or even, in some cases, come out and say they are Wiccan because of harassment and persecution.  Those things still go on today because of the small mindedness of religions and what some of them teach.  There are traditions in Europe who can prove they go further back than some religions.  While, no days, there are many posers or people who claim to be Wiccan to be 'different' a large chunk of us out there are neither.  We take our religion just as serious as those of other religions do.  It is a part of who we are not just something we do.
485942
The term Witchcraft has differant meanings in differant cultures and has different meanings at different times in history.It has both negative and positive connotations.In the neutral sense, witchcraft is sorcery, the magical manipluation of supernormal forces through the casting of spells and the conjuring or invoking of spirits.\n Since the 1950's, witchcraft has been revived as a  neo-pagan religion centered on the worshipof the goddess and sometimes her consort, the horned god and the practice of benevolent magic.It has nothing to do with the devil or christianity.\n Also during the 1950's, craft laws and ethics took shape. The Wiccan rede,"An' it harm none, do what ye will," stipulates that Witches may use their magical powers only for good, never to harm any living thing.\nThere are many types of Wicca, some are Neo-pagan ,Gardnerian,Alexandrian,Dianic,Celtic, Hereditary and traditional, Faery tradition, and last but not least Saex-Wica... I am sure there are many more and more being created everyday.\n\nAnd As for Satanism it too is not what it sounds like.\nSatanism is the first carnal religion in human history. It was created by Anton Szandor LaVey .It is a religion based on a man as he really is: A carnal being free from the fistion that is spirituality and one who champions total responsibility, pragmatism , and the here and now.\nSatanism has been referred to as an "unreligion" in the sense that it does not subscribe to the notion of an anthropomorphic deity and by extension, some being who must be worshiped, its most common misconception.\nA few things many should know about satanism are as follows\n\nThe Nine Satanic Statements  \n1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence! \n\n2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams! \n\n3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit! \n\n4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates! \n\n5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek! \n\n6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires! \n\n7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all! \n\n8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification! \n\n9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!\n\nand\n\nThe Nine Satanic Sins\n1. Stupidity—The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid. \n\n2. Pretentiousness—Empty posturing can be most irritating and isn’t applying the cardinal rules of Lesser Magic. On equal footing with stupidity for what keeps the money in circulation these days. Everyone’s made to feel like a big shot, whether they can come up with the goods or not. \n\n3. Solipsism—Can be very dangerous for Satanists. Projecting your reactions, responses and sensibilities onto someone who is probably far less attuned than you are. It is the mistake of expecting people to give you the same consideration, courtesy and respect that you naturally give them. They won’t. Instead, Satanists must strive to apply the dictum of “Do unto others as they do unto you.” It’s work for most of us and requires constant vigilance lest you slip into a comfortable illusion of everyone being like you. As has been said, certain utopias would be ideal in a n
210423
Wicca is a religion that is based on Nature and its elements.  Its polytheistic, that means they have many Gods and Goddesses.  Wiccans are both male and female.  They are practicioners of Wicca.  Not all Wiccans practice magick, but many do refer to themselves as Witches.
990978
Yes witchcraft really exists !\nHere are the different types of magic that I have heard of\n\nTheurgy~ uses the power of the divine \n\nNecromancy~ usually used to communicate with the dead\n\nThaumaturgy~ is ecstatic energy raising usually for healing\n\nLedgerdemain~ which is like slight of hand or more akin to stage magic but still utilzed by occultists to gain a certian effect (like muhammad putting birdseed in his ears so that it looked like the birds were whispering to him)\n\nSympathetic Magic~ where like effects like, voodoo dolls, poppets, other effegies such as drawings, pictures etc etc..it requires a personal effect for the person you wish to affect, for example blood, hair, swea,t fingernail clippings, belly button lint etc...\n\nRitual or ceremonial magic~ which requires alot of tools & pomp & ceremony \n\nDivination~ is a method for telling past present & future events\n\n sorcery~ which is a pragmatic magic that is more like a direct give & take...\n\nthose are all that i can think of off hand... Magic is not color coded, ( there is no black white pink grey red etc) magic is energy directed to achieve a goal or purpose...
3089
I've always believed in Magic, and thats not just because I'm a Magicican.\n\nEveryone sees magic differently because everyone thinks differently. Whats primary to an observer is actually secondary to the Magician. And whats primary to the Magician is actually secondary to the observer.\n\nI use to perform Magic for a living for Childrens Birthday parties,but got caught up in the financial side of it. It wasn't magic to me anymore, it was just a get rich quick scheme, and the magic was lost.\nI finally stopped myself, and quit doing it for money and now donate my magic shows to Childrens Hospitals.\n\nOnce the Magician stops believing, the audience stops believing as well. Now that I'm doing it for the right reasons, the Magic has been found.
1057856
go to wikipedia.com and type in Wicca.  It's a religion that some call witchcraft or paganism.