what is difference between witchcraft and satanism?
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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
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Witchcraft is exactly the same as prayer.  Wanting something and taking action (saying words or lighting a candle etc) to try to bring what you want into manifestation.  It's not quite so dramatic or magic as you see on tv.
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I am a Wiccan witch does that count? I am female. For all you ignorant people below we are not evil we are not satanists we do not sacrafice babies we are basiclly normal people.  Satan is a Christian construct.
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to start, being a "satanist" doesn't mean you're a stan worshipper. in fact, satanists don't believe in satan at all. they beleive that they are in charge of their own fate and destiny, and cannot be controlled by a "higher power". They are called satanists because their beliefs mimick Lucifer, the angel who disobeyed god and took charge of his own destiny, becoming satan. now, back to the question, although this is speculation (based on interviews, but, for all i know, it's just an act), the band Mayhem claim to be real satan workshippers, Marilyn Manson is not.
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FAQ's of Witchcraft \n\nWhat is Witchcraft? Who are these Witches anyway?\nA practitioner of a nature-based belief system or religion. Not all Witches follow the same belief system. Some practice what is called the "old religion" which has its roots in pagan pre-monotheistic folk ways and beliefs and usually follows the seasonal cycles. These belief systems or "traditions" of Witches are often based upon the particular culture from whence they originated. Many Witches believe in a polytheistic deity structure (usually based upon the local gods and goddesses of the area of origin), but some simply practice magick (sometimes spelled with a 'k' to differentiate it from stage magic). Witches may practice alone as 'solitaries" or in covens. There are also family groups or traditions which trace their practices and beliefs within the same close group throughout several generations.\n\nTraditional Wicca:\nA modern form of Witchcraft is called "Wicca." Traditional Wicca is based on the teachings of Gerald Gardner, is coven based and each coven can trace its lineage (line of teaching passed on by initiated Traditional priests and priestesses) back to Gardner himself. There are offshoots of Gardnerian Traditional Wicca such as Alexandrian Wicca, Georgian Wicca and many others. Traditional Wiccans are considered a 'mystery' religion, require initiation by the coven and have a "degree system" or different levels of rank based upon coven training and the readiness of the initiate to accept the duties and responsibilities of that degree. They have a core of inner knowledge-often called the "Book of Shadows"-which is known only to initiated Wiccans. Most Traditional Wiccans believe in the balance of male-female divinity. Traditional Wiccans are seldom solitary except for those 'Elders'-usually former priests and priestesses-who may have retired from active coven involvement.\n\nOther Forms of Wicca:\nA newer form of Wicca has developed since the 1970's which is looser in structure and practice than the Traditional Wicca. These practitioners may follow a mixture of various or "eclectic' pagan and/or non-pagan beliefs. Some have formed 'traditions' or covens of their own, with or without a degree system, and have written a "book of shadows" outlining their own belief system and coven structure. Many are solitary practitioners who practice their beliefs and formulate their rituals in their own way.\n\nPagans:\nSince the terms Witch and Wiccan are often mistakenly interchanged, many simply call themselves "pagans" or Neo-pagans" when talking with others who may not be familiar with the complexity of the different belief systems. But just as not all Christians are Lutheran or Catholic, so not all pagans are Witches or Wiccan. Neo-paganism is a term used most often to describe people who follow an earth-based belief system or religion. Druids and the Norse tradition of Asatru (who tend to prefer the term 'heathen") are considered to be pagan belief systems, but their adherents are neither Witches nor Wiccans. Neo-paganism should also not be confused with the "New Age" movement as pagans are almost exclusively involved in distinctive nature religions or earth-based practices while New Age spirituality draws from many sources and esoteric spiritual techniques.\n\nQ: Are you a good Witch or a bad Witch?\nA: When you ask if someone is a "good" Witch or a "bad" Witch, it is the same as asking someone if they are a "good" Presbyterian or a "bad" Presbyterian. Wiccans adhere to the Rede, "An it harm none, do as ye will." Witches, Druids and other pagan belief systems and religions have their own ethical standards. There are good and bad people in every society and in every religion. When a person breaks the laws of society or the tenets of their religion,
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To help Christianity spread a smear campaign began. Witchcraft, which is pagan, was made to look evil. They took various pagan beliefs and incorporated them into the bad parts of Christianity (such as satan having horns). Witchcraft being pagan, was seen to be against God and therefore in line with satan.\n\nyes i do know that not all witchcraft uses the powers of satan or demons and that most is good\n\nfrom some other answers i figured it would be good if i mentioned also that i am Catholic
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Satanism is a religious, semi-religious and/or philosophical movement whose adherents recognize Satan as an archetype, pre-cosmic force, or some aspect of human nature. Although named for Satan, a name associated with evil and temptation, Satanism is more commonly the name given to certain spiritual paths which emphasize the Left-Hand Path, as opposed to the much more common Right-Hand Path. Left-Handers believe in spiritual enrichment through their own work on themselves, and that ultimately they are answerable only to themselves, while Right-Handers believe in spiritual enrichment through the dissolution or submission of the self to (or into) something greater. Many Satanists do not in fact worship a deity called Satan, or necessarily any other deity, nor do they follow a principle of evil. This aspect of their beliefs is very commonly misunderstood.\nThis is very different to people who worship Satan, these are usually emotionally immature people, because obviously satan doesn't want to be worshipped by the creatures he despises.
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"Mainstream Satanism is more or less a philosophy than a religion. It is believing in being your own god of sorts, of going out and changing the world yourself rather than waiting for spiritual aid or instruction. "\n\nThis is exactly what humanity MUST do if it is to come out of the intellectual darkness of religion--however, I see no need to attach the label of "Satanism" to it (yet another non-existent deity), when "humanism" works just fine.  There is no invisible, all-powerful deity who will hear humanity's pathetic prayers and solve all our problems for us. If the world is to be improved, it will be improved through the efforts of HUMANS, not GODS.  \n\nWe have historical evidence for this. It is people, not God, who developed the medical profession to where it is today. In times past, people died of many diseases that we can now treat, cure, or at least curtail--influenza, polio, smallpox, cancer, heart attack, strokes, malaria, chicken pox, mumps, measles, etc.  God never cured or eliminated a single disease and never responded to a single prayer, but when HUMANS began developing cures, improving sanitation, and figuring out the causes of illnesses, then health began to improve for millions all over the world. This is just one example of the superiority of the intellectual mind over belief in an imaginary entity.
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Satanism and Devil worship are completely different.  What the Christian church calls Satanism is actually "Devil worship", which the church invented in the 16th century and which was used to justify the burning of witches.\n\nThose who call themselves Santanists do not believe in any notion of Satan as an actual living being.  Here is an excerpt from www.religioustolerance.org, which I recommend for understanding any religion:\n\nTheology of the Church of Satan:\n- People have created Gods in many forms; pick one that might be useful to you. \n- Heaven and Hell do not exist. \n- Satan is not closely related to the modern (post 1400 AD) concept of the Christian devil. Satanists view Satan as a pre-Christian life principle which represents the carnal, earthly, and mundane aspects of life. \n- Satan is not a being, a living entity; he is a force of nature. \n- Human life is held in sacred regard. Children in particular are not to be harmed. \n- "Satan...represents love, kindness and respect to those who deserve it." \n- Black Masses (parodies of the Roman Catholic religious service) are not normally performed by Satanists (except on rare occasions for their entertainment or publicity value). \n\nTo read the full explanation of Satanism see the source.
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Wicca/Paganism is one of the most peaceful religions out there.  They accept everyone and could care less about sutff like homosexulity.  It's an ancient religion, dating back far longer than christianity although the modern incarnation of it is still young.  They may not have started or fought wars but PLENTY has been done to them to persecute them.  The witch burnings are just one of them. To this day the fallacy of wiccans being satanists still persists and christianity and alot of other religions still label them as evil.  But unlike other religions wiccans tend to ignore it and go on as they have.
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I have to answer you question the way you asked it. Satanists killed more people for the purpose of their religion.Christians and those claiming to be, killed people for greed,selfishness and false freedom, not for their religion.
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As to religion, it is a belief system that is still being widely practiced. Spirituality is the pursuit of growing as a spiritual being regardless of method. \n\nMythology is a religious belief system that is no longer being practiced. Folklore comes from the belief in the existence of unnatural beings but are not worshipped as deities.
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Satin ! Satin! I dont worship Satin! I am a cotton girl!\n\n\n"I summon thee creature of cotton, GREAT & MIGHTY LORD ALGODON! Deliver us from weevil!"\n\nno! wiccans & satanists do not worship satan... satanist worship the self (levayan satanists) they do not commit crimes against children... some miscreant may clam that he is a satanist and commit violent acts... but 10to1 that idiot is not invovled in the oragnized relgion that is satanism... you should read "Satanic Panic" by Jeffery Victor... it will explain everything... especailly the fact that modern day witch hunts & "satanic scares" cause more harm than good in small communities!  get a grip!.... did it ever occur to you that GOD is too big to fit into any one religion, and that there are many many paths to the divine not just your narrow minded world view!
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i suggest getting the book called "Lucifer rising" it is all about mainly Satanism and how it had the effect ont he beginning of "Black Metal". very good book. has interviews with some black metal bands in it as well. Also has infoa nd articles on Anton Lavey, Aleister Crowley..etc..
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Witchcraft is a dellusion created by Satan for the purpose of Deception.  It is merely a false personage, in which the person gets an egotistical boost thinking that they are casting spells themselves when it is really Satan casting them.  Do not be decieved by this my good friend; beware...
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A Wiccan is a witch, and Wicca is the practice of witchcraft. A Wiccan is someone who follows a pagan faith that involves the celebration of nature, magical rites and rites of passage. It can involve spellcasting, the making of charms and so on, but at its most fundamental is often described as being made up of two elements - the Wiccan Rede, and the Law of Threefold Return.\n\nThe Wiccan Rede is a rule of behaviour that says "As long as it harms no-one, do what you will". This might sound simple enough, but to apply it in life is difficult and teaches the development of forethought - you can only do what you believe will harm no-one.\n\nAnd the Law of Threefold Return underlies this with a belief that "whatever you give out, good or bad, comes back to you threefold". So Wiccans are encouraged through enlightened self-interest (rather than any concept of sin) to be good, positive influences in their lives, communities and nations.\n\nIncidentally, many Christian groups believe that Wicca is aligned with Satanism. It is not. The confusion comes from the fact that many Celtic and Saxon gods (revered by some Wicca), were depicted as horned beings (horns being the symbol of natural sexual energy). With the Christian Devil also having horns, they became connected in the minds of some Christians, but not in the minds of Wiccans.
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Voodoo is a mix of ancient African mysticism and Christianity.  Santeria is what comes from the Caribbean.