| Two questions but it is necessary to understand what | | | | would be Druidism, Herbalism, and Spiritualism but there |
| witchcraft is before forming an opinion on whether | | | | are many more. Of themselves the practice of any of |
| witchcraft is real or not. In order to discover what | | | | them does not make someone a witch as that |
| witchcraft is we need to strip away the hype | | | | determination is made by the practitioner. This made |
| generated by the likes of Hollywood and the | | | | little difference to the Catholic church and all such |
| entertainment industry in general. Witchcraft does not | | | | practices were seen as heresy and resulted in the |
| resemble the commonly portrayed television series | | | | persecution of witches. |
| such as Bewitched or Charmed, or the blockbuster | | | | Today witchcraft is thought of as a Pagan religion |
| movies such as Harry Potter. These are just creations | | | | which makes it as legitimate a religion as any other. |
| of their respective writers and glamorized by the big | | | | The more modern variation of Traditional witchcraft, |
| studios for entertainment value. | | | | Wicca witchcraft, is far more open and regimented |
| Witchcraft itself was originally a way of life practiced | | | | than the older practices and has gained a large |
| over many centuries and not really thought of as | | | | following in the western world. Like any religion it is a |
| witchcraft until the Middle Ages when the Catholic | | | | way of life which is practiced by its members which |
| church turned its attention towards Pagan practices. | | | | gather in covens rather than a congregation. The result |
| There are quite a few variations of belief systems | | | | is the same no matter what terms are used as these |
| that were practiced and are now collectively labeled | | | | groups worship their own particular belief structure. |
| as witchcraft. Some of the more commonly known | | | | |