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:Witches are people. I’m a witch. I’m not Wiccan. Are you enjoying attacking my religion? My ancestors were burned at the stake (yes really and I can prove it through my ancestry). This is hate speech. Remove it now. ] (]) 00:14, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
:Witches are people. I’m a witch. I’m not Wiccan. Are you enjoying attacking my religion? My ancestors were burned at the stake (yes really and I can prove it through my ancestry). This is hate speech. Remove it now. ] (]) 00:14, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
::As I said on user talk: The article is based on the solid sources, and a worldwide view, not just recent, western beliefs (post ]) that have redefined the word in a few cultures. Traditional cultures see it very differently, and we need to represent a worldwide, well-researched view, not the dreck you'll find at a newage store or in clickbait. The other views are thoroughly covered on the 'pedia as well. Read both the article '''and''' the links.
::Any innocent you are concerned about being harmed for calling themselves a witch (as was probably the case with the IP's ancestors) should be aware it's not a neutral word, and they should do their research before calling themselves this. Most newage and neopagan books are written by amateurs and contain all kinds of misinformation, leading to well-intentioned, but inaccurate ideas about both history and diverse cultures. Best wishes, - ] <sup>]</sup> ] 19:03, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
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(The "Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others" part. At the same time, I think specifically when the word "witchcraft" came into use it was like a word with negative connotations, but that is no longer completely true today. 2A00:23C4:41A:9601:5024:97B:369B:2DAB (talk) 23:30, 27 November 2022 (UTC) )
(At that point, it comes down to the philosophy of what the subject of this article really is about; is it solely about witchcraft with loaded negative connotations, and where do we blur the lines between subjects like healing magic, modern divination (e.g. tarot card readings not intended to harm) New Age Movements; but society has historically used the term negatively (like a sociological moral panic); such as in the 1597 book Daemonologie by King James VI and I. 2A00:23C4:41A:9601:5024:97B:369B:2DAB (talk) 23:35, 27 November 2022 (UTC)
@Dimadick: Why does that matter? There are at least 1.5 million people in the US alone who identify as Wiccan. The central tenant of Wicca is the practice of (modern beneficial) witchcraft. Witchcraft is also a defining element of millennial culture (at least for women). At what point does the modern concept of witchcraft become important enough to warrant integration into this article? According to WP:WEIGHT an article on witchcraft should cover all the aspects and meanings of witchcraft "in proportion to the prominence of each viewpoint in the published, reliable sources". Given that there are literally thousands of published books about modern witchcraft (not to mention countless articles on the web), I don't understand why it is so staunchly excluded from the scope of this article (with a few token exceptions). I suspect there is some age and gender bias happening here, as I doubt the demographics of the people controlling this article are very similar to the demographics of the people reading it. But I digress. My question is: At what point does the modern concept of witchcraft become important enough to warrant integration into this article? Nosferattus (talk) 16:15, 28 November 2022 (UTC)
I'd say the connection between New Age adherents and "witchcraft" is not with the traditional meaning, or even with the more traditional Wiccan strains, but with the pop culture, self-helf, affirmations and charms as "spellcraft" type. Sort of the "white witchcraft" Wicca-lite of dabblers, spell kits with crystals advertised next to glitter makeup and Hello Kitty. - CorbieVreccan☼20:01, 28 November 2022 (UTC)
If you wanna talk about the history of my religion, and the persecution of my people, go ahead and put it in the history section. It does not belong in the second sentence, stated as fact. This is hate speech. Remove it now. 68.229.102.219 (talk) 00:05, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
witchcraft is not used to harm others! Stop, forcing your opinions down other peoples throats! There are many things in life that harms, others, and witchcraft is not one of them. Witchcraft is about personal empowerment174.162.157.131 (talk) 20:02, 1 May 2023 (UTC)
OK, let’s try and experiment. How about you go to the page about the Jewish people. They have been persecuted throughout history, much like witches have, so that’s a fair example, seeing how they suffered at the hands of the nazis, and we suffered at the hands of white Christians (eg burned at the stake). Now go say in the second sentence that they are evil. Or causing harm. Or greedy. How do you think that would go over. Really good right? Stop attacking my people. Get this hate speech removed now. FYI, not all witches are Wiccan. 68.229.102.219 (talk) 00:10, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
Not all witches are Wiccan. Which raft is a religion. Seeing this kind of discrimination over and over on Misplaced Pages of all places is disgusting. It’s hate speech. Remove it now. If you wants to mention, it’s negative connotations in history, do that in the history section! Not at the opening! Second sentence. Disgusting. 68.229.102.219 (talk) 00:03, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
I'm not the first person to say this, but witchcraft was not used to harm. This page is inaccurate and they've made it unable to edit, purposefully I'm quite sure. False information like this is the exact reason the witch trials happened to begin with, and it's now 2023, and I feel like people are still living in medieval times. Witchcraft was most often used to heal, and witches are credited with protecting crops, livestock, and healing sick people of the villages. Everyone knew if you had an illness, or any problem, go see the village witch! It wasn't until white "christian" colonizers came along and pumped fear into everyone that witches became seen as "evil." This page NEEDS to be updated and corrected as this is just completely false information that does nothing but harm, which witches never did. It's more than high time that people evolved their brains beyond the dark ages. Witchfairy2802 (talk) 00:06, 19 February 2023 (UTC)
Comments: It would be interesting to get some sourced confirmation of claims. There is a multitude of sources that some "perform black magic, using rituals similar to voodoo, and cast spells and incantations to bring harm." Other sources link black or dark magic directly to witchcraft. I am sure there are some "charmed Ones" that only do good but that require sourcing.
A 1986 Court of Appeals decision ruled that Wiccan was a religion. Followers, "Wicca for Life", claim "Wicca opposes the use of negative, harmful magic and discourages people from hurting others physically or emotionally". The supposed negativity of "witchcraft" has reportedly caused many "witches" to call themselves Wiccans. The dictionary entry for witch (also sorcerer): is "a woman (or man) believed to have often harmful supernatural powers".
"and cast spells and incantations to bring harm" That is reminiscent of curses, and we do have an article on curse tablets from the Greco-Roman world. With people trying to use spells against their opponents, "spells ranged against thieves, and business and sporting rivals". Dimadick (talk) 06:37, 20 February 2023 (UTC)
Witchcraft
I am a person who does witchcraft and it’s definitions like this that make me mad. WITCHCRAFT IS NOT ALWAYS USED TO HARM. There are so many people who do gold with witchcraft. It’s a practice of magic, that’s the definition. Get your facts straight, thank you. 174.100.10.18 (talk) 00:13, 8 March 2023 (UTC)
@Randy Kryn: please read the sources and talk page. Editors have worked hard to come to the version we have. You will need consensus for the changes you want to make. Also, this is not a BLP. - CorbieVreccan☼23:05, 18 May 2023 (UTC)
Witches are people. I’m a witch. I’m not Wiccan. Are you enjoying attacking my religion? My ancestors were burned at the stake (yes really and I can prove it through my ancestry). This is hate speech. Remove it now. 68.229.102.219 (talk) 00:14, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
As I said on user talk: The article is based on the solid sources, and a worldwide view, not just recent, western beliefs (post Gerald Gardner) that have redefined the word in a few cultures. Traditional cultures see it very differently, and we need to represent a worldwide, well-researched view, not the dreck you'll find at a newage store or in clickbait. The other views are thoroughly covered on the 'pedia as well. Read both the article and the links.
Any innocent you are concerned about being harmed for calling themselves a witch (as was probably the case with the IP's ancestors) should be aware it's not a neutral word, and they should do their research before calling themselves this. Most newage and neopagan books are written by amateurs and contain all kinds of misinformation, leading to well-intentioned, but inaccurate ideas about both history and diverse cultures. Best wishes, - CorbieVreccan☼19:03, 19 May 2023 (UTC)
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Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. — Paper9oll (🔔 • 📝) 11:11, 2 April 2023 (UTC)