Almost any Wicca 101 book will give you an anthropological history of witchcraft: how various forms of Pagan worship have existed for millennia and include the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Greece, and Phoenicia; how the idea of the Goddess and pantheism came under fire with the rise of Christianity; how Goddess-worship became synonymous with witchcraft, and witchcraft became synonymous with evil; and how the tradition of witchcraft and Goddess-worship went underground and only resurfaced in the 20th century.
You likely already know about Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, and Raymond Buckland. And most Wiccans know and love Scott Cunningham, who is credited with bringing Wicca to the solitary practitioner.
But maybe you didn’t know that Wicca was recognized by the United States government as an official religion in 1986 through the court case Dettmer v. Landon. Or that soldiers who identify as Wiccan are allowed to have the pentagram on their gravestones in national cemeteries. And Wiccan organizations can apply for and received tax-empty, not-for-profit religious status.
But what about witchcraft? Not every witch identifies as Wiccan. And not every Wiccan is a witch. Merriam-Webster defines Wicca as “a religion influenced by pre-Christian beliefs and practices of western Europe that affirms the existence of supernatural power (such as magic) and of both male and female deities who inhere in nature and that emphasizes ritual observance of seasonal and life cycles”.
Somewhat hilariously (at least to me), it is only in the fourth listed definition of “witch” that Merriam-Webster defines the word as “an adherent of Wicca” (it’s right after “a charming or alluring girl or woman”). The first two definitions, as you would imagine, refer to evil sorceresses and ugly old women.
So is witchcraft a religion? Well, Wicca is definitely recognized as a religion, so if you are Wiccan the answer is YES. If you are not Wiccan, it’s a little less clear, unless you identify as another religion such as Christianity.
And here, Merriam-Webster comes to our aid again. Their definition of “religion” includes:
- the service and worship of God or the supernatural
- commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
- a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
- a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
If you use this definition, witchcraft is definitely a religion. It may not have the backing of the government, but its followers have a “system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith”, have “a personal set … of … attitudes, beliefs, and practices”, and hold a “commitment or devotion” to the Craft.
So is witchcraft a religion? I would say YES!
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/wicca
https://www.merriam-webster.com/