Witchcraft is a practical, magical religious philosophy that is Gnostic in essence though not in origin. Its tenets are animism (an inherent soul in all things), and the use of intuitive states to communicate and interact with this soul, often for practical purposes (healing, fertility, success). These states are accessed via poetry, myth, and psychodrama.


Gnosticism is a pre-Christian syncretic religion which combines Roman, Kemetic (Egyptian), Hellenic and Judaic themes and philosophy. Its central tenet is that the liberating experience of knowing oneself profoundly and intuitively - gnosis - is essential in knowing and experiencing the Divine. Its central rite is the Eucharist, which is the manifestation of incarnate Divinity in the form of Mithras/Dionysis, Wasir/Heru (Osiris/Horus) and the Logos/Christ. While much of Gnosticism resembles Christianity aesthetically and structurally (particularly since the Gnostic Revival of the 19th Century), it is an older and distinct religion in its own right.


Thelema is a 20th Century religion drawing from Rabelaisian philosophy ("Do what thou Wilt") and Kemetic aesthetics. Its central document is a prose poem written in a trance state in 1904 by Aleister Crowley. Also Gnostic in essence, Thelema demands its adherents discover their true nature and maintain its integrity in all things. Its central rite is the 1913 Gnostic Mass, a re-envisioning of the Eucharist. Thelema had originally three main organizations: A masonic (some would argue pseudo-Masonic) fraternity, the OTO (which predated Thelema but a majority of Lodges chose to embrace the new religion); a more public Church, the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (at least those congregations of the pre-existing EGC which chose to proceed along Thelemic lines) and the A.'.A.'., an initiatory system of meditation and alchemy with a strongly Buddhistic and Kabalistic orientation. (Continues)

.....Wicca was specifically invented by Gardner to popularize Thelemic Gnosticism (specifically the Gnostic Mass).

However, the Gnostic Mass is celebrated in other forums than Thelema.

Peace,

RadicalGnostic

Could you elaborate a bit, please!?

Paganism is a broad term used to describe many different religions and spiritual beliefs. The word "pagan" comes from the Latin word "paganus" which means a country dweller or civilian. The Latin word "paganus" comes from the Latin word "pagus" which means a country district or a district outside of the city. In the early years of the Christian church most all churches were located in the city. Often times Christian folks who lived in these cities looked down upon those who lived outside the city because more times than not they were not Christians but rather people who followed the local spiritual pagan folklore of that area. Thus, those Christians of the city used the term Pagan to describe such nonchristian people outside the city. Originally the term Pagan was a derrogatory name used by Christians for those who were not Christians.

Witchcraft is not a religion at all but rather the practice of Magick, which is basically the manipulation of unseen energies. When one practices Magick it is through Natural means using such things as ones own Mind, Body, Spirit and sometimes the use of outside influences such as the Elements, Herbs, Crystals, Minerals, Essential Oils, etc., all to bring about a needed or wanted change. The practice of Witchcraft can be coupled with any religion or spiritual belief because the practice of Witchcraft itself doesn't require a specific Diety. In fact one can practice Witchcraft without the aid of any Diety.

Wicca is a specific Pagan religion that embraces the practice of Witchcraft. There is much debate over the antiquity of Wicca. However, I think we all can agree that Wicca is a specific pagan religion. Not every Witch is a Wiccan. Not every Pagan is a Wiccan. Not every Pagan is a Witch.

Gnosticism is not pre-christian at all. Gnosticism is a combination of many different elements taken from Asian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Syrian pagan religions, from astrology, and from Judaism and Christianity. But it's not Pre-Christian. In fact it became one of the 3 main beliefs in the first century and died out by the 5th century.