craftyfox says
There is hardly a difference between them to be honest. Paganism includes any kind of 'nature worshipping panthionistic religion' and generally witchcraft is amongst them! The main issue I will stress though is that the included witchcraft should be one that strives for good and helps the environment and nature, and therefore its animals and people (a form of white magic if you need a label).
The main thing to understand about all forms of witchcraft is that there is no good or bad energy from which to draw power, it is your intention that decides if the result is good or evil. 'Black magic' is only so because there are selfish people that do not want to help others or do not care who they hurt in the process of achieving their goals.
If you are still in question have a look at the 'Pagan Federation's website.
knottybynature says
There are three factors which define paganism. Animism (life force imbues all things, animal, vegetable, and mineral) , Pantheism (everything partakes of the life force), and Polytheism (reality is multiple and diverse). One of the best books on the matter is Margot Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon", which is her adventure through neo-pagan communities. Not all pagans necessarily practice witchcraft. Paganism is generally defined as anything 'Non-Christian'. Whereas Shamans practice their own form of magic, to those that ARE Christian, this can be defined as witchcraft. However, witches themselves would just defer this as another form of magic, and not really the Craft of the Witches. Paganism can be any form of religion, NEO-paganism is a revivalist view of other religions. This can be anything from Sumerian practices to Celtic practices. A few really good examples of this is the ADF and OBOD groups (both considered 'druidism'). They would not say they practice witchcraft. ;) Hope this was helpful.
donnadavey says
Paganism is all encompassing of the Pagan religion. There are several different "paths" within Paganism including Wicca (Witchcraft work), Shamanism, Druidism, etc. Each path has its own design of rituals, deities and craftwork.
As a Druid myself, I have worked in several eclectic circles that have included Egyptian magic, Shamanism, Wicca and Dianic paths.
In essence, I believe that all Paganism paths are focused on the old religion (meaning earth based religion). However, the most significant difference is in the design of rituals and the deities that are called upon in the rituals.
Again, generically, Paganism is vast and diverse could be simplified by being referenced to the label likeness of Christians practicing Christianity. However, where there is a label reference to Wicca, Druid, Dianic or Shaman so do the Christians have Baptist, Methodist, Unitarian, etc. The largest common denominator in Paganism is that followers are generally polytheistic in their beliefs. Wicca’s tend to circle with small groups of members where as in Paganism there is no set or defined amount of individuals to create a group and they generally operate as a collective whole of the religion.
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