PS: I know a couple of warlocks. Depends upon your branch of the tree and they are DEFINITELY not WOW types. At all. More like, old and cranky (by one's own description of himself!)
A warlock is a betrayer.
See this link:
http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-6227.html
The word 'warlock' comes from the Old English word 'waer logger', which literally means 'covenant breaker'. It could also come from the Icelandic word 'vordlokkr' - person who can summon the spirits. Basically, 'warlock' is generally (in this present day) used to mean 'oath breaker', and 'traitor'.
People generally perceive a warlock to be a male witch and indeed, some pagans use the word warlock to mean such. However, most pagans (Wiccans included) consider the word an insult because of it's literal meaning of traitor.
But, I do see where you're coming from: (Same link)
Overall, depending on what somebody believes, a warlock is a male witch (generally untrue but widely believed) or a traitor (more true but not so well known).
Not all Christian faiths "blend in" paganism. In fact I don't really celebrate Christmas or Easter because of the pagan ties.
The holidays and rituals of Christianity are far more Pagan than Christian...but that's another thread.
Blending...sounds like you are making a smoothie.
A very delicious smoothie!
So, as I see it, there is no "Pagan" denomination; it seems to be a catchall for varied pantheisms/monotheisms/goddess worship/Gaiaisms- basically anything other than the well-known world religions like Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. I'll include Wicca in that as it seems to be well-organized with central unifying principles.
The 'pagan' denomination covers
many religions, as we've stated before. You are correct in it being a catchall.
So one person could explain their own little piece of their particular pagan beliefs- but an Egyptian 'pagan' has very different beliefs vs. a Norse 'pagan', who is not even on the same page as someone who reveres the Roman gods.
Every Pagan is different, even if the difference is in the name of the God they worship. Me, personally, I believe all God/esses are a part of a whole, and that the name means nothing...it's just the denominations' way of labeling themselves. Kind of like some Christians believe that Buddhists still worship God, but under a different name.
IMO, I think Wicca needs its own thread separate from the "Pagan" thread. I doesn't seem like Wiccans are Pagans, and almost insulting to include them and their beliefs.
Wiccans are Pagan, though.
Interesting. Did you feel that something spiritual was missing from your life when you were 12 and started to meditate or did you have some friends that were into Wicca? What I am trying to understand is what spurred your search for a religion - and how did you pick this one? What did your athiest family think?
I had 'tried' and 'experimented' with many religions, including Christianity, but none of them felt 'right'. I didn't feel that there wasn't anything...I'd always felt there was something. What spurred my search was that 'empty' feeling. My family was fine with it. I was raised into the 'religion comes to the person' aspect. They don't care what I am, as long as I'm happy and safe.
I know a few athiests - some who used to be believers but now aren't and some who have always been athiest.
It's an interesting group.
That is the way it was explained to me once. The Deity is both male and female - two halves of a whole. Not two separate gods. Like Father, Son, Holy Spirit make up one in the Christian faith (the Godhead) - not three separate gods.
Some believe that aspect of the Diety...I, myself believe the Diety is female.
I have done a lot of reading about different religions - kind of a hobby. I have read a good bit about Wicca and Druidism and Pagan beliefs. As well as Hindu, Islam and the branches of Christian faiths. I always like to learn about other people's beliefs and how they came about them. Sometimes it is from a good teacher and sometimes it is from books they have read and sometimes it is something totally different - everyone of us is different so why shouldn't we relate to spirituality differently.
It's
always good to read up on religion, even if you're devout in your own. It's important to life, I think...our modern day laws are based on past religious tenets.
I agree with the bold heavily.
As an atheist myself, I can't help but wonder why in the world would you decide to become Wiccan/Pagan?
Because I always had a problem with the 'nothing' aspect. There was always 'something', I just hadn't found it, and Paganism was, and is, the most beautiful religion in my eyes. I have always enjoyed nature's gifts and splendor, and that certainly aided my decision.
Not trying to slam anyone as I don't know much about the pagan/wiccan religions. What I do know is Jossverse - and the 2 main witches in Buffy were not wiccans or pagans. In fact they never belonged to a coven or practiced what anyone could consider a religion. They mostly just did spells that helped out the scobby-gang. So how could you have picked up on this religion based on this TV show?
~Amanda
The two witches were deemed Wiccan. Willow always identified herself as a witch, though, and Tara identified themselves a Wiccan. On every website, they were Wiccan. Willow was a part of the English Coven, by the way, in season seven, as well as with Tara in the College Coven in season...four?
I picked up on this religion because of the Coven aspect...and, to be honest, I wanted to do magic. But I learned better.
It's very interesting. (I'm pretty much atheist, though.)
The call got my aunt worried so she actually decided to go and ask her priest about it. Luckily the priest explained Wicca to my aunt and assured her there would be no devil worshipping or animal sacrifice. He told her it would not be "against the Church" or a sin to go to the Handfasting. He did add though that it was her duty as a Catholic to make sure she indicates to the couple that while she is happy for them, she would have been happier if they had married in the Catholic Church. 
(She, of course, said no such thing.)
