A Comparison of Witches of Modern Ages to Witches of the Middle Ages

What classified a person as a witch in former times has many similarities and differences from what would classify a person as a witch, or Wiccan, in modern times. There are several common characteristics which hold true to witches during the panic of the witch hunts and those of the modern day practitioner of the Goddess rising religion (Wicca), whether they be accused or self-proclaimed. Some factors that are true for Wiccans seem to be based on what former witches were accused of, but for Wiccans, they are of an entirely different nature. By comparing the distinctions and similarities between past and present witches, it may be possible to discover whether past-accused witches could have been practicing an earth-based religion, such as Wicca, and thus wrongly accused of witchcraft and sorcery.

In eras past, a witch has been classified, by most of society, as someone who participates in either form of witchcraft: diabolism, maleficum, or impiety. Each of these has common similarities with Wicca, the earth religion, as well as drastic differences. Current Wiccans are commonly accused of diabolism, when in fact they believe in neither the Devil nor Hell. Followers of Wicca worship gods and goddesses that predate Christianity, ranging from the common Greek/Roman, to Egyptian, to ancient Celtic(Wakefield). Typically, Wiccans worship one supreme Goddess, and the Horned God. It is thought by some pagans that the concept of the Devil emerged from the contortion of this deity. Wiccans believe in evil, but not a supreme - demonic figure such as the Devil. Their main religious symbol is the pentacle, a five pointed star with one point facing up, which stands for the four elements: fire, air, water, and earth, with the last point signifying spirit. This same symbol is often inverted and used as a satanic symbol, which adds to the correlations often seen between the religion Wicca and diabolism.