by Jonte Rhodes

Created on: July 30, 2008

Witchcraft in one form or another has been around for millennia, although many people don't actually know what witchcraft is or where it started. The first thing that should be realized is that modern Wicca, as most people know it today is not the same as witchcraft in general. Wicca is an adaptation of a much older form of witchcraft, and although in many people's eyes they are essentially the same, there are some subtle differences that make them different.

Witchcraft in a historical sense has been prevalent in much of Western Europe for thousands of years, certainly long before the rise of the Roman Empire. It is thought that some of the practices of witchcraft date from as early as the Stone Age, although these have largely been changed for use in more modern versions. The druids for example are thought to be amongst the most ancient orders of religions that practice witchcraft.

Many of the tribal, shaman and pagan religions that were around before Christianity contained some forms of witchcraft, although their practises were very varied. Witchcraft itself is defined as humans harnessing supernatural powers, so in many respects all religions have at least some element of witchcraft in them. To most people however the idea of witchcraft is that of a Satan worshipper or a green skinned hag who casts evil spells. These are largely however constructs from the Christian faith, and have little to do with actual Wicca or in fact any other witchcraft-based religion.

Satan worshippers, which have become synonymous with witchcraft since the middle ages are actually just a different facet to Christianity; with their idea of god being on one side and the deil on the other. Witchcraft in itself has nothing to do with this, and this association was probably propagated by Christians who didn't like the idea of having to compete with a different religion. By saying everyone who was involved with witchcraft and was not only a follower of the devil, but was evil and caused a variety of different negative effects (such as crop failure, drought etc). The dominance of Christianity and witchcraft disappearing for the most part was assured.

This shift in public opinion from witchcraft being the old religion to becoming a thing to be feared and attacked is thought to have begun in the middle ages. In some ways however the Romans were also a part of this movement, as they were often the most powerful group in a particular area. And as a result the druids and pagans were thought to

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