Vs.

Originally posted Saturday, December 6, 2008 on one of my other blogs, but I'm trying to update and put everything in one blog.

Paganism from the Old World..

Many ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and so on worshipped many Goddess’s and G-d’s. This was long before Judism, Christianity or any other belief. Some claim that it came from the 1950′s. That is incorrect, Wicca came from the 1950′s.

Pagan originally means country or farm dweller and Jews used it to describe non Jews. The actual name of what the Ancient were called is long lost and the word Ancient Paganism is used.. Sadly some feel that, that is not a good enough description and get angry and call others names because they aren’t satisfied with the name.
The term Pagan has changed from what it originally meant to mean something completely different. It is used to describe someone that practices the magickal studies.

The practice or worship that the Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and so on are still used today by Pagans who follow the ancient ways.. Circle casting would of been common use.. Whether it was written down or not is the business of the Ancients.
The Ancients worshipped what most call today as Mythical..
I myself am a follow of the Ancient ways..

Paganism (thoough not the actual term) came before Jesus..

If you look at Wikipedia (I know, bot always the best source, but its useable):

Ancient Egyptian began prior to 31 BC (Before Christ)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology

Greek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_ancient_Greece#Mythology

Roman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_religion

Native American
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_religion

Druid
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid

Judaism began in 2000 BCE "Before the common Era", Before the Christian Era", Before the Current Era".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiasm

Christianity began in the 4th Century
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity

Do you understand the differences?

Neo-Paganism
The roots of Neo-Paganism began with the Renaissance, and the reintroduction of Classicism and the resurgence of interest in Graeco-Roman polytheism in the wake of works like the Theologia mythological of 1532.
Neo-Pagans believe in Paganism and some follow the ancient ways but they believe that Jesus is their savior and Lord. Even Neo-Paganism came before Wicca.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo_paganism#History

Wicca
Wicca became popular in 1954 by Gerald Gardner,
a retired British civil servant, who at the time called it Witchcraft and its adherents “the Wica”.
Wicca/Wiccans are the more earth based believers. Not many use “magick” like Pagans do.
For most Wiccans, Wicca is a duo-theistic religion worshipping both a G-d and a Goddess, who are seen as complementary polarities (akin to the Taoist philosophy of yin and yang), and “embodiments of a life-force manifest in nature.” The G-d is sometimes symbolized as the sun, and the Goddess as the moon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

Warlock
Warlock originally means Oath Breaker...But with people making up things as they go it becomes a commonly known usage for the male equivalent to the female witch. Hollywood has been the biggest influence with this term. With their "magick" movies and tv shows, they use words that sound interesting. Truthfully, there is no such thing as a “magickal being” called a warlock. Who would want to be called an Oath Breaker? It was not only an insult, but it also labeled them as traitors. Just like with any culture, what is done with betrayers? They are cast out, shunned, or even sacrificed as an offering to the Deities. That their blood will undue what they did.
http://etymonline.com/?term=warlock


Witch
Witch originally is from Old English wicce. Truthfully just like the term Warlock being misused so is the term “Witch” There is no actual such thing as a Witch. However, there are a great deal of people that accept and use this term. I think comes from the term Witchcraft. Such as the practitioner is a witch that is using or practicing the craft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch

Circle Casting
Circle Casting was used in the Ancient ways whether people like it or not.
A magic circle is circle or sphere of space marked out by practitioners of many branches of ritual magic, either to contain energy and form a sacred space, or as a form of magical protection, or both. It may be marked physically, drawn in salt or chalk, for example, or merely visualised. Its spiritual significance is similar to that of mandalaand yantrain some Eastern religions.
The origins of the magic circle lie in ancient history, forms of it were used in old Babylonian magic and many of the Ceremonial Magicians of the Middle Ages and Renaissance used them.  In pre-Christian Europe most Pagan religious festivals took place in circles, normally outdoors under the sky and stars at night.  There they celebrated the Earth’s fertility and worshiped the Sun, Moon and Deities.  But with the rise of Christianity and the newly powerful church, most of these pagan rites were outlawed and the oncoming persecution of witches forced the practice underground.  The pagans became secretive about their rites and practiced them outside only after dark, lit by fires and torches in far-out the way places.  Others brought the practice indoors away from prying eyes.  Stone circles such as Stonehenge and other megalithic monuments, sacred groves and revered springs across Europe, are remnants of those ancient days.
http://www.controverscial.com/Circle%20Casting%201.htm