Hi everyone -- banning the books - Some clarification on the term "witch"

[Tesha]

No: HPFGUIDX 159465

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "emberleeblu" <emberleeblu at ...>
wrote:
>
> Random832 <random832@> wrote:
> > What I don't understand is this. Wouldn't it have been better
> > for them (that is, Wiccans in general) to simply stop co-opting
> > the term "witch" (and thus avoid being stereotyped as "witches")
> > rather than trying to fight a much older meaning of the word?
> 
> 
> Actually, the term "witch" has been used by Wiccans, like myself,
> and others who practice the Old Ways since about 2000 B.C.,<snip>
>                                                 Aleyna
>
 Tesha:

Witch came first - witch meaning something bad came later...
The dictionary says witch- [from Middle English wicche, from Old
English wicce, witch, and wicca, wizard, sorcerer.] meanings range
from someone awfully good at what they do or just plain awful. 

      Professor Bins, when asked for information about the Chamber of
Secrets, said, "They built this castle together, far from prying
Muggle eyes, for it was an age when magic was feared by common people,
and witches and wizards suffered much persecution." 

When Christianity overran the formerly Pagan lands, they used all
sorts of ways to convert folks, one was to demonize the local powers
if they wouldn't convert. As an example... Women skilled in healing
were suddenly in league with the devil, and burned as witches or
otherwise removed from society.