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There has been so much contriversy about the witch and the warlock.. Some peple say that they are one in the same depending on their powers and abilities.. And othersbae it on the gender.... What is your theories on such beliefs..

The way i some times hear it is witches and warlocks don't mix persay. lol Witches do good magick, warlocks, bad magick.

Other ways i hear it is that warlocks are just male witches.

Those are the ways Ive heard it.. And outta any books Ive read, not all the facts are the same.. So, right about now any input would be helpful.

I have always thought that it was the difference in gender. Witches are female and warlocks are male. Both can have the same powers or close to the same powers. I wouldn't think that it is a difference between good and bad because both can do good and bad just depends on where their heart is and what magic they want to accomplish.

**my two cents worth**

My opion after much deep anylitcal thought is that witches are different yet some what the same at the same time aas a warlock. They key differances to them is that a witch has a different style to there ways such as varyious dances with certain spells and how they do their rituals are differant from that of a warlock. Now other then this a warlock is often appeard to be portrayed as a good guy to that of a witch now how much of this is true depends on the person that is the witch or warlock. what makes them alike is that there magic has alike properties to it causeing simular effects that can be trace down to be pretty much the same with little to no differances. And the whay they adapt to their surrounding can also be known to be one in the same all together. If there was ever a major differance other then this proving my theory to be not close to the truth is only due to the facts it depends on the types or magic and spells they are studying and how the go about using it.

I have always thought witches and worlocks were the same
Just the warlock is the male form or a witch

When I was little, I always thought it was a witch was a female who practiced magick and a warlock was a male who practiced it.

One day I called a guy it and he was offended. He was one of my friends too. A couple of days later he told me why. He explained a warlock is an oath breaker and that he was not one.

Also, this is the wikipedia definition for the term.

"Modern witchcraft

Although some modern practitioners of witchcraft identify as "warlocks", many avoid this term and/or find it offensive. Wiccans in particular consider it to be a pejorative term, meaning "oath-breaker".[7] Wiccans use the term "warlock" to mean one who has been banished from a coven, either for revealing secrets, or for breaking coven laws; occasionally the word has a quite different usage as a verb meaning "to bind", as with cords during an initiation ceremony, or prior to a ritual scourging.[8] However, in many forms of Traditional Satanism the term "warlock" is embraced and employed as the primary title for a male member of the coven."

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

So I guess a lot of people could be right with their own definition since it has different meanings for different reasons.

The differnce being gender is a common misconception, though gender does play a part in the difference. While a witch may be either male or female, the word "warlock" ONLY refers to men. A warlock and a witch are two entirely different things. A warlock is a conjurer that can only perform illusions and a witch is a person who follows one of various religions.

these are all interesting thoughts.. Ive too often thought at one time in my life that warlocks were more of a satanic witch.. Black magic..

You wouldn't be far off, they were never thought of in a friendly way. They were often said to be evil beings that preyed on the week minded.

Thats what alot of reading material states.. They wer vile men with mean and nasty tendencies..

many males that i know that are in wicca does not like to be called a Warlock. They do get offended.

Them being offended is completely understandable. Think about it, if you're a Christian and somebody called you a devil worshiper you would be offended and that's much the same.

yes it would be.. there are some wiccans out there that get offended when you call them witches..

I've only run into one Wiccan who was offended by being called a witch, it wasn't until I started seriously studying that I understood why. In truth, the Wiccan religion and traditional witchcraft, as it was back in the day, are not the same.

I don't know about the specific dates but the word wicca has existed for a long time. It is dereived from an anglo-saxon word that actually means "male witch". The religion is not as old as the word though.

As a Wiccan, most of us consider ourselves as witches. The word witch and wicca have the same Old English roots. Both males and females are witches.

Warlock is used in popular culture as a male witch. I cannot remember the source but it referred to a warlock as a witch who was banned by his/her coven.

The Church of Satan labels their third degree Satanists as Witches and Warlocks.

Some people in modern days commonly refer to a Warlock as a male version of a Witch. However, most Witches will find this term offensive because as stated above it can be considered an "oath-breaker"

In the days of old, a Warlock would join a coven of Witches to penetrate them and learn their secrets, and often times killing the Witches within the coven to try to "absorb" their powers into themself. They were betrayers of their "brothers and sisters"

Generally from what I know is sex(gender) based if you want to get technical. I know of some females who claim to be warlocks because they practice a darker form of magic etc. but I haven't seen any real information saying that one is darker than the other.

I’ve always heard of warlock as meaning male. However I have heard witch used as reference for both male and female. From some of the above responses I have read, a warlock would be a rule breaker or go against their coven, but can also mean male. When a female does things such as this, then would the term warlock be used to describe them as well, or is there another term for a female that breaks coven oath?

They all do the same magic
Witches also do bad magic and are not all good,
they are all one when the power comes together

The difference is in the honor of the individual.

Oath - Breaker or not.

If you want to have your title as Liar, Traitor then by all means call yourself a Warlock.

Its not just wiccans who get offended by this term.

I always thought it was gender based...woman are witches and men are warlocks. But I never did research on the subject either.

Warlocks are really not male witches..I suppose it depends on which line of thinking you follow or what reference you read.
But personally, I don't think male or female witches have any different powers, the gender does not matter.

i have always been told that witches are females that do good magic and warlocks are males that do evil magic

Evilkitty,that sounds a bit harsh suggesting that men who do magick are automatically evil. I know plenty of men who practice and are anything but sinister.

I have some information of the above, sorry I did not post it earlier.

Although some modern practitioners of witchcraft identify as "warlocks", many avoid this term and/or find it offensive.
Wiccans in particular consider it to be a pejorative term, meaning "oath-breaker". Wiccans use the term "warlock" to mean one who has been banished from a coven, either for revealing secrets, or for breaking coven laws; occasionally the word has a quite different usage as a verb meaning "to bind", as with cords during an initiation ceremony, or prior to a ritual scourging.
However, in many forms of Traditional Satanism the term "warlock" is embraced and employed as the primary title for a male member of the coven.


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

i did not mean that all males that perform witchcraft are evil i should of phrased it alittle better just some

I feel that the witch performs a differnt kind of magic
then a warlock

by pagan definition a warlock is a law breaker
a witch is any partitioner of magick

i personally believe that:
a witch is female
a warlock is male


i am male and a law breaker so i fit either definition

I always thought it was all about gender...woman are witches and men are warlocks. But I never did research on the subject but that is my thoughts.

I was always told that a warlock is a witch that has betrayed the coven and has been banished.

Gender is unimportant.

Ok...so ther term 'warlock' can be applied to male and female witches who have broken oaths?

That is my understanding...yes.

i used the wrong word before.... i said law breaker.... as we see it is coined as oath breaker


Warlock: Antiquated term misused in reference to a male Witch. It means oath-breaker or Liar. Most Pagans, Witch's find the term offensive. In Satanism, this means a male magician.


Witch: A practitioner of folk magick, particularly that kind relating to herbs, stones, colors, wells, rivers, etc. It is used by some Wiccans to describe themselves. This term means a female magician in Satanism.


http://www.angelfire.com/goth/paganslounge01ccg/glo.html

I am wiccan and also in a coven and we are all witches weather the member is a male or female. A worlock we would not have in the coven

So the answer lies within whatever variety of paganism you follow...if you are wiccan a warlock is not a good thing to be and if you are a satanist, it just signifies that you are a male practitioner eh?

to each their own.

Warlocks are usually filth.....generally speaking across the board.

From a practicing and through me the thoughts of my Master. The term warlock was used in the coven as a curse or pejorative and had no gender basis.

Further, the term witch was used with no gender bias as a witch was a witch.

Also remember the term witch has been muddied with term Wiccan so much as to be interchangeable. Originally witch was a magic user (not part of a religion) and Wiccan was a member of an Earthbased religion.

Most peope use the the name warlock are looking for a fright are put fear into people. Alot people use it to be cool which is stupid.To me it is just a name but alot pwer comes with that. Names can give you power and it can all so hurt you.

The biggest difference that I find is that most warlocks are male and the witches are female.

In Norse belief warlock is another term for "wise man"

I've never done much research on warlocks, so I'm stuck with the thoughts on them being evil, male versions of witches.

i've always thought of witches as "good" and warlocks as "bad" and not necessarily by gender.

I have also heard that witches are good warlocks bad but that warlocks are male witches.

A witch & a wizard is one in the same.

A warlock is a bad wizard.

I always though that it was a matter of gender, Witches being female, warlocks being male.
Always thoughs of wizards as being a different species all together.
Always have felt that witches were more powerful since witchcraft has been perceived by me as being part of the earth mother religion.

It is to do with gender. Witche's are female and ride broomsticks and Warlocks/Wizards are male and ride pitchfolks :)

I see only a gender difference. They can do most of the same stuff...;)

Witch is female. Warlock are male.

In computer games (Might and Magic for instance) Warlocks are the ones who uses elemental magic in ways of evil.



My personal opinion is that it is a synonyme for a practitioner of magic, elemental or spiritual.

The synonymes I can think of are.

Warlock,witch, wizard and magicitian.

All of the words could be used as a way to determine gender of the person in question.

Such a misconception, a witch is a witch regardless of gender, to calla male witch an a warlock is such an insult, a warlock true to meaning is an outh breaker.

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 an "oath breaker" or "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. Some say it a fallacy to call a male witch a "warlock". The word "warlock" is an antiquarian term that means "truth twister" or "liar". According to Wicca, it refers to a male witch who has betrayed his coven and been cast or "locked" out as a result. In today's witchcraft there is no special term to denote a male member of the coven. So a male witch, like a female, is simply called a "witch."

link
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Wicca%20&%20Witchcraft/warlocks.htm

I think I might have to agree with Inferanl on this one,as I think I know of a good example of one..
Infernal,would "you know who" be considered a Warlock?

What Ive read Witches are female and Warlocks are male

In the Wiccan religion a warlock was the name of someone who gave out the names of people ect of the craft when they were not supposed to and therefore they were called traitors and not to be trusted and usually excommunicated from the craft.....

Skj - What do witches do then, in the game?

And LDR - Great article.

*coughs*

I can name a list of people from this community who deserve such titles.

$



*ahem* sorry bout that but there are a few pieces of scum walking this planet.

well elts see there is witches usually procured female form
warlock male form

their differences are sprouted in many area's

some culture believed females who studied magics was not allowed where men were so witch was used as a demeaning term meaning damned.

where some cultures would have you believe that a warlock is more powerful then a witch and thus witches despises warlocks

magic is neither good nor bad its how the art is used.
just like white or black magic it doesnt exist its all in how the caster honestly uses these arts to actually get something done.

a female is just as likely as a male to cast a spiteful spell on someone attempt a love spell even with expressed warnings.

or try to bring rain or harvest when needed the most.

the main difference is the inner part testosterone and estrogen

men have a usually larger competitor side where females usually are less agressive however in recent years that has changed men are producing more estrogen women more testosterone and so things come down to what they do.

it is stereotypical to think only women can be witches. When most people hear the word "witch" they automatically think female. which is far from true. From what I have read, a warlock is just a word for a male witch. I think ithey are both the same. i think both can be equally powerful. good or bad comes from the heart, not the gender.

I always thought that witches were different to warlocks due to the way they practice their magick. Witches worship the earth and moon, believe in energy.

Warlocks are more alchemist in their practices, more scientific in their approach.

I think they are worlds apart.

xNemesisx -



Where did you hear that about warlocks? I've never heard it before.

YEah I would like to know more about that as well on the subject of warlocks. will have to read up on it.

always just assumed it to be the gender....

Witch is a term that can be applied to males or females... hence the Witch King of Angmar in Lord of the Rings... in fact at least 25% of witches who lost their lives in the "burning times" were male... warlock is a term applied derogatively to former priests (pre-Vatican II all priests were magii who consecrated bread through priestly ritual to body of the christ) who turned to pagan ritual to supplement their scholarship of magic... betraying their vows and leading women into witchcraft through sexual practices...themselves a betrayal of the vows of priesthood... post Vatican II (1964) priests are no longer priests but presiders or MCs...such that the taunt is largely redundant from that time...

I think it is a matter of gender, warlock being male and witch being female.

Also while reading up on the differences of them, I came across an article that stated that warlocks were said to ride pitchforks and witches rode brooms. Maybe the warlocks were said to ride pitchforks because make when legends like these came about, men spent time in the field tending to crops, and maybe women were said to ride broom sticks because they mainly tended to the house back in those times. So after reading that I am assuming that most of the myths about witches and warlocks are based on gender...

Witch means wise one so therefor I believe that it can be applied to anyone who studies and practices Magic, male or female. Warlock however means oathbreaker and if it ever has a time and a place then it should be used as in insult.

The difference between a warlock and a wizard varies, depending on who you talk to, and in both cases, the terms refer to a practitioner of magic. Some people use the terms “wizard” and “warlock” interchangeably, along with terms like sorcerer and mage, while others use these terms in very specific ways. In the Wiccan community in particular, the word “warlock” has a very specific and offensive meaning.

“Warlock” is an older word than “wizard,” coming from the Old English waerloga, which means “oath breaker,” while wizard comes from the Middle English word for “wise.” The etymologies of the words illustrate the different ways in which people sometimes view them. Wizards are generally viewed as good people with strong moral codes who also offer wise advice and assistance, and many fantasy stories feature a kindly wizard who helps the characters achieve their goals. A warlock, on the other hand, is sometimes portrayed as a much darker individual.

In communities which do not distinguish between wizards and warlocks, these terms are typically used to refer generally to male practitioners of magic. It is also common to see subtle distinctions between the two which often blur the line between wizards and warlocks. In some cases, for example, a warlock may be viewed as a more advanced wizard who works on more complex magic, and some people also consider warlocks to be more corruptible, delving into darker magic which can potentially turn them evil.

In the medieval Christian community, a warlock was specifically a male witch, and the term carried all of the connotations which went along with witchcraft. Warlocks tended to be less rare than witches, but men were occasionally prosecuted and executed for witchcraft. In contrast, the concept of a wizard as a wise and friendly adviser was common in some communities. Practitioners of alchemy were considered wizards, for example, and the idea of a guiding wizard lives on in many software programs, which have “wizards” to assist users with problems.

In some parts of the Wiccan community, the term “warlock” can refer to either a man or a woman, and it is reserved for someone who has broken the codes of the community. Someone who is exiled from a coven, for example, may be referred to as a warlock. Because many Wiccans take their oaths and vows very seriously, this word is considered to be offensive, although many are forgiving of confusion from people outside their community.

REF: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-warlock-and-a-wizard.htm

there not the same im a witch and i would never think fo my slef as a warlock

You could always going with the whole Scooby Doo approach ...


Wiccan = good.
Witch and Warlock = bad.



;]

_I once heard that Witches were female and Warlocks were male, however, that was when I was young. Warlocks are oath breakers, traitors, and betrayers of their people. They would infiltrate covens in search of power, information, and would often kill the witches of those covens. Indeed, many of the people in today's popular culture don't recognize the difference between a witch and a warlock, however, as one of the Wiccan religion, I'd have to say, that it is common for a male to become offended, as I've seen, if they are called a warlock. That word is an insult. "But `warlock', in the sense of `a male witch', is Scottish Late Middle English and entirely derogatory; its root means `traitor, enemy, devil'..."

witches and warlocks intresting subject
but i can say that warlock mean witch in german and also oath breaker

i thik the names are all in peoples heads i think witchs are witchs and warlocks are warlocks but people try to put us togher because they dont under stand it and cant see thing the way we do

What do you think the difference is between them?

most witchs are of good and lit and hram none are out to help warlocks are of darkness are out to harm and case trouble there are a grop of people who are out for evil and have been gaven a name

Hmm .. why do you think so?

im a wiccan AKA witch and i never harm i only help but in all the times i hear warlock i hear bad evil bring harm takeing peoples engery or powers iv never heard of a warlock being of good and helping just fo evil and harm

But what about the responses some people have given in what the word warlock translates to?

people have many was of think and useing the name warlock it all depends on what you use the name for not what other people think of the name it all on how a person use the name and what they do

This is the first time that I've ever heard that warlocks could be something different than a male witch. According to the Oxford English Dictionary a warlock is "a man who practices witchcraft." But this asks the question: What is witchcraft? do wiccans practice witchcraft?

I have always assumed that the term warlock was used in reference to a male who practices witchcraft...I never knew it was an insult or applied to those who infiltrate covens and steal knowledge. But to be honest I have heard the term witch used as an insult more often than warlock...to be honest I have never heard the word warlock used as an insult, but I guess it's because of people's lack of understanding when it comes to witchcraft and their misconceptions of all witches being evil.

According to the Arcade Dictionary of Word Origins, by John Ayto, Arcade Publishing, 1991: "Etymologically, a *warlock* is a 'liar on oath', and hence a 'traitor' or 'deceiver'."

However there is much debate about the real meaning of the word among witches, many of whom find the term that is often applied to a male witch, grossly offensive.

The commonest definition of the word can possibly be traced back to the old English or Scottish word, which many centuries ago, had the meaning "oath breaker" or even "traitor".

Exactly how the word became associated with witches remains one of speculation. The term "oath breaker" may have been applied to witches as they "broke their oaths with the Christian church".

However some modern witches may apply the term "warlocking" to the ejection of a member from a coven.

An alternative theory about the association of the word warlock with witchcraft, lies somewhere in the late 1500's. The story goes, that a Scot went against the wishes of his clan to become a Catholic priest. This resulted in his expulsion from his clan. Also at that time the term warlock was applied to him (which in Gaelic, has the meaning of traitor). This same priest was subsequently named in a 'witch hunt' and may have perished along with 50 others that were persecuted and burned for being witches, as was the usual punishment for the time. From that day, his clan branded him a warlock or traitor and never ever spoke his name.

The term has also been used as an "epithet for the 'Devil'." However the modern idea of an evil sorcerer did not emerge until the 14th century. The word began as a compound noun formed from:

"woer 'faith, pledge' (a relative of English 'very' and German wahr 'true') and - loga 'liar' (a derivative of 'leogan', the ancestor of modern English 'lie'."

In the North East of England there is another definition, "taken from Old Norse rather than Old English, and comes from 'varth-lokkr' meaning (essentially) 'one who locks (something) in' or 'one who encloses'." As a term of honour, it is used to describe "an exorcist or a magician who traps and disposes of unwanted entities".

Other definition still abound from the claim that the word refers to a scalplock of hair as a marker; or a witch, male or female who broke the sacred oath, to do evil.

Whatever the meaning, some witches do find the term highly offensive, when incorrectly applied to them.

people use the term warlock in many ways now and it has many meening to it now

Asked and answered.

In order to prevent even more generic and duplicate answers, I am closing the thread.