tjj wrote: My understanding of 'ancient' witchcraft is that it was the practice of herbalism, healing and midwifery undertaken mainly by women - and that they were often persecuted/murdered by the male dominated, power based Church in past centuries. It is possible that the knowledge of herbs was sometimes misused, either by accident or design, as many are poisonous.
Well that's certainly one interpretation. The reality is though, like with much of history, we simply don't know. We don't even know whether "witchcraft" existed in the sense of a consistent set of beliefs and practices.
tjj wrote: Although 'Wicca' is still widely practised in the form described in the programme it seems to me (and this is a personal opinion) as delusional as any other religion. Reverence for nature exists by itself for many people - who don't need to join or cult, sect or religion to pursue it.
Precisely.
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