Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine Is witchcraft becoming too PC these days?

I was watching "Charmed" last night, the one where Phoebe is taken over by an ugly hag named Imurra and Paige is taking potential Charmed Ones on as pupils. In this episode, Paige's white-lighter referred to himself as a male witch rather than as a warlock.

When did being called a "warlock" become so redundant? Surely, in Wiccan society, a man who practices witchcraft could still be referred to as a warlock. Or is this tag too cross-associated with evil practices to be taken into a "good" context?

I've never seen Charmed and I'm Episcopalian/Anglican, but from what my Wiccan friends have told me, "warlock" comes from a word meaning "oath breaker" and, therefore, has negative connotations.

I'm sure there are others on this board who could add to this.

LAM on Charmed a Warlock is an Evil Witch of either gender.

Cool, thanks for that, Actor Lad...and you too, Rockhopper...

Thanks to Scott for pointing this thread out for me.... I'm a little slow on the uptake sometimes... Anyway, you guys are quite correct, a Wiccan male or female is a witch and would never want to be called a warlock. Personally, I believe that tagging male witches as warlocks became very popular when the tv show Bewitched portrayed Samantha's father as a warlock. Now in his case, perhaps he was working on the darkside. But witches are witches, whether male or female. Certainly there are more female witches. Most Wiccans believe that female witches can raise more energy naturally. But the most energy/power can be raised when female and male witches work together. Blessed Be

RhL is correct; the term 'Warlock' actually means 'oath-breaker,' and it presumably originates from the era of witch-burnings; referring to an 'informant' - one who gave testimony, voluntary or not, accurate or not.

it is not a label a male witch identifies with.

So, really, the political correctness is that a witch can be either female OR male. Thanks to all who pointed out this item of fact.

No.

Actually, this predates PC... 'witch' has always been a unisex term; only pop culture has emphasized the women-only stereotype.

Sounds good to me, Kent - cheers!