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A '''witch''' is a someone who practices witchcraft. The name can be used for either male or female practitioner practitioners.  ==Definition==Witchcraft is a loose group of beliefs, practices, or rituals that can be variously adopted by almost anyone of any faith. Witchcraft isn't strictly a religion although it is generally practiced by people with religious beliefs. Witchcraft does not have any staple beliefs but instead consists of many different beliefs drawn from many different places. The practice of natural medicine, folk medicine, spiritual healing, divination, and shamanism can also be applied under the umbrella term of witchcraft; . More modern practices such as the practice of alternative medicine as well as New Age healing techniques (such as Crystal healing, herbalism, Reiki, and aromatherapy) can also technically fall under the witchcraft umbrella. Some practices (such as certain herbal remedies) go far back into human history although it is virtually impossible to distinguish exactly the lineage of many of the practices considered witchcraft. ==The Difference Between Wicca and Witchcraft==Wicca can technically be considered a male practitioner witchcraft tradition, however because Wicca is more codified and has more defined traditions and practices as well as a wizardlarge adherent population, Wicca is generally considered it's own belief system.

In Europe--both Catholic and Protestant areas-- from 1350 to 1650 several hundred thousand witches were executed--often by burning--after legal proceedings. One-quarter of those executed for witchcraft were men. In Exodus 22:18 the Old Testament specifically bans witchcraft under penalty of death. A famous British case was the [[Pendle Witch]] trials of 1612 AD. Many of those executed were targeted less for spiritual reasons and more for earthly concerns; the accuser and the administrator of punishment often shared the spoils when the belongings and wealth of a person executed for witchcraft. The hysteria also gave a perfect opportunity for people to get rid of people they disliked for personal reasons or people who didn't fit the idea the community had of an ideal member.  

Most of the American Indian tribes believed in witchcraft and practised magic. The tribes Many Native Americans have all become Christianconverted to Christianity, but rumors however the old traditions of witchcraft many of the tribes are still abound.<ref> See Martha Royce Blaine, "They Say He Was Witched." American Indian Quarterly 2000 24(4): 615-634. 0095-182x; Ekkehart Malotki, ''Hopi Stories of Witchcraft, Shamanism, practiced and Magic '' (2001). 290 ppkept alive today.</ref> 

Witchcraft remains prevalent in Black Africa, and in as well as Haiti.  Today [[Wicca]] In many African countries, there is a re-invented form of great fear and often paranoia about witchcraftand it's effects.<ref> HelenBerger, ''A Community People are often attacked or even killed because they are suspected of Witches: Contemporary Neo-Paganism and Witchcraft in the United States (1999)</ref>being a witch by their neighbors.