The fact that church nicked stuff from paganism and/or witchcraft doesn't mean paganism & witchcraft are religions.

That's like saying that when the baker gets eggs and milk from a farmer, and flour from a wholesaler, the farmer and the wholesaler are bakers as well.

Actually if you think about it even if you were to consider Witchcraft simply a science then it would still be a religion as well. The reasoning behind this is that religions have dogma (rules) by which to practice, work and worship. Simply from a scientific point of view all sciences have a prescribed set of actions which are to cause an effect or change in some way. These rules of practice and performance are much like dogmatic rules in a way. Everything could be the higher power to which you give honor or thanks and recognition. Whether it be the science itself, the elements used therein or the outcome or other outside force. All people have a God of one form or another, whether it be themselves, the universe, a tree, a concept, money etc. All things could be considered religious in nature. It all has to do with the perception of the person involved. Whether divine or secular.

Wicca and Witchcraft are NOT the same. If you are going to come on to message boards with your ignorant, bigoted drivel, at least get your facts straight.

Just to add, I agree with the young witch who mentioned connection with Deity and also our connection with the earth. Blessings to you all and from persona experience its really hard to find male pagans anywhere who are my age.

If you can make a religion out of stories of visions, lies, theft, murder, genocide, misrepresentation, fascist control, and all other man made corruption, then pretty much anything can become a religion.

I don't worship anything, and observe no dogma, but I give affectionate consideration to the natural world around me; what's left of it. Including plants, animals, bacteria, viruses, molecules, atoms, and also the things that we don't know about and can not physically observe.

I could create a name, write some poetry and songs about it (what I do), and chant, and go through invented rituals over a designed or natural timeline, and fabricate a dogma to force others to conform to my patterns, and make it into a religion.

How many people in their country's census claim to be a Jedi.
After the Star Wars movies, and a few decades, and with no proof in reality (just like the other religions), it is considered a 'religion' in some circles.

Why can't any anthropocentric concept become a religion?