...So okay, I've read quite a few of the messages now, and I have to say - both to those who term themselves witches and to those who insist that nobody today is a witch - the following: the use of the term 'witch' by modern Goddess-worshippers doesn't, in all probability, bear much resemblance to its use historically. We simply don't have reliable records to support or refute the idea definitely (although the records we do have tend to refute more than support the current usage by modern pagans). But it's a fairly harmless instance of reclaiming an ugly old term, just as hippies took to calling themselves 'freaks' in the late '60s. To those who want to insist that modern pagans aren't real witches, I'd like to point out that Yeshua (usually called 'Jesus') would likely have a bit of trouble recognising the religious practises of most of the people today calling themselves Christians. Like most swords, that business can cut both ways. Just for example, Yeshua is said to have enjoined his followers not to judge others... and it seems to me I've noticed a fair bit of judgemental language in this thread. On both sides of the pentagram, I might add.