Talk:Warlock

Respect
I find it disrespectful to say that certain Religions simply stem out of somones fantasy (Wicca). As all other Religions its based on something prior to it.

Ive been a member of the O.T.O. since 96 and have never heard of members founding their own Reöligions to earn money (Hubbard being the exeption).

The most noted FORMER members who founded Religions are Hubbard and Rudolph Steiner and Steiner doesent seem to have made a buck from Antropsophy.

As far as Warlock goes the only real scholary etymology i have found is what is on the page (Vardalokkur or Vaer Loega). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.209.226.151 (talk) 06:37, 31 July 2006‎

Intro

 * Warlocks are, among historic Christian traditions, said to be the male equivalent of witches. Likewise, in traditional Scottish witchcraft warlock was and is simply the term used for a male witch

Why is there an overriding need to explicitly mention Scotland? The definition is exactly the same!! It's the male equivalence of witch in both cases. The intro needs a better rewrite. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.130.57.123 (talk) 10:07, 12 October 2010

Definition is incorrect
Warlock does not mean a male practitioner of witchcraft. Here is an etymology of the word:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/warlock

It means "OATHBREAKER". A male witch is a witch. Ask any Wiccan or other practitioner of witchcraft. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.53.241.110 (talk) 23:16, 26 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Your source is a personal web site and thus is not WP:RS. The Oxford dictionary sources we use are reliable, and agree with the definitions given in other dictionaries.
 * Note that the article already contains an unsourced claim that 'In Wicca, the term warlock is not used; men and women alike use the term "witch".'
 * And the article also gives the etymology, and points out that witch "can be male or female, but has historically been used predominantly for females". Meters (talk) 02:03, 27 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Correct - its insane how people just jump on a bandwagon and tell people BS - a male witch is a witch - a Warlock is a oath breaker and practices dark magic ie.. oath breaker of the Coven Oath. BSpedia says its a male witch so it must be true. I use to goto them for info and found them to be wrong on several occasions and they wont fix stupid! 69.161.88.89 (talk) 21:50, 9 October 2023 (UTC)

Definition is ambiguous
As Oxford explicits, Warlock is a male practicioner of witchcraft, but historically and popularly, it is not the exact counterpart.

The point of view that "Witch" is a male and female word is not exclusive to Wicca, and very generalist, with warlock being considered by a portion of practicioners, but not being the staple.

As so, the beginning of this article should be more open to other meanings, and not directly define the word as a "male practicioner of Witchcraft".

I understand it refers directly to the definition in Oxford dictionary - but this should not be the _only_ example.

I am also open to better understand the building of this article. Mgraminha (talk) 03:35, 19 August 2023 (UTC)
 * Your changes were inappropriate. You were attempting to rewrite this article to be a definition of the word, and as solely an Old English word, not a modern one. Meters (talk) 03:46, 19 August 2023 (UTC)