When you speak to a Christian and to one who practices witchcraft and talk about the philosophy of taking responsibility, you will find that two very different philosophies are being espoused, although each believes they are taking responsibility.  This difference in definitions and understanding of the terms can lead to disappointment in the other's actions on both sides since both the Christian and the witch believe they are living up to the concept of taking responsibility for their actions.

Under witchcraft, taking responsibility means laying hold of the concept that every action has consequences and that actions can be taken according to an individual decision.  The witch has freedom to act.  To take responsibility means taking their actions seriously, accepting themselves as free people with a responsibility to make choices.  The witch values uniquely human right to be in charge of themselves.  The practitioner of witchcraft also recognizes that there are both good and bad consequences of the freedom to choose.

To the Christian, taking responsibility often means obeying the rules which were identified and implemented by others, even when they are not being observed.  The Christian accepts the rules as applying, monitors their behavior to determine that they are following the rules as they understand them.  According to the pagan viewpoint of the Christian concept, taking responsibility is not an acknowledgment of freedom but is an acceptance of constraints voluntarily.  However the pagan viewpoint fails to admit that the Christian may choose the identical lifestyle whether or not there were rules formulated.

The differences between the Christian and witchcraft viewpoint is the difference between being citizens of a society which takes an active role to shape and mold the structure of society or subjects of a society which has the connotation of subordination to the larger group for the benefit of all.

A similar term with very different meanings between Christian and pagan understandings of the word is "self-control".  To those practicing witchcraft they believe that they are the one who has full control over the actions.  They do not surrender to another except under very brief, special and voluntary circumstances. Self-control means taking charge, making all decisions relating to oneself, doing anything so long as it doesn't hurt someone else.

The witch views control as the act of intentionally and positively directing the will toward the achievement of positive goals.  The underlying assumption with the witch's view of self control is that man is inherently valuable, and can achieve good and beneficial ends through the use of will power.

The Christian, on the other hand believes that self control means overcoming inherently evil and bad impulses in order to do what is required or perceived as required by God and or the social order.  The Christian recognizes that humans are basically amoral, evil and uncivilized and self-control is the act of limiting those bad tendencies.

So long as a basic disparity even in the definition of terms remains, it is unlikely that Christians and pagans can hold a reasoned discussion about any of the major differences between the two belief systems.