Spirits, Song, and String (Glogmas '25)
For Mothman. I read their religious wizard post again and thought "if multiple types of wizard existed in the same world, how would they explain the others under their own worldview?" So let's compare three types: spells as creatures (whether their spells be ferrets or people), spells as specific means of manipulating the "weave" of magic and/or reality akin to D&D proper, and "spells" as the ability to just tell reality what to do and being obeyed. I'll refer to these as binders, weavers, and speakers, respectively. Mostly because "wizard" and "sorcerer" are broad terms that mean different things for everyone and I want some modicum of consistency here.
Binders
To binders, spells are living things, albeit very different from most other living things. They might be referred to as spirits, thoughtforms, demons, or other such terms, and binders can vary in whether they treat their spells as pets, friends, livestock, slaves, divine allies, or whatever other relationship you can think of. They are without a doubt the most varied of these three schools, which makes the explanations the other schools give for them are similarly varied.
Weavers tend to be split. Some consider binders to be delusional fools who personify nonsentient patterns of magic, others assume that their "spells" are actual spirits that cast the spells for them, and a few think that binders themselves vary in which of these explanations apply.
Speakers believe binders, rather than training themselves to be able to shape reality, take a roundabout way and instead learned how to convince minor demons or spirits to alter the world for them. Some speakers see this as a valid method, others call it cheating or unreliable because you're not doing the magic yourself.
Weavers
To weavers, a spell is a set method of altering the flow of magic throughout the world. It's a means of tugging the strings of reality itself, altering it just right to perform a specific action based on the spell in question. Spells are often named after notable weavers who discovered the techniques, who occasionally include their name somewhere in the incantation so anyone nearby knows exactly who created the spell. Many weavers treat their spells as a science, with precise mathematics involved in their incantations.
Binders believe weavers simply refuse to admit their spells are alive, as the kind of specific effects these spells cause are always tied to some kind of specific spirit. A few, rather than believing weavers are simply binders that won't admit it, instead think that a weaver's spells are a means of calling forth a spirit and commanding it in one motion rather than simply keeping the spirit bound in a book or your skull.
Speakers believe weavers to be excessively meticulous to the point of paranoia, as they have to jump through so many hoops just to get a similar effect to a speaker just telling reality to shut up and sit down. Sure, it might be less dangerous, but it takes too long and is too limited. Very few speakers consider it a method worthy of respect, usually because if they did then they would be weavers instead.
Speakers
To binders, there is no such thing as a spell, only telling reality what to do and being obeyed. They use the supposed true names of things to command them on a fundamental level, like telling a rock to throw itself at someone, or commanding a person and simply being obeyed. Some think this is a gift from the gods, others that it puts them on the level of gods. The latter type is frequently scorned by most religions.
Binders believe that speakers, rather than knowing some kind of fundamental "true name," instead have discovered how to command unbound spirits directly. A speaker that tells a stream to reroute itself is instead telling the local water spirits to change the stream's course, for instance. They consider the tendency of speakers to ascribe their powers to themselves alone an act of extreme hubris.
Weavers believe speakers to be dangerous lunatics that ignore all precautions or technique in favor of metaphorically grabbing onto the weave and yanking it in whatever direction they want, regardless of danger. Their methods are simply a crude and direct version of that of weavers, and their tendency to die horribly only reinforces that. Many weavers are jealous at the ease and power that speakers can display, but you will never see one admit it.