What's the gist of Wiccan?
What's your experience with it?
Care to help rid some myths about it all?
2006-07-21 04:43:54 · 8 answers · asked by My Big Bear Ron 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wicca is a recently created, Neopagan religion. The various branches of Wicca can be traced back to Gardnerian Witchcraft which was founded in the UK during the late 1940s.
Wicca is based on the symbols, seasonal days of celebration, beliefs and deities of ancient Celtic society. Added to this material were Masonic and ceremonial magickal components from recent centuries. In this respect, it is a religion whose roots go back almost three millennia to the formation of Celtic society circa 800 BCE.
Sources I've found useful in my path: books by Scott Cunningham; Starhawk; Mike Nichols. Online: Witchvox.com; DavensJournal.com; ReligiousTolerance.org; CoG.org; Wicca.com
2006-07-21 05:19:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I gave this a few minutes to let the Wiccans answer for themselves, but maybe theres none on here at the moment.
First, Wicca is a religion, Wiccan is someone who follows that religion. Now that the grammar lesson is over, I'll do my best to explain my understanding of it.
Wicca is a Pagan, nature-oriented religion founded in the 1950's by an Englishman named Gardiner. While Wicca is a relatively new religion, it incorporates elements of traditional witchcraft which are much older. This is why you will hear some Wiccans refer to it as "The Old Religion".
There is one cardinal rule in Wicca which states, "An it harm none, do as ye will." This is called the Wiccan Rede. It is believed this was derived from Aliester Crowley's "Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love under will." From his Book Of The Law. Crowley was a turn of the (last) century magickian and a self expressed Pagan and Occultist.
As far as the "for dummies" book goes, I'm afraid I can't help, I haven't read it. Sorry.
2006-07-21 11:58:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure it's a fine book if all you want is the basics.
Wicca is an earth-based religion... it usually has a Goddess at the center, with the God being her consort... they say they are equal, but most place more emphasis on the Goddess than the God.
I started in Wicca when I was about 13 yrs old, by the time I was 18 I was considered a High Priestess... I left Wicca behind when I was 22.
Satanic worship is one of the biggest myths about Wicca from outsiders.
Wicca being older than Christianity is one of the biggest myths w/in Wicca. It began in the 1940's and relies on some ancient ideas... cultural religions, etc... but is actually a mix-n-match of different cultures presented as one religion (with the myth that it's older than Christianity). Some will claim that Wicca means Witchcraft, it doesn't. There are plenty of Wiccans who are in the religion for the peaceful aspect of it, not for any witchcraft/magic. It seems to be mainly a religion for younger people. Most of the people I know that used to be Wiccans, including myself, consider themselves just Pagan now.
Whatever you read about it, I suggest that you look it up in history as well. Some of what is presented is their idea of what it is... doesn't necessarily make it the absolute truth. ^_^
2006-07-21 11:59:30 · answer #3 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not Wiccan, but I have several friends who are - and the one thing they always agree on is that you find your path to the Goddess, so there is no set concept of Wicca. i would look at some books, talk to some Wiccans and see what you think.
Myths:
Wiccans are devil worshippers. No they are not - they don't believe in the Judaeo-Christian god, so they don't believe in the devil...
Wiccans sacrifice animals. No they don't. True Wiccans respect living things.
2006-07-21 11:49:47 · answer #4 · answered by merigold00 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I find the Wicca for Dummies and Paganism for Dummies to be eclectic and informative. They have good information for beginners and for those interested in learning more about earth based spirituality.
2006-07-21 12:15:41 · answer #5 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wicca is a beautiful path but it is not Celtic. For an excellent article on the reasons why it is not Celtic:
http://www.clannada.org/wicca.php
2006-07-21 13:23:44 · answer #6 · answered by Witchy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Burning Wiccan's at the stake for Dummies" is a much better source!
2006-07-21 11:51:42 · answer #7 · answered by Evil Id. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here comes the christian "tolerance"
Let's watch it unfold.
2006-07-21 11:48:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋