Must Wiccans and/or Pagans share all of the same beliefs as other Wiccans and/or Pagans, like the more commonly practiced religions such as Christianity (and all of its different variations), Judaism and/or Islam?
2006-09-02 02:38:21 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
This question makes me giggle. While within our own groups, we may attempt to organize, and some are more successful then others (i.e. Wiccans, Druids, etc.), I certainly wouldn't say that any particular pagan belief is "organized". That would connote a central figurehead, or ruling party, which is most definitely NOT a pagan idea....we're a pretty independent group.....that is after all, how we ended up pagan!
2006-09-02 03:03:46 · answer #1 · answered by Randi L 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Organization exists all over paganism and wicca. an organization of thoughts an organizatin of beliefs and organization of rituals and practices....even the organization of the devotees involved. However I do not believe this is the answer you are looking for.
Perhaps you should have asked about orthodoxy. Wicca is one of a handful of pagan practices that has been structured in such a way as to be labeled an organized religion by means of orthodoxy and recognition by the governments of various countries for legal religious protection.
Paganism on the otherhand has no orthodoxy, as there is no one specific principle that all pagans practice and binds them together as a whole (unlike christianity , islam, and judaism). Paganism is a descriptive term to classify the form of religion and/or practice that is different from mainstream practices AND non tradtional religions as a whole. Granted Nontraditional religions include paganism, paganism is an underling to the word s nontraditional religion. not the other way around.
2006-09-02 05:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, they aren't considered organised religions. Paganism is a catch-all term for any religion that isn't Christianity, Judaism, or Islam (before anyone remarks, that *is* the definition, look it up).
Wicca has many branches, just like Christianity has branches. Where Christians can be Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc., Wiccans can be Alexandrian, Gardnerian, Dianic, and many others. They aren't required to have same beliefs as every other Wiccan, and there are usually different beliefs among even the same branch.
2006-09-02 02:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by ChiChi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Wicca is, however, recognized as a religion by the US Government, and has the rights and protections offered to other religions.
"Paganism" in general does not have that distinction.
While there are *common* beliefs that tie the various Pagan religions together (Druid, Asatru, Shaman, Wicca, etc.), that is far different from them all sharing the SAME beliefs.
Even in Wicca, there are various Traditions (akin to "denominations" in Christianity), and the practices and such may vary somewhat from Trad to Trad.
2006-09-02 06:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, but some Wicca groups are organized into hierarchies (1st degree, 2nd degree, and 3rd degree), stolen from Freemasonry. Some groups, like the Church of Wicca are organized into churches. Most Wiccans are "solitary" Wiccans, belonging to no group, and making up rituals as they go along.
Wicca is more of a movement than an orginization. Crowley follower and O.T.O. member Gerald Gardner started circa 1950 as a way to be beaten by strong willed women(he was a masochist). Like most witchcraft "covens" (like the Hellfire Club) it was a sex club. With the nudity and sado-masochistic rituals of Gardner's original cult, it quickly caught on with people starting their own fake "traditions". After Adian Kelly and later Ronald Hutton blew the lid off the cauldron, some Wiccans have tried damage control by calling Wicca a "reconstructionist movement"...but you can't reconstruct something that didn't exist previously. In England, the birth country of Wicca, it is considered somewhat of a joke, and appeals mostly to juvenile deliquents much the way Satanism does in the U.S. One Brit told me "it's like a fashion accessory to them".
2006-09-02 17:03:22 · answer #5 · answered by The Notorious Doctor Zoom Zoom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wicca is definately becoming more organized, as for being a religion... dubious. All the great claims of ancient traditions aren't really supported by the way it's followers act. So it's much like Christianity in that respect.
Paganism isn't a religion. The modern meaning of the term simply means someone who has rejected Christianity (or the major religion of wherever they are.) Encompassing so many people makes it hard to be organized.
2006-09-02 03:44:12 · answer #6 · answered by tgypoi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
More like "beliefs" (whatever that means).
Keep in mind that those who are calling the shots as to "organized religions" as Catholics, Jews and Christians (among others)
2006-09-02 02:40:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This link can provide non-biased info about Wicca...
http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm
This link can explain the word Pagan and Paganism, also non-biased...
http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm
This link can provide examples of the different traditions/denominations of Neo-Paganism...
http://www.religioustolerance.org/neo_paga.htm
Blessings )O(
2006-09-02 03:04:43 · answer #8 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wicca is the third largest reported religion in the country.
2006-09-02 02:40:18 · answer #9 · answered by Cattlemanbob 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I do not think that Wicca and paganism are considered "organised religions", so there is nothing to share...
2006-09-02 02:40:06 · answer #10 · answered by narcissa_bl 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋