Why do people shun Wicca?

Question

I am not Wiccan myself, although I became interested in what it was all about several years ago and did quite a lot of research. I also have several friends who are Wiccan. Why do people jump to the conclusion that it is evil? It is one of the oldest religions and it is a peaceful one. Wiccans have never persecuted anyone, and in turn do not hate Christians because they have different beliefs, so why all the hate? Why all of the "You're stupid because magick doesn't exist." No Wiccan would say something like that to a Christian. I have observed a few Wiccan ceremonies, it's not a cult, it's not Satanic. It's peaceful.

Grabbag, did you even read the question?
The first thing I said is that I am NOT Wiccan. Don't answer if you're not going to read the whole thing.

Answer 1

Simply put, the people who shun Wicca have fallen victim to Christian propaganda. It was this same propaganda that was behind the slaughter of millions during the Inquisition. All one need do is read a translation of the original document "The Malleus Maleficarum (The Witch Hammer)," first published in 1486 to see the level hatred, pure evil, consummate lies and murderous intent that was showered upon those who did not believe as the early Christians did.

It is unfortunate that these profound lies are still in existence today. One would think that humanity would have grown past the intellectual deficit that was prevalent during the 15th century but it seems it has not. In truth...

Wicca is a modern day version of the Old Religion (read paganism) that was brought out of hiding in 1954 by Gerald Gardner after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed. In short, until that Act was taken off the books, those who followed the Old Religion had to remain in hiding. During the Inquisition, they went underground otherwise face their immanent death at the hands of the loving Christians. Still deeply prejudiced against, followers had to remain in hiding otherwise face the wrath of British law.

Those who follow the Wiccan Way do not - my I repeat - DO NOT worship an entity known as Satan. Satan is a Christian mythological construct - consequently, in order to follow this Satan character, you must first believe this character exists. The religion is peaceful, honors our Earth Mother, attempts to live in balance with the Earth (a lesson everyone can learn given the degradation of the planet's environment) and works with the energies all round us. Thus the term, Magik. This is not pulling a rabbit out of a hat nor is it anything along the lines of what the Hollywood movie machine churns out. It is the acceptance that everything is energy in one form or another, with Wicca working with it in a positive way. So, to get straight to the point...

Those who shun Wicca by blindly believing the propaganda fed to them, are ignorant of the truth. They would blend well with their 15th century Christian forebears. Sad. Truly and ultimately sad.

Answer 2

Technically speaking, Wicca is not "one of the oldest religions". It only dates back to the 50s. It does, however, draw on beliefs that are much, much older.

That being said, a couple of reasons.

1) Christians are told by their Holy Book that what Wiccans believe is wrong, therefore they believe that it's wrong.

2) People don't like what they don't understand, and hold themselves in willful ignorance rather than learn the truth about what Wicca is.

3) Popular culture has given people a wrong impression of Wicca in general, and the actions of some "Wiccans" who are in it for shock value do nothing to help dispell those misconceptions. The vast majority of Wiccans, if you were to pass them on the street, wouldn't earn a second glance from folks.


To the person who commented on the Wiccans getting married with "This year it was two that were getting married and they had on flamboyant costumes and even their faces were tattooed" - What do you think the traditional wedding dress and tuxedo is? It's a "flamboyant costume" that screams "look at me".

Answer 3

Christians tend to think that anyone who believes anything different than what they preach are "evil".

That being said, those who speak highly of wicca are often misleading. They claim that it is the oldest religion in the world, when in fact, it is not. It was invented sometime in the early 1900's. Those who were accused of being witches in the 1500's and 1600's were, in fact, Christians who were being persecuted and being falsely called "witches".

Pagan religions have existed prior to Christianity, but Paganism and Wicca are not the same thing, despite what many Wiccans believe. Pagans did not practice magic, or follow much of any of the Wiccian doctorine.

I agree that it is a peaceful and harmless religion, and I agree that Christianity has proven to be as dangerous as Islam, if not worse over the past 2000 years, however, Wicca loses a lot of credibility due to the fact that many of it's followers bend the truth when speaking of their faith.

I say this as a completely neutral Buddhist.

Be at peace.

Answer 4

People fear what they do not understand Wicca has been around well before Christianity and I believe that frightens alot of people. We are a peaceful group we are not self serving, meaning we do not step on or push aside anyone to meet the goals we set for ourselves. In our ceremonies there is no evil intent, despite what some would think we do not sacrifice animals as Christianity of old did. We follow the same set of rules as everyone else by this I mean the christian "ten commandments". These are just common sense guildlines on what is acceptable behavior. Our belief systems as to what is right and wrong are essentially the same. So why do people condemn us, because they don't take the time to know us. I wait years before I tell a person that I am Wiccan and by then they are more accepting because they have grown to care about me. I do not worship the devil, I do not kill anything whether it be animals or virgins or newborn babies. Wicca is peace, love of people and all of nature.

Answer 5

People fear what they don't understand. And their fear is so great they listen to the negative rather than the good. It's really very political the way people treat religious beliefs. Take a look at today's political campaigns. There are more candidates who have negative ads about their competition than positive ads about themselves. And you know what? These ads work. The same goes for religion. The negative things said about Wicca or any other religion are believed far easier than any of the positive things. Being Wiccan, this makes me sad. Though all I can do to change these incorrect views is to be who I am and to not be afraid to speak up for what I believe in.

Answer 6

I don't think it's true that wiccans and or pagans are shunned.You may just have had bad luck with the people you ran into. For the most part it's the lack of knowledge, the fear and association stemmes from the persecutions, during which it was said witches where in a packt with the devil and evil. They where out to hurt and curse. In truth most peopple that where murderd then weren't even wiccans, but midwifes and such.It was caused by a mass hysteria starded by the catholic church.So it is simply ignorance, and lack of information.

Answer 7

It's gotten a bad rep. because of movies, books, etc. It's a stupid part of our culture that most people think Wicca is bad. I'm not Wiccan myself (not Christian either), but I know people who are. You're very right. It's not Satanic in any way.

Answer 8

To answer your question. People tend to shun it because they know it is not of God and it is of the devil, whether peple believe it or not, and yes its a cult. A cult is considered any religion that is not about God and Jesus.
It is an old religion, and yes the devil been around a long long time...... It is evil, tho many in it dont know that. i once went to a church that someone said was a cult. didnt see it for a long time, but God sure showed me. and I ran. A true Christian wont hate you, they only hate what you do, because its not of God. God is the miracle miracle. can devil do it too, yep. He often comes an an angel of light, the Bible tells us. BUt, we are to check out all things according to scripture, including miracles. and a Christian should never say they hate you or anyone else. Even God gives free choice. and sure its peaceful, with so little rules as in Christianity, you have less to debate about. God wants us peaceful and in unity, but only if it is in the full truth of God. I just encourage you to keep searching, and praying before you deceide to get in a group like this. You can go down quickly and lose all you ever stood for.
Run to the nearest exit and ask God what to do.

Answer 9

it's just very misunderstood, and not seen as a religion, but as an "evil" cult. any religion not of christianity is seen as satanic. i'm not wiccan either. wicca is earth "medicine," just as my native american earth medicine practices are. ppl need to read and learn for themselves, and not blindly follow what others' tell them. look at all the rituals that churches practice in the name of jesus christ...it's no different, just has a larger following, and more money, which equals greater population and more power. i am not a christian hater, or a hater of anyone who practices any religion that brings them peace-of mind...you can worship a peanut plant for all i care. lol. what bothers me is ppl who attempt to shove their beliefs down my throat. the superiority and arrogance of such ppl is despicable and ignorant.

Answer 10

The common reason is they don't understand it, and they have been taught that all witchcraft is evil. And there is a certain amount of what gemmyt mentions - you tend to remember the ones that stand out - the Goth, spike hair, black fingernails and such, wear pentagrams the size of Rhode island, other than the rest of us that dress in normal everyday clothes, might wear a pentagram, but in general look like the mainstream of society and don't stand out at all. Not that being offbeat is bad, you just have to understand the consequences of sticking out.