Is Wicca Polytheistic or Monotheistic?

Question

There seems to be some confusion within the Pagan community as to wether our religion has one god with multiple personality disorder, or many individual goddesses and gods. Which do you think best describes Wicca? Why do you think that (meaning where did you get that idea or belief - books, training, friend's opinion)? Also could you add to your answer wether you are a solitary practioner or if you are formally trained in a coven/tradition?

Answer 1

Polythesitic. Goddess and Gods in many forms. I am a first degree witch. I practice solitary plus I am in a coven. We are Alexandrian derrived from Alex Sanders of England. Our pantheon is the Greek Pantheon. Some have Celtic, however, our particular group likes the Greek Pantheon.

Answer 2

There is no confusion. It is a personal choice what to believe or the choice of the tradition you follow. Wicca teaches that religion is man's attempt to explain that which is unexplainable so some beleive there is one diety with many aspects like the diamond is one stone, but there are many facets to it.

Others believe there are many gods and goddesses. Wicca is a releigion that we decide what is best the only thing that is not Wicca in that aspect is one God or Goddes without the aspects. Wicca honors the God and Goddess and to honor only the Goddess, as some do or just the god is onesided and is not totally Wicca.

I am solitary, but am on my first degree year with a major tradition. I just started my first degree traing about 2 months ago. I have been solitary for 4 years studying all the books I can.

I study Scott Cunningham and Raymond Buckland the most.

Answer 3

Wicca is polytheistic, if not only for the simple fact of the acknowledgment of a God and Goddess. I am a solitary practitioner of Christian Witchery not Wicca only because I was not able to reconcile the polytheistic views of Wicca with my own beliefs. Here is a great site that I have found to be the most informative on any religion you may need information on.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/

Blessed Be

Answer 4

Depending upon one's point of view, Wicca can be considered a monotheistic,
duotheistic, polytheistic, or atheistic religion:
Wicca is monotheistic:
Some Wiccans recognize a single supreme being,
sometimes called "The All" or "The One."
The Goddess and God are viewed as the female and male aspects of this single deity.
Wicca is duotheistic (a.k.a. rarely as bitheistic):
Wiccans often worship a female Goddess and a male God.,
often called the Lady and Lord.
Wicca is polytheistic:
Wiccans recognize the existence of many ancient Gods and Goddesses,
including Pan, Diana, Dionysius, Fergus, etc.
Wicca is atheistic:
Some Wiccans view the God and Goddess as symbols,
not living entities.
Depending upon which definition of the term "Atheist" that you adopt,
these Wiccans may be considered Atheists.

I have a friend who is a wiccan, she has taught me some Wicca beliefs. Also I have had some exposure to it in a private school

Answer 5

Classically, everything I have seen points towards Wicca being polytheistic, with practicitioners actively acknowledging at least two deities, referred to (in Outer Court) as the Lord and the Lady. (Inner Court members have access to the specific names used in each group.) Certain groups focus nearly exclusively upon the Lady, especially in the more feminist spin-offs.

Many neo-Wiccan groups are further polytheistic by actively worshipping a number of deities in their groups, though many of these view the individual named deities as "instances" of the Lord and Lady - much like the "one god with MPD" as you described.

As for my sources - I'm not Wiccan, but I've spent enough time talking about this with folks all along the spectrum, from formally trained BTWs to newly-minted neo-Wiccans.

Answer 6

Wicca is clearly polytheistic.

Look at the 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief.

Answer 7

Polytheistic. Wicca is about the Goddess and God equally.

Answer 8

Ask 12 different Wiccans and you'll get 13 different answers.

Personally, I am of the "all Gods are one God" school of thought - that there is one overall Higher Power, which transcends consciousness and gender as we know it, but it is beyond our comprehension so it has been "broken down" by human beings into identities we can relate to. The various names and depictions of Deity throughout history and religion are all facets of the same diamond. "God and Goddess" are the broadest breakdown of this energy, as a way to address and relate to the masculine and feminine energies of Deity.

That's not to say that the energy associated with one embodiment or name is "the same as" any other - just that it's a different view or aspect of the energy.

Answer 9

It's compatible with both monotheism and polytheism. Wiccans traditionally observe, although perhaps not worship, a concept of the "Mother Goddess". It's believed by some that this concept manifests itself in the term "Mother Nature".

However the practice of Wicca can be combined with traditional Pagan beliefs with are polytheistic. It can also be combined with monotheism, or possibly agnosticism or atheism.

Answer 10

Wicca is a Polytheistic religion, i know this from Books, training, friends, and it is my personal opinion :)

my family tradition~