would someone please explain what exactly is the Wicca religion.?

Question

i've seen some references to it but i can't figure out what it is and i am to lazy to look it up on google or wikipedia. so will anyone with first hand experience please explain it to me?

Answer 1

Wicca is a Neopagan religion and a religious movement found in various countries throughout the world. It was first popularised in 1954 by a British civil servant named Gerald Gardner[1] after the British Witchcraft Act was repealed. He claimed that the religion, of which he was an initiate, was a modern survival of an old witchcraft religion, which had existed in secret for hundreds of years, originating in the pre-Christian Paganism of Europe. Wicca is thus sometimes referred to as the Old Religion. The veracity of Gardner's claims cannot be independently proven, and it is thought that written Wiccan theology began to be compiled no earlier than the 1920s. Various related Wiccan traditions have since evolved, or been adapted from, the form established by Gardner, which came to be called Gardnerian Wicca. These other traditions of Wicca each have distinctive beliefs, rituals, and practices. Many traditions of Wicca remain secretive and require that members be initiated. There is also a movement of Eclectic or Solitary Wiccans who do not believe that any doctrine or traditional initiation is necessary in order to practice Wicca. The 2001 American Religious Identification Survey estimated that at least 134,000 adults identified themselves as Wiccans in the US.

Answer 2

Wicca is the worship of god and goddess together. It is neopagan, but more than that.

I've linked three sites below. the first is the site for the Correllian Tradition of Wicca. the second is parts of an interfaith vigil hosted by a Correllian congregation here in which I was involved (my partner is Correllian Trad. Wicca). Its only highlights, but you may find it interesting to watch and listen to -- the beliefs are woven in. The third is a song by a neopagan -- though not explicitly Wiccan -- band, its a song I like and also shows the goddess centeredness and the god centeredness. (the "horns" symbol that you were told as a kid is the symbol of the devil really is the masculine symbol in many neopagan groups. You will see it being given by the guitarist in the third video)

The holy symbol of Wicca is the pentagram, though some people use the anhk (Egyptian symbol of life) and the hmmm... tri something, its three interwoven symbolized leaves. It represents the threefold goddess -- maid, mother, and crone or innocence, nurturing and wisdom if you prefer.

If you need more details, email me directly, I can ask Jonathan.

Kind thoughts,

Reyn
[e-mail]

Answer 3

Wicca is an earth based religion, with many paths. Most worship a Goddess and a God. and revere nature in all its aspects. Some practice magick while some dont. It is a matter of personal choice. We do not believe in the devil, worship Satan or even believe hell exists.

We have a reed which is "An' it harm none, do as you will" meaning you have free choice, also long as it doesn't hurt anyone including yourself. we also believe in the law of three which is anything you do will come back to you times three, weather good or bad.

Many Wiccans also believe in reincarnation, spirits, and in natural energies which are present all around us. Many practices are based on ancient rituals, from many theologies, such as Celtic, Norse, Roman/Greek, Egyptian, and Native American. Although the religion itself was founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1940's

Here are a few websites that offer legit information on Wicca.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_stat1.htm
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_faq.htm
http://www.crystalinks.com/wicca.html
http://www.witchvox.com

Answer 4

Wicca is a neopagan religion that worships mostly gods that existed in the pagan world pre-Christianity, though in a very different way than they were worshiped. They cast spells, mostly, but do not worship any demonic or devil figure.

Answer 5

All Wiccans believe differently as there are many, many paths of Wicca. In no way am I trying to speak for all Wiccans when stating my beliefs. However, the path I follow, generally believes in a duality of a Goddess and a God. We believe that there is a balance in nature and do what we can to preserve Mother Earth. We believe in an acceptance of ourselves and others and do not try to force our beliefs on anyone, although we WILL defend our beliefs if needed. We do not have a Bible that we follow although we do have the "Wiccan Rede" which we try to follow as much as practical. We do not believe in the Christian version of God nor of Satan and Hell. We do not worship the devil as some people think. We believe in the three-fold law, meaning that anything you do will come back to you three times over. We believe in multiple reincarnation for the purpose of learning life lessons until we again reconnect with our group soul to ascend to the highest plane (which is several planes beyond Summerland or the equivalent of Heaven).

Here are some sources if you'd like:

Any of the books written by Scott Cunningham... very informative and not "text book" reading.

And online:

http://www.beliefnet.com/index.html?rnd=...
http://www.disorderlywitches.net
http://www.mymagicshop.com
http://www.wiccacourse.co.uk/intro.htm.....
http://www.wicca-chat.com/index.html.......
http://www.blackoakswitchcraft.bravehost
http://www.witchvox.com

There are also many informative Yahoo groups and MSN groups.

Blessed Be.

Just read a couple more answers and in response: no, we do not draw parallels between Wicca and Christianity, we do not need to feel validated by Christians just as Christians do not need to feel validated by Wiccans. Also, Wicca is not a cult as some would have you believe. There are many practicing solitary Wiccans and even those of us in a coven are encouraged to believe however we want to believe, not how the leaders want us to believe. One aspect of being Wiccan is about acceptance of ourselves and each other.

Answer 6

Here's a good website to explain some things. It mostly dispells what christianity tells you what wicca is.

http://www.mdpagans.com/wiccaisnot.html

Answer 7

A polytheistic Neo-Pagan nature religion inspired by various pre-Christian western European beliefs, whose central deity is a mother goddess and which includes the use of herbal magic and benign witchcraft.

Answer 8

wicca is not a religion as such but a cult, it is a neo-pagan earth centered cult that has ties with the black arts through Aleister Crowley, a devious bi-sexual who claimed to have had an erotic experience with lucifer.
Crowley was a bid influence on Gerald Gardner who did not intend for wicca to go down this road.
it is totally anti-Christian in that adherants worship the Earth and Moon Goddess.

the truth hurts, watch how many wiccans will give thumbs down for this.

Answer 9

It's a neopagan religion that is all about personal experience and your own perception and path.

A heavy hint of it is also self-empowerment.

Answer 10

It is the worshipof all devine things.... it is an anciant pagan tradition..
Wiccans believe that all life is sacred, so they aim to conserve and protect earth and all her life forms
Wicca is a 'mystery religion'