Is it true that "Paganism and Wicca are officially classed as cults in the UK, not proper religions"?
When the person in question said "officially", I think she meant legally.
I've read that paganism is a legally recognised religion in the US, but I can't find any reference to whether it is defined as a cult or a religion by the UK government,
2006-12-19 12:33:21 · 30 answers · asked by Poppy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does the UK government go to the trouble of classifying religions?
2006-12-19 12:34:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wicca is recognised a religion in the US, not Paganism.
The definitions of a religion are far more loose in the US then they are in Europe, basically anybody can start their own religion.
Here in the UK the recognition of a religion is far more stringent and even Wicca does not meet the criteria, at the moment the government has no official opinion of it.
I should point out that Paganism is an umbrella term for a huge range of differing beliefs so even in the US could not possibly be considered a religion in itself
2006-12-20 01:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by Amberlady (Pagan Historian) 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they are basically categorised that way with the help of the ignorant. i'd say that to have a real cult, you a minimum of ought to have such issues as needed conferences, and a pacesetter you do not question. Wicca and Paganism are so loosely prepared that that is a chance to be a Wiccan or Pagan and under no circumstances finally end up assembly yet another one on your existence time. There are not any efficient ruling bodies at wondering about both, under no circumstances options no efficient canon. that is a chance to have a cult that's Pagan? confident, i assume you've a cult who coincidentally bases its theology on Pagan factors like polytheism and nature. yet that would not make "Paganism" a cult.
2016-11-30 23:43:04 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Witchcraft" (Wicca, Paganism...whatever you call it) was illegal in the UK until, oh, 1910? 1950? I don't remember when. Sometime in the early 1900s. Then it was officially declared un-illegal. Legal, I guess you could say.
My history on the subject is a little hazy, but if it's not illegal, I guess it's more of a religion than a cult. Usually, "religion" refers to a non-profit group that does something of a spiritual nature and pays their taxes and all that.
Cults tend to be more into weird sexual stuff, like shared spouses, or more dangerous, evil things like child exploitation and abuse and taking drugs or poison, handling snakes, stuff like that. Plus, they rarely pay their taxes like a good organization should. I don't know the legal status of Wicca/Paganism in the UK, but as long as they're doing legitimate religious stuff, they're not a cult.
2006-12-19 12:41:21 · answer #4 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wicca is a form of paganism.. which is not a cult, but a religion.
And Wicca is recognized by the military as a form of religion.
2006-12-19 12:52:54 · answer #5 · answered by Daenerys 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A cult by definition is a group of people who blindly follow one leader. As Witches, Wiccans and pagans tend to be free-thinkers, there is no one person that we consider to be THE leader. Thus we cannot be called a cult.
2006-12-19 15:15:47 · answer #6 · answered by AmyB 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Seeing as Wicca and Paganism are not organized religons, how could they be cults?
Perhaps individual covens are not true to the religion and are actually cults, taking advantage, but not the majority.
2006-12-19 12:36:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, paganism (in generic terms) is a legally recognized faith in the U.S.; I was married in a pagan ceremony (my wife holds those beliefs, I'm an atheist), and we're legally married.
I would assume that it would be the same in the UK, as it's generally a more progressive country than the US. Matthew Hopkins would not approve!
2006-12-19 12:40:32 · answer #8 · answered by Quang 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know that there is a lot of noise about both being 'official' religions, but I think that is just because the members are working on the ancient principle that they were always accepted religions, it is only the church that has tried to discourage this kind of worship. Officially in the modern world, I dont think that they have a classification at all, I mean, these days, if you want to be a jedi knight, you just put it on your censis form...
2006-12-19 12:37:55 · answer #9 · answered by kalikapsychosis 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If Paganism is a cult then so is christianity, in my opinion ALL religions are cults.
2006-12-19 12:39:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋