Is being "Goth" a pre-req for following a Neopagan religion?

Question

I'm not "Goth",but I'm interested in studying Wicca. :)

Answer 1

Wicca has absolutely nothing to do with being "Goth". The whole "Goth" thing is pretty much just a way of dressing. I wonder sometimes if some of the kids that dress that way know what the pentacle around their necks mean. Most likely not. With saying all this that doesn't mean that there aren't Wiccans that are "Goths". I'm sure there are. But, like I said, that just happens to be the way they choose to dress. I think people have this stigma that we all dress in black, have odd hairdo's and wear black nail polish and lots of black eyeliner. If that's the case then I better go shopping and take the rest of my Wiccan/Pagan friends with me because we missed the memo, lol. Just dress however you want and study hard.

Answer 2

While not all goths are Wiccan, and not all Wiccans are goth, the beauty of the neopagan community is that it's very accepting of subcultures, as well as people who are more mainstream. I have been pagan for a decade; I have found a spiritual community that accepts me as me, regardless of what I wear, who I love, how I identify, etc.

Unfortunately, there have been a few groups of people who aren't so crazy about diversity. The heathen/Asatru community has a problem with white supremacists taking Norse mythos and religion and applying it to their own prejudices. And as tolerant as most pagans are, you do still find some who are misogynist (or misanthropic), homphobic/biphobic/transphobic, or racist. Also, politically the community tends to be more left than right, so some people often think that Republicans and Libertarians can't be pagan.

As for getting started in Wicca, here's a little something that I wrote up for beginners in general:

I started out with Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner". It's very down to Earth and explains things without condescension or agendas. I also really like jennifer Hunter's "21st Century Wicca"; it deals with a lot of practical, day-to-day concerns. A friend of mine has a book coming out in the next couple of weeks, too; his name is Nicholas Graham, and the book is called "The Four Powers". It's an excellent 101 guide that goes over many different paths, not just Wicca, and the exercises are designed to help you figure out what paths interest you.

You can see some reviews I've done on books on various pagan topics at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com and there are also a lot of good reviews at http://www.davensjournal.com/review.xhtm...

http://www.twpt.com/ also has a bunch of reviews, as well as some articles. And there are reviews galore at http://magickware.wordpress.com/......

Also, check the customer reviews at Amazon.com on various books; those are a really good indicator of what the various reactions to a book have been. And Amazon has a bunch of lists of recommended books at the bottom of each book page; these are put together by customers, too.

The thing is, you want to get opinions from a bunch of people, not just one or two. We all come from different backgrounds, and that affects our personal preferences, what we like adn what we don't like. Take what others have said, pick some things that interest you, and then read them. Form your own opinions as you go along, and refine your further research from that. Bounce your ideas off of others for perspectives.

Good luck on your journey :)

Answer 3

Many Goths reflect popular culture and are probably nominal or devout Christians. Atheism, Agnosticism, the New Age, Gnosticism, Shamanism, Wicca, other Neopagan traditions, and other minority faith groups are represented more frequently than in the general population.

Goths often wear Christian crosses or Christian crucifixes, which many regard as a pre-Christian religious symbol. Others wear New Age/ancient Egyptian Ankh symbols. Some do this as expression of their religious beliefs, some for satire, and others because they like their appearance.

Religion is frequently discussed on the Goth newsgroups. Many songs, band names and album titles have Christian themes. 6

The public incorrectly commonly associates Goths with Marilyn Manson. 10 "Manson publicly presents himself as a follower of the Church of Satan... He was ordained a priest in the Church of Satan by the [late] founder, Anton LaVey. Many fans refer to him as the Rev. Marilyn Manson." 9 (Actually, Manson is not a follower of that Church; he was simply appointed as a Reverend within the Church by its founder, Anton LaVey.) From this Satanic connection, the perception has grown that Goths are frequently linked to Satanism. There are a few Satanists who are also Goths, but they are rare.

Answer 4

Not at all. I don't look at all Goth. I do like black and silver though. I've been Wiccan for over 10 years now and have felt no need to dress up in leather and chains or such. (Although I admit it would be neat to try it just once). I really don't have a goth look. I turned 40 last month and work for an insurance company. I also like country, classical, and bluegrass gospel music.
One thing you'll find after a while, pagans can be found in many places and jobs. It's not your appearance that matters. It's the faith you find that works for you. Everything else is just cosmetic.

Answer 5

No it's not. I'm Wiccan and I am a mortgage broker. A professional businessman.

Now, it does seem that allot of hippie-types are Wiccan, and some Goth, but not all. In fact I don't know allot of Goth Wiccans. Most are the hippie, granola-types. The ones that shop at REI and drive Subarus and Jeeps and do allot of camping and hiking. ;-) Probably because Wicca is an "earth-based" religion.

Answer 6

I know many neopagans who are not goths. The path is open to all with an open heart. =)

I listen to a lot of goth music, but don't completely look the part (even though the music I listen to is worth many more goth points than what other "goths" listen to, lol!).

Answer 7

I'm a goth (among other things) and I do not follow the Neopagan religion. I am an atheist.

Answer 8

being GOTH, has nothing to do with Wicca/

Answer 9

Depends on your definition of "goth".

Answer 10

You can be Wiccan without being goth.

You can be goth without being Wiccan.

Just be you, eh?

: )

.