Why is Wicca so hip and trendy?

Answer 1

There's Wicca, and then there's Hollywood Wicca.

The real Wicca isn't particularly hip and trendy. Nor is it necessarily staid and frumpy (that might just be me!) It just... is.

Hollywood Wicca, however, as shown in "The Craft" and "Charmed," shows good-looking teenagers with great clothes and special magickal powers shot in slow motion. What's not to like?

A lot of serious students of the craft are first drawn in by Hollywood Wicca, because that's their first introduction to ANY Wicca. But once they become serious about it, it's interesting how the more goth-like "dressings" of it sometimes fall by the wayside.

Answer 2

Hip and trendy? Around here, the Wiccans are mostly aging Earth-mama types, graying hippies, and the occasional goth college student or SCA member. Interesting religion, but I don't think "hip" really applies, nor is hipness the reason that these people chose Wicca as their religion. Any religion can be seen as potentially trendy, but the ones who join it just to ride a trend don't tend to stay very long, or have true devotion.

Answer 3

At first (back in the late 50's swinging 60's), it was because the participants got naked, tied each other up, got whipped, had sex, drank wine, smoked pot, and got to pretend they had magical powers to boot. Then they smuggly said "This is a religion, we're not doing it to be kinky...really." Gardner started his cult to satisfy his penchant for sado-masochsim and bondage at the hands of strong willed women at first, and then it took off from there. Who could have imagined it would take off? When I was a sloitary Wiccan as a teen, I was the only one I knew (which is why I was solitary). Now you can't sling a dead cat around (and please don't try that) without hitting three.

Since then publisher Lewellyn (among others) have tried to clean up Wicca's image. Now it seems to be less about the sex and drugs. Silver Ravenwolf is the sorceress-soccer mom who promotes "Just Say No To Drugs" and yes to witchcraft. Today it's nmore about having a religion where you can make up the rules as you go along.

For some people it's also the shock value of getting to call themselves "witch". Some are self deluded into really believing they have magic powers (they don't...their "powers" can't even get rid of me from Yahoo Answers!). Early books of Wicca from 30 or 40 years ago talk about the secrecy needed to practice even though the authors of said books never seemed to follow their own advice. No one seems to follow it today either. Wicca is Hallowe'en everyday, to put it bluntly.

The worst aspect about Wicca is probably the history revision...which is also another reason to it's appeal. Wiccans believe they are part of a Stone Age religion, driven underground by the evil "xtians", and almost wiped out in a holocaust that makes Hitler's "Final Solution" pale by comparison. Facts are distorted or simply made up...written about in books about Wicca by Wiccans...then quoted by other Wiccans in other books. The result: angry teens can find an outlet to vent their anger: on the evil "xtians" who constantly supress their religion and drive it underground(!). In reality, the figures Wiccan's cite for the witch hunt era are exxageratted, Wicca was created circa 1950, it's never been "underground" but is in fact always seeking recruits via books, television interviews, seminars, magazines, and now the internet.

Movies like "The Craft" and TV shows like "Buffy" and "Charmed" are no doubt contributing to the growth of Wicca.

Spiritism (another fad religion) was also widly popular in the 19th century, and it is believed there may have been more Spiritists than Christians in the U.S.A. The radio is creditied to the demise of spiritism. It's unlikely such an invention will detract from Wicca. Perhaps common sense will someday prevail (but I wouldn't count on it).

Answer 4

Is not Hip or Trendy. Most of the people who are truly Wicca, believe in the old art that are older that any other religion known to man. The only hip and trendy people are those who believe it's just like the Hollywood movies show. Wicca has been gaining momentum (esp in the US) because people are becoming disenfranchised with the Neo-Christan faiths and are returning to more ancient beliefs of spirituality.

Answer 5

Because it is a faith that allows people to follow the truth of their own hearts.

Because it acknowledges the multifaceted nature of the divine.

Because it recognizes, accepts and celebrates the connection between modern scientific discovery and ancient spiritual beliefs.

Because it encourages free thought, open-mindedness, equality, environmental protection, love and tolerance.

Because it is a new religion with roots in the oldest human belief systems.

Because it is a constant source of beauty and wonder.

Answer 6

I don't know if I would call it hip and trendy, because Wiccans do get their fair share of prejudiced behavior directed towards them.

But I think a lot of people are drawn to it because it celebrates nature. And in general, it is a loving, peaceful religion.

Answer 7

It just makes so much more SENSE to me.

I like the idea that I am responsible for my behavior and choices, instead of blaming a "bad guy" (Satan) i.e. "I didn't really WANT to break into your house and steal all your jewelry, but Satan has been having his way with me lately!"

I like the idea that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with human kind, that we are not flawed and deserving of punishment straight out of the womb.

Answer 8

i can't really add anything more than waht Patrick, Gemma adn Solarious said, except to agree wthat true Wiccans like myself do not choose it to be trendy, and it really isn't. We choose it because it is right for us, and I agree that it is growing because people are getting tired of the pusy christians. God or bad i don't really know, but we are gaining ground.

Answer 9

Because people are beginning to realize that the earth isn't theirs to just do with whatever they please, thus they are becoming more ecologically aware. Wicca and other Neo-Pagan religions are earth oriented, so these types of people are drawn to them.

Answer 10

Magic