Why is it that when you are Wiccan people always assume you worship the devil, when he doesn't even exist.

Question

I am not huffy just sick of ignorant people that assume my religion is not real because they believe in something else. I do believe there is no heaven or hell and I respect other religions as I do my own. If you nothing about Pagan religions please do not answer. Your religion does not play into this question!

I am blessed and it is not by just one God, but by many God's and Goddesses. I do not need bible pushers assuming they need to "save" me, save yourself.

Answer 1

I feel for ya sweetie.. it happens a lot if you're pagan.
The minute you say witch or wiccan, the hairs on the back of their necks stand up.
The Maleus Maleficarum is to blame for the modern view of witchcraft. People just don't know their history nor do they care. Their bible says "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" and that's all there is to it. They don't want to know anything outside what that bible says.
The Roman Catholic church took our horned god and twisted him into their devil to demonize us.. all to obtain power over the people they conquered in their "convert or be murdered" mandate... and it hasn't changed much since then.
Fear is a powerful motivator. What people fear, they try to destroy.
All we can do is try to educate. If they choose to believe we're in league with their devil, despite the facts we present, there's nothing more we can do.
Blessings in abundance,
Kallan

Answer 2

At least people arent asking if you are Jewish! When I wear my pentagram, I often get that question (and from Jewish ppl too!) From the scraps that I have read, the whole witch = devil thing started when Christianity was new and in competition w/the old religion (paganism). To stay viable, the church turned all the symbols that pagans hold dear into evil icons. Devil with horns was from our Horned God and they took the pentagram and turned it upside down to make it the sign of the devil. Also, because the Druids did some sacrificial rites, they associated that with evil as well (its the whole "Thou shalt not Kill" Commandment). Its probably the start of "how witches were associated w/eating babies" garbage too. However, these are my extrapolations about how the Craft became evil in the eyes of Christianity and if you are still interested, try reading books by Starhawk, Amber K and Cunningham for a start. "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler is pretty good too -- she documents the rites of different covens in the nation. The books, however, would be about Paganism itself and maybe not so much as why we are looked at as "Devil Worshippers" per se. FYI for those who arnt too familiar w/Wicca, the reason why we dont believe in the devil is because we go by the Wiccan Rede: "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will." We also go by the three-fold law -- what we do (be it good or not) comes back to us three-fold. If what we do is good, we get the good back threefold. Likewise, if we do bad (and we can deal w/the consequences) the bad comes back to us three-fold as well. By experience, I have seen this Karma happen! (Also where the whole "Comes around Goes Around" saying comes from). Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Yep--it's just their belief system. To them the devil *does* exist, so that's their reality. And yes, the pentacle confuses issues even more.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Keep in mind that people don't *always* assume you worship the devil--I'm sure one or two are more open minded, even if the majority are not. The fact that you put it that way ("always") means they're the ones you're noticing, which gives them more power than they should have. Try to shake your head with a chuckle, as if they are earnestly insisting that doorknobs are sentient. Patiently correct them, if you think it will do *any* good (this changes on a person-by-person case). But focus your attention, and thus your energy, on the open-minded people from whom you'll get more validation.

Answer 4

Because people see the pentacle and associate it with the Devil.

Christian religion has taken your holy symbol and made it the symbol of their devil in order to suppress your religion. That's what cultures do when they usurp existing cultures.

They also took your Solstice and made it their Christmas.

A example of the USA vs. England, "My Country 'Tis of Thee", a patriotic song to the tune of "God Save the Queen". You learn it as a kid in school as a song to honor your country (if you are an American). Then later you learn that it is a snub at England's national anthem.

To say that it is just people being ignorant is not the whole story. These things were deliberately done to de-value your culture.

Another example of cultural conflict with icons: The proliferation of a secular symbol, Santa Claus, over Jesus. Over time, Santa Claus became TOO religiously affiliated with Christ, so Secularists have now rolled out polar bears and penguins to replace Santa Claus. Go figure. Most people just think polar bears and penguins are cute. They don't see what is really happening.

Answer 5

That what they were taught to be live. Don't let it bug you. You will run in to some open mined people who are curious about Wicca and some who will look at you funny and think the worst. I find more of the question asks who just want to know so I share.

How many lets say Catholics or people form a chaotic based religion really know the roots? That they have taken some ideas and whatnot and tweaked them to fit what they believe?

Answer 6

Because most christians have been brainwashed to believe that anyone not sitting in their church are heathen devil-worshipers.

They will even think in some cases that if they are Baptist and someone else is Lutheran that teh Lutherans are going to burn in Hades as well.

Bottom line they are not very well educated, very bigoted, and quite often so misinformed that they cannot think on their own any longer. But why should they? They have a pastor on the pulpit that is doing all their thinking for them..... its so much easier that way isn't it?

Answer 7

I will explain this as best I can.

To a Christian, anyone who does not worship their exact God [For example, early Protestants were devil worshippers to the Church [And the Church was to them], and yet Christians]. there is no way to avoid being seen as one to them Christians, as to them, he is as real as The God and Goddess.

The belief systems are so different, and Christians see Satan as being in disguise, that it will always happen. You cannot convince them other wise. I'm not a Wiccan, but I am like a Pagan [read my 360 blog for semi-full details if you want]. I used to say the things you do, but now I relish rubbing their fears in.

Answer 8

Oh, the devil exists. You just aren't worshipping him. :P

As for your question, In the super fundie mind, Any other religion besides MY religion = Devil Worship.

I'm sure everyone hates this, including the Diabolists and the Demonolaters.

Answer 9

Some do and most worship the natural surroundings People are just ignorant about wicca and get this demented information from 2nd class tv movies Blessed be

Answer 10

Firstly, if christians are right and you are wrong, you do worship the devil.

Secondly, it was rife in the media and still is in christian media, which is far more prevalent than wiccan media, of which I have never seen an accurate portrail, although what I consider an acurate portrail would be somewhere between insulting and annoying. Accurate, too.

Thirdly, you'll get used to it. Eventually, you'll start responding "Yes, I worship the devil, why, want to join up?"

Which is of course the final reason why the myth persists ;)


Lastly, if you believe Athena, Pan, Loki, and Freyja exist... why not the devil?