I've watched wife swap a few times, and it seems like it is a staple of the show to ridicule people with?

Question

unconventional religions or lifestyles. Last night they had a wiccan couple, and the show made a special effort to show how cruel it was to make the wiccan kids take part in rituals etc. they had "no interest in." Why is this any worse than, say, forcing religiously indifferent kids to attend a mainstream church. Is there a bit of a double standard here?

For the record, I'm not a wiccan. Just so you know.

Answer 1

Kids in general are not usually interested in religion. They are still learning about the world. It's wrong to force anything on them.
It's also wrong of that show to single out a single religion doing that.

Answer 2

They weren't Wiccan. They (parents at least) were Green Witches.

Witch does not automatically mean Wiccan.

You can be both a Wiccan and a witch, these two words are not the same
One of the biggest sore points among Wiccans is the improper usage of the terms "Wiccan" and "Witch". Too many people use the terms interchangably, presuming that they both mean the same thing. They do not.

Wiccan
Wicca is a religion, and someone who follows that religion is called a Wiccan. Sometimes it can be difficult to accurately define Wicca, and not all Wiccans will define themselves the same way. Observing the 8 Wiccan Sabbats, honoring the Gods and/or Goddesses, creating sacred space for rituals, to name a few. Many traditional Wiccans also feel that belonging to a coven is also a requirement and that those who practice their religion as a solitary, should not refer to themselves as Wiccan. Personally, I'm still not sure on that point. Typical Wiccans also practice magick, and therefore are also witches.

You cannot be a "natural Wiccan" any more than you could be a "natural Christian".

Witch
The practice of witchcraft is not associated with any religion, therefore you can be a witch and yet also be a member of any number of religions (or none). Using the natural energies within yourself, along with the energies of herbs, stones or other elements to make changes around you is considered witchcraft. Though the skills and gifts that are part of witchcraft can be inherited from parents or grandparents, you aren't automatically a witch just because your grandmother may have been one. The use of magick takes practice, experience and learning. On a side note, a male witch is called a witch, not a warlock.

Pagan
While I'm explaining terminology, I thought I would throw in "Pagan" as well. Paganism refers to a variety of non-Christian/Jewish/ Islamic religions that are usually polytheistic and are often nature-based. Wicca is only one Pagan religion, but there are others such as Santeria, Asatru, or Shamanism. Many people do not necessarily identify with a specific religion, and just use the broad term "Pagan" to define their spiritual path. Pagan religions are distinct and separate from each other, and it should not be assumed that they are just different names for the same faith.

Answer 3

I watched the show last night and I thought it was a fair portrayal of this family. I found the wiccan mother to be very sympathetically portrayed. I knew the Living Big mother was not going to understand, but I thought that reflected poorly on her ignorance not on the other religion. I have seen many shows with bible thumpers. The show only shows extremes. Sometimes they show average families mixed in with extreme ones, but usually both come from extreme points of view and hopefully learn that moderation and understanding is key. However, it is interesting that most people would not think twice about ridiculing an alternative religious or spiritual practice.

My favorite one is the one with the family that lived the "pirate lifestyle" HA!

Amy - I assumed she is both wiccan and a green witch based on the reading guide she provided to the living big mom which specifically referred to wicca in the title.

Answer 4

properly, i ought to say they're attempting to save the rankings up so each and each 3 hundred and sixty 5 days they ought to get better unusual and larger unusual. resembling any "reality"educate. it really is not authentic. I doubt they extremely in hardship-free words ate raw raw meat for all time. you'll get some ailments via doing so regardless of the indisputable fact that it really is not unavoidably instantaneous lack of life to devour raw meat. having reported that, if that is a real relatives and their residing house is filthy, they could be data against many germs that look to plague those that are very very nearly sterile on account that their body would not construct an immunity. I nonetheless imagine it really is the marvel element for a reality educate..

Answer 5

Remember...you are watching "reality television" which garners such high ratings through the use of "shock" tv. Unfortunately, we do not have "child parenting requirements" prior to one having a baby. Therefore, each parent can raise their child based on their own beliefs, wiccan or non-wiccan, christian or atheist. Not a double standard - call it America...smile.

Answer 6

i agree with you. how ever if you look into the stipulations of the show you will see that the decisions and reactions of some of the people on the show are coached by the producers of fox. their decision making can be influenced. i think that these people go on these shows just to gain their minutes of fame. i am sure they get paid for what they do. i love that show though. it makes my husband appreciate me. that wiccan lady was sort of nutty though. but hey it's her life.

Answer 7

Look here: if they had normal everyday families with no isses, would you be watching the crap? I didnt think so.

Im sure you had a great time laughing at the Christian warrior chick...so take your lumps as they mock Wiccans now.

Answer 8

everyone has an agenda. If Christianity is the popular religion, they profit from ridiculing those that are different.
If Wicca was the dominant form, they would make fun of the minority Christians just the same. But they are doing you a favor, making you stronger and smarter by their own self-sacrifice. Thank them.

Answer 9

I think the goal of the show is to find as amny interesting families to interact as possible...interesting people usually have interesting beliefs or habits...I think forcing any beliefs on a kid is wrong...

Answer 10

They had a crazy Christan lady on once that showed pure crazy. It is on youtube all over the place. It is wrong to make kids do any religious activities they do not want to in my opinion, but hey, to each their own.