With Wicca being part of the occult...why do so many people discuss it, especially when they know no one appro

Question

ves of their religion? Is it that they want attention for following a religion that could quite possibly be considered "taboo"?

I'm sorry...I meant to say the majority of people don't approve of it...not no one.

I am actually Wiccan. I was just trying to be objective and ask a question. The other day a fellow "wiccan" went off on me for discussing my beliefs on this sector of Y!A. I felt like I wasn't supposed to be discussing it...but now I realize that that's what they believe and I have the right to say whatever I want.

Yes, actually. Wicca is part of the Occult. I do not link it to Satanism as we do not even believe in Satan. Also, occult just means, hidden, of or pertaining to the unseen... etc. Here's a link:

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/occult

Answer 1

Have you ever made a choice for yourself that was based solely on YOUR wants and not what OTHERS want for you?????

Is that such a foreign concept? Or do you fundies really believe the world revolves around ~your~ culture? You do realize that there are entire countries where your belief system is in the minority, right??

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You know, the exact opposite of your question could be asked too: how many Christians subscribe to Christianity simply so others will approve of them, and to "be seen" in church as a social function?

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Furthermore ... "occult" is merely a matter of who is doing the arbitrarily labeling (do you get that?!). It's all semantics. If two people believe in the tooth fairy, who cares whether one thinks the fairy is yellow and the other thinks it's purple?!?!?!

Answer 2

Majorities thought the world was flat but majorities don't determine the veracity of an opinion . Wicca is a religion and no less far fetched than Christian Muslim or Jewish beliefs . Myself I place no stock in any of the foundation of these other religions either . you call it taboo not they and if you went back to your origins you will find the same kind of bashing there as well I'm sure in fact when was the last time they fed a Wiccan to the lions . Is that enough of an indicia to taboo for you....? christian and the the others may fall into occult as well but that would be an upgrade from superstitious fairy tale.keep trying your attempted hypocrisy is interesting ;if only you had the same objectivity for other religions you probably considered safe .

Answer 3

Occult simply means that which isn't known. Because there are so many misconceptions about Wicca and Witchcraft, it's good to discuss these things to get more viable information.

I would disagree that no one approves of the Wiccan religion as it is a recognized religion by the US Military and the US Government. We have approx 400,000 adherents in the US.

I would agree that some people change their religion to get attention, but that is not the norm for people who ask or answer questions about Wicca. It's information and awareness like any other religion.

Answer 4

I discuss it for a couple of reasons, in spite of the fact that yes, some people (mainly Christians so far) voice their disapproval.

1) Because this is a Religion and Spirituality forum, and sometimes people ask questions which I, as a Wiccan, have an opinion about that has something to do with my religion. If the question is addressed "To Christians Only" or similarly, I try to respect that request, mind my own business, and refrain from answering.

2) Because there's so much misunderstanding and just plain wrong information out there about what we believe, I want to speak up and clear away those misconceptions when I can, based on my own knowledge of course (not all Wiccans share the same opinions).

To me, Wicca has nothing to do with being "taboo". (How old are you, five?) I investigated a few different religions before becoming Wiccan after I felt called to theism after several years of atheism, and Wicca was the one religion that truly felt "right" to me. It wasn't a fashion statement or a lifestyle choice. It was (and is) deeply fulfilling and profoundly sacred, and not something I'm given to talking about lightly to anyone who passes by.

In my real life, I'm not particularly "witchy" -- I don't dress all in black or wear a huge pentacle around my neck; in fact, I look like most other middle-class middle-aged women you'd see around my neighborhood. The small pentacle necklace that I do wear is not flashy, and can be easily overlooked. (In fact, I'm willing to bet that most people do.) But I wear it so that if I meet someone who knows what to look for -- another Wiccan or Pagan -- they can choose to approach me and initiate a conversation. This has happened on a few occasions, including a couple where the person who approached me knew no other Pagans and was very pleased to be able to recognize one. Through talking to me, they were able to get networked into the larger Pagan community in our city. So -- that's why I wear the necklace.

I suppose I'm outspoken about being Wiccan on Y!A for the same reason some gay people are outspoken about being homomsexual: to show people that we ARE here, we are NOT afraid to stand up and be counted, and we are NOT going away.

Well, I'm not, anyway. Little pentacle necklace and all.

Answer 5

When I was occultist, I always read it was supposed to be a secretive thing. Nobody follows it anymore. Crowley wrote about "To Know, To Will, To Dare, To Keep Silent" (which Wiccans call "The Witch's Pyrmamid, but Gardner plagarized it from Crowley). Nobody seems to follow the part about "Keeping Silent" anymore, and you are right about that much. I think a lot of people do want attention. When I used to go to nightclubs I would see girls with great big pentagram necklaces, or a pentagram T-shirt (this was my pre-Christian days) and ask them how long they'd been a Wiccan. Then next they'd say "How did you know???" Then next they ramble on and on about the four elements and the pentagram. It was a great ice breaker...could have been why they wore them in the first place.

Answer 6

Hi,

I think that Wicca is very misunderstood. Search the for questions about Wicca beliefs. there was a question a couple of weeks ago in which a member of the faith listed and explained the tenants of faith or that religion. To be honest with you, it was the first time I had read the real tenants and commentary from one who subscribes to them.



I am Christian and while I do not believe as she does I did not find anything offensive about what their tenants state. To many times people rely on bits and pieces and rumored beliefs heard from sources that would seek to discredit. I hod that if you want to understand what a faith believes the best policy is to go to the source. In this case it was actually refreshing.

Answer 7

Wicca is an old established 'spiritual' not necessarily religious union of many women who had the ability and knowledge to heal people through herbs, massage, etc. This New Christian Right Wing Society that we can 'thank?' the Bush Administration for. Don't get mean wrong, I totally believe in Jesus but I also believe in the Female Principle of God. We are made in God's image and there are men and women on this planet. If you read about how the healers, women with knowledge of healing were dubbed 'witches' of Salem were all hanged because men were afraid that they would loose their POWER and we can't have that, now can we? After all look at all of the good men have done in politics lately?

Answer 8

If you believe that Wicca is part of the occult you have been clearly misinformed. You need to learn more about alternative beliefs before you condemn them.

Wicca, sometimes called "The Craft" or "The Craft of the Wise" is one of many earth-based religions. The religion which is closest to Wicca in America is probably Native American spirituality. Traditional Wicca was founded by Gerald Gardner, a British civil servant, who wrote a series of books on the religion in the 1940's. It contains references to Celtic deities, symbols, seasonal days of celebration, etc. Added to this were components of ceremonial magic and practices of the Masonic Order. A more recent form is eclectic Wicca which involves a combination of Wiccan beliefs and practices, combined with other Pagan and non-Pagan elements. The various traditions of Wicca are part of the Pagan or Neopagan group of earth-based religions.

Wicca and Satanism are not at all similar religions. However, the Christian church did link them in the past -- particularly during the Witch burning times of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. They regarded Witches as Satan worshipers. Some Christian denominations have not been particularly thorough in correcting mistakes of the past. So, Wicca and Satanism continue to be linked in many people's minds. This problem is rapidly fading as more Wiccans come out of the closet and become public with their faith.

Answer 9

Who cares whether or not the majority approve of something? People discuss Wicca because it exists and it's an interesting religion. People don't claim to be Wiccan just to for the shock value you know.

Answer 10

I don't want attention for practicing a "taboo" religion. I practice Wicca 'cause I believe in it. Besides, the discussions around here would get pretty boring without us and the atheists, right?