History of Wicca - Can you give me more of Mother and Father's history? How we as pagans became so feared?

Question

I have quite a bit already but I feel that there is so much I'm missing because I've only gotten the Wiccan side - and only bits of it. I would really love some history on when Chrisianity came into being and how and also what happened to the Old Religion when it did, not just from America but also countries around the world.

As such, please don't tell me that I'm going to hell or any of your nonsense about bad religion blah blah blah. If you say anything along the lines of religion offense, I will not hesitate to report your answer. I'm here for information to expand my mind and understand better those whom I love - not to experience the hopeless attempts at you trying to convert me.

***Blessed Be and May You Find Eternal Happiness***

Answer 1

Every Pantheon has it's own Creation Story. These stories are allegories for scientific explanations for the beginning of the world. Check out Charles Leland's "Aradia or Gospel of the Witches." It talks about the story of the Vangello Delle Streghe and Italian Creation Story which is one of the oldest surviving Pagan creation stories known to man. http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/aradia/

Constantine had alot to do with the Christian church. He was introduced to Christianity by his mother and over time adopted Christianity and began to loathe the Pagans. Although he did not outlaw them altogether, he had written to the King of Persia that he hated some of the Pagan practices and instead worshipped the 'High God on bended knee.' Constantine's most notable role was to bring about the first Council of Nicea. This council discussed and edited the BIblical texts and beliefs in order to determine a more unified Christianity. It was during this time, that the figure Lucifer (before this a Roman Solar God) was now adopted as the Christian Satan Figure.

As Christianity grew through Europe, the Papal entity grew in power. Pope's during the Middle Ages had just as much power as Kings in some regions. The Pope's declared that Paganism was devil worship and adopted the symbol of the Horned God as their anti-God Satan. The Malleus Malleficarum (Witch's Hammer) was arguably the most infamous treatise on prosecuting witches. Witches were then persecuted and prosecuted. They were hanged, tortured, burned, raped, drawn and quartered and other nasty demises. Thus begins the Burning Times http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_burn.htm

The Spanish Inquisition was adopted in Spain by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to maintain Catholic Orthodoxy in their area, but it soon was sanctioned all over Europe. The Inquisitors used torture tactics to get people to confess to all kinds of so called Heresy. Once they confessed, they were either killed or exiled, usually killed. They Inquision, first sanctioned in 1478, wasn't undone until the 1830's.

The misinformation and persecution of Witches persists today. The Evangelical Christian movement has tried to spread misinformation about Wicca via websites and fake Ex Wiccan testimonies.

Answer 2

From what I can tell, Christians and Pagans got along in the beginning. The people who went after Christians were Rulers (some seem to forget this part of it) and they did so when certain groups of Christians attacked city officials, etc. There wasn't wide-spread persecution as so many would have us believe (the records show some persecution taking place, but definitely not on a large scale). After the Roman Empire fell, the Roman Catholic Church stepped in a took over. (How could such a persecuted people TAKE OVER an Empire? *wink*) Even then, most Christians and Pagans lived side by side (worshipping side by side).

Now there's always bit n pieces where you will find a city official or someone higher up, sends soldiers to take care of the "Christian menace"... but these are actually small occurances which have been embellished by some to make it appear as if the entire world was against Christianity. It wasn't.... no more than the entire world was against Pagans during the different Inquisitions (some "historians" # the deaths in the Millions - looking at all the records, there was probably only 50,000 deaths... more than half of ALL that were accused of Witchcraft were released and not punished for the "crime".)

The "Old Religions" were Always around. In certain areas you will find that it went underground for a time... usually due to some local lord who was a fanatic. But, you will find it in the traditions people continued to hold, even if they were Christian. "Paganism" was and is so mixed into daily life, that it would be hard to pinpoint it specifically (other than things like names of the planets, days of the week, certain holidays). Most probably wouldn't realize that candles on a B-Day cake comes from a Pagan cultural practice. Same with Wedding Rings. *wink*

It's hard to generalize the history that Paganism and Christianity has shared. There is just way too much to post in a place like this. =) But, if you are willing to go the extra mile, I'd suggest reading History books (do not rely on just Pagan and/or Christian sources). They've both been proven (to me anyway) that they tend to embellish things in the past to make seem either the other people were worse than they really were OR that their own side was "Pure" and without fault. We both know, though, that in real life, this is never the case. =)

Answer 3

Hey doll! Don't worry - you're not going to hell (simply because there isn't one *wink*). And if there is, you, all the other Wiccans/Pagans/non-Christians, and I can share the same rock. :o)
Everyone else is right - Wicca is a relatively new religion. It comes from the word "wicce" meaning wise one.
The Christian idea of the devil most likely comes from Cernunnos - a Celtic, horned god, who's also related to fertility. After all, Lucifer is meant to be the most beautiful of God's angels. Why would he have horns and be half man, half stag? (Also, look up Grecian satyrs.)
I wouldn't say Pagans are feared, per se, but more like misunderstood. Fallacies from the early Church have been indoctrinated into modern Christianity. No one really takes the time to realise the ideas about Paganism are false. I've a friend who's a devout member of the Anglican Church, and he admits the Church is based on Pagan ideas... So not all Christians are bad and/or ignorant.
Just take things as they come, check out the blogs listed below, and keep on weaving your magick. At the end of the day, we're all in this together, and all spokes lead to the centre of the same wheel. Never forget that.
Peace and blessings )O(

Answer 4

Well Wicca isn't the "Old religion", it's Neo-Pagan not even Reconstructionalist. And there's nothing wrong with it being relatively new mind you.

And I am not saying this to offend you , but you did ask about the history of Wicca...

Wicca was established in between the mid 1940s to the mid 1960s primarily by Gerald Gardner - it has no verifiable historical authenticity before that time period despite the claims of some revisionists who fantasize about it being "the old religion" of ancient Europe. Gardner’s' self admitted purpose was not to resurrect any real identifiable ancient pre-christain religion, but to create a religion based on what he thought the ideal ancient religion SHOULD have been like. The Wiccan magical tradition does go back about 50 years earlier than the religious manifestation of it, but as a whole it is still far from having the distinction of it being truly ancient.

Wicca not synonymous with Paganism. It is an one of many eclectic forms of 20th Century Neo-Paganism. It is mostly it is an eclectic mix of high magic, OTO rituals, masonic ritual, Jewish Kabala, Christian mysticism and New Age philosophy with a God and Goddess who are somehow ALL Gods and Goddesses thrown in to Paganise it.

If you are serious interested in Pre-Christian religions (as they were in the past) I'd suggest looking into Reconstructionalist Pagan religions. Yes, the indigenous (Pagan) religions were indeed subjected to a violent campaign of repression over a period of hundreds of years. Countless thousands of people were murdered, maimed, and exiled in the process. The common folk did not give up their cherished beliefs easily. eventually, the monolithic organization of the Christian church, bolstered by threats of economic isolation and assisted by an energetic propaganda campaign, triumphed over the valiant but unsophisticated tribes.Or so it seemed! Despite this persecution, elements of the old religions continued down to our own times - often in the guise of folklore.

Answer 5

If you are not scared to read a Bible it records the Christians were first called that in the book of Acts, I think around chapter 20?? Also there were incidents recorded where they had some contact with sorcerers, divinators, and demon possessed. That is an example of church history from the biblical perspective.
As for "pagans being feared"... I want you to know I personally would fear no pagan whatsoever. As for Mother and Fathers history you might want to search Nimrod and Ishtar from and Encyclopedia Brittanica before 1955. The Catholics purchased them after that date and removed the information.

Answer 6

Please find the excellent book"Triumph of the Moon". It is the most extensivley reserched book on this subject that I have ever read. It blows apart the Myth of the burning times but lends credence to many of our practices. Wicca is a blend of folk traditions, shamanistic traditions, and ceramonial Magick. Wicca is a living religeon that is at the same point, evalutionarily speaking, that Christianity was when Paul had his big event on the road to Damascus. Hope we don't make the same mistakes! We need to keep the heart in our path and the individuality. THis is a path of introspections. Weigh what you read and hear against what your heart and soul already know. Blessed Be

Answer 7

Wicca was created in the 1950s, give or take 10 years.

If you are a member of a fundamentalist type of Wicca that claims otherwise, run in the other direction!!!!

I suggestion Ronald Hutton's Triumph of the Moon for more details

Answer 8

There is one book you should definitely read: "The Triumph of the Moon" by Ronald Hutton. It is THE best resource out there on the history of Wicca and modern Pagan witchcraft, and is written by a non-Wiccan historian.

Answer 9

Here's a start. The first thing you need to know is that Wicca is a modern religion that dates back to the 20th century, NOT an ancient one. It is only inspired by the ancient pre-Christian religions. That's all any of us can have.

I also recommend the book, "The Alphabet Versus the Goddess," and a visit to ECauldron.com's book review page.

Answer 10

Read Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton
More info here
http://www.sacredhearth.com/node/295