I just wondered if it was defined like Christianity, Hinduism, Mormonism, or any of the other brainwashing "religions".
2007-05-29 15:15:02 · 24 answers · asked by Amy 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Wicca is an actual legally registered-by-the-U.S.-government religion.
Paganism is not.
The analogy is like this:
Catholicism, Protestantism, Lutheranism, Methodism, etc. are legally registered religions.
But Christianity itself is not a registered religion.
So, Paganism is akin to Christianity as an umbrella term for the "type" of belief system. But Wicca, or Catholicism, is a specific belief system within the "type".
2007-05-29 15:19:48 · answer #1 · answered by 'llysa 4 · 9⤊ 1⤋
Wicca is a recognized religion, but unlike other book religions it lets you or more to the point demands that you learn about the religion and make your own mind up about it. Most Wiccan groups could care less if you want to be anything else. By "most group rules" you have to be at least 17 to join or have a parents consent. Wiccans do not do missionary work and we have no need to build up a mighty force of religious warriors to march forth and smite the unWiccan hordes. We are party animals who enjoy life without demanding that others believe the way we do. To us a dirty brain can be lots of fun, so you'll have to find some other "religion" to complain about. Those who wish to be snarky need to remember to look in the back seat of your car and see what presents we might have left!!! We are hardly your Mother or Father's religion, unless they were Wiccans. So be nice!
Paganism or neo-paganism is more of a classification rather than a religion because there are so many heathen or rustic religions that are classified under it.
2007-05-29 15:39:44 · answer #2 · answered by humanrayc 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Wicca and Paganism are both religions and not anything like christianity or those other religions define. They may try to tell you different but there is no such thing as a false religion. I myself am pagan so I would know. You can find out more about both at beliefnet.com
2007-05-29 15:29:30 · answer #3 · answered by MoonWater 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
More like a category of religionS . . . sharing certain commonalities, defined by specific differences.
I'd define religion, generally, as:
1. Recognition or worship of divinity.
2. Code of ethics, mores, or moral values.
3. Body of accepted practices.
4. Community.
So yes, both Wicca and Paganism meet those criteria.
2007-05-29 15:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by Boar's Heart 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it's because what they understand a real Jew to be. Most of them understand a "Jew" to be any heir of the promises God made to Abraham and Israel. Not all of the descendants of Abraham were heirs of the promises. Abraham had two sons--Isaac and Ishmael. Only Isaac was an heir to the promises. And Isaac had two sons, too--Jacob and Esau--but only Jacob was an heir to the promises. So not all of Abraham's descendents are heirs of the promises. Whoever IS an heir to the promises, then, depends on something other than mere descent. I'm not a messianic Jew, and I don't know that much about them, but my guess would be that they define "Jew" as a person who is faithful to the covenants God has made. And since they believe God initiated a new covenant in the blood of Jesus, they figure Jews are those who are faithful to that covenant, and anybody who is not faithful to that covenant is not a Jew. That's my guess.
2016-05-21 11:09:10 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wicca is an actual religion, at least in the USA. Paganism is a categorical term which refers to many related religions, but it itself is not an actual legal religion.
2007-05-29 15:48:12 · answer #6 · answered by Rapunzel XVIII 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it was around 1997-ish that the World Council of Religious Leaders acknowledged Wicca as a legitimate religion.
2007-05-29 15:22:31 · answer #7 · answered by scrambled_egg81 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's an actual religion with set belief systems in place, history and ritual. It's recognized by the US as a religion and we recently were recognized by the VA to put our symbol, the pentacle on the headstones of fallen Wiccan soldiers.
2007-05-30 06:22:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's a real spiritual path. I've never thought that Hinduism was a brainwashing religion, it's quite similar to Paganism.
2007-05-29 15:20:15 · answer #9 · answered by Becca 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They were religions before the three you mentioned.
Ever notice how "Christian" holidays seem to follow the season changes? Hmmm Interesting.
Neither fit anwhere near the definition of a cult.
2007-05-29 15:25:36 · answer #10 · answered by knujefp 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋