Why is Wicca so scary/threatening?

Question

When I tell people I am a Witch, their first response is usually to cringe and then find an escape route. I believe this is due to ill education about my religion, but I would like some opinions.

I don't care if you are atheist, agnostic, Christian, Wiccan, Buddhist, or anything else.

If those of you who feel the need could refrain from comments like, "I will pray for you," I would appreciate it. Praying for me because I have an alternate religion is nonsensical. Praying for me because I have an issue that needs resolving is a reason to pray for me.

I am demanding nothing. I just know that often the first response from someone (usually Christians) is "I will pray for you."

However, they say they will pray for me because they want me to find their God and not for any other reason. I believe everyone has the right to choose their own path to God. I meant no offense or intent to ridicule anyone. I just am tired of being told that Christianity is the only way to get to God.

Answer to praying: Wiccans pray using candle magick. It is considered irresponsible to perform magick on anyone without their consent. I had a friend ask me to perform a protection spell for her, and I did. However, I cannot just decide of my own accord to do that. Because many people do not share my beliefs, it is not appropriate for me to perform magick on them.

I used to be a Christian, so I understand why you think you should be able to pray for anyone. It is just not the way of my religion. I am required to respect all life in balance.

P.S. BFQ is my nickname because of a tattoo I have, not because I think of myself as such.

Answer 1

Another interesting idea is that most children grow up with the image of a witch as "an old green hag with a big nose and a wart flying around on a broomstick with a black cat, and cackling evily" (even if its an accepted image of the "crone goddess" by some wiccans), mostly because of cartoons and fairytales, just about every kid hears Hansel and Greatel sooner or later, and that becomes a lasting impression that makes people who say they are witches seem either evil or just insane.

And Christians think that anything thats not Christian is of the devil, though Wicca especialy, many think that Wicca is "Satan's Little Trick" to fool good people into satanism, the biggest threat to the Christian religion in their eyes, even if its the very foundation that kept Christianity alive over the years through propaganda(opinion).

And of course those who don't believe in any sort of religion or anything supernatural will think that Wiccans are just emos or goths wasting their time and craving for attention(not a generalization for emos and goths just stating a common atheist opinion)

There are also those who have "good" intentions. Some christians sincerely don't want to see good people "fall to the devil", and show hatred toward non-book religions for luring people into hell. So there can't be a generalization.

And finally, like you said, most people simply lack knowledge of the religion, take one look at the word "witchcraft", and dismiss it as another nonsensical teenage cult.

Answer 2

Christian Wicca is a thriller to such a lot of. C.W. is an eclectic type of Christianity. Those who cannot take into account another teachings besides the Bible are very uncomfortable with this faith. Christian Wicca believes within the trinity of God the Father, God the Mother (Goddess), and the Son God Jesus. We additionally research and train the ideas of the Bible, Kabbalah, Gnostic Gospels and Wiccan teachings. Possibly the predominant thought of C.W. is their inclusion of the Divine Feminine. Basically, there cannot be a delivery and not using a father AND a mom. We worship the Mother Goddess as having same vigor in production. The Mother is reward in each and every element of Spiritual teachings, even the Bible. (Although you have got to appear rough to discover it there.) Also, there's a change among being Christo-pagan and being Christian Wiccan. Before you cross at the air along with your record, appear up the 2 and bear in mind of the fundamental variations. I may not do it right here due to the fact that it's going to quite simply get too prolonged. Just recognize that they're extraordinary. I am traditionally criticized through Christians and Wiccans alike. (More so Christians. Wiccans have a tendency to be extra open-minded.) I wish I have responded a few of your questions. Good success along with your radio record....Blessings!

Answer 3

Why do you need to tell them? Why not just say you walk another road. Or you follow an alternative path.

I find a lot of people who proclaim themselves witches do so because they crave the attention. It makes them feel powerful or glorified in some way. Then they turn around and get all bunged up when that attention goes in a direction they don't like.

Many who follow Wicca go out of their way to proclaim that it is NOT witchcraft. That they simply follow a nature based faith. But there you are saying it is.

So which is it?

You have to understand that for Christians, there is no black or white magic. What isn't of God is of the devil.

The very act of casting a spell seeks to rob someone of their free will. "Oh" you'll say. "I don't do that." you'll say. But every female wiccan or witch I've ever met has cast a great number of Love Spells. Honey, if the guy's not interested and you cast a spell you're seeking to rob him of his free will.

Just because you don't agree with that thinking you can't ridicule those of us who do. If you do ridicule, you've just become that which you object to.

If you want understanding you have to GIVE understanding. But here you are, calling us non-sensical while demanding our respect.

pot.
kettle.
black.

PS: I'm a Catholic. I get a lot of the same garbage you guys do. Many Protestant denominations (usually evangelical and/or baptists) are convinced we are pagans, witches and/or sorcerers. Elizabeth I called priest's robes "garments of conjuring." Personally, it doesn't bother me when people begin to back away slowly because my company might "taint" them. I figure if they're going to draw conclusions based on lies they've been told, then they aren't worth my time.

Answer 4

Wicca, or saying you are a witch, scares people because it immediately lets them know you are delusional or a little insane, (or at the very least naive and misguided). You are not going to find acceptance with that as your "religion", so do not try outside of your Wiccan circle.

queen: Praying for someone without their consent?? That is ridiculous! What about someone in a car wreck? coma? baby?

Answer 5

Funny - isn't it. I just had another "Top Contributor" tell me that I get direction from my fuzzy plants or some such nonsense. It sucks, but you just have to let it roll or defend yourself. I, of course, did give this "top contributor" a bit to think about - I chose to be confrontational. In that instance, it was better for me to lay it out than to think about it and what I should say.

People have this idea that witches are one of two types: touchy feely dippy hippie or ***** on wheels out to put mojo on them. The reality is in the middle of those two extremes. I may not ask my plant's advice on things, but I have plants. I didn't feel this "top contributor" was being nice, so I laid into him/her. No name calling, and no curses on his or her, but indeed throwing down the gauntlet. It may get me in trouble - oh well.

Sometimes, you have to stand up for yourself as a witch. So be it. If people back away, then let them. They don't have the skills to be polite or to be kind - do you need them?

And you are right - no one should ever pray for you without your consent. Some Wiccans see that as tantamount to black magic. In following do what ye will but harm none, I believe praying for someone without their consent is wrong.

Answer 6

Other than the monsterous fairy tale the church made up about mid wives and herbalist (Witches) it scares many folks because it is a responsible system of knowledge and wisdom. One takes on the responsibility of their actions and lives and that is something the religious folks look for escape routes for. Vladamir, you're a dog.

Answer 7

Because of christianity. They tend to get freaked out about that kind of stuff. Hell, some even hate on Harry Potter, which is absolutely crazy.
But since I am a bit more rational than that, I wouldn't care if someone told me that they were a witch.

Answer 8

My sister and my best friend are Wiccan. It no longer bugs me. I no longer care for the differences in religion. Everyone has their own take on religion, and I accept that now. People fear what they don't understand.

Answer 9

i think it might appear scary to someone whos watched a lot of television. also, our America is deep-rooted in Puritanism, where of course, "witches" and anyone thought to be a witch were hung and the wording of the bible was manipulated to improve their stance.

Personally, I don't find your religion scary or threatening. My father is wiccan, my great aunt a white witch. I've always thought their approach to life beautiful and loving.

Answer 10

because some of the other religions which managed to prevail in the world, primarily christianity, have portrayed all other religions in a bad light. wicca being percieved as a womans' religion was given more flack. but wicca is resilient and survived, unlike mithraism... (unless u count the masons) and other gods who were absorbed as saints.
furthermore, folk tales were spread where the witch is ... you know ... how they portray witches... and that added to the fear and hate.