Wicca: Sham belief, or genuine belief?

Question

Hello, all:

In a response to a previous question about Wicca, a poster called the religion a "sham belief".

I'm just curious: on what basis would someone call Wicca a "sham" belief? It has been legally recognized as a religion and is obviously a deeply fulfilling faith for many of those who practice it. It has Deity concepts, philosophy, liturgy, ritual forms and rites of passage; in fact, it is one of the fastest growing religions out there. To me, this argues that it is as "real" a belief as any, both in terms of fulfilling the sociological definition of what a religion is and in terms of satisfying its followers.

Is something automatically false or invalid if you, yourself, do not happen to practice it or understand what it entails?

Thanks in advance to all who take the time to respond.

mysticangelkin: It was actually originally founded by Gerald Gardner. I think you're getting confused between him and Alex Sanders, who founded Alexandrian Wicca.

Martin S: See? This is what I mean. I'm pretty sure you have no idea what/how Wiccans actually worship or what their internal, personal experience of the religion is; instead, you generalize and repeat things you have heard from others (or so I'm guessing). If you did know what we do, you'd realize that we honor creation as the living body of the Creator, for one thing. But that's another story.

Answer 1

Wicca is a genuine belief. I have a Masters degree in Theology, and as one of the faiths being taught in Seminary, it is listed as having a complete cosmology and belief structure ... no different from any of the other major religions. It also espouses a code of ethical behavior, has a generally accepted form of church law (which Wiccans call the Ordains), and has specified levels of believers, ministers, and church officials (first through third degrees, HP/HPS, and Maiden/Summoner). This corresponds to similar structures contained within the laity and the presbytry of other more dominant faiths.

However, it is a misconception that Wicca has been legally recognized as a religion.

Here is an excerpt from a couple of friends in SWC who discuss this better than I can (Scott & Judy):

Wicca has never been challenged as a religion in the U.S. Supreme Court; the only Court that has the final decision over all legal matters in the United States. So while lower courts have shown support of Wicca as a religion, and it would be hoped that the U.S. Supreme Court would follow suit; to date this has never been accomplished. Though the 4th Circuit Court sided with Dettmer in Dettmer v. Landon (799 F.2d 929 [4th Cir. 1986]); problems arise when trying to make this case apply to all of Wicca or all of the United States. To start with, the jurisdiction of the 4th Circuit Court is nine court districts geographically from Maryland to South Carolina and no further. There is no requirement for the other eleven Circuit courts, or lower courts found within the other eleven Circuit's jurisdictions (Federal district courts, state courts, etc) to follow the findings of the 4th Circuit Court; although the 4th Circuit Court does set a precedent. However, even the precedent does not cover the Wiccan religion; it covers the teachings of the Church & School of Wicca, the specific religious organization that Dettmer was associated with. To quote Judge Williams: . . . the Church of Wicca is clearly a religion for first amendment purposes. . . Accordingly, the Court concludes that the Church of Wicca, of which the Plaintiff is a sincere follower, is a religion for the purpose of the free exercise clause. (Dettmer, 617 F. Supp.592, 596)

Other courts have not been so kind. In Michigan a woman who represented herself as a Witch and espoused her belief in court that she was practicing the religion of Witchcraft. The Michigan Appellate Court determined that "If anything, witchcraft and religion, as those terms are generally understood, are opposites." People v. Umerska (94 Mich. App. 799, 289 N.W.2d 863 [1980]).

There are two kinds of authority in American law: binding authority and persuasive authority. If you're writing a brief, you can cite reasoning or evidence from anywhere -- even from Britain. If it makes sense to the judge, she or he can adopt it -- but they are not required to do so. That's what's meant by persuasive authority.

Our courts are organized in a kind of pyramidal, hierarchical structure. So the decisions of a circuit court are only binding authority for that circuit, although they may be persuasive authority in other circuits. That applies to the Dettmer case.

The tip of the structure is the Supreme Court. Their decisions are binding authority anywhere in the USA. Since the Dettmer case was never brought to them, it is not binding authority (also called binding precedent) nationwide.

However, the good news is that the culture has changed drastically since the time of Dettmer. We are way better known and recognized. So it becomes more and more likely that, if tested, the Dettmer decision will be persuasive, and therefore become binding, in other circuits.

The bad news is that defending these rights is extremely expensive. As part of our wonderful victory in the recent Pentacle Quest (allowing the pentacle to be placed on the headstones of our fallen pagan military heros), the VA will be reimbursing Americans United nearly a quarter of a million dollars for their expenses in fighting that case. That means AU was willing to bet that much money on our First Amendment rights. The worse bad news is that, if we ever do have to take anything like this to the Supreme Court, it has now been packed with a bunch of guys who are not exactly on the same page as Americans United.

Answer 2

I definately see your point. I agree totally. I don't know which question you're referring to, but I do agree with what you're saying. Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions today and it does qualify as a fulfilling faith for many many people.

I think a lot of people have that mindset, "If I don't beleive that then it's not true." and I think that's wrong. People should be able to be at least that open-minded. Or, at least feel enough respect for another human being to be ok with them choosing how they beleive. It's really really sad that many people out there aren't that way yet...

Answer 3

There are several ways to look at this, for a religion that views it self as the only true religion then they believe that all other religions as a sham. If you look at it from an atheist's point of view, all religions are a sham, even if they provide meaning to and aid to their followers. And finally some religions accept others as being valid... so there is a full spectrum.

Answer 4

The basis of the poster is the ideas of the religion. Just because a religion is legally recoginized does not make it true. For instance you would many overlapping and proving each other false, unless you are the Cosmic Humanist type. Also, Wicca is witchcraft. Many people have bad fealings about it. Also, in all religion, there is truth and it is that truth which can make people believe the rest of the lies.

Answer 5

Update 2: Martin S: See? This is what I mean. I'm pretty sure you have no idea what/how Wiccans actually worship or what their internal, personal experience of the religion is; instead, you generalize and repeat things you have heard from others (or so I'm guessing). If you did know what we do, you'd realize that we honor creation as the living body of the Creator, for one thing. But that's another story.

Answer 6

I guess I am so tired by hearing that Pagans and Wiccan are evil and bad that I have to ask this question? Of all the crimes committed in just the United States, how many have been committed by Pagans and Wiccans? Good luck finding many instances!

So to all the naysayers here, maybe you need to see what damage that religions that teach hatred and intolerance causes and if you people are already sinful then what have they got to loose!

Blessings to all, even our detractors.

Answer 7

OTHER people's religions are a sham to non-believers. Even pagans are guilty of this.

I agree with other posters. Wicca is not more and no less a 'sham' or 'valid' than any other religion. Its validity comes from within.

Answer 8

People call any belief that threatens them a "sham" belief in order to denigrate and hope for conversion to their personal belief. This is the same rationale that people use when they call various New Religious Movements (NRMs) cults even though they function exactly like the more established religions.

Answer 9

Wicca is a genuine belief system. I've known many people who have found fulfillment in Wicca. My understanding of the non-oath bound info is fairly good but I've never practiced it. Many religions (including Wicca) are quite valid without the need for me to practice them and "approve" of them. I don't even need to understand them for their adherents to find fulfillment in their practices. In fact, no one has ever asked me to validate their beliefs. And that's good. That's a job that they have to do themselves.

Answer 10

To a True Christian™ . . . ALL other beliefs, religions, traditions, and folkways are either "sham beliefs" or "deceptions of Satan."

It must be comforting for them to see the world in such stark black/white, good/evil, real/fake, "only ones with the Truth™ terms, but it looks awfully simplistic and self-deluded from *this* vantage point.