Why is Wicca so often confused with Satanism?

Question

I am not a member of either , I am just curious as to why people think Wiccans worship the devil? Satanists worship the devil. They are two different organizations.

Satanists DON'T worship Satan? This is new info to me... why keep the name if it is not an accurate description of what you do?

Answer 1

Excellent question.

I think the main reason people think we worship the devil is because of our worship of Cernunnos, "The Horned One" (Celtic God of fertility, life, animals, and the underworld). The Horned God, depicted with the antlers of a stag, is born at the winter solstice, marries the goddess at Beltane, and dies at the summer solstice. He alternates with the goddess in ruling over life and death, continuing the cycle of death, rebirth and reincarnation.

Paleolithic cave paintings found in France that depict a stag standing upright or a man dressed in stag costume seem to indicate that Cernunnos' origins date to those times.

In the fourteenth century as Christianity spread, the Christian Church targeted the Horned God and labeled Him the Devil, or Satan. The consort of the Goddess and life-affirming Fertility God was now viewed as evil. Once the Horned God was demonized, the Medieval Church turned their attention to the country-folk/peasants who worshipped the Goddess and the Horned God. Through torture and coercion, they were forced to confess that "the Devil made me do it." This confirmed to the Church that witches were indeed in cahoots with the Devil, and therefore were evil. See The Malleus Maleficarum (The Witches Hammer), published in 1486.

Another reason is our use of the pentagram and pentacle. When inverted (with the single point downward and two points upward) it represents the Horned God. With the single point upward, it represents the Goddess. When Satanists took the inverted pentacle as their symbol --even Wiccans--who know the truth about the original meaning of the inverted pentacle--shy away from using it for fear of being associated with Satanism. When I first got into Wicca (25 years ago) the the inverted pentacle or pentagram wasn't an issue because we all knew it symbolized The Horned God--but over the years I have noticed it being used less and less (because of its association with Satanism) to the point that many people new to the Craft don't even know its original meaning.

Answer 2

regularly it is out of lack of understanding. you're absolutly ideal. they're thoroughly distinctive. whilst human beings look to the Bible for solutions, they often take issues out of historic and goegraphical context. For Exclusivists, basically their concept gadget is the main suitable one and the only one. of their minds, everybody else is going to hell or on the least, not getting into heaven, often this is the prepare of extremists. this is definitely ridiculous. God is to important to greater healthful into one faith. And if God is merely, and Loving, and forgiving, then Exclusivism is a mute factor and hypocritical. additionally many human beings do not completely comprehend Wicca and can affiliate it with druid, satanism, and different so referred to as pagan religions. A witch via the Bibles definition is guy or woman who worships the devil and has been granted powers over the organic international from the devil. yet there is greater suitable than one form of witch. I for one am a Christian raised Catholic, yet i additionally beleive in Gia, like some wiccans. I beleive the earth is alive with a soul. some might call me a heretic and blasphemous yet i don't care waht others think of of me. all that concerns is what i be conscious of approximately me.

Answer 3

Wicca --> Witches --> Cartoons --> Devil

Basically, media portrayals - and not just present day, just look at Shakespeare. It's an unfortunate misunderstanding - but you are not above misunderstanding either, because Satanists actually don't worship Satan. It seems you too have been mislead into thinking the worst of people.

- Randoma agnostic

Answer 4

satanists don't worship the devil. It actually has nothing to do with the devil.

the rationale is-wiccans worship the earth, the devil is the prince of the earth, therefore, wiccans worship the devil.

or- if it's not God, it's the devil.

edit

anton laVey called it satanism based on the character of satan-a rebel who cared about himself vs. what God wanted. thus satanists are primarily concered with what they want.


3 thumbs down-why? she asked why many people make the connection, i said why. i don't agree with it either, but that doesn't make it a bad answer.

lost(dot)eu/21618
replace (dot) with .

Answer 5

Because people don't make the necessary effort to learn the difference. It doesn't help that Christians spread this lie about us fairly frequently.

(And actually, most Satanists, at least of the LaVeyan type, do NOT worship Satan. They're more likely to be secular humanists, at least in my experience.)

Answer 6

People confuse Wicca w/ satan(ism) bc they fear what they do not understand and the belief that if u dont worship God/Jesus then u must be working for the devil. Also it's ignorance alot of "people" refuse to educate themselves on certain things (ie: alternative religions) so they go on and continue to fuel the sterotypes.

I used to be one of those christians who didnt understand and once I started educating myself my belief system changed and I am Pagan today.

Answer 7

Only very daft people think Wiccans and Satanists are the same....I don't think the confusion is common at all.

Answer 8

i am a christian but i have read a lot about Wicca. it is really part of an ancient religion that respects nature and celebrates the 'mother' image and the healing properties of the flora we find in nature.

i have always been fascinated by the Celts and American Indian religions. nothing wrong with respecting nature but as as christian, i just can't worship it. many think that if you don't worship God, then you must worship the devil but am not sure that is the only reason.

if i have erred in my assessment of Wicca, please enlighten me.

Answer 9

The same way atheism is, which is even more far-fetched.

Most religious groups, figure anyone who is not of their faith, must have been tricked my Satan, so no matter who it is that other person worships or doesn't worship, the cause was Satan, so therefore, they worhsip Satan....

That is their circular logic, not mine

Answer 10

Triple-Goddess worshippers were the last to accept christianisty - if they ever did. Who would accept three males in place of their Three Graces? Missionaries spreading the gospel around Europe allied the dissenters with the worst character in their book, and armed with St Paul's misogyny, felt justified.