Wiccan discussion thread

[Fortschritte]

Not a Wiccan, but Wicca seems a really diverse and interesting religion. That's my opinion on it.

You would be correct. Unlike some other major religions, it would take an essay to fully explain every aspect of Wicca.

In all fairness, most religions are diverse and interesting, and would need essays to explain them.

[The Wolven League]

Of all Pagan/ witch religions, Wicca is one of the most popular.

And isn't Wicca one of the fastest growing religious movements in the US (besides Mormons and the much talked about "Nones" whose affiliations and beliefs warrant much deeper examination)? I remember reading that in a journal article I read for a psychology project.

Wicca is spreading like a plague, yes. I believe a psychologist did a report and stated that most Wiccans read stories of the Greek/Norse/Egyptian gods and goddesses when they were children. Since access to myths is much more open, the chances of someone converting to Wicca is, in theory, higher.

[The Wolven League]

You would be correct. Unlike some other major religions, it would take an essay to fully explain every aspect of Wicca.

In all fairness, most religions are diverse and interesting, and would need essays to explain them.

Well, for example, Christianity, you could pretty much sum it up with 'Believes in a single god, simply called God. Believe a man named Jesus who rebelled against Roman rule was the messiah of mankind. Believes that good people go to paradise called heaven when they die, and believe bad people go to Hell." There is obviously much more to Christianity, but that is a good summary of it. It would take an essay to sum up Wicca, with all the different "sects" and "denominations".

[The Wolven League]

You would be correct. Unlike some other major religions, it would take an essay to fully explain every aspect of Wicca.

If you think every aspect of other religions would take less than an essay, then I seriously doubt your understanding of other religions.

Most religions can be summed up in a sentence or two. Wicca would take an essay(or almost an essay) because it has so many "sects".

[Conscentia]

If you think every aspect of other religions would take less than an essay, then I seriously doubt your understanding of other religions.

Most religions can be summed up in a sentence or two. Wicca would take an essay(or almost an essay) because it has so many "sects".

Sum up every aspect of every sect of Christianity in two sentences.

[Conscentia]

In all fairness, most religions are diverse and interesting, and would need essays to explain them.

Well, for example, Christianity, you could pretty much sum it up with 'Believes in a single god, simply called God. Believe a man named Jesus who rebelled against Roman rule was the messiah of mankind. Believes that good people go to paradise called heaven when they die, and believe bad people go to Hell." There is obviously much more to Christianity, but that is a good summary of it. It would take an essay to sum up Wicca, with all the different "sects" and "denominations".

Your sentences fail to fully explain every aspect of Christianity, and are inaccurate. The God of the Bible is actually named.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton
Additionally, some sects go further as they believe that Jesus is God, thus giving God the name Jesus.

Sects such as the Jehova's Witnesses do not believe in Hell, and they know he's not just called "God".

[Fortschritte]

In all fairness, most religions are diverse and interesting, and would need essays to explain them.

Well, for example, Christianity, you could pretty much sum it up with 'Believes in a single god, simply called God. Believe a man named Jesus who rebelled against Roman rule was the messiah of mankind. Believes that good people go to paradise called heaven when they die, and believe bad people go to Hell." There is obviously much more to Christianity, but that is a good summary of it. It would take an essay to sum up Wicca, with all the different "sects" and "denominations".

That's not a good summary of it. I'm sure that using similar simplistic sentences, I could write a two sentence "summary" of Wicca. But, I, like you, believe that because of it's diversity, it'd take an essay. The same can be said for Islam, Christianity, and many, many other religions.

[The Wolven League]

Fine, you win. But I still think that it is more complicated than some major religions. If you think otherwise, than fine. It's your opinion.

[Republika Srpska Party]

I know Wicca as a neo-Paganist witchcraft. And no, I'm not Wiccan, used to know some stuff about it, but forgot.

[The Wolven League]

I know Wicca as a neo-Paganist witchcraft. And no, I'm not Wiccan, used to know some stuff about it, but forgot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

[Meryuma]

In all fairness, most religions are diverse and interesting, and would need essays to explain them.

Well, for example, Christianity, you could pretty much sum it up with 'Believes in a single god, simply called God. Believe a man named Jesus who rebelled against Roman rule was the messiah of mankind. Believes that good people go to paradise called heaven when they die, and believe bad people go to Hell." There is obviously much more to Christianity, but that is a good summary of it. It would take an essay to sum up Wicca, with all the different "sects" and "denominations".

"Wicca: Believes in two deities, a solar god and a lunar goddess, who have many aspects as represented by the deities of historical polytheistic mythologies. Celebrates the solstices, equinoxes, and lunar cycles. Wiccans revere nature and practice magic, but forbid the use of magic to manipulate or harm others. Wicca strongly values sex-positivity and gender equality, and holds to the ethical principle of 'an it harm none, do what ye will'. Many Wiccans incorporate a belief in karma and/or reincarnation."

Wicca in one paragraph. How'd I do?

[Fanosolia]

Fine, you win. But I still think that it is more complicated than some major religions. If you think otherwise, than fine. It's your opinion.

Complicated in what way? I mean I believe spirituality and religion is complicated enough, but what makes Wicca more complicated?

[Ideos]

Surprisingly was just reading something on religion and Wicca popped up. I don't know that much about it, any history behind it? The limited things I have heard are interesting. Not thinking of becoming Wiccan, just curious.

[Korintar]

Well, for example, Christianity, you could pretty much sum it up with 'Believes in a single god, simply called God. Believe a man named Jesus who rebelled against Roman rule was the messiah of mankind. Believes that good people go to paradise called heaven when they die, and believe bad people go to Hell." There is obviously much more to Christianity, but that is a good summary of it. It would take an essay to sum up Wicca, with all the different "sects" and "denominations".

"Wicca: Believes in two deities, a solar god and a lunar goddess, who have many aspects as represented by the deities of historical polytheistic mythologies. Celebrates the solstices, equinoxes, and lunar cycles. Wiccans revere nature and practice magic, but forbid the use of magic to manipulate or harm others. Wicca strongly values sex-positivity and gender equality, and holds to the ethical principle of 'an it harm none, do what ye will'. Many Wiccans incorporate a belief in karma and/or reincarnation."

Wicca in one paragraph. How'd I do?

Summed up what I know of Wicca. Might add that the goddess is often viewed as triple deity and that the solar/horned god has two aspects whose feud for the hand of the goddess is viewed as an allegory for the changing of the seasons. Tend not to believe in good versus evil, rather that all of nature is a mixture of light and dark aspects.

I'd probably also mention, for Christians, there are diverse views regarding the afterlife with some believing in universal salvation by God's grace alone (Rob Bell), salvation (going to heaven) dependent on faith alone, taking an exclusivist position- regardless of one's actions, good or bad, Jesus is the only way to God, and faith in him alone is all that is required, or salvation dependent on works made perfect by grace through faith (Catholic position).

[Cyeal]

The dual religion based off of the Greek god Pan?

I sense a rippy-offy.

[Conscentia]

The dual religion based off of the Greek god Pan?
I sense a rippy-offy.

It's not based on Pan.

[Cetacea]

I have Wiccan blood. I have a lot of Scottish and Irish and Welsh. Wicca was practiced by some of our ancestors. However, I know that it is somewhat pagan. And I practice Native Circle, Native American religion.

Nah unless you are refering to your parents or grandparents, Wicca wasn't practiced by by your Scots, Irish or Welsh ancestors. Wicca is a new-age invented beleif system derived from an ecclectic mix of supposed folk traditions and pagan theologies. It might use some of the names and terms from older Celtic and other traditions but it rarely follows them in full.

Thats not a bad thing btw, there are NO religions operating today that follow the practices of its ancestors in the same way as they did 200 years ago let alone 1000 years past. My ancestors were cannibals and practiced human sacrifice, personally I don't. But I do recognise my descent from Mother-Earth and Father-Sky, I acknowledge that I am the younger sibling to all things in this world and I have taught me children to respect the spirits of their ancestors - both human and non-human

BTW are you Native American? Why do you choose to follow Native American religion?

[The Wolven League]

Fine, you win. But I still think that it is more complicated than some major religions. If you think otherwise, than fine. It's your opinion.

Complicated in what way? I mean I believe spirituality and religion is complicated enough, but what makes Wicca more complicated?

There is no official definition of Wicca, since every person tends to believe differently than other Wiccans. But you did sum up wicca in general well
EDIT: Oops, you didn't sum it up well... the guy a couple messages above you did :\

[The Wolven League]

Surprisingly was just reading something on religion and Wicca popped up. I don't know that much about it, any history behind it? The limited things I have heard are interesting. Not thinking of becoming Wiccan, just curious.

It is a neo-Pagan faith that, although belief in what it is differs from practitioner to practitioner, is hard to define, but "regular" Wicca pretty generally is based on a solar God and moon Goddess. Most believe in magic of some sort; 'Wicca" even means "witch" in Old English. Belief in Afterlife is varied; reincarnation is pretty common, there is a phrase around Wiccans "Once a witch, always a witch" which some have interpreted to mean reincarnation, although others believe in a heaven-like afterlife and some simply believe when we die, we just die; no afterlife or reincarnation. It also is pretty open-minded to sexual freedom and gender equality. Founded by a man named Gardner in the '50's, it mixes Old Pagan beliefs with medieval witchcraft and "modernized" them.

[Korintar]

Surprisingly was just reading something on religion and Wicca popped up. I don't know that much about it, any history behind it? The limited things I have heard are interesting. Not thinking of becoming Wiccan, just curious.

It is a neo-Pagan faith that, although belief in what it is differs from practitioner to practitioner, is hard to define, but "regular" Wicca pretty generally is based on a solar God and moon Goddess. Most believe in magic of some sort; 'Wicca" even means "witch" in Old English. Belief in Afterlife is varied; reincarnation is pretty common, there is a phrase around Wiccans "Once a witch, always a witch" which some have interpreted to mean reincarnation, although others believe in a heaven-like afterlife and some simply believe when we die, we just die; no afterlife or reincarnation. It also is pretty open-minded to sexual freedom and gender equality. Founded by a man named Gardner in the '50's, it mixes Old Pagan beliefs with medieval witchcraft and "modernized" them.

Those that believe in a heaven like afterlife, do they also tend to believe in a hell-like place too?

[The Wolven League]

It is a neo-Pagan faith that, although belief in what it is differs from practitioner to practitioner, is hard to define, but "regular" Wicca pretty generally is based on a solar God and moon Goddess. Most believe in magic of some sort; 'Wicca" even means "witch" in Old English. Belief in Afterlife is varied; reincarnation is pretty common, there is a phrase around Wiccans "Once a witch, always a witch" which some have interpreted to mean reincarnation, although others believe in a heaven-like afterlife and some simply believe when we die, we just die; no afterlife or reincarnation. It also is pretty open-minded to sexual freedom and gender equality. Founded by a man named Gardner in the '50's, it mixes Old Pagan beliefs with medieval witchcraft and "modernized" them.

Those that believe in a heaven like afterlife, do they also tend to believe in a hell-like place too?

Some do, some don't. Wicca varies from person to person, as mentioned above

[Fanosolia]

Complicated in what way? I mean I believe spirituality and religion is complicated enough, but what makes Wicca more complicated?

There is no official definition of Wicca, since every person tends to believe differently than other Wiccans. But you did sum up wicca in general well
EDIT: Oops, you didn't sum it up well... the guy a couple messages above you did :\

I was about to say, I didn't sum up anything XD

I do like his summary though I got to say.

Btw, since your of Wiccan belief, what's you belief of magic? Well, if you're of that sect I guess.

[The Wolven League]

There is no official definition of Wicca, since every person tends to believe differently than other Wiccans. But you did sum up wicca in general well
EDIT: Oops, you didn't sum it up well... the guy a couple messages above you did :\

I was about to say, I didn't sum up anything XD

I do like his summary though I got to say.

Btw, since your of Wiccan belief, what's you belief of magic? Well, if you're of that sect I guess.

Those paltry party tricks I think are BS. But other types of magic.. "real" magic.. I don't know. I keep an open mind

[Cyeal]

It's not based on Pan.

Yet a lot like it.

[The Wolven League]

It's not based on Pan.

Yet a lot like it.

The solar God is believed to have a goat head like Pan, but the similarities stop there