What is Wicca?
Wicca is a modern religion with a philosophical lineage in pre Christian Pagan theology. Although many of its beliefs are truly ancient, the structure and practices of Wicca were formed primarily by Gerald Gardner in the late 1940's. Wiccan beliefs are based on Divinity expressed in nature, gender equality, and the ability of individuals to have a positive impact on their environment.
Do you believe in God?
We do believe in God, but not in the same way that most Christians do. Wiccans are generally pantheistic or polytheistic, and see Divinity expressed in both masculine and feminine aspects. In other words, we believe in both God and Goddess. Many Wiccans see the God and Goddess as eminently manifest in nature, and seek to honor the natural world as an expression of Divinity.
What about the devil?
Wiccan theology includes both God and Goddess, but no "devil". We don't polarize Divinity into good and evil. We don't deny that good and evil exist, or that evil should be opposed. We just see the primary forces of the universe differently. Rather than see the universe as a battleground for hostile, opposing forces (God and Satan), we see it as the meeting place for complementary, cooperating forces (Lord and Lady).
Why do you call yourself Witches?
"Witchcraft" is a word often used to refer to Wicca. A lot of the reason for this traces back to the twenties and a British anthropologist named Margaret Murray, who was a major influence on the work of Gerald Gardner. Murray believed that the pre Christian Pagan religion of Europe had survived by going underground. She believed that what the Inquisition had called "Witchcraft" was actually the the remnants of an ancient Pagan priesthood. Gardner drew heavily on her work during Wicca's formative period. Although much of her work has been contradicted by later research, the association of Wicca and "Witchcraft" remains.
Aren't Witches evil?
Wicca is not the only practice to be called "Witchcraft". "Witch" has been used to describe everyone from satanists to superstitious grandmothers. This is where a lot of the confusion and misunderstanding about Wicca comes from. "Witch" is a word with so many meanings that it is meaningless without some context in which to place it. In the context of Wicca, "Witchcraft" is simply another name for our religion, and Wicca is not evil.
Is Wicca a form of satanism?
Wicca is certainly not a form of satanism. Satanists generally adhere to a group of principles which are basically incompatible with Wiccan ethics. While we recognize the rights of others to follow their own religious path, we do not share the philosophy or endorse the practices of satanism.
How many Wiccans are there in the US?
According to the 2001 ARIS (American Religious Identification Survey) there are about 134,000 adult Wiccans in the US. In 1990 the same survey reported 8,000 Wiccans. This makes us one of the fastest growing religions in the world! In 2001 ARIS also reports 33,000 Druids and 140,000 other Pagans among adult Americans.
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