AboutJason Expertise I can answer general questions about most forms of modern Paganism, including, but not limited to Wicca, Asatru, Druidism, various African based paths, and eclectic general Neopaganism. I can also help a person to construct simple spells for various purposes, provided that they are ethical. I may be able to offer some advice on how to find your own niche in Neo-paganism. I look forward to your email.
Experience I grew up in a metaphysical household. Also I have been studying extensively Neo-paganism for about 10 years now.
Organizations W.E.B. The Witches Education Bureau.
In what way is Wiccanism related to ancient pagan religions? I have heard that in Wiccanism there are only two gods: the mother goddess, and the father god. But in my research concerning paganism I have come to discover that there are many many gods. How does this fit in with modern Wiccanism? If Wicca has only 2 gods, then what happened to the other gods?
I used to have a friend who was a Wiccan. At the time I was a Roman Catholic and she would insult my religion to no end, accusing it of the most horrible things. But she was my friend and I just let it all go. But whenever I would ask any questions about Wiccanism which didn't present her elevated views she would get incensed and angry because she could not stand the tiniest bit of disagreement with her beliefs, while the whole time she just loved to tear my faith to shreds. Therefore my second question is how does Wicca view other religions, and how does it view Christianity? My friend used to hate Christianity, I mean literally hate it. According to her Christianity was the most evil religion which ever existed, while Wicca was perfect. We are no longer friends because even though she would horribly ridicule every thing I held dear, she at the same time, could not stand to hear the slightest downplay of any of her religious philosophies. I did not initially wish to downplay her faith, but when she would rant on and on about how evil Christianity was, I could not help but try to poke holes in her accusations. She would go on and on about how many witches the Catholic Church had executed, and about all the evils it had committed against women, but when I asked her about how paganism performed human sacrifices, she didn't like that question, because she knew that the answer was yes, paganism did have human sacrifices, especially when referring to Celtic paganism.
I know that many Wiccans claim that the Christian Church murdered 6 million witches during the Church's 2000 year history. My third question is, where did this number come from? I have heard of this number many times, but no historical evidence or facts to base it on or back it. I was wondering if the number came from the fact that the Nazis killed 6 million Jews, so therefore a claim was created that the Church also killed 6 million witches. Anyone can come up with a number out of thin air, so I ask, do you know where this number comes from and if it has any basis in history? The number which most professional historians claim is that less than 50,000 witches were killed during the Middle Ages. I agree that this also is a high number, but it is no where near 6 million. If 6 million is an actual factual number, then that would mean that the Christian Church was on a genocidal hunt to exterminate women in Europe. I say this because the population of Europe until recent times was really not that big, especially during the middle ages, when the infant mortality rate was 50%, up to the first year of life, and people died of the simplest diseases.
My forth question deals with the Wiccan maxim: "Do what you will, but hurt no one..." I have been told that this is the epitome of perfect morality. On par with the golden rule. It appears to be rather politically correct. But where did this saying come from? Does it have any basis in ancient paganism, or is it a creation of modern day 20th century paganism?
My fifth question concerns the history of Wicca itself. Wiccans claim that Wiccanism has been a historically underground movement which has always existed in hiding for centuries, starting in the Middle Ages, up until the present modern day. The idea is that Wiccanism had to go underground because it was oppressed by the Church, but that it never died out. When the Wiccan movement began in the 20th century, did pagans around Europe come out of hiding (out of the closet, so to speak) and proclaim that they had been practicing paganism all along, and that their ancestors had done the same for centuries, and that now they can finally practice their religion in peace because we live in the modern age? If so, then who were some of the big names that came out of hiding? How many practicing witches/pagans came out of hiding and said that they and their ancestors had been practicing paganism for centuries?
Finally, what similarities exist between the different forms of paganism around Europe, and around the world? Do pagans in Russia have similarities to pagans in Ireland, etc.? Do they worship the same gods?
I am sorry if my questions seem a bit harsh, but I am asking them because I heard a lot about Wiccanism, and have heard a lot of Wiccans mock Christianity to my face, knowing full well that I was a Christian, and I just want to know what the facts are. I have tried asking Wiccans these questions, but none of them have ever been willing to answer them.
Thank you: A.J.
Answer Dear A.J,
Ah the overzealous newbies (that what we call the new obnoxious pagans). I am sorry that so many people were so rude to you. The church may have done a lot of bad things but you are not a stand in for all of those people and you do not deserve it. I'd tell them where to go if I were you but I'm nit always that nice lol. Anyway I'd hate to burst their bubble but Wicca, as it is practiced today, was started by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's and thus it was not an intact ancient underground religion. Many will disagree with me but sorry, it's the truth and it can be backed up by real history. Just because it is recent though dose not mean that it doesn't have ancient roots. Much of Wicca is derived from older sources like ceremonial magic(as in the magical orders like the golden dawn) and European folk magic. It even has some Eastern influences such s the concept of karma and the concept of Yin and Yang (which has a lot to do with the ideas of THE God and THE Goddess. In Wiccan Theology the ancient Pagan gods are all aspects of this great God and Goddess. So that's how they fit in. In many Wiccan circles often they will substitute the names for specific deities. It is related to ancient religions because there is actually ancient influence such as celebrating old Pagan holidays and the fact that they practice ancient folk magic but Wicca is not an intact ancient religion. I am not insult Wicca of course. It is my belief that if a religion is only 10 minute old and it works for you then it is as valid as any other. As far as the history of the witch trials go, that number is simply not true. It's far too exaggerated. Historians estimate between 40,000, and 100,000 and most were not witches but terrified Christians. However they were killed in the name of being witches and it always puzzled me as to why the number was exaggerated. Isn't one person dying in the name of witchcraft enough? In my opinion, one is just too many. As for your next question about the Wiccan rede. That is rather debatable. Some even say that it was made in the 80's a guideline (by the way rede means advice,it is not mean holy law). Also the Wiccan rede is actually much longer than that and it gives advice on how to work magic and how to govern it morally. Harm none and do what thou will is actually the last line in the rede (I'll give you some links because it is too long to get into with one email.).
OK to sum it all up Wicca has ancient roots but it is not the same thing as the ancient Pagan religions. Many say that we are Pagans and we are for simplicities sake, but we are actually Neo-Pagans. That doesn't make the religions any less valid. Hey all religions have to start somewhere right? Many people cling to the bad history because it makes it more valid in their minds and it used to try and make the religion more valid to outsiders. That style of history is currently falling out of favor among Wiccans because we don't need it anymore. Anyone who treats you badly for your religion when you didn't provoke them first is an extremely rude person and you do not deserve that kind of treatment. I also want to point out that not all wiccans are like that. Anyway here are some resources for you.
Again I hope that you found it helpful and I am sorry that I couldn't go into more depth but it is a lot and the resources should help you find out more info. Thanks for contacting me.
