On the Wiccan Trend

[Ezratal]

It seems to me that, of recent, there has been a surge in people converting to Wicca. It also seems that many of these people are otherwise pretty intelligent liberal kids, and is being embraced by them as a rejection of the precepts and dogmas espoused and embodied by, among other things, the Judeo-Christian religions.

My question is, how is Wicca really different? Any belief in, and especially the worship of, Gods and/or Goddesses is rooted in not only a rejection of the logico-empirical model of reality but an affirmation of a faith schematic (which I take to be the root of all problems inherent in the Judeo-Christian religions). Furthermore, Wicca takes it a step further and makes the claim of 'magic', which IMO can be seen as basically akin to the Christian belief in miracles (which is another reason that people turn away from the Abrahamic faiths).

Basically, I want to understand the trend and why these people think that Wicca is a preferable alternative not only to other religions but also to irreligiosity.

[negz]

Because kids are pissed off that mommy made them go to church. Instead of using this anger and energy productively to pursue the truth, they jump from one band wagon of wishful thinking to another.

[Vox Ducis]

There is no logical reason in any faith. People who change religion do it because they are fed up with theirs. People feel there is more freedom in Wicca, compared to Biblical religions.

[ArmsMerchant]

Speaking as one who at various times has embraced Christianity and Wicca, I feel impelled to reply.

Christianity--with a few enlightened exceptions-- tends to be restrictive; oppressive towards women; authoritarian; anti-environment; totalitarian; elitist; generally Puritanical (opposed to innocuous things like singing, dancing, and public nudity, to name a few); and fear-based.

Wicca is none of those things.

[Waspish]

Although I dont see any significant differences in amongst any religions, Wicca seems to offer a closer to connection to a higher power, as there is much less structure in the religion, so it seems less formal and more realistic in a way.
It also strongly incorporates the earth and the elements, and because these are things that we can't actually deny the existance of, it makes it easier to connect with the religion.

[Ambient]

Statistically speaking a trend is the most significant category within a population.

If you look at Wicca as a phoenomenon within the category of religion then it is actually a minority, not a trend (at least i dont know of a population is a trend).

This is assuming that the placement value of a trend is .50 or 1/2, seeing as its a democratic number.

A trend would be more like Christianity is America, Vedic/Puranic religion in India, Buddhism in Tibet, Jews is Israel or Rastafarians in Jamaica... not Wicca.

[S'trak'yn'yar Krongoth]

Kids turn to Wicca from their parents Christianity because their desperate to be rebellious but far to afraid to actually do anything too different. It's just another white light religion about being good and bad things happening to 'bad' people.

They can't turn to anything vastly different because their still ingrained with their parents values and they don't know it, so they convert to a differently coloured cookie jar. Fear keeps them from being too different and it offers them some sort of structure to be accepted into by other kids like them, while at the same time showing off some sort of mysterious alternative which they use to increase their own self esteem.

It may be obvious, but Wiccan kids annoy the hell out of me.

[Star Wars Fan]

It seems to me that, of recent, there has been a surge in people converting to Wicca.

that's been happening for years now. I'd ssy at least 10-20 or so.


My question is, how is Wicca really different?

less hierachy and authority and a better connection with nature and the earth. it STRESSES friendship with and protection of the earth due to the life on it.

Any belief in, and especially the worship of, Gods and/or Goddesses is rooted in not only a rejection of the logico-empirical model of reality but an affirmation of a faith schematic

Wicca is not a concrete term, so not many Wiccans believe in "gods' or 'Goddesses'. There is no concrete term here, the whole Pagan and Occultist groups is a giant cluster-fuck with no overarching authority. Re. the clusterfuck part this is from me discussing this with a person who was involved in the Chicago Metro Area occultist groups.

Furthermore, Wicca takes it a step further and makes the claim of 'magic', which IMO can be seen as basically akin to the Christian belief in miracles (which is another reason that people turn away from the Abrahamic faiths).

Wait. People turn away from christianity due to the idea of 'miracles' and 'healing'? Swore that was not much of a problem though. ehh. maybe a 'nail in the coffin' to use that term for some.

[quotte]Basically, I want to understand the trend and why these people think that Wicca is a preferable alternative not only to other religions but also to irreligiosity.[/QUOTE]

it's friendly to earth and has no heirachy.

Christianity--with a few enlightened exceptions-- tends to be restrictive; oppressive towards women; authoritarian; anti-environment; totalitarian; elitist; generally Puritanical (opposed to innocuous things like singing, dancing, and public nudity, to name a few); and fear-based.

Wicca is none of those things.

to be fair, the newer christian fundies are more pro-environment and aren't willing to fuck it over.

It's just another white light religion about being good and bad things happening to 'bad' people.

uh...what? Link? Where is that in that bad things happen to 'bad' people in Wicca. You mean the five-fold rule (forgot if this is the right term?_

Fear keeps them from being too different and it offers them some sort of structure to be accepted into by other kids like them, while at the same time showing off some sort of mysterious alternative which they use to increase their own self esteem.

the Ocult has no structure. Everytime someoen tries to form a pan-occult movement after a few years it all collapses.

[S'trak'yn'yar Krongoth]

uh...what? Link? Where is that in that bad things happen to 'bad' people in Wicca. You mean the five-fold rule (forgot if this is the right term?_

Yes, that. The whole, be good, don't harm others, we can all love each other because natural human aggression can be overcome if your nice enough.

the Ocult has no structure. Everytime someoen tries to form a pan-occult movement after a few years it all collapses.

I didn't mean the Occult in general, I ment the annoying little Wiccan groups they get into.

[Nitronick]

"intelligent liberal kids" Intelligent. Liberal. Kids. No.

"Christianity--with a few enlightened exceptions-- tends to be restrictive; oppressive towards women; authoritarian; anti-environment; totalitarian; elitist; generally Puritanical (opposed to innocuous things like singing, dancing, and public nudity, to name a few); and fear-based."

Opposed to innocuous things like singing? Thats why you have to sing in church then, because their opposed to it.
Dancing? Everyone dances at christian weddings, when have you ever seen people not dancing at a christian wedding.
Either christianty is practiced entirely different where you live or you don't have a clue.

[Ambient]

Whether your citing what you deem to be positive or negative instances of christianity, this method will eventually fail you.

Christianity cannot be evaluated based on the conduct of christianity, it has more to do with ontology than conduct... therefore a religion should be judged by its most realized instances and followers.

But when you do that, its actually alot harder to legitemitly criticize so you athiests can just ignore this little ditty.

[LiquidIce]

It's easy to convert from one to another because christianity and some other religions alos embrace 'mystical' shit - deities - beings - powers etc. So just switching from Warhammer 40K novels to novels about Drizzt is nothing difficult but going from Twilight to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is quite a fucking leap.

Also, atheism is getting popular, but people don't see the difference between someone who doesn't like "teh church" and someone who actually does not believe and has legitimate arguments to back up his views.

[FrY]

Wiccen = Emo-Christin.
Or me = Ignorant.
Altough either way I do not care Just postin for fun.
I win,

[Star Wars Fan]

Yes, that. The whole, be good, don't harm others, we can all love each other because natural human aggression can be overcome if your nice enough.

oh.

I didn't mean the Occult in general, I ment the annoying little Wiccan groups they get into.

lol I see.

Opposed to innocuous things like singing? Thats why you have to sing in church then, because their opposed to it.

It depends on the church.


Dancing? Everyone dances at christian weddings, when have you ever seen people not dancing at a christian wedding.

depends on the church.

[Nitronick]

oh.



lol I see.



It depends on the church.




depends on the church.

Ok so what churches do not allow singing and dancing. Tell me please.

[supperrfreek]

Ok so what churches do not allow singing and dancing. Tell me please.

The churches definitely allow singing, but it's structured. So I'm guessing that any religious service involving singing is the same way: inherently oppressive even if it just seems like "self-expression".
Dancing: I hate stereotypes.....but Black Baptist churches have plenty of dancing. It's like a Jesus party (if the stereotypes are correct at least). But there are probably many churches that do not follow this stereotype though. So the churches that do are the exception not really the rule.

I don't quite know what's prompting the switch to wicca. I'm not so sure about what prompts one's switch to that religion started by L. Ron Hubbard either (it shall not be named and I refuse to speak any more of it in this thread).

[ArmsMerchant]

Opposed to innocuous things like singing? Thats why you have to sing in church then, because their opposed to it.
Dancing? Everyone dances at christian weddings, when have you ever seen people not dancing at a christian wedding.
Either christianty is practiced entirely different where you live or you don't have a clue.



Evidently you know nothing about hard-shell Baptists.

[Sookie]

Wicca would be cool if it were practiced by hot (normal) girls, instead of your typical overweight, sexually-abused-as-a-child, white chicks with cutting issues.

[Gucci]

im wickeneese

[Vortrex]

uh...what? Link? Where is that in that bad things happen to 'bad' people in Wicca. You mean the five-fold rule (forgot if this is the right term?

Its the three fold rule. It states something like Do what thy will, though it harm none, less it be returned three times three times three.

[Star Wars Fan]

Ok so what churches do not allow singing and dancing. Tell me please.

The older Puritan churches do I remember. Hmm, actually even the fundie baptist churches do the singing and shit - even non-black onwa

Dancing: I hate stereotypes.....but Black Baptist churches have plenty of dancing. It's like a Jesus party (if the stereotypes are correct at least).

The singing (when it's not a choir) is not heavily structured.

But there are probably many churches that do not follow this stereotype though.

Probably replaced with ghetto preachers and shit. Also technically they aren't Baptists if they don't focus on baptism and dancing and so forth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZieDrn5fnA

I don't quite know what's prompting the switch to wicca.

It's not as easy to justify genocide, war, destruction of Earth, etc. Basically disenfranchised people from the Abrahamic belief systems.

Wicca would be cool if it were practiced by hot (normal) girls, instead of your typical overweight, sexually-abused-as-a-child, white chicks with cutting issues.

I'm not a Wiccan and don't claim to be.....but this sounds like normalfaggotry :rant:

Its the three fold rule. It states something like Do what thy will, though it harm none, less it be returned three times three times three.

Thank You.

[Rizzo in a box]

It's easy to convert from one to another because christianity and some other religions alos embrace 'mystical' shit - deities - beings - powers etc. So just switching from Warhammer 40K novels to novels about Drizzt is nothing difficult but going from Twilight to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep is quite a fucking leap.

Also, atheism is getting popular, but people don't see the difference between someone who doesn't like "teh church" and someone who actually does not believe and has legitimate arguments to back up his views.

...I don't suppose it has anything to do with yr analogy that Phillip K Dick believed in things far stranger than any mainstream or most occult religions? :p

[Femme Fatale]

I have a Wiccan friend, and yes she is a hot girl, but that's not why I'm so supportive of it haha.

this is why:

Wicca is not a cult. A cult presupposes blind faith in a central figure whose every word is regarded as ultimate truth, and the utter conviction that no other way or philosophy will lead to this truth. You would be very hard pressed to find a Wiccan anywhere who would blindly follow anyone else. Wiccans are historically very independent people who seek truth from within through rituals, meditation, magic, study and communion with nature. Wiccans respect the right of everyone to worship in their own way. We do not feel that Wicca is the only way -- only that it is our way.

Wicca is not synonymous with Satan worship. The very concept of a supreme evil spirit is alien to Wicca. In fact, most Wiccans do not even believe in Satan. The devil is a Judeo-Christian construct and as such, it has nothing to do with Wicca. The notion that witches worship Satan was propounded by the Roman Catholic Church as it made its way across Europe, in an effort to suppress the native earth-based religions prevalent at the time. They succeeded to the extent that they drove the practitioners of these religions underground where much of their knowledge and traditions were lost. Through the work of the Golden Dawn, as well as anthropological and archeological research, many of these traditions have been rediscovered and incorporated into Neo-Paganism, an umbrella term for most modern earth-based and shamanistic religions.

Wicca is a positive journey to enlightment through Goddess worship and the mystical art of magick. Unlike many other religions, Wicca does not claim to be the one and only "religion" for everybody, nor does it campain against other beliefs. Wiccans believe that you can be of any "religion" and still be Wiccan and follow the Goddess and God. Wicca is not anti-Christian, Wiccans do not believe in an advenging God, sin or the devil. Wicca encourages free thought, creativity, individuality, personal, spiritual and psychic growth. It is a celebration of the cycles and seasons of the earth and life and believe in living in harmony with all living things.

The Rule of Threes - This lesson well, thou must learn, Thee only gets what thou doust earn! Ever mind the Rule of Threes, Three times what thou givest, returns to thee!

The Law - We are of the old ways, among those who walk with the Goddess & God and receive their love. Keep the Sabbats and the Esbats to the best of your ability. To do otherwise, is to lessen your connection with the Goddess and God. The Rede is the all important part of the life and is not to be broken. Harm non, this applies to all creatures of great and small. Misery is self-created, so is joy, so distain from misery and unhappiness. Do as ye will but harm none. Teach only what you know, to the best of your ability, to those students that you choose, but teach not to those who would use your instruction for destruction or control. Also teach not to boost your pride, forever remember: She who teaches out of love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Goddess and God. Ever remember, if you would be of our way, keep the law close to your heart, for it is the nature of the Wicca to keep the law.

Wiccan ABC's

Accept others as they are, we are all individuals.

Belief in yourself is a necessity.

Concentration is important in any endeavor, both magickal and in life.

Do what you will, so long as it harms none.

Empathy is an important life skill...learn it, practice it.

Find strength in yourself, your friends, your world and your actions.

Goddess/God's are multifaceted - The Lord and Lady take many names and faces.

Help others every change you get.

Intelligence is something that cannot be judged on the surface.

Judge not - what you send out comes back to you!

Karma loves to slap you in the face, watch out for it.

Learning is something that should never stop happening!!!

Magick is a wonderful gift, but it is not everything!

Nature is precious, appreciate it and protect it.

Over the course of time, your soul learns many lessons. Make this life count!!!

Pray

Quietness both physically and mentally restores the soul, meditate often.

Remember to take time for yourself as well as others.

Spells can help you, but you must also help yourself.

Tools can only do so much, they are not the foundation of all. You are the most important tool to use!!!

Unless you enjoy worrying, keep a postive attitude.

Visualise the success of your goals before you set out to achieve them.

Wisdom can often be found in the least unexpected places.

Xenophia (a hatred of those different from you) is a path to misery.

You are a beautiful person who is capable of anything!!!

Zapping away all of your troubles is not going to happen.


"An it harm none, do as thou wilt."

See my friend isn't incredibly in touch with her gods and goddesses, she however does see them as representatives of all the observable universe.

She's not a vegetarian, which really surprises me, but she's not exactly deeply engrossed in her faith.

[DreadedClaymore]

It seems to me that, of recent, there has been a surge in people converting to Wicca. It also seems that many of these people are otherwise pretty intelligent liberal kids, and is being embraced by them as a rejection of the precepts and dogmas espoused and embodied by, among other things, the Judeo-Christian religions.

My question is, how is Wicca really different? Any belief in, and especially the worship of, Gods and/or Goddesses is rooted in not only a rejection of the logico-empirical model of reality but an affirmation of a faith schematic (which I take to be the root of all problems inherent in the Judeo-Christian religions). Furthermore, Wicca takes it a step further and makes the claim of 'magic', which IMO can be seen as basically akin to the Christian belief in miracles (which is another reason that people turn away from the Abrahamic faiths).

Basically, I want to understand the trend and why these people think that Wicca is a preferable alternative not only to other religions but also to irreligiosity.
You've got a lot of preconceptions about Wicca, and I don't think you'd listen to my answer if I did tell you. I don't think Wicca is "rooted in not only a rejection of the logico-empirical model of reality but an affirmation of a faith schematic" at all.