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Why is it that wiccan's get discriminated against?
I am fascinated by religions of the world and what people believe in. It has always been my philosophy that each religion in the world hosts a "piece" of the puzzle, or the "big picture" if you will, but no one religion contains all of the answers.
I took the effort in my life on a personal basis to attempt to understand some of the various religions in the world on an unbiased level. One of the religions that I have studied to some length is the Wiccan religion. I began knowing nothing about the religion, and I ended up being quite fascinated by what I discovered overall. I may, or may not, agree with all of the practices and priciples of the faith, but I "did" gain respect for many of those who observe it's teachings.
A lot of people in the world like to believe that their way of doing things in life is the "right way", and that the "others" have a lot to learn. But as a person makes a serious study of the "other ways" of doing things ... whether they agree with other ways or not... the process of studying other ways of doing things somehow seems to open a persons eyes, mind, and heart on an intellectual level where it may not have been otherwise. I suppose you could simply call that maturity and a much more intellectual and informed approach as opposed to emotional "flare ups" that are based on very little facts.
I dare say that, overall, what I have discovered in life, is, that people with the least understanding of something are most often the ones with the first hateful comments of criticism to offer. Also they are quite often mis-informed, and under educated on what they criticize. They have usually responded emotionally to what they have "heard" about something... but never went into depth to actually "study" it in a serious manner. Perhaps they took what they "heard from somebody" else as being the "truth" about something... and without checking the validity of their references, have only seriously managed to perpetuate ignorance on a larger scale than what it was originally.
We must remember that 'studying' something is not the same thing as 'practicing' it. Studying something only makes you better informed about an issue before you attempt to discuss it openly with others.
So, aside from the issue of "Is the Wiccan religion right or wrong in your opinion", which only you can make your mind up for yourself, let's get away from the ignorance that "Wiccans are really witches that fly around on brooms, worship the devil and cast evil spells on Halloween". Those ideas cannot be any further from the real truth if you tried.
I am not a Wiccan, but I would like to share a few beginning concepts that I have learned about the religion to be "fact" and I'd like to pass them on to people who know very little about the practice.
1). The Wiccan religion is one of the oldest, and longest lasting religions in the entire world. It certainly pre-dates Christianity by centuries.
2). Many of the actual practices that are observed in the Wiccan religion are also observed in Christian religions during their worship services. This is not to say that the beliefs are the same, but that the "practices" (such as invoking a spirit to come into the worship service) are identical in methodology.
3). Wiccans do NOT believe in the devil. They don't even believe that the devil exists. So to worship the devil, of course, would be absurd. Often times Wiccans are confused with other religions that actually "do" worship the devil. Especially by those who have not seriously studied the religion.
4). Wiccans believe in one supreme being over the universe. They call this supreme being "The One". Christians believe in one supreme being, and call this supreme being "God". Could each of these supreme beings be one in the same?
5). Wicca is what is known as a "nature based" religion. Their highest regards are for nature (going "green" before the rest of the world, I suppose). They believe that there is actually an "energy force" in all objects both animate and inanimate objects. Not "life", mind you, but an "energy force". However, life being regarded as a much stonger force than the energy found in inanimate objects. They sum up all of the energy found in good old mother earth under four categories... those being earth, wind, water and fire.
6). Two of the general principles of the religion are know as "The Rede"... and "The threefold Law". You can do some studying on each of them if you like to understand what they are in more detail... but in short, they are the backbone of the religion and they state "no harm is done to others". Their practice is ONLY intended for the natural good of others.
... well, there is just a small start on some of the "reality" of what I have learned about Wicca overall. Perhaps others may care to add what they "actually" know to be true facts of the religion to share with others.
Do they believe in exactly what "you" believe in? Perhaps so, perhaps not. But you'll never really know until you learn the truth for yourself.
Is someone here trying to get you to become a Wiccan. Most likely not. Only to discuss the facts and share ideas that differ from one another and to learn.
What do "you" have constructive to add?
:-)
What I have learned about the Wiccan Religion I learned from many people who practice it, a lot of reading, and being invited as a "guest" to witness some things first hand. I, of course, was not around some thousands of years ago personally (or at least not that I can presently remember, ha-ha) ... so, I have to rely primarily on what I have been taught by actual Wiccans and what I have read that has been recorded about the belief.
In regards to the age of Wicca, there is one writing that appears online on a website that most definitely goes first hand into the religion that I could ever hope to. This website address is:
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/wicca/wicca.htm
... and it does state the following about the age of religion as others understand it to be:
"Thanks to archaeological discoveries, we now have basis to believe that the origins of our belief system can be traced even further back to the Paleolithic peoples who worshipped a Hunter God and a Fertility Goddess. With the discovery of these cave paintings, estimated to be around 30,000 years old, depicting a man with the head of a stag, and a pregnant woman standing in a circle with eleven other people, it can reasonably be assumed that Witchcraft is one of the oldest belief systems known in the world toady. These archetypes are clearly recognized by Wiccan as our view of the Goddess and God aspect of the supreme creative force and predate Christianity by roughly 28,000 years making it a mere toddler in the spectrum of time as we know it. "
... so, in effect, based on this writing... you seem to be most correct in your observation because it "does" state "one of the oldest belief SYSTEMS known in the world today". ...and not one of the oldest RELIGIONS.
Perhaps when that was explained to me years ago, I had assumed and remembered it from that time as referring to the actual Wicca practice itself... and simply overlooked that it was speaking about the "system" of belief instead.
That was a wonderful observation ! Thank you for pointing that out. I guess with an open mind, none of us are ever too old to learn something new.
Thank You.
:-)
very true toadaly I get it both ways, I'm a Gothic Witch people discriminate me for the way I dress & for what I believe in
rubbercrutches, you can't believe everything online the term wicca(Wikka actually) is older than witches, but witches surpass the reliion, pagan, celtics, mages also surpass them. Wiccans worship a corn god & call it the spirit of the forest(Pan is indeed a corn god). Some may claim it is very old, in actuality it's not even a centry. Though, as I've stated before, the roots are encient. It stems from celtic. All occult religions & practice stems from pantheism, which is the oldest known religion.
& in all honesty I have to agree with with reb1312 There are more people claiming to be witch, wicca & not even knowing what uit's about claiming to be homosexual or bi & haven't even dated a someone of the same gender claiming to be anime fans & don't even know chobits Goth yet dress like a metal head or some loser emo & acts like a meloncholy jack@$$, don't even know the history or orgins of Goth or emo & not even know the orgins or some will even deny the meaning of Emo or writers yet they're vocabulary is very narrow & hardly surpass middle school level The list is near endless We've reached the age of ignorance
PS: Wikkapedia sucks on certain topics, so be carful what you look up there.
ok, I didn't read all the other answers, but as someone who has practised wicca, I do understand the pre-conceptions that people have.
there's no one answer, but I think a common problem is that people still have a very distorted memory of the salem witch hunts...not that its relevant everywhere, but it is a prime example. wicca is commonly misunderstood as something evil, purely because people think that A) how can someone 'think' they have power over something else (so they may think wiccans a bit arrogant) or B) that they fear this very example.
the truth is, wiccan is simply about being 'in touch' with nature (fundamentally) and in the belief that everything is connected, and as such most things are in a certain amount of control.
when people don't understand something, they commonly fear it. but being wiccan isn't about dressing in black and huddling in a corner, it's about an inner confidence...be proud to have confidence, just also understand that not everyone understands... x
I think we all have a right to worship what we want to (and yes I am a Chrisitian) I may not agree with you and you may not agree with me, but us agreeing isn what is important, its what will happen in the end is what is important. like its been said, everyone is going to get blasted for something, not only in religion but b/c one likes one team in football and one likes the other team, or one likes one sport and the other doesn. I have my belief just like you,and you have your belief just like me, but we can learn to respect each other and not offend each other by it. I have a friend that is athiest, and we are very close, but we dont blast each other b/c we have respect for each other. I dont hate you or hate anyone else, just b/c we dont agree on religion doesn mean you cant be friends, or anything else.
Ifeelcrazy, no, I probably wouldn't because Christianity is the "norm". I'm not saying I discriminate. I don't care what your skin color is, I don't care what your religion is. I only care about your personality.
However, like I said in my post (or should have said) kids go out of the norm to be unique on purpose whether they agree with it or not. The classic example is high school, where you have all those labels and all those groups and cliques and yet there's always those groups of people pretending to be something just to be "original".
When people below the age of 18 claim they are something out of the norm, there is a good chance they are doing it for the attention. Kids that age are desperately seeking to be unique, and their own person, by pretending to be something they are not.
I just find it funny that maybe a month, month and a half ago you came on this website and started asking all these "wiccan" questions...and fast forward a month later, you're now a 14 year old "witch". You hurt your own cause.
people discriminate cause they don't really understand things and also you don't hear about it that often like Christianity and other more mainstream religions - like me for example I don't know anyone who is wiccan so I don't really know what the religion is about and what wiccans believe in etc. not that I judge (I will respect your opinion and decision if you respect mine)
Also it just the way the world is people will always find something to discriminate against.
1). The Wiccan religion is one of the oldest, and longest lasting religions in the entire world. It certainly pre-dates Christianity by centuries.
No it's not, it stemmed from it, but it's not. Pagan, Celtics, Mages, sorcery, they all predate christanity by milliniems. Wicca itself is not even a centry old. Pantheism is the oldest.
people are just @$$holes, ignore them. They've been taught to discriminate & don't know how to think for themselves.
well here it is in a nut shell... WHAT PEOPLE WILL DISCRIMINATE:
ANYTHING that isnt called normal will be discriminated ANYTHING that is a different color will sooner or later be discriminated ANYTHING that someone or other believes will be discriminated as well ANY religion will be discriminated depending on where you live
its a loose loose situation, deal with it
people discriminate people, its 'nature' (or is it human stupidity, no one know)
Well they are right. Everyones been discrimated on at some point but its still not right.
As for Wicca. I AM WICCAN AND I'm WELL PAST PUBERTY. Christinas teach that if something isn't of God its of the devil. Because of this Wicca, which dosent worship their God, under their teaching is evil. There's no room I'm that teaching that allows of the fact not everyone believes in their God
That's not to say there are christians that respect Wicca.
reb1312. would you feel the same way if someone who is 14 found out a about Christianity and then a month later becomes reborn again or some other religion? I think that even if you are below the age of 18 you can still make your own decisions about your religion and its your choice. And if she decides that she wants to do it in a month and if her religion permits it there is nothing wrong with it.
Mesinger has made some major progress in the pat month alone in my opinon. He (as all of us do) sill has a lot to learn, I've been a witch for 8 years and still discovering and learning new things everyday, related to the craft or not. form what I know of him I am proud of him and him beginning his jorney
not jsut wiccan, im a paganist which is actualy worse than wiccan in many respects and we get discriminated by christians
I think christians have the wrong end of the stick, you know the horned god (of corse) many christians beleive that to be a representation of satan
probably because its out of the norm..not going along with society so people see and get scared so they feel if they critisize you enough you will conform...dont listen to em though...do your own thing
I dont know, they think your freaks, I deffinintly dont cause my dad is wiccan! I love that stuff so if anyone makes fun of you for it, tell them hahaahaha your catholic or whatever they are. :)
Rubbercrutches. I am impressed. Thank you.
1 small thing. Wicca its self isn't that old however the beliefs from which Wicca is derived from. Is the Oldest.
But thank you so much
Rubbercrutches. I am impressed. Thank you.
1 small thing. Wicca its self isn't that old however the beliefs from wich Wicca is the Oldest.
But thank you so much
because most people who call themselves wiccans havent finished going through puberty yet...
@sexci_baby08
theres this site called wikipedia, search there...
Everyone get discriminated against, thats just part of life. Listen to: Backstabber, by the Dresden Dolls.. haha random but good song.
...but us agreeing isn what is important, its what will happen in the end is what is important...
...elaborate...
A spirtual practitioner. Someone whom uses magick sometimes and believes in many dietys
Very good!
I know I have to still be initiated but I am doing pretty good...
All minorities experience discrimination, including religious minorities.
I know I am a wiccan and I am going through puberty. I just want to know.
lol. hope I didn't come of as offensive. soz if so.
Ok, I will respect you're opinions.
