Wicca: Just the Basics
Is Wicca a "Modern" or "Ancient" religion? Is Wicca an actual, legal religion?
Since I guess we have to start somewhere, I'll start with those two common questions.
First, yes, Wicca (and Paganism and Neopaganism) is a real, legal religion according to the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution. This was further backed up by the 1985 court case of
Dettmer v. Landon where the Church of Wicca was declared protected and recognized by the
First Amendment.
The other question is not so simply answered. "Wicca" as the religion we know today is a "Modern"
religion. Meaning that it was never called by that name until Wicca was brought to the States as
the Gardnerian Tradition by Raymond Buckland , and from there many of the modern traditions have sprung.
However, in the minds of many, it is just as ancient as it is modern. Wicca is also an Earth Bound religion.
It utilizes many very ancient, pre-Christian beliefs and practices. It is often referred to as an Earth-centered
religion that honors Deity as both Masculine and Feminine equally.
One important aspect of Wicca that needs to be understood is that above all else, it is a peaceful and loving religion.
We believe that all life is valuable and precious. We live by the Wiccan Rede which is often simplified to
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will". With that said, the idea that anyone practicing Wicca sacrifices any
animal or person is completely preposterous!
Wiccans hold both an animistic as well as pantheistic view of the universe. Animistic meaning that
everything (every rock, plant, animal, insect) is alive, and filled with spirit and consciousness in their
own fashion. Pantheistic meaning that all these same things we view as animistic are also
inherently filled with the divine (Goddess and God) and are therefore sacred, and magickal. A third and
very important factor in Wiccan beliefs is Polytheism, the belief that there are many Gods functioning either as
manifestations of a single divine source or individually as spiritual beings singular and independent.
Like the ancients, we follow the cycles of the Moon from New to Full and back again, and celebrate
them as Esbats. The cycles of the Sun are equally sacred and celebrated in our eight Sabbats.
Wicca is under the umbrella of Paganism (also NeoPaganism). There are many young modern religions that are
similarly practiced such as Spiritualism. However in general we all honor and follow some truly ancient
beliefs and practices, but just have adapted things to suit our modern times and modern way of life.
See Foundations of Wicca for more info.
Since I guess we have to start somewhere, I'll start with those two common questions.
First, yes, Wicca (and Paganism and Neopaganism) is a real, legal religion according to the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution. This was further backed up by the 1985 court case of
Dettmer v. Landon where the Church of Wicca was declared protected and recognized by the
First Amendment.
The other question is not so simply answered. "Wicca" as the religion we know today is a "Modern"
religion. Meaning that it was never called by that name until Wicca was brought to the States as
the Gardnerian Tradition by Raymond Buckland , and from there many of the modern traditions have sprung.
However, in the minds of many, it is just as ancient as it is modern. Wicca is also an Earth Bound religion.
It utilizes many very ancient, pre-Christian beliefs and practices. It is often referred to as an Earth-centered
religion that honors Deity as both Masculine and Feminine equally.
One important aspect of Wicca that needs to be understood is that above all else, it is a peaceful and loving religion.
We believe that all life is valuable and precious. We live by the Wiccan Rede which is often simplified to
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will". With that said, the idea that anyone practicing Wicca sacrifices any
animal or person is completely preposterous!
Wiccans hold both an animistic as well as pantheistic view of the universe. Animistic meaning that
everything (every rock, plant, animal, insect) is alive, and filled with spirit and consciousness in their
own fashion. Pantheistic meaning that all these same things we view as animistic are also
inherently filled with the divine (Goddess and God) and are therefore sacred, and magickal. A third and
very important factor in Wiccan beliefs is Polytheism, the belief that there are many Gods functioning either as
manifestations of a single divine source or individually as spiritual beings singular and independent.
Like the ancients, we follow the cycles of the Moon from New to Full and back again, and celebrate
them as Esbats. The cycles of the Sun are equally sacred and celebrated in our eight Sabbats.
Wicca is under the umbrella of Paganism (also NeoPaganism). There are many young modern religions that are
similarly practiced such as Spiritualism. However in general we all honor and follow some truly ancient
beliefs and practices, but just have adapted things to suit our modern times and modern way of life.
See Foundations of Wicca for more info.