The Christian Arsenal
Christianity, Cults & World Religions
Wicca
Wicca
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Religion: Wicca
Category: Cult
Founder/Leader:
Wiccans maintain that their religion has existed for the past 35,000 years and was displaced in Europe with the advent of Christianity. Wicca is explicitly a modern religion, being the brainchild of Gerald Gardner during the 1950's in England. Wicca is however heavily inspired by, and partially based upon the ancient pagan religions. Parts of Wicca are clearly inspired by the Celts, Ceremonial Magicians, Norse and Greek myths and folk beliefs all over Europe. However, Wicca is not the religion of the Celts, the Norse or any other ancient European civilization even though it draws heavily from them.
Foundational Documents:
The "Wiccan Rede" and "Book of Shadows" are prominent writings. Wiccans have no set book of scripture. The Book of Shadows is what Wiccans make on their own. It is a compilation of all the lessons and experiences while on the Wiccan path. It is most often used as a reference book. It is basically a self written rule to live by.
God is...
The concept of God to Wiccans is Duotheistic (Goddess/God). Many Wiccans (perhaps most) believe that there is a single ultimate deity which/who is unknowable. A common Wiccan saying is that "All Gods are the ONE GOD." This deity is often visualized as having two aspects: a male facet who is called the God and a female component, the Goddess.
Jesus is...
Jesus is seen as an enlightened person or a wizard by some. He is not the Son of God or virgin born. He was a great prophet or a religious leader but this is all. He did not die for the sins of the world because the concept of sin and Satan does not exist in Wiccan beliefs.
The Holy Spirit is...
The Holy Spirit is not considered in this system.
Method of Salvation:
Following the Karma/Threefold Law (Evil returns upon the perpetrator three-fold) The soul must learning all that it can, the Soul proceeds to the next plane of existence once it masters this.
Death and Beyond...
Summerland is the resting place between a soul's incarnations. Life seen as a series of lessons learned through experiences. The Soul takes as many lifetimes as it takes to learn all that it can through the human experience. Upon learning all that it can, the Soul proceeds to the next plane of existence. There is no concept of Hell in Wicca.
Other Beliefs:
There is usually no formal temple and no size restriction on small groups (covens) 3-13 people usual though, a congregations may be larger. Some worship ceremonies are nocturnal (Lunar Esbats). Wicca, unlike Christianity and Judaism, prescribes no personal limits of behavior. . . . It teaches that each individual must determine his patterns of behavior and may use the gods of Wicca to obtain any personal goal.