Wicca Draws From The Old Traditions Of Witchcraft

The indigenous tribes of North America have much in common with the indigenous religions of Africa but there are also many differences in the belief of an afterlife, supreme deity, and the daily practices of each. Today many of these lesser known religions are hardly ever studied but they exist and are still practiced all over North America and Africa. We will discuss how these religions differ in their main beliefs and practices, and we will also discuss how they correlate with one another on smaller aspects.

First, Wicca, the formal organization of witchcraft, is a mystery religion. Each practitioner is considered a witch, and practitioner of The Craft, which contains several different beliefs concerning theology and divinity depending on an individual because of their freedom to study what they seek. Members may choose to be solitary, or part of a coven, which is a group of Wiccans that share beliefs and conduct rituals together. Though different groups of Wicca may

They follow the Wiccan Rede, “a rule that instructs Wiccans to do what they will, as long as it harms none,” (Pike, 2016, Online). It is this rule that shapes the foundation for the Wiccan ethical systems, healing practices, and rituals. Wiccans revere deities both in the male and female aspect, however, the female aspect tends to hold the most power. Their goddess is depicted in three female forms that represent the three stages of a woman’s life: the maiden, the mother, and the old woman. Their god is portrayed with horns and is believed to be the deity that represents nature. This deity’s portrayal with horns leads to the common misconception that he represents the Christian devil. Another basic principle describes how this misconception could not be further from the truth while at the same time bringing up another difference between the Wiccan religion and Christianity, “We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as “Satan” or “The Devil” as defined by Christian traditions,” (Zimmermann & Gleason, 2000, p. 11). In the Christian religion, they believe there is only one God. Unlike Wicca, they do not hold the elements sacred. The Christian form of sacred is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Their deities are both believed to have three manifestations; Christians have the Father, the Son, and

Most modern concepts are much more used to the idea that Witchcraft is focused on learning how to be a witch with the more advanced users learning spells for love and other magic spells that are satanic and evil in nature. Thanks to popular television and movie shows, Wicca has become synonymous to Witchcraft, most of the time exchanging the two ideas. Fact is, Witchcraft is but a mere part of the Wiccan religion, and it is a religious belief that focuses on the understanding of an individual regarding earth and nature which affirms and recognizes the divinity in all living things. It basically teaches individuals that while external forces matter, it does not constitute to our own being and therefore is not to be blamed for anything that is happening to us individually. It teaches responsibility for our actions, therefore ensuring a harmonious balance between the earth and

Witchcraft is a religion. Wicca is one type of Witchcraft, but the term "Wicca" is occasionally applied to Witchcraft in overall. In the United States, most people who practice this religion call themselves Witches or Wiccans. It is an earth-based religion and in some ways is similar to Native American spirituality. Wicca (sometimes called Wicce, The Craft, or The Old Religion) is based on an ancient religion of love for life and nature. The religion of Witchcraft or Wicca is recognized by most state governments, the federal government, and the United States Armed Forces. The courts have recognized the right of even prisoners to practice this religion on an equal basis with other religions. In ancient times, people appreciated the great forces of Nature and celebrated the seasons’ cycles and the moon. They saw spirituality in the sun and moon and in the Earth Herself. Basically, in all life.

Religious, I am a very religious person, I go to church as much as possible and know a lot about the bible, I believe at one time when jesus walked the earth there was miracles or some may call magic taken place. He performed these miracles to show everyone who he was and the power he had through his father God. He raised people from the dead, fed thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish, gave blind people sight. However once he went back to heaven he said “It is written” which means he was done performing miracles, I think at that point the power to do things like that were over. Non religiously, well witchcraft is considered to be spiritual as its self, so there is no ways to describe it but other than explain it as close to a religion which is the belief in yourself as being the one with the god like powers and performing these magic miracles. However I personally do not believe in these or that they couldn't even be

You might have heard of Wiccan spells for healing, protection, love, fertility, money or success. These examples of positive and good magic are often called the white magic. The opposite of these kinds of spells is black magic. Black magic has been popular since ancient times because it is associated with ultimate power, evil and Satanism.

Witchcraft is defined Merriam Webster's Dictionary as “a: the use of sorcery or magic b: communication with the devil or with a familiar”. Throughout history, the idea of witchcraft has been laced with myth it is in modern times often depicted with pointed hats, warts, green skin, and a comically, obnoxious cackling laugh. We have all seen some example of this, from Halloween to major motion pictures,

In Wiccan communities, when the term 'rede' is used, it is automatically assumed that they are referencing the Wiccan Rede. However, the term 'rede' truly means counsel or advice. The term was first used around the 11th century in middle English. It is also note-able to state that the Wiccan Rede is not one of a kind, but also shares some similarities with the Norse Rede of Honour. For example, the most famous line of the Wiccan Rede is the concluding line: “These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

“Rede” means “counsel” or “advice”, it has Germanic roots, from “Raten” and the Dutch “Rede”, both with comparable meanings. Notable redes are The Norse Rede of Honor and The Wiccan Rede. Since the word “Rede” is easily looked up in any dictionary I will focus instead on the Wiccan Rede, which I guess is the real focus of this assignment. It is important, when practicing any religion to understand the rules of the religion and the history of those rules, following anything on blind faith is foolish, even if those words are sound advice such as “an it harm none do what ye will.” So I will begin with a brief history of the Wiccan Rede.

The history of Wicca is often debated by different people. It technically started in 1954, but was based on a mix of ancient religions. We will briefly cover the history of Wicca from caveman days all the way up to modern times in the following paragraphs.

Wiccans meet outdoors when possible. They gather in groups and create circles about nine feet in diameter. Candles and altars are set up during these times of meeting. The meetings may celebrate the full moon, a new moon, a Sabbat ( special Wiccan ceremony ). They could also be used as healing, divination which is scrying, Tarot cards or Runes. Teaching, discussions, or other life-affirming, nature based activities are also brought up in these meetings. After the meeting food is eaten, and the circle is banished

Wicca is part of witchcraft, in one form or another. The related part here is to bring harmony and balance into ones self and the nature around them at all times.

The development of Wicca in the modern times is associated with a gentleman named Gerald Gardner (1884-1964). He was a British civil servant and amateur archaeologist, who spent most of his working years in Southern Asia. Upon his return to England, he authored the book Witchcraft Today, which outlined many of the rituals and doctrines of the religion that is now called Wicca. Although Gardner claimed his book was inspired from Celtic traditions, it is actually a combination of Western faith, Asian magic, god and goddess worship, and Masonic rituals (Melton). The religion Gardner outlined in his book is a nature-oriented faith where a low emphasis on magic predominates. While there is a tendency to see Wicca and Witchcraft as one and the same and some Wiccans may identify themselves as witches, it is a personal choice and many modern Wiccans do not see themselves as witches. Witchcraft describes a magically-oriented practice but lacks the spiritual foundation that Wicca as a religion embodies. Today=s modern Wiccan religion is not the religion that Christians tried to

Aylward Shorter adds “It is the image of “unrepentant human wickedness.” John S. Mbiti also concur with Shorter and Magesa, he states “Witchcraft are the greatest enemies of society.” Magesa thought the English term is misleading in a sense that “In Africa, it is not a ‘craft’ but the mysterious power of evil potentially in every human being that manifests itself in all areas of life society, politics, economy, religion, etc.”