what does the word/religion wiccan mean?
449972
A Wiccan is a witch, and Wicca is the practice of witchcraft. A Wiccan is someone who follows a pagan faith that involves the celebration of nature, magical rites and rites of passage. It can involve spellcasting, the making of charms and so on, but at its most fundamental is often described as being made up of two elements - the Wiccan Rede, and the Law of Threefold Return.\n\nThe Wiccan Rede is a rule of behaviour that says "As long as it harms no-one, do what you will". This might sound simple enough, but to apply it in life is difficult and teaches the development of forethought - you can only do what you believe will harm no-one.\n\nAnd the Law of Threefold Return underlies this with a belief that "whatever you give out, good or bad, comes back to you threefold". So Wiccans are encouraged through enlightened self-interest (rather than any concept of sin) to be good, positive influences in their lives, communities and nations.\n\nIncidentally, many Christian groups believe that Wicca is aligned with Satanism. It is not. The confusion comes from the fact that many Celtic and Saxon gods (revered by some Wicca), were depicted as horned beings (horns being the symbol of natural sexual energy). With the Christian Devil also having horns, they became connected in the minds of some Christians, but not in the minds of Wiccans.
711875
Witchcraft is not a religion!  You do NOT have to be Wiccan to practice witchcraft! With that said, there are many types of magic that are forbidden in the bible, such as sorcery, trafficking in spirits, divination, poisoning, even ledger demain. However  there is one form of magic that is not taboo in the christian faith.  That type of magic is Theurgy, a type of magic in which you invoke the power of the divine and direct that power to accopmlish goals & aspirations.   A common form of theurgy is prayer, also healing circles, some pentacostal practices use a ritualized practice of theurgy which often results in strange occurances such as speaking in tounges, trance possession by the holy spirit, even siezure like activity.  This is all theurgy.  Witches use theurgy too, you dont have to "worship nature" to be a witch, you can worship or work with whom ever you want, to be honest! Including the Christian God, Jesus, Mary< the saints, pagan gods, ancestors, land deva's or land wights, what have you.  Theurgy invokes the power of the divine force,\nhowever you percive it.  If your perception of divinty is JHVH, or Jesus then you can practice theurgy and still remain a faithful christan.  You commit no sin in that aspect.  If you wish to practice other forms of magic that are taboo in the bible then confess your sins, do your penance, or simply ask God's forgiveness... He is supposedly a loving father after all... \n\nAs for the person who said "suffer not a witch to live"... You do realize that the bible was not originally penned in English? right?  It has been translated from hebrew to aramaic,  to latin, to german to english... and sometimes mis-translations occur.  The original intent of that statement was "suffer not a poisoner to live." Please try to educate yourself on your own religion before trying to force it down someones throat...
611417
There is not one singular text that Wicca goes off of like the Bible or the Torah.  But there are many books that give accurate descriptions.  \n\nWE are based on oral traditions and being that Witchcraft was only  made legal about 55 years ago, all texts before then would likely to have been burned.   \n\nWicca is a mystery religion.  That is to say, that not all Wiccans have the same idea about Creation, Death, etc.  HEre is what we do agree on.
232321
While Wicca is a religion that frequently makes use of witchcraft and magick, the religion is not primarily about it.  Therefore, most Wiccan sites - and especially Traditionalist ones - do not contain any spell information.
424939
I became Wiccan in search of the balance of nature and the restoration of the divine feminine.\n\nI believe in Gods and goddesses because I believe that Nature is a balance between receptive and projective forces that can be described and masculine and feminine energy. Within that balance lies all the elements of nature.  \n\nI have been Wiccan for 8 years.  \n\nThe name Wicca comes from the ancient word Wicce meaning Wise Ones.  We don't feel the need to change it because others are ignorant.
1018174
Paganism is a general term referring to most earth-revering religions and ideologies that often also admire/worship multiple gods and practice magick.  Actually, neo-paganism more accurately describes most modern forms, but it's a bit cumbersome to say and write.  Pagans are those who see the earth as the giver of life, sometimes representing a spiritual being with the same purpose.  Pagans can fall into many categories.  One of these is Wicca.\n\nWicca is a religion that was started by Gerald Gardener in the middle of the last century.  Wiccans see the form of the Deity that controls everything as having two aspects, male and female.  It is a religion that teaches the balance among all things living.  Also, reincarnation is believed by most Wiccans because of the cycles of life, death and rebirth that occur in nature.  Wiccans believe, as many pagans do, in the power of our minds to influence the world around us through ritual and spells.  We appeal to the Goddess and God and the elements for help with this.  \n\nTo find out more, go to http://www.religioustolerance.org/witchcra.htm\n\nNow, agnostics believe that there is "something out there," but that no religions created by humans have the capability to fully explain what that is and what it wants from us.  Most believe that if they live good lives, that should be enough, which I don't see why it shouldn't be.  \n\nAtheists, btw, believe that there is NOT anything out there controlling the universe and its occupants.  They attribute everything to scientific explanations.
1151750
"Pagan" is hard to define; a lot of people think of it as "any religion that's not Christianity, Judaism or Islam." I don't think that's quite accurate, but it's okay to start with. \n\nSince your sister talked about a "Wiccaning" (not "wickening), she's talking about the pagan religion Wicca (and here's where I start quoting Wikipedia): Wicca is a religion, and although its adherents often identify as witches, Wicca and witchcraft are not necessarily the same thing.\n\nWiccans may worship a Goddess and/or a God; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; and they have a code of ethics that most live by. Wicca is thus generally considered to be distinct from witchcraft, which does not of itself imply any specific religious, ethical or ritual elements, and is practiced in various forms by people of many religions, as well as by atheists.\n\nWicca does, however, incorporate a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics require that magical activities are limited to good purposes only.\n\nAccording to Gerald Gardner [the one who brough Wicca into modern public awareness], the religion derives from a secret but widespread witch-cult of early modern Europe, which incorporated all of the key religious beliefs and ideals and the distinctive ritual structures found in modern Wicca. While this historical interpretation is now much criticised, it makes it difficult to conclusively say whether Wicca is a religious form of witchcraft or a religion incorporating witchcraft.
975056
Doesnt it mean a country dweller, someone who lives out in the heaths. \n\nI'm Pagan so I kind read up on this stuff ages ago. I think thats about right from what I remember!\nEDIT: obviously I mean the original meaning when taken literally, wea ll know that religous types use it as a derogatory term!
1045438
Wicca is a religion, just like Baptist or Catholic except those are Christian and Wicca is Pagan.  You know if you are Wiccan if you say, "Hey, I think I'll be Wiccan now." and you go out and buy a few Buckland books and charge yourself to the Goddess while standing nekkid in your bedroom.  \n\nIn other words, you DECIDE to be Wiccan, the same as Christians have to decide to be Christian.  Its not something you are born with, like magical powers or anything moronic like that.  \n\nGo read a book.\n\nIf you have dreams that come true it just means you have psychic leanings, which millions of people do.  It makes you "a psychic" not "a wicca".  There is no such thing as a person being "a wicca".  You're not born "a witch", either, it takes alot of hard work.\n\nGo to www.witchvox.com to get a grip on the reality of neo-pagan religion and magical phenomena.
356894
Wicca is a nature based religion, I love it. It makes more sense to me than other religions. It is a very open place to be.
986294
To begin with Wiccans are those who follow what they believe is the set of beliefs that were common among the peoples of Central and Northern Europe before the coming of the Romans and the Christianization of that part of the world. True Wicca isn't so much a religion as a set of beliefs about life and our place in this world and any other. It deals more with one's relationship to the world around you (whether physical or spiritual). Therefore the God(s) and/or Goddess(es) that any given Wiccan or group of Wiccans pays homage to can vary tremendously. Most, however, devote themselves to some variation of the Goddess and, possibly, God and tend to regard this duality as simply the male and female aspects of a singular Consciouness of which we are all a part. \n\nThere are some Satanists who regard themselves as Wiccan however they are few among Wiccans and, generally, not well recieved by other Wiccans. Even those that do revere "Satan" tend to see him as a force for creative freedom rather than evil and are not, themselves, generally given to evil acts or expressions. \n\nAs a belief system Wicca is as far from anything "evil" as you can get. The Witches Rede, for instance, states that as long as you do no harm to others you are free to live as you see fit (hardly an "evil" concept, eh?). Most Wiccans also subscribe to the "rule of 3", meaning that whatever you send out; good wishes, bad wishes, helpful or hurtful the Universe will return to you 3 fold. Consequently Wiccans tend to be some of the least vengeful and most forgiving and non-judgemental folks you'll ever meet.\n\nFinally a word on magic (or, as Wiccans spell it, Magik). Magic, to a Wiccan, serves the same purpose as praying to a Christian. There is little difference between a Wiccan incantation and the chanting that many Christians do in Church... or reciting the Lord's Prayer. And what difference is there between weilding the sacred objects (athame, staff and cauldron among others) of Wicca and fiddling with a rosary or taking communion? (which is, if you think about, a cannibalistic ritual at it's heart),
526311
"Religion is commonly defined as a group of beliefs concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief." \n\nScience can be your religion if you want it to be. Not all religions believe in a God, it is more about a life style. Religion is something you hold great truth to. It is the most important thing in your life. It is what you live for. That is the way I understand it anyway.
393211
pa·gan   n.\n   1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially\n      a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.\n   2. One who has no religion.\n   3. A non-Christian.\n   4. A hedonist.\n   5. A Neo-Pagan.\n\nadj.\n   1. Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.\n   2. Professing no religion; heathen.\n   3. Neo-Pagan.\n\nhttp://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pagan&db=*\n\na·the·ist   n.\n    One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or \n    gods.\n\nhttp://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=atheist&db=*
485942
The term Witchcraft has differant meanings in differant cultures and has different meanings at different times in history.It has both negative and positive connotations.In the neutral sense, witchcraft is sorcery, the magical manipluation of supernormal forces through the casting of spells and the conjuring or invoking of spirits.\n Since the 1950's, witchcraft has been revived as a  neo-pagan religion centered on the worshipof the goddess and sometimes her consort, the horned god and the practice of benevolent magic.It has nothing to do with the devil or christianity.\n Also during the 1950's, craft laws and ethics took shape. The Wiccan rede,"An' it harm none, do what ye will," stipulates that Witches may use their magical powers only for good, never to harm any living thing.\nThere are many types of Wicca, some are Neo-pagan ,Gardnerian,Alexandrian,Dianic,Celtic, Hereditary and traditional, Faery tradition, and last but not least Saex-Wica... I am sure there are many more and more being created everyday.\n\nAnd As for Satanism it too is not what it sounds like.\nSatanism is the first carnal religion in human history. It was created by Anton Szandor LaVey .It is a religion based on a man as he really is: A carnal being free from the fistion that is spirituality and one who champions total responsibility, pragmatism , and the here and now.\nSatanism has been referred to as an "unreligion" in the sense that it does not subscribe to the notion of an anthropomorphic deity and by extension, some being who must be worshiped, its most common misconception.\nA few things many should know about satanism are as follows\n\nThe Nine Satanic Statements  \n1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence! \n\n2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams! \n\n3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit! \n\n4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it instead of love wasted on ingrates! \n\n5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek! \n\n6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires! \n\n7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all! \n\n8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification! \n\n9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!\n\nand\n\nThe Nine Satanic Sins\n1. Stupidity—The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid. \n\n2. Pretentiousness—Empty posturing can be most irritating and isn’t applying the cardinal rules of Lesser Magic. On equal footing with stupidity for what keeps the money in circulation these days. Everyone’s made to feel like a big shot, whether they can come up with the goods or not. \n\n3. Solipsism—Can be very dangerous for Satanists. Projecting your reactions, responses and sensibilities onto someone who is probably far less attuned than you are. It is the mistake of expecting people to give you the same consideration, courtesy and respect that you naturally give them. They won’t. Instead, Satanists must strive to apply the dictum of “Do unto others as they do unto you.” It’s work for most of us and requires constant vigilance lest you slip into a comfortable illusion of everyone being like you. As has been said, certain utopias would be ideal in a n
108283
Though sometimes used interchangeably, Wicca and witchcraft are not the same thing. Most, but not all, Wiccans consider Wicca to be a form of witchcraft, however Wicca has a distinct set of beliefs, ritual system and organisational structure that distinguish it from other forms of witchcraft. Similarly, most Wiccans and witches consider themselves to be Pagans, but many Pagans are neither Wiccans nor witches.\n\nWiccans worship the Goddess, with most also choosing to worship the God, her consort; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; they have a code of ethics that they live by. Wicca is thus distinct from witchcraft, which does not require any religious element, and may be practised by people of any religion, or by atheists.\n\nOccult. adj. Of, relating to, or dealing with supernatural influences, agencies, or phenomena.\n\nReligion n. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.\n\nSo, being practial about this topic. Wicca is a religion with Pagan influence, witchcraft is an occult practice.
651187
Im a Wiccan and yes it definately is a religion. We have collective worship in the form of covern meetings (although not essential as one can be a solitary witch) and a core central belief system in the form of the Wiccan Rede (an ye harm none, do what thou wilt.)\n\nSure we dont have the structure of other more mainstream religions but we have a strong sense of community and teach tolerance of other religions.)\n\nYou will probably get a few responses from the right wing Christian/Muslim factions saying we should all be burnt at the steak but i feel this is more a reflection at their own lack of faith rather than coherent argument.
390542
They are people who follow an Earth based religion\nGenerally they embrace multiple dieties, both male and female\nThey tend to be very environmentally conscious\nThey may or may not be wiccan\nThey generally do not believe in hell or satan, some believe in reincarnation, some believe in another form of afterlife\nThey generally agree that it is wrong to harm others or take away their free will (this means they will not cast spells on you without your permission)\nSome believe in and practice divination and/or spellwork\nThere's a LOT of variation among them, so its hard to define, but I hope that helps