Frequently asked questions about Wicca (and other nature religions!)
Disclaimer: This is my first version of the Wicca FAQ, so it may need some time to mature. The answers below are my personal views on the subject, and my personal views typically change quite often. As mentioned below, I may not be Wiccan. If you think I'm wrong somewhere, please tell me so. -Magi(magi@utu.fi)Notice: This FAQ is being changed from Wicca FAQ to a more generic nature religions FAQ, so please ignore the inconsistencies.
Ok, what the hell is Wicca?
Wicca is a reconstruction of old European nature-based religions, accompanied by a practice of ritual magick. The Universe is seen itself as divine, and the gods are typically not seen as transcendental in their nature. Many Wiccan traditions recognize two major gods; the God and the Goddess, which are usually complementary and dependent of each other. These gods are seen in many forms, by many names from different old religions. Some of the traditions emphasize the Goddess; some are even monotheistic in this respect.Since the definitions are rather vague and vary from tradition to tradition, it is hard to say who is a wicca or a witch and who is not. For example, I'm not sure if I am a wicca, according to quite many definitions. But, I like some of the symbolism and ideas, so I like to subscribe in and use the name.
Wow, is it like witchcraft?
Well, that may be a matter of definition. Many call it the Craft. The "witch" or "wicca" is usually thought to derive etymologically from "a wise", or from "bender of the reality". In some cultures "witch" means one who practice malevolent magick. In some "witch" means a healer. Most modern people understand witches as defined by Christians, or as characters in children's stories. Some of the common symbols of "classic witches" (cauldron, broom) are actually used by many Wiccans. It should be noted that the word witchcraft refers to use of magick. It can be found in practically all cultures. The word Wicca refers to witchcraft based on old European religious symbolism and practices. We don't know how good these words are, but for now, we don't have any better ones.Cool. Is it like paganism?
Wiccans are pagans, not all pagans are Wiccans. The religious symbolism of Wicca is mostly from pagan (non-Christian-judean-muslim) religions. However, some gods that Wiccans use are familiar in the Jewish mythology. Also, there are witchcraft sects in the Jewish religions also, for example the Qabbalah.It's quite difficult to define where the Wicca starts and non-Wicca ends. What's paganism then? The Christianity and Judaism both have very pagan roots. Are they therefore pagan religions too? What's not pagan? Atheists often call themselves pagans. When dealing with questions like this, it sometimes feels that we should just throw the words and language out of the window.
That's neat. So this is the form of witchcraft practiced by the ancients?
Yes, if you consider the first half of this century to be ancient. The word "Wicca" was popularized by Gerald Gardner, an englishman who claimed that it really was an old tradition. We cannot, as rational people, take such claim seriously without any proof. However, we can decide that the authenticity doesn't matter. We have no reason to believe that the ancient people practicing old religions had any "first contact" with the gods than we couldn't now recreate. The outline of the symbolism and pracices is what counts.Soooo, you have gods, what are they like?
Well, most use Roman, Hellenic (Diane, Demeter, Hecate, Hermes, etc.), Celtic (Cernunnos, Cerridwen, etc.), Scandinavian (Thor, Odin, Freya, etc.), Finnish (Väinämöinen, Ilmatar, Lemminkäinen, Louhi, Ilmarinen, Pellervoinen, etc), Semian (Astarte, etc.), Egyptian (Isis, Osiris, Thoth, etc.), Indian, Mesopotamian, etc. gods. Yes, some even use Christian gods such as Christ, the three Marias, Joseph, various angels, etc. The possibilities are really numerous, as there are thousands of gods in different religions. Typically people use just two major gods; one male and one female.Do you believe in these gods?
If someone finds an answer to this question, please tell me. I'd like to know too...I suppose some believe, some Believe and the others "believe".
The Believers believe that they Know the Truth. This is the Christian view of belief.
The believers hope that their approach is a good one, but see that there may be different views of the truth, some of which might even be better than theirs.
The "believers" accept that the gods are a creation of their own imagination. However, these internal, imagined gods can be metaphors of the outside world. They are abstract conceptual tools to handle the complexity of the Universe. They are also tools to affect the self, as a tool of magick. I like to see this as a "virtual belief in a virtual religion".
Do you believe Wicca is the truth?
I can only speak for myself, and I don't know if I know anything about truth. I'm basicly an agnostic myself, and about the only thing I believe in is that I can't have knowledge about anything. This does not apply to all wiccans, but consider this as my propaganda.Is it a religion at all?
I don't know. Many wiccans think it is, and require that is shold have all the same rights as the other religion have. But then, some say that it's not a religion at all, because religions are about belief in something, but Wicca is not about belief, because it is true knowledge about the truth. Wow. Christians say the same thing. As do jews, muslims, etc. There seem to people in about all religions - oops, sorry, truthligions - who say the same thing. No one likes to regard their religion as a religion, because they think it is the truth. To me, this kind of attitude sounds a bit silly, but who am I to judge? Anyways, when I say wicca is not a religion, is because my personal relationship to it is rather agnostic.In other ways, Wicca fulfills some religious criteria quite well. Most importantly, people have religious experiences. Whatever is the source of those experiences, they are important to the practicers. The participants receive a direct, emotional contact with the Nature, the gods. Also, Wicca has rituals that are very much like those in other religions, such as Christianity.
But aren't these things about the supernatural?
I started answering this question, but it turned out to be so complex question that I think I'll write a separate faq about it. The very basic outline of an answer: there is no answer to this question.
So you practice fancy rituals?
What's a ritual? If you mean rituals where we have elaborate clothing, a circle, candles, various ritual objects, then yes. Quite many do. Some do just small spells, some just pray, some just meditate. This leads back to the question of what is Wicca or witchcraft. Is a person who doesn't do spells or rituals a witch? Wicca is also a religion, a way of thinking, and a way of life.So you do magic, right?
Well yes. But then, that's again how you define magic. The popular view of magic is like it is in movies; very flashy and definitely external in respect to the magician. Many of Wiccans view that magick (with 'k', as we often spell it) happens only inside the person. If there is an external effect, it must emerge through the natural actions of the witch's body. It is control and understanding of self, through a religious symbolism.What happens when you die?
We die. There is no strict doctrine regarding this subject. Many believe that we are reincarnated. Some, although quite few, believe that we end up in a place-where-spirits-of-dead-people-go. Many assume that our consciousness will just ceace to exist, permanently. We can be comforted by the thought that our memory and good deeds may live for a long time after our death. Well heck, the same way atheists get on with it. Some view that, as the Universe is holy, and we are His/Her microconsciousnesses, death doesn't matter: "I don't die, since I'm the Universe. A part of my consciousness may die, but that doesn't matter much. Maybe I will die slowly as I get colder and colder, but maybe I'll find a solution to keep myself going on." Does this comfort enough? Maybe not, but reality is what it is, and although we can change some things, we can't change everything. Not yet, at least.Do you worship Satan?
Satan is a concept of the Biblical symbol system. In that system, he is the adversary of the Christianity, and symbolises all that leads a Christian from the "Only True Path". Wicca is a "competitor" of Christianity, so I think it's quite valid, using the Biblical symbolic language, to say that we serve the Satan. But then, the same applies also to all the religions of the world other than the Pure Christianity (whatever that is). At least some 80% of the world's population worships Satan, by the Biblical definition. Fortunately, not all Christians define Satan in the above adversary sense; they view him as the archetypical personification of anti-social, hedonistic and selfish lifestyles.However, most Wiccans do not have a negative, Satan-like god in their pantheon. And those who do, don't usually worship him. The "worshippers" of the negative, anti-social gods (such as the Satan), usually identify themselves as satanists (although they do not typically "worship" their god). I think that their religion is as valid as any, although inherently anti-social, and somewhat destructive to the practicers. I also see it as a way to seek religious justification for extemist right-wing politics, fascism, and selfishness.
One should be beware of the dark side; anger, fear, agression. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a crisis. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will. Is it stronger? No, quicker, easier, more seductive. A Wiccan uses the magick for knowledge and defence, never for attack.
Do you have a doctrine?
Not really. We have seen the horrendous results of dogmatic religions, so no thank you. People who consider themselves as wiccans, witches, or pagans have often very diverse views of the world. Many consider this diversity to be an integral part of the "religion". Diversity is essential for the evolution of biological lifeforms. It is also essential for the evolution of technology, society and culture. The Tree of Knowledge has many branches to collect as much of the light of knowledge as possible.So where do you get your knowledge then?
We make it up? Not exactly. We observe the world. We try out magickal techniques that may or may not work for us. Some people collect good ideas and write them into books. Even then, the ideas have to be chewed, and most of them propably rejected. Not everything fits for everyone. There are quite few ideas that are accepted by virtually all wiccans/witches/pagans.Do you have holy scriptures, such as old old old spellbooks?
I suppose there are some old texts, and they can be a good source. However, they are usually not taken as authoritive; their symbolism is fully useful to only their writer. However, such texts can be fitted into each person's own system, sometimes with a good success.So you don't have any moral rules?
We have one basic rule; "Do as thou wilt, as thou harm none". The "none" refers also to the subject. Moral questions are often difficult, but we just have to accept that, and not get too attached into any superficial rules.One common belief is that: "Every good and evil deed comes back, thricefold." How this happens, is left as an exercise for the reader.
Do you have an organisation?
Not really. We have groups, which are called covens, or circles. Quite many prefer to work alone. Both of these ways have good and bad sides. Many dislike strong organisation, as they have seen how much sorrow organised religions have caused in the past.Do you use drugs?
There is, again, much diversity on this subject. It has been traditional in many old religions to use drugs. Some see it as a "quick way to the gods", while MOST defrain from it because they see that a too quick a vehicle is difficult to control. It is quicker, easier, more seductive. It seems that this would be ok method for a religious escapist, but not for a magician, who seeks self-control. Not at least before the magician is ready to win the drug, and that can take decades. But using drugs moderately is not an evil either; we have no reason to believe that it causes irreversible damage to the mind. Quite many pagans and Wiccans refer to the basic rule - do what thou wilt, as thou harm none.You don't have answers to many questions, right?
Right. These are questions to two kinds of questions; definitions and philosophical questions.The definitions are difficult, as many people use different words to describe different things. Which one should we use? Should we vote for each word? What if there is no old word for some concept, but we still need a word? Should we adopt a word that we are familiar with and use it, or should we make up a word-monster, such as "kind-of-a-religion-where-people-often-but-not-always - practice-some-sort-of-rituals-and-worship-some-sort-of-gods"? If we had a good rule about this, it would revolutionarise all the languages in the world!
Philosophical questions are even more difficult. The problem with traditional religions is that they give problematic "answers", that are claimed to be the "Truth", but without any evidence. The problem with philosophy is that one question brings forth a thousand new questions, and never answers. Wicca and modern witchcraft and paganism have been developed by many rational, thinking, and feeling people. We don't like to blindly believe in something, but we still want find answers that satisfy our emotional needs. Everyone makes his or her a compromise in some way, we make it our way.