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 Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:59 am
Wicca as a religion is only about 50 years old. During this time span the religion has seen quite a few changes and adaptations. It's thought to be one of the fastest growing religious movements. The changes and adaptations that have come with this growth have not always been positive.
Gerald Gardner designed Wicca to be a religion that was small and secret. It was not designed to be open to the world. The religion is a mystery religion so only initiates can know the true religion. That is not what Wicca has become.
Wicca has been changed. Now I agree that over time all religions will grow and change. What I don't agree with is what has happened to Wicca. Wicca is no longer considered to be a secret mystery religion. It's a DIY religion.
I believe that Wicca should be available to all those who genuinely seek the religion. What I don't believe is that they should claim the title of Wiccan with out the training and knowlage of the mysteries.
So how should wicca progress and change? Well I have a few ideas.
First off I believe that there should be accepted solitary practice. Some people (like myself) just don't do well in group settings. What I feel should happen is that a lineaged solitary practitioner who has their degree should teach and train individuals who wish to practice Wicca alone.
Eccletic practice: I believe that there should be some valid ecletic Wiccan traditions. As long as they keep the msyteries and the lineage goes back to Gerald Gardner it's an ok tradition by me.
Once again I don't agree with just doing anything to the religion. The core should remain the same. Adaptations for different situations should be ok as long as the teachings remain true to the mysteries.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:15 pm
I agree compeltely. I also think that you should have to be taught by an initiated, lineaged Wiccan whether you are in a coven or not. I very much dislike it when someone who knows jack-s**t about Wicca claims to be Wiccan, without even realizing it's a mystery religion.
Do I know you? I feel like I've seen you somewhere before, possibly under a different username. You look familiar. -ponders-...
Edit: You're Charity I. Bedell, weren't you. xD
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:27 pm
I agree, except on a few points. It is true that some people work better alone or doing different sorts of rituals (myself being one of them) but part of the mystery of the Wiccan religion (from what I've seen at least) does seem to be the group rituals. Without the experiences of good group rituals, you can't technically have truly experiend part of the mystery of Wicca. I haven't yet, not having found a group of Wiccans near-by, let alone a lineaged coven. And Ecclectism doesn't really bother me, as long as you say you're an Ecclectic. What does annoy me, however, is when someone claims to be a purist Wiccan, as an example, yet they don't stick to any of the Wiccan systems out there (whether it's Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianism [sp?] or any of the other various ones that exist).
As for the fluffs, well, obnoxious as they are, the fake practitionners exist in all religions, just to different degrees. As part of the Pagan "tree", we just happen to have really irritating ones.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:46 pm
I'm not realy wiccan, but as a point i think there are a alot of mentors out there. i have quiet a few older friends (much older, like my mom's age) that help me and teach me quite a bit. though i do not even know if they consider themselves wiccan. My problem is (that) i am Pagan, but do not worship gods by names, and believe in almost every single aspect of wicca except for ritual magic, which of course defeats the purpose. so i'm not sure what i am, and i think some people get confused because you can honestly be into this stuff with out it being your religion. thats what makes it confusing.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:39 pm
JunaLukari I'm not realy wiccan, but as a point i think their area alot of menotrs out there. i have quiet a few older firends (much older like my mom's age) that help me and teach me quiet a bit. though i do not even know if they consider themselves wiccan. My problem is i am Pagan, but do not worship gods by names, and beleive in almost every single aspect of wicca except for ritual magic, whihc of course defeats the purpose. so i'm not sure what i am, and i think some poepl get confused becuase you can honestly be into this stuff with out it being your religeojn. thats what makes it confusing. Well, I think you're just an Ecclectic Pagan. With some Wiccan tendencies.
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Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 8:10 pm
I am not a Wicca. I am a Solitary Ecclectic Pagan.
Gerald gardener designed the religion off of Alister Crowley, the Masonic orders, Agrippa, and already existing Ceremonial Magic. It's been researched and documented by some of the most prominent Wicca intellectuals. He wanted attention.
This is not to say he didn't do a wonderful thing by opening up a new way for those who felt a connection to a different kind of worship to discover these things. But if he'd wanted to keep it small and secret, he wouldn't have published books about it. He wanted to raise awarenesss and attract new members. This also included people who wanted into Wicca for all the wrong reasons. I agree that they have certainly tarnished the name of Wicca in some ways, but I like radicals (so lng as they don't go all militant on me).
The problem was not the people, per se. It was the timing. In the 80's and 90's there was a great DIY movement. From women's orgasms, to house repairs, to spirituality, we were all told "As long as it works for you! You can do it yourself!" Conventional churches lost attendance, we got chisto-pagans. We don't yet know how damaging (what I like to call) "Oprah's Lie" has been to us, because I don't think everyone CAN do it themselves. But I digress.
Solitary practice IS accepted. The founder of Alexandrian Wicca wrote an entire book about it. People argue over whether you can initiate yourself, but self-initiation and solitary practice are two different things. I don't think you can initiate yourself into a mystery religion. I of course, as a solitary pagan, think you can practice solo.
Since Wicca was founded from rip-offs and made up words that sounded pretty in the first place, I think all eclectic wiccans are valid, when they follow the core teachings. And since you can't BE a wiccan without tracing your lineage back (since SOMEONE had to be initiated into a coven to be called Wicca), that's a moot point.
I don't mean to be argumentative. I want an intelligent discussion on this. But I am in a bad mood because of my family (don't ask), so if i sound mean, ignore it.
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