Wiccan Religion Report

Introduction

Wiccan is a new religion that is based on ancient pagan beliefs, and recognizes the Divine in all things natural and good. The modern day Wicca religion was established in the 1950s; it is a benign religion that does not have a strict dogma so it is easy to practice. Following are the history of the newly founded religion, a brief description of their holidays, a basic guide to Wiccan life, some remarks made by a true Wiccan, personal experiences with Wiccan rituals, and comparisons of Wiccan to Catholicism and Hinduism.

History and Development

The development of the Wiccan Church was influenced by Gerald Gardner and Margaret Murray, occurred in the 1950s, and is based upon many ancient beliefs. Gerald Gardner was allowed into “The Wica” coven of New Forest, England in 1939; the work of Margaret Murray, prominent British Egyptologist and anthropologist, inspired the coven (D’Este & Rankine, 2010). The New Forest Coven infused beliefs and rituals from many esoteric traditions; such as, ancient Greek Hellenism, the arrangement of five objects in a rectangle or square with one in the middle and one at each corner or Rosicrucianism, Hermetic Qabalah which is a mixture of Pagan religions, the Jewish Kaballah, tarot, alchemy, and Western astrology, as well as Freemasonry (D’Este & Rankine, 2010). Wiccan theology was influenced by a British group of classical scholars called the Cambridge Ritualist who insist there is a Year-King who dies to be reborn with the seasons an a Great Goddess Who is seen as a Trinity. Gardner branched off from New Forest to form his own coven in 1948 at Bricket Wood from which others branched off to form Wicca in the 1960s; in 1954 Gardner stated that, “witchcraft is really long-range hypnotism. We only want to help people,” (D’Este & Rankine, 2010). Thus the neo-religion, Wiccan, was built upon ancient, nature-oriented, benign traditions.

Holidays

Wiccans celebrate holidays that are practically interchangeable with those of different religions as well as recognizing moon phases. Samhain is the equivalent of Halloween and is celebrated on November 1 which is the Pagan New Year that honors the dead and is a time of cleansing and releasing. Yule is the Winter Soltice, compared to Christmas, is celebrated on December 21, and represents life triumphing over death, and rebirth. Brigid is also known as Imbolic or Candlemass, is celebrated on February 2, and denotes dedication, iniation, and purification. Eostara is Lady Day or Easter and is the Spring Equinox which is celebrated on March 21 to represent regeneration, new beginnings, and conception. Beltane is May Day and is celebrated on May 1 to represent joy, fertility, and passion that fuels life. Litha is Midsummer or Summer Soltice is celebrated on June 21 to stand