Wicca is a modern pagan witchcraft religion that worships multiple gods and goddesses. In Wicca, the concept of god is seen as dualistic, with a focus on both a male god and a female goddess. The god in Wicca is often referred to as the Horned God, representing the masculine aspect of divinity. He is associated with the wild, nature, and the hunt. The Horned God is seen as a deity of fertility, growth, and strength. Within Wicca, the goddess holds equal importance to the god.
Wiccan spells bring false hope. Hebrews 9:27 says, “…Man is destined to die once, after that, to face judgment.” God says we get one chance at life, and that is it. There are no do-overs. If we don’t accept God’s gift of Jesus in our lifetime, He judges us as unwilling to be in His presence, and we are sent to hell.
Wiccans are eager to draw parallels between themselves and biblical Christianity for the sake of earning credibility, but what does the Bible have to say about this religion. When talking to Wiccans, let them know that Christianity is real that Christians believe that God became flesh, dwelt among us in the form of Jesus Christ, and left the Holy Spirit for His followers as a real presence of God here on earth.
Within Wicca, the goddess holds equal importance to the god. The goddess is often called the Triple Goddess, representing the maiden, mother, and crone aspects of feminine divinity. She embodies aspects of femininity, such as love, nurturing, and wisdom.
Paganism Today
Paganism is arguably one of the most misconstrued terms by mainstream society. As Christianity grew more popular in urban areas of ancient Rome, a derogatory term was used to describe the rural population who chose to maintain their ancestral beliefs– Pagans. Coming from the Latin word “ paganus ,” meaning peasant or country dweller, the term was used to shame those who would not convert.
Back then, even non-Christian monotheistic religions such as Judaism were considered Pagan. Today, Paganism is a blanket term for those with beliefs outside of the Abrahamic faiths.
The Pagan Federation International defines Paganism as a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion. Though there are many branches of contemporary Paganism, or Neopaganism, they are all centered around a love for nature. Most Pagans have a deep reverence for Mother Earth, seeing her as sacred. Paganism has a multitude of deities, just as nature has a horde of diversity. While there is no specific guide or holy book to Paganism, beliefs vary based on person and branch.
Wicca is one of the most well-known and fastest growing sectors of Paganism. Wiccans believe the energy of the divine exists in all things. They believe creation is manifested through the elements: water, fire, earth and air. Most Wiccans worship a God and a Goddess, although which deities vary among believers. Many Wiccans, though not all, practice magic, or use their personal connection to Nature’s divine energies to work for the benefits of themselves and others. Contrary to popular belief, Wicca bears no evil roots. Evil comes from one’s choice to break the Wiccan’s Rede, “Do as ye will, so long as it harm none.” Wiccans practice alone or in groups, known as groves or covens.
Another branch of Paganism is Druidry . Druids have three goals: to be wise, to be creative and to love. Specifically, they seek to be fully creative in their lives, commune deeply with the world of nature and gain access to a source of profound wisdom. Druids can be monotheistic, believing in one spirit of the universe, or polytheistic, believing there is a group of Gods and Goddesses. Some Druids believe the universal deity is undoubtable yet unknowable by nature. Most Druids believe in the Otherworld, or the realm where souls go between death and rebirth.
There are a variety of Pagan traditions that are based on historical pantheons, such as Greek or Celtic pantheon. These branches are known as pantheon-based Paganism and are generally less popular, more unorganized and more historically focused than other traditions.
Heathenism is an example of pantheon-based Paganism. Asatru, Theodism, Irminism, Odinism, Urglaawe and Anglo-Saxon Heathenry are the different variations of religions that belong to the Troth, an organization focused on old Norse beliefs.
According to the Troth , members abide by the moral principles of their predecessors, including: boldness, truth, honor, troth, self-rule, hospitality, industry, self-reliance, steadfastness, equality, strength, wisdom, generosity and family responsibility. Historically, members were called heathens and continue to use this label today.
Another more common offshoot is eclectic Paganism . Followers of this path take beliefs, guidelines and rituals from an array of traditions. Some eclectic Pagans will create their own unique practices and rituals, separate from traditions. Put simply: take what resonates and leave what does not.
Ball State sophomore Olivia Haggard identifies as an eclectic Wiccan. Throughout her spiritual journey, she often felt alone. Her friends had abandoned her, as their ignorance concerning Paganism had bred prejudices towards the term. When Haggard saw a flyer for the Society for Earth-Based Religions, a feeling of belonging washed over her. Finally, a place where she could be open to express her beliefs.
“I was happy to finally have a place to surround myself with experienced practitioners and people who I knew would accept me, no matter what. There’s so many different people in [the group], and that makes them infinitely more accepting of different people,” Haggard says.
The Society for Earth-Based Religions (S.E.R.) is a group for students of faith that diverge from mainstream beliefs. The group encourages open-minded theological discussion and is inclusive of all ideologies. Members of S.E.R. hold weekly discussions and Tarot card readings. The weekly discussions are held every Wednesday at 8 p.m., typically in 082B in the basement of Bracken Library. Tarot Tables take place every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Tally Court. More information about S.E.R, meetings and Tarot Tables can be found on the group’s Facebook page .
Paganism is a diverse belief system with roots so deep they are undiscoverable. While it has morphed through the ages into the Neopaganism seen today, one attribute remains constant: a tolerance for the myriad of beliefs and philosophies that exist under the Pagan umbrella.
Most Wiccans will vehemently deny that Satan is part of their pantheon, citing major doctrinal differences between themselves and Satanists. Wiccans generally promote moral relativity, disdaining labels like “good” and “evil” and “right” or “wrong.” Wicca has one law or rule, called the Rede: “Do what ye will, harm ye none.” At first blush, the Rede seems like complete, uninhibited personal license. You can do whatever you want, as long as no one gets hurt; however, Wiccans are quick to point out that the ripple effect of one’s actions can carry far-reaching consequences. They articulate this principle in the Three-fold Law, which says, "All good that a person does to another returns three-fold in this life; harm is also returned three-fold."
The goddess is associated with the cycles of the moon, which is seen as a powerful symbol of feminine energy and magic. Wiccans believe in the existence of multiple gods and goddesses beyond the Horned God and Triple Goddess. These various deities can be worshipped and invoked for specific purposes or to connect with different aspects of divinity. Wiccans may choose to work with specific gods and goddesses depending on their personal preferences, beliefs, and needs. It is important to note that Wicca is a decentralized religion, meaning that there is no universal belief system followed by all Wiccans. Therefore, the specific gods and goddesses worshipped can vary among different Wiccan traditions or individual practitioners. Wicca encourages personal interpretation and freedom of worship, allowing individuals to connect with their own understanding of divinity..
Reviews for "Wicca and Monotheism: Understanding the Concept of the Divine in Wiccan Beliefs"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "What god does wicca believe in" as I had been interested in learning more about Wicca. However, I found the book to be highly misleading and lacking in accurate information. The author seemed to have a limited understanding of the topic and failed to provide any concrete evidence or sources to support their claims. As someone who is looking for knowledge and understanding, I was disappointed with the superficial treatment of such an important subject.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "What god does wicca believe in" is the worst book I have ever read on the subject of Wicca. The author's portrayal of Wicca is not only inaccurate but offensive. The book is filled with stereotypes and misconceptions, which do a disservice to the Wiccan community. It is clear that the author did not do their research and has a biased perspective. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an accurate understanding of Wicca.
3. Robert - 2 stars - I was hoping "What god does wicca believe in" would provide a comprehensive overview of Wiccan beliefs, but unfortunately, it fell short. The book lacked depth and detail, only scratching the surface of Wicca. The author failed to address important aspects such as the goddesses worshiped in Wicca, and it felt like a missed opportunity. I was left wanting more information and a deeper exploration of the subject. Overall, I was left underwhelmed and dissatisfied with this book.
4. Emily - 1 star - I found "What god does wicca believe in" to be poorly written and vague. The author's explanations of Wiccan beliefs were confusing and contradictory. The book also lacked organization, making it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. Additionally, there were numerous grammatical errors and typos throughout, which further detracted from the reading experience. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about Wicca.