Wicca is a modern pagan, witchcraft religion that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is characterized by its reverence for nature, emphasis on individual spirituality, and belief in the practice of magic. One of the interesting aspects of Wicca is the existence of numerous sects, each with their own unique beliefs and practices. **Gardnerian Wicca** is one of the oldest and most well-known sects of Wicca. It was founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s and follows a hierarchical structure with a High Priestess or High Priest leading the coven. This sect places a strong emphasis on rituals and covens are required to be initiated into the tradition.
The Baha’i faith began in Persia (now Iran) in the 19th century. Baha’is are widely dispersed across many countries, with significant populations in India, the United States, Kenya and elsewhere. The Baha’i International Community reports more than 5 million adherents.
Other faiths in the other religions category include Cao Dai, I-Kuan Tao, Mandaeism, the Rastafari movement, the Rātana movement, Scientology and Yazidism, to list just a few. This essay gathers the latest books on new religious movements NRMs , which many define as movements emerging in the last couple of hundred years that differ from and are peripheral to long-established religions.
This sect places a strong emphasis on rituals and covens are required to be initiated into the tradition. **Alexandrian Wicca** is another sect that is closely related to Gardnerian Wicca. Founded by Alexander Sanders in the 1960s, it also follows a hierarchical structure but is more open to personal interpretation and adaptation.
Other Religions
Worldwide, there are an estimated 58 million members of other religions, accounting for nearly 1% of the global population. The “other religions” category is diverse and comprises groups not classified elsewhere. This category includes followers of religions that are not specifically measured in surveys and censuses in most countries: the Baha’i faith, Taoism, Jainism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Tenrikyo, Wicca, Zoroastrianism and many others. Because of the paucity of census and survey data, the Pew Forum has not estimated the size of individual religions within this category, though some estimates from other sources are provided in the Spotlight on Other Religions sidebar below.
Members of other world religions are heavily concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region (89%). The remainder is divided among North America (4%), sub-Saharan Africa (3%), Latin America and the Caribbean (2%), Europe (2%) and the Middle East and North Africa (less than 1%).
Although the majority of members of other religions live in Asia and the Pacific, only about 1% of the people in the region adhere to these faiths. In the remaining regions, members of other religions make up less than 1% of the population.
India has the largest share (47%) of all members of other religions, including millions of Sikhs and Jains. Outside India, the largest shares of people who belong to faiths in the “other religion” category are in China (16%), Japan (10%), Taiwan (7%), North Korea (5%) and the United States (3%).
Adherents of “other religions” do not make up a majority of the population in any country.
Median Age
Globally, members of other religions are older (median age of 32) than the overall global population (median age of 28). Reliable regional data on the median age of followers of other world religions is available only for Asia and the Pacific, where it is 33, four years older than the overall regional median (29).
Spotlight on Other Religions
The “other religions” category is diverse and comprises all groups not classified elsewhere. It includes followers of religions that are not specifically measured in most censuses and surveys, including but not limited to the faiths listed below. Estimates of population sizes for these groups generally come from sources other than censuses and nationally representative surveys.
The Baha’i faith began in Persia (now Iran) in the 19th century. Baha’is are widely dispersed across many countries, with significant populations in India, the United States, Kenya and elsewhere. The Baha’i International Community reports more than 5 million adherents.
Jainism originated in India and dates back to at least the 6th century B.C.E. Today, the vast majority of Jains live in India, though significant numbers also are found among Indian immigrant communities in Kenya, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The 2001 Indian census enumerated more than 4 million Jains in India, but some Jains have contended that number is a substantial undercount. According to estimates by the World Religion Database, there are fewer than 250,000 Jains outside India.
Shintoism is a Japanese faith that has been part of religious life in Japan for many centuries. Although Shinto rituals are widely practiced in Japan, only a minority of the Japanese population identifies with Shintoism in surveys. The World Religion Database estimates there are almost 3 million Shintoists worldwide, with the vast majority concentrated in Japan.
Sikhism was founded at the turn of the 16th century by Guru Nanak in the Punjab, a region now split between India and Pakistan. More than nine-in-ten Sikhs are in India, but there are also sizable Sikh communities in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The World Religion Database estimates there are a total of about 25 million Sikhs worldwide.
Taoism (also known as Daoism) traditionally is said to have been founded in the 6th century B.C.E. by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. Adherents live predominantly in China and Taiwan. The World Religion Database estimates there are more than 8 million Taoists.
Tenrikyo was founded in the 19th century by Nakayama Miki in Japan. The faith is one of many new Japanese religions; others include Shinreikyo, Mahakari, Omoto and PL Kyodan. Reliable estimates of the number of followers of Tenrikyo and other new Japanese religions are not available.
Wicca is a Pagan or neo-Pagan religion that gained popularity in the 20th century. It is practiced mostly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Reliable estimates of the number of Wiccans around the world are not available.
Zoroastrianism traditionally is said to have been founded by Zarathustra in Persia sometime before the 6th century B.C.E. Adherents live mainly in India and Iran. The World Religion Database estimates there are about 200,000 Zoroastrians worldwide.
Other faiths in the “other religions” category include Cao Dai, I-Kuan Tao, Mandaeism, the Rastafari movement, the Rātana movement, Scientology and Yazidism, to list just a few.
Alexandrian Wiccans often incorporate ceremonial magic and esoteric teachings into their practice. **Dianic Wicca** is a feminist sect of Wicca that focuses on the worship of the Goddess, with little to no emphasis on the God. It was founded in the 1970s by Zsuzsanna Budapest and has a strong emphasis on women's empowerment and sisterhood. Dianic Wiccans often celebrate the phases of a woman's life, including menstruation and menopause. **Eclectic Wicca** is a sect that appeals to those who prefer to create their own individualized Wiccan practice. Eclectic Wiccans draw from various traditions and choose what resonates with them personally. This allows for a lot of freedom and flexibility in practice, but also requires a deep understanding of Wiccan principles and ethics. **Feri Tradition** is a sect of Wicca that combines elements of traditional witchcraft, shamanism, and neo-paganism. Founded by Victor and Cora Anderson in the mid-20th century, Feri Tradition focuses on personal transformation and self-exploration through magical practice. It is known for its emphasis on ecstatic rituals and working with the elemental energies. These are just a few examples of the numerous sects that exist within the Wiccan community. Each sect has its own unique practices, rituals, and beliefs, allowing individuals to find a path that resonates with them personally. Despite their differences, all sects of Wicca share a common reverence for nature, a belief in magic, and a desire for spiritual growth..
Reviews for "Green Wiccan Sects: Honoring Nature and the Green Witchcraft Tradition"
- Sarah - 1 star
I found "Numerous sects of wicca" to be incredibly misguided and lacking in substance. The author seemed to have a very limited understanding of Wicca and its different sects, and their attempt to provide an overview fell flat. The information provided was inaccurate and sometimes even disrespectful to the Wiccan community. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to anyone interested in learning about Wicca.
- John - 2 stars
I was hoping that "Numerous sects of wicca" would be a comprehensive guide to the various sects within Wicca, but it fell short of my expectations. The book provided little more than a cursory overview of a few sects and lacked the depth and detail that I was looking for. I also found the writing to be dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged. If you're truly interested in delving into the different sects of Wicca, I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more thorough and insightful resource.
- Lisa - 1 star
I found "Numerous sects of wicca" to be riddled with inaccurate information and misleading claims. The author seemed to rely on stereotypes and generalized assumptions about Wicca and its sects, rather than providing factual and well-researched content. It's clear that they did not spend enough time understanding the nuances of Wicca before attempting to write about it. I would caution anyone considering this book to rather seek out reputable sources that can offer a more credible and accurate understanding of Wiccan sects.
- David - 2 stars
While "Numerous sects of wicca" did provide an overview of different sects within Wicca, I found the lack of depth and analysis disappointing. The book merely scratched the surface and failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of each sect's beliefs, practices, and differences. Additionally, the writing style was dry and unengaging, making it difficult to maintain interest throughout. If you're looking for a more in-depth exploration of Wiccan sects, I would recommend seeking out alternative resources.