Frequently Asked Questions about Wicca
Copyright 1997 c.e., Church and School of Wicca
Q:
Do Witches worship Satan, the Devil, etc., or participate in Satanic
rituals?
A:
No. Satan, or "the Devil," is a concept not to be found
outside of Judeo-Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism. He is
not a part of Native American religions, Shinto, Buddhism, Animism
or (of course) Wicca.
Q:
Don't Witches participate in "strange" rituals?
A:
Define "strange"! Do you find brushing your teeth strange?
Do you find your morning cup of coffee strange? Then why would greeting
the sun every day be strange? The Communion or Mass common in the
Christian church where one drinks "blood" seems strange
to us.
Q:
Do Witches believe in God?
A:
Most Witches don't believe in the Christian concept of God. As
one Wiccan teacher put it, "My God does not have a beard nor
does it hate women." They believe in an unknowable Ultimate
Deity. Witchcraft, being the oldest religion/philosophy on earth,
has its own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses that are used in a way
similar to the way Catholics use Saints.
Q:
Isn't the pentagram (the five-pointed star enclosed in a circle)
a symbol of the Devil?
A:
The pentagram in its correct state (one point up, standing on two
points) represents the perfected human. The upside-down pentagram
means the opposite. In Wicca, the five points represent our basic
beliefs.
Q:
What are your five Basic Beliefs? Are they like the Ten Commandments?
A:
Sort of, except we only have one "commandment," the Wiccan
Rede. It states, "If it harm none, do what you will."
The other four beliefs in our religion are: (2) The Law of Attraction,
(3) Harmony and Serenity, (4) Power through Knowledge, and (5) Progressive
Reincarnation.
Q:
Are there different denominations of Witches like there are different
denominations of Christians, such as Baptist, Catholic, etc.?
A:
Yes. Most of the information in this document applies to many Witches,
while some is specific to our particular way. Furthermore, since
the Craft is an individualistic religion in which many Witches practice
without a formal coven, there are probably many thousands of different
"denominations."
Q:
I know a Witch in my town and he/she isn't at all like you are
describing. Is he/she really a Witch?
A:
Although it has many tried and true rituals and ways, the Craft
remains experimental and ever growing. In short -- if it works,
we use it. Also, like all religions, we have a lunatic fringe element.
Pick the explanation that best applies to the person you know.
Q:
Do you practice "black magic"?
A:
Magic is neither "black"/evil, nor "white"/good;
rather it depends on the intentions of the magician. It also it
depends on how you perceive good and evil. For example: if you use
magic to bring a murderer to justice and he is given a death sentence,
is that evil? After all, in effect, you killed him. We will teach
you how to use magic; you will supply the responsibility to use
it wisely.
Q:
Can I come to the School?
A:
Sorry, but no. Gavin and Yvonne are both in demand as speakers
and do a lot of lecturing around the country. Most of the time they
are not in at headquarters. Believe it or not, most of the work
is done on the road. We conduct various seminars at different locations
throughout the Country where we bring the School to our students.
Q:
What is a "Warlock"?
A: Warlock is another word for traitor. It is not used to describe
a male Witch. A male Witch is also a Witch or Wiccan.
Q:
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