Definition of Wiccan/Pagan and so on...

Message: At one of the Lurker's request,
Author: Teacher - Daven Iceni
Date: May 11, 2000 21:40

I have a relatively short post to put up here.

She asked for a definition of Wicca and Paganism. Because of that, I decided to post the answers to that here, where all can see it.

Wicca Commonly called "witchcraft". This is the New Pagan Movement started by Gerald Gardner. Most people will be familiar with the term "Witch" in describing us, but many are going to general use of the term "Wiccan" to mean the Craft, or the Craft of the Wise.

Wicca has been inaccurately translated into every language in the European area to mean "Wise one" meaning that the "origins" of the word, such as they are, have been traced to Anglo-Saxon, French, German, Celtic, Irish, Norwegian (how did THAT get in there?) and Spanish. The word Wicca or "wicce" has it's roots in NONE of these languages. In fact, reputable linguists have no idea where this word came from.

Pagan Term used to describe "country dwellers" in Old English. Since they were usually those who clung to the old beliefs, despite the conversion to Christianity of the local Lord or King, this came to refer to those who were not Christian. It still has this connotation today.

Following a chain of logic here, Pagan describes everyone who is not Christian, therefore, Wiccans are Pagan. But not all Pagans are Wiccan. Jewish people are considered Pagan by this definition, as are Hindus, Shintos, Buddhists, Poohists, Muslims, Native Americans, Druids, and every non-Christian religion you care to name. In some cases, even quasi-Christian groups are considered Pagan, such as the Vooduns, Sanitarians, and the Brujos of Mexico are considered to be Pagans.

Pagan is a somewhat derogatory term, but it describes, in brief, what a Wiccan is. I am Wiccan and also Pagan. Personally, I still follow many of the tenets of the Sub-Pagan group known as Wicca, but I am also learning more about Paganism in general. There are many ways out there, and very few of them are bad or wrong. There is one, that I consider to be Christian, that I would not have anything to do with if they gave me Ten Million dollars (and those of you in the know, know that I REALLY need the money). That is the Satanists.

In brief, Satanism is a schism of Christianity. Although, this is my opinion and not many would agree with me. It venerates a Christian Deity (Satan) and self-gratification, rather than service and self-sacrifice.

Pagans are not Satanists. Wiccans are not Satanists. How can we be Satanists, when Wiccans do not even acknowledge that Satan exists? How can you worship something that is not real or that you don't believe in?

Many of our Gods, and a few Goddesses, look like the traditional "Satan" from the biblical descriptions, or they have dominion over areas of life that are close to what Satan is reputed to have control over. But to call us all Satanists because of that is to say that all things in the sea are fish and that all fish are cod. It is oversimplification and "lumping together" beyond belief.

Yes, we have Gods that are the Lords of Death, but Death is part of Life. Nothing wrong with that. Yes, we have Gods and Goddesses who are supposed to punish those who have been bad here, but EVERY culture has something like that. It is the Rewards and Consequences again.

But they are not Satan, and never will be.

Those who worship Satan (and there are those out there) may be sincere, but their cause of Self-aggrandizement is not my cause. I will avoid them because I am more about helping others, rather than helping myself at another's expense. I cannot tolerate their philosophy nor their methods. As such, I will oppose Satanists with all that I am. I always will.

And I am not the only Druid or Pagan to feel this way. Isaac Bonewits, the founder of the ADF, and the only person to have a Doctorate in Metaphysics in the world, says something similar on his website. This is his site. I highly advise everyone to take a look around his site. He is a wise person with a good heart. Click her for his wonderful essay on "Enemies of our Enemies". A great article on why welcoming Satanists into the Pagan fold is not a good idea. Here is a good expose of Satanism from the inside also by Bonewits.

I hope you all will think on all of this.

LOL I guess it wasn't such a short post after all... Sorry.

Stars light your path.

Daven

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The URL of this document is http://davensjournal.com/DefWic.xhtml