Wiccan Symbol OK on Military Headstones

[Tinkerbell]

No, you are right-MM doesn't speak for all wiccan, she speaks for herself. And what she said is:

and

Which is a bit contradictory and supports my earlier statement that wiccan is no religion at all but rather a club or trade union of sorts.

I think she is trying to say that it's nice that Wiccans have been recognized. And it's unfortunate that it took so long because it is not a mainstream religion.

She herself is not a Wiccan, she just practices witchcraft - as a craft - not a religion. Kind of like a hobby?

 

[Toxick]

She herself is not a Wiccan, she just practices witchcraft - as a craft - not a religion. Kind of like a hobby?

Wouldn't that just be called "magic" though?


I had an uncle who was into magic.






I'm pretty sure he was a Baptist though...

 

[brendar buhl]

Yeah, I did that and, much like the ones you found, articles simply say well it's very old and earth based and they believe in Earth, Wind and Fire or they like to listen to Earth, Wind and Fire. You see it's all a big secret and I'd love to tell you about it but you would first have to be initiated as one of us. You'll never find a creed or statement of beliefs because there is no there there. It's just bunch of crack-pots that like to pretend that their witches or magicians, but ask just one of them to cast a spell.

In fact I respect all religions. I share my Christian beliefs in a very civil manner with Mormons, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. I am not afraid of learning a thing or two from someone with a different belief system. But I would like to challenge any wiccan out there to turn me into a newt by the end of the week!

 

[Midnightrider]

Yeah, I did that and, much like the ones you found, articles simply say well it's very old and earth based and they believe in Earth, Wind and Fire or they like to listen to Earth, Wind and Fire. You see it's all a big secret and I'd love to tell you about it but you would first have to be initiated as one of us. You'll never find a creed or statement of beliefs because there is no there there. It's just bunch of crack-pots that like to pretend that their witches or magicians, but ask just one of them to cast a spell.

In fact I respect all religions. I share my Christian beliefs in a very civil manner with Mormons, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. I am not afraid of learning a thing or two from someone with a different belief system. But I would like to challenge any wiccan out there to turn me into a newt by the end of the week!

why does their religion have to make sense to you for it to be valid?

believe me, buddhists, muslims, and jews find the tenents of chrisitanity to be just as outlandish.

 

[Tonio]

But I would like to challenge any wiccan out there to turn me into a newt by the end of the week!

You'll get better.

 

[Dougstermd]

In fact you dont respect all religions, else you wouldnt make fun of those you dont "approve" of.

But i'm sure they'll get right on it, thats no more absurd than turning a rod into a serpent eh?

or water into wine...

 

[Toxick]

why does their religion have to make sense to you for it to be valid?

You use the word valid a lot.



What do you mean by 'valid', exactly?

 

[Bustem' Down]

You'll get better.

 

[Bustem' Down]

In fact I respect all religions. I share my Christian beliefs in a very civil manner with Mormons, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. I am not afraid of learning a thing or two from someone with a different belief system. But I would like to challenge any wiccan out there to turn me into a newt by the end of the week!

Last time I checked Mormons believed in Christ. That would make them Christian.

 

[brendar buhl]

Last time I checked Mormons believed in Christ. That would make them Christian.

Last time I checked, you were mistaken.

 

[Bustem' Down]

Last time I checked, you were mistaken.

Last time I check I was rasied Mormon. This might help also.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations#Latter_Day_Saints

Mormons are Christian, but they are not Protestants.

 

[MysticalMom]

I hadn't been able to get back to this thread until now. So let me clear up a few things...

I do not speak for ANY Wiccans. I am not Wiccan. Wicca is indeed a religion. Albeit a "New Age" (which is what I meant by not "mainstream") religion. Complete with diety worship.

Wiccans incorporate "witchcraft" and magic as part of their religion. It is what they believe. When I said my craft was what I "do" not what I believe, this was what I meant.

My spirituality is a seperate thing from my craft. A contradiction? I don't think so. I worship no deity, I don't do ritual, cast circles or "spells", call on the dead, or know anything about covens or gods and goddesses. I was taught a family craft. I read cards and tea leaves. I use a pendulum to help find lost things or to predict the sex of babies. I make herbal remedies and teas. No one in my family would call any of that "magic" and the word witch would never cross most of their lips. Again, my craft is just that, a craft. A job. A (cringe) hobby. It is JUST what I DO. Has nothing to do with what I "believe'.

 

[MysticalMom]

Yeah, I did that and, much like the ones you found, articles simply say well it's very old and earth based and they believe in Earth, Wind and Fire or they like to listen to Earth, Wind and Fire. You see it's all a big secret and I'd love to tell you about it but you would first have to be initiated as one of us. You'll never find a creed or statement of beliefs because there is no there there. It's just bunch of crack-pots that like to pretend that their witches or magicians, but ask just one of them to cast a spell.

In fact I respect all religions. I share my Christian beliefs in a very civil manner with Mormons, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists. I am not afraid of learning a thing or two from someone with a different belief system. But I would like to challenge any wiccan out there to turn me into a newt by the end of the week!

OK.. first.. Wicca is a practically brand new religion created by a man named Gerald Gardiner about 50 years or so ago. It's a religion that takes some of it's beliefs from supposed ancient pagan religions. To say paganism is one of the oldest relgions is a fact. But to say that Wicca in itself is an "ancient" religion is just silly. Keep reading.

And I have to say... No Wiccan is going to turn you into a newt or claim they even can. Only uneducated crackpots, or people watching too many "Charmed" reruns (step away from the TV) would think that. That's TV fairytale magic and has nothing at all to do with what a wiccan practices. To a Wiccan magic is all about the manipulation of energy to better the world around them. In the same way that positive thought and energy (like prayer for example) can affect the outcome of a situation. THAT is "magic". Think of a spell for a Wiccan as equal to a prayer for a christian.

 

[brendar buhl]

So, basically, if I get a group of people together who have over-active imaginations, I have a new religion.

Mormons are Christian, but they are not Protestants.

Mormonism separates itself from orthodox christianity on many levels. If you consider it a part of mainstream Christianity that's fine, but I don't. The point I was making was that Mormonism is a religion. I can sit down with a Mormon and discuss our different belief systems and the common ground we share. Wiccans, basically, can believe or not believe anything they choose. It has no creed, no hierarchy, no system therefore it is not a religion.

 

[Merlin99]

So, basically, if I get a group of people together who have over-active imaginations, I have a new religion.

Mormonism separates itself from orthodox christianity on many levels. If you consider it a part of mainstream Christianity that's fine, but I don't. The point I was making was that Mormonism is a religion. I can sit down with a Mormon and discuss our different belief systems and the common ground we share. Wiccans, basically, can believe or not believe anything they choose. It has no creed, no hierarchy, no system therefore it is not a religion.

That's how most of the rest of them got started, so go for it, if I like it I'll convert.

 

[Bustem' Down]

So, basically, if I get a group of people together who have over-active imaginations, I have a new religion.



Mormonism separates itself from orthodox christianity on many levels. If you consider it a part of mainstream Christianity that's fine, but I don't. The point I was making was that Mormonism is a religion. I can sit down with a Mormon and discuss our different belief systems and the common ground we share. Wiccans, basically, can believe or not believe anything they choose. It has no creed, no hierarchy, no system therefore it is not a religion.

Well, you can believe what you wish, but that fact remains that it is part of Christianity and they are therefore Christians. Sunnis and Shi'ites seperate themselves on different levels also, but they are both Islam.

 

[MysticalMom]

So, basically, if I get a group of people together who have over-active imaginations, I have a new religion.

Well if you want to over simplify it like that, sure. I bet the close minded people of his time thought Joseph Smith was a crack pot too.

Did you know Joseph Smith was once a diviner? Yep, that's right...used "magic stones" to locate water and lost treasure.

 

[Tinkerbell]

...A (cringe) hobby...

Sorry I called it a hobby. I know that's not exactly right, but brendar buhl couldn't seem to understand how you would practice the craft but not believe in the religion.

There are artists over the centuries who painted almost entirely religious themed paintings, while they themselves were not devoutly religious, or didn't necessarily believe in the religion the painting depicted.

 

[MysticalMom]

Sorry I called it a hobby. I know that's not exactly right, but brendar buhl couldn't seem to understand how you would practice the craft but not believe in the religion.

There are artists over the centuries who painted almost entirely religious themed paintings, while they themselves were not devoutly religious, or didn't necessarily believe in the religion the painting depicted.

No worries. Check your karma. I understood the point you were trying to make even if she didn't. And you GOT it.

 

[PsyOps]

Just as there are many different sects of chrisitanity, i am sure it is similar with wicca. Also, just as 2ndA doesn't speak for all christians, i doubt MM speaks for all wiccan.

I'm quite sure you're right. But my question still stands for MysticalMom.