Wiccans: If a religion is "anything you want to make it," how can you be a part of it? ?

Question

Anything that is defined as "whatever you want it to be" is, by definition, about your wants and not about shared community, a relationship with the gods and the other many things that go into a religion.

While I do not see Wicca as "whatever one wants it to be," I am curious how those that do define it as such consider themselves to be Wiccans, not me-ists or something else that doesn't denote community.

Answer 1

I could never understand that approach, although I have met some very nice and well informed eccletics, they are few and far between.  I'd be very interested to see if any of them post a response - I'm curious as to the answer.  Good question.

Answer 2

I think Raven nailed it!  

Answer 3

Read everything you can get your hands on that will tell you more about the beliefs of Wicca and Witchcraft. Only by learning as much as you can about the basic beliefs and tenets of this path. One has respect for human kind & nature as well, fully aware and in touch w/ the spirit & senses, believing & having faith in the religion and practice, Also as you may have faith in what it is you believe in, how can you consider yourself of that faith being right or wrong? Ultimately you are who you are by what you believe in, by faith, by choice.

Answer 4

Wicca is really supposed to be a secretive, private thing. No ones supposed to know outside of the coven that U R 1. The words "Wicca" and "Community" don't exactly go together. Neowicca maybe. Neowicca is everything to everyone.

<edit> Actually, a coven implies a closed, exclusive group. Coven and convent have the same root word, to give you an idea. When people think of community I don't think they have that in mind. When people hear the word community they think more of cities or neighborhoods. A coven would be much more exclusive and smaller than a community.

I'm already part of my coven, so there you go. That's how I'm part of it.

Answer 5

The ones that define it that way are the ones that aren't part of anything.

It may sound harsh but pay attention to who says it. It's the ones that will routinely claim that covens and traditions are just excuses to exert control, that other Wiccans are "elitist", and they tend to ignore the widely accepted scholarly facts about history. They aren't practicing anything resembling Wicca, don't wish to associate with Wiccans, and yet for some reason, they want to identify as Wiccan. It boggles my mind.  

Answer 6

There is so much wiggle room in solitary eclectic Wicca already, there should be absolutely no reason to change it any further. Most people that try to do this are ignorant - either willfully or unintentionally. Sometimes people just get bad info, including the piece of information that says "Wicca is anything you want". Wicca is NOT anything you want. There are guidelines and models to follow. If you don't follow these, I don't consider you to be Wiccan.

Few people realize that religion, including Wicca, is the means to an end, and it is important that you recognize what your goal is, and if it is the right one. Achieving a better connection and relationship with the gods is an appropriate reason to practice Wicca (or any religion). Even if you have correct intentions (a relationship with deity), you can't practice Wicca and form a connection and personal relationship with its gods if you are mucking everything up -- unintentionally by getting bad info, or purposefully by trying to change things. Either way, how do you honor the god and goddess *of* the Wiccan religion by NOT honoring them *with* the practices of the Wiccan religion?  

Answer 7

So, you're saying you can't be a solitary Wiccan? I don't think you have to be part of a community. I mean you have to be initiated into a coven at first, sure, but I think you can be a solitary Wiccan.  

Answer 8

I'm not Wiccan, but I want to answer just because I am so happy to see some deep questioins that are not only atheist or Christian directed.

   I think perception shapes society and individuals. So, in that way things can be what you want them to be. After all, bread and water can so easily become toast and tea.  

Answer 9

I use the word Wiccan to describe the path that I am on.  I came to the path before I found the word.   I also use the craft on my path... hense the use of the word witch...

I shy away from organized "religion" .  I have found that it usually becomes something that was never intended and turns poisonous to it's members...  

As for being a part of a community... I am no matter how I describe my beliefs...  I find kindred hearts everywhere.  That is the community that I am a part of.  I don't not use the words Wiccan and Witch to tell others that I am a part of any "religion"  but merely to describe my path.  If Wicca changes to the the point that it no longer describes my path then I will no longer use it.  If written in stone structure is important to you well then it is a part of your path but not mine.  Unbending, non growing or non flowing spirituality is a sign of death to me.  

Answer 10

You are looking at one line of a whole religious practice. If you were to take from the bible, " there is a time to kill" one can construe that as questionable as well.

IF you study Wicca you will find that the creed is: Do as you will, but in harming none. Giving us the power to have free will, but with consequence if using it in a negative way. Karma.

Those who choose Wicca are not in it for themselves as you may not understand. It's an earthly religion that follows the laws of the universe. The main goal is to help others, not of selfish needs, for as Wiccans, we understand that in helping others in turn the karmic retribution will be returned.

Which denotes more than a community but a universal togetherness.

Love and Light

Gypsy

Answer 11

I feel a great empathy toward the Wiccan community for the mess made by New Age publishers and RSW with in Wicca.

You guys have one h**l of a job on that one. You are now faced with an entire generation pumped full of false and invalid information and passing it down to others as real. They truly think that cafeteria style religion in Wicca.

Answer 12

While I am not Wiccan, but there is a bit of a Wiccan influence in my own Eclectic practice. What your are describing is exactly why I would never label any of what I do as Wicca, even though there is some commonality and a few shared ideas.

From an Eclectic perspective, it is not impossible to have a sense of community with those whom you share some commonality with. Yet it will never be the exact same experience as actually being a part of a more cohesive community structure.

I've chosen to forgo that, due to the path I am called to.

You really can't have your cakes and ale, and eat it too.