How many religions, asks Professor Ronald Hutton in his television documentary, are truly English? One. Wicca. Hutton is a pagan specialist: but this version of pagan witchcraft dates back than no further than the 1940s, developed by a middle-aged nudist from the New Forest, Gerald Gardner. While Crowley was drawn to the dark side of the occult, Gardner was drawn rather to the positive side, and dedicated his time on British' current affairs programmes to bringing Wicca to the masses.

Theists and atheists and agnostics all welcome. Wicca has no central authority, belief in the afterlife is optional, and for your pagan buck you get to worship a moon goddess and a horned god. You'll be worshiping the cycles of the moon and sun, which surely sounds more appealing than a Mormon ward party. Fancy chanting spells in the forest with your chums? -- this is the party for you. Farrer and Farrer 1987 outline the essential party themes as:

Purification of the sacred space and the participants
Casting the circle
Calling of the elemental quarters
Cone of power
Drawing down the Gods
Spellcasting
Great Rite
Wine, cakes, chanting, dancing, games
Farewell to the quarters and participants

Wicca, claims Professor Hutton, is one of the fastest growing religions in the world, especially popular in the United States. Scholar Ethan Doyle White observed in 2016:

"Wicca originated in the early decades of the twentieth century among those esoterically inclined Britons who wanted to resurrect the faith of their ancient forebears, and arose to public attention in the 1950s and 1960s, largely due to a small band of dedicated followers who were insistent on presenting their faith to what at times was a very hostile world. From these humble beginnings, this radical religion spread to the United States, where it found a comfortable bedfellow in the form of the 1960s counter-culture and came to be championed by those sectors of the women's and gay liberation movements which were seeking a spiritual escape from Christian hegemony."

Sounds too trippy and far out for you? Mind you, not so long ago we thought such concepts as Baptisms for the Dead and Holy Oil normal.

The British 2011 Census identified 56,620 people as broadly Pagan, 11,766 as Wiccans, and a hardcore minority of 1,276 describing their religion as Witchcraft.

Groovy, baby. If you go down to the woods today you're sure of a big surprise. Magic hazelnut, anyone?

more bullshit

Atheism is bullshit, and I should know, because I am one!

tell us more

Do atheists believe there is no ghawd but wish there were, or do atheists wonder if there might be a ghawd, but decide to ignore him?

And why don't we have mandatory meetings? Some rituals would be nice, too! The way atheism is run today is bullshit!

Atheism is being run ?

As in, it's not!

When you run Atheism will you wear a big tall pope hat ?

"If called, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve."

You and William Sherman.
LBJ screwed up the quote.

I heard atheists do spell-casting when they gather at bars.

We also do door-to-door pamphleting but our pamphlets are blank.

Atheist Missionary knocks on door.

Person answer door.

Atheist: Hello. I am here to bring you a message of truth. I am here to teach you that you don't hold a belief in !fl*#d*orf.

Person: What is !fl*#d*orf anyway? How do I know if I believe that?

Atheist: You simply follow Richard Dawkins on Twitter who you need to agree with on every topic.

Person: Well then! That makes sense! Do I get to live forever?

Atheist: Huh?

Person: Sorry, I'm not interested.

Wicca is bullshit, yes. However, a childhood friend and exmormon that I know seems to be doing well with it! Making money teaching courses and selling things from his store. Enough to make the news. I would have never known if it wasn't for this thread. I did a quick search, and this is what came up:

http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/wicca

If Wicca really works, how come Wiccans aren’t rich, in good health, have everything they wanted “ The law of attraction “ and like attracts like”, except for all of the Wiccan authors, who make money off of people down on their luck, who buy them?

Because most common sense Pagans know that faith isn't the answer to everything. It's not about books or classes or whatever crystals you have. It's not about casting spells. It's about learning about yourself.

Like any large faith community, there are some folks who are unfortunately easily manipulated and led. There are others who use a faith to inspire themselves to look deeper within.

Life isn't about being rich or having everything you want. It's about the journey, and a personal creed, whether one that involves religion and faith, or one that involves an atheistic code of ethics, simply enriches one's life and gives it a little boost of purpose to better one's self.

"Wicca has no central authority"

I like this idea. If I were to start a movement (church if you like) it would have no central authority. I would allow a set of principles to guide its course. The power to direct its course would rest in the collective membership. The Unitarian Universalist Church comes closer to this model than any other organization I have discovered.

The UU church is too entrenched in liberalism and too intolerant of opposing views. I had several members get heated under the collar when I challenged their views in front of the group. I am not into intolerant people or censorship.

"belief in the afterlife is optional"

I like this idea as well. I would not want to participate in a group that was not tolerant of others beliefs yet I would not want to belong to a group that allowed them to continually spew dogma to the rest of the group. I would want the focus of the group be on discovering truths that can be substantiated that can help to build a better community and a better world.

What is "liberalism" ?

Good question Dave. I don't want to let this become a spark to ignite a powder keg so will choose my words carefully.

The last time I attended the UU church the pastor gave a 40 minute talk on why it is immoral to own a gun. I found him and others unwilling to hear my views on the subject so I quit going.

I am a responsible gunner owner and support the 2nd amendment. I find many who call themselves liberals support a continual erosion of 2nd amendment. I agree with many views of my friends on the left and disagree with some on the right so am by no means a staunch conservative. What I am is anti corruption and I hope we all agree on this.

And I am an avid gun owner and the word "liberal" is generally a nonsense derogatory word when spoken by republicans.

Absolutely. As is the tossing of "intolerance" when the truth is probably somewhere in between - them disagreeing, and the conservative throwing out little barbs when people don't agree with his opinion and challenge him right back.

I am pro gun, but somewhat ambivalent on the issue of bullets.

elderolddog Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am pro gun, but somewhat ambivalent on the issue
> of bullets.

Hmm, something to consider. The 2nd Amendment talks about the right to bear arms -- it doesn't say anything about bullets for them! :)

Wicca is one step above Satanism. But Wiccans are too blind and ignorant to know it until it’s too late - when their conjured spirits become their tormentors.

Sounds freaky! Not something to mess with.

Our conjured spirits?

Thank you for that amusing image. And here I thought I was just celebrating the circle of the seasons and the interconnection of everything in Nature.

Is this where I should be waggling my fingers suggestively? ;)