Wicca in America
As of 2008, there were 310 recognized religions and religious denominations in the United States. All of the world’s major religions were represented, as well as traditional Native American faiths. Also included in the list are more than 200 “minor” religions, those with far fewer followers and far less recognition than the major religious groups.
Wicca is often counted among this last group. Though a relatively large religion with more than 130,000 adherents in the US alone, Wiccans tend to be relatively quiet about their faith. Part of this is due to misconceptions about their religion and prejudice, but it is also because Wicca does not proselytize. In other words, Wiccans are not required to bring new people into the faith.
Tenets of Wicca
What is Wicca? There is no official pantheon of Wicca, but most witches believe in duotheism, that is the belief in two deities – a god and a goddess – of equal spiritual importance. Strongly influenced by the environmental movement, Wiccans seek to leave as little impact on nature as possible. They teach worldly pleasure as a method of achieving a deeper religious understanding. The structure of Wicca and many of the holidays are drawn from some of the traditional Pagan beliefs of the British Isles. Many, though not all, Wiccans believe in magic, the ability to manipulate the physical world through sorcery. Practically all Wiccan denominations only believe in using magic to help people or the environment. Some of the more common Wiccan spells promote healing, or attempt banish negative influences.
History of the Religion
Wicca, as we know it today, was introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant. The religion has not produced any official religious texts, but many worshippers do live by what is known as the Wiccan Rede: a short statement that serves as the guiding principle of the faith. The Rede – “An it harm none, do what ye will” – was first recorded in 1964. Though the idea put forth by the Rede is generally attributed to Gerald Gardner, it was one of the first Wiccan High Priestesses, Doreen Valiente, who is credited with formalizing it. The first recorded instance of the Rede being spoken was in a sermon by Valiente preached in 1964.
Major Wiccan Holidays
Wicca has eight major holidays, occurring on a seasonal basis. One of the major festivals, and perhaps the best known among non-practitioners, is Samhain. This holiday occurs on Halloween, and it marks a time when the boundary between the living and the spiritual world is at its thinnest. Wiccans believe that benevolent spirits may visit the earth on this day.