should wicca/witchcraft be made legal in the UK?
482174
Absolutely.  It is an honored and genuine way of living.  People who say no, are just afraid of it.
1151750
"Pagan" is hard to define; a lot of people think of it as "any religion that's not Christianity, Judaism or Islam." I don't think that's quite accurate, but it's okay to start with. \n\nSince your sister talked about a "Wiccaning" (not "wickening), she's talking about the pagan religion Wicca (and here's where I start quoting Wikipedia): Wicca is a religion, and although its adherents often identify as witches, Wicca and witchcraft are not necessarily the same thing.\n\nWiccans may worship a Goddess and/or a God; they observe the festivals of the eight Sabbats of the year and the full-moon Esbats; and they have a code of ethics that most live by. Wicca is thus generally considered to be distinct from witchcraft, which does not of itself imply any specific religious, ethical or ritual elements, and is practiced in various forms by people of many religions, as well as by atheists.\n\nWicca does, however, incorporate a specific form of witchcraft, with particular ritual forms, involving the casting of spells, herbalism, divination and other forms of magic. Wiccan ethics require that magical activities are limited to good purposes only.\n\nAccording to Gerald Gardner [the one who brough Wicca into modern public awareness], the religion derives from a secret but widespread witch-cult of early modern Europe, which incorporated all of the key religious beliefs and ideals and the distinctive ritual structures found in modern Wicca. While this historical interpretation is now much criticised, it makes it difficult to conclusively say whether Wicca is a religious form of witchcraft or a religion incorporating witchcraft.
583740
Yes! It is absolutely and entirely possible to be a Christian and a Witch.\n\nThere is much confusion over this issue, especially when it comes to the misunderstanding regarding the difference between Wicca and Witchcraft.\n\nWicca is a religion, created by Gerald Gardner, in the 1950s (or thereabouts). It is *based on* a form of Witchcraft, but one can be Wiccan without practicing the Craft, and one can be Wiccan AND practice the Craft - or one can be a Witch without being Wiccan.\n\nWitchcraft is a CRAFT. Just as a doctor can be Christian and a doctor, or a baker can be Muslim and a baker, or a Buddhist can be a Buddhist and a painter, a Christian can be a Christian and a Witch.\n\nWhat defines a Christian is simply this: that person believes in Jesus as God, and accepts Jesus as personal saviour. Nothing more, nothing less. Anything else - including the way they practice their faith - is secondary.\n\nA Witch is one who focuses energy, who does this deliberately with a specific outcome in mind, and who consciously develops this area of his/her life. People focus energy every day. Making a wish and blowing out the candles on your cake is one example. Many don't necessarily consider it as being anything significant, but when you consider its potential, it is significant. Furthermore, the act of prayer is equivalent to casting a spell. It is the focus of energy with a specific outcome in mind. I've had some Christians say, "Talking to Jesus isn't spellcasting!" Yes, it is. Take, for example, a Christian praying for healing. They are praying (focusing energy) for healing (the specific outcome) and furthermore, they're invoking a deity to do it - Jesus!\n\nI know all sorts of Witches, including Christian Witches and Atheist Witches. This is because the practice of Witchcraft does not *require* the belief in a deity. Just because there happen to be many Witches who believe in deities other than Jesus, does not mean that this is what makes a Witch. This is the same point made in the fact that the Craft is just that: a Craft. One can practice medicine an be a Christian just as one can practice Witchcraft and be a Christian.\n\nOf course one can be both a Christian and a Witch. :)\n\nThere are LOTS of resources out there for people on this path. I stronly recommend you read this article first:\n\nhttp://members.aol.com/RawnaMoon/bible.html\n\nIt addresses every instance of Witches being condemned in the Bible, and explains the original words used and their actual meanings. It is interesting to note that in some cases, the same Hebrew word has been translated into different English words.\n\nI also have a list of resources on my website that you can use. I've pooled as many links and articles together for Christian Witches (and the like) as possible in one spot for people on this path:\n\nhttp://foxygoddess.com/cwc/index.htm\n\nAlso have a look at this: Thirteen Reasons Why, if Jesus Were Here Today, He Would Be a Witch: http://foxygoddess.com/articles/jcwitch.htm \n\nAs for practices such as divination, these are not exclusive to Witchcraft and there are plenty of examples of people in the Bible using divination - with God's help and participation:\n\n* Gideon liked to "set a fleece before the Lord". (Judges 6:36-40) Gideon used this form of divination – and with God's participation.\n\n* To decide that Matthias was also an apostle, the existing disciples used divination to decide: they cast lots. (Acts 1:24-26) What's more, they prayed as they did it, and God answered their query via divination.\n\n* In Genesis, Joseph engaged in scrying. Genesis 44:5 reads: "Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing [by stealing this cup]." The cup that was stolen was the one Joseph used for divination. Indeed, this is confirmed in Genesis 44:15 which reads: "And Joseph said unto them, 'What de
1137226
No, honey, that is not correct.  Wicca is a nature based spiritual path.  We believe that Nature has male and female energies, hence the God and Goddess.  In my path, I have rituals, and what I do, are  offerings to the Goddess.  I don't cast "spells" on people, I don't do "black magic" and I don't sacrifice children, virgins, or pets.
997474
I am pagan, not Wiccan....but since Wicca is a branch of paganism I'd love to answer any of your questions. Wiccans don't believe in Satan....which makes it kind of hard for them to be Satanists. The two main beliefs are harm none and what you do comes back to you threefold. As to which Gods/Goddesses Wiccans believe in, it depends on the person. I'd love to answer any more questions you have...so feel free to email me!
232321
While Wicca is a religion that frequently makes use of witchcraft and magick, the religion is not primarily about it.  Therefore, most Wiccan sites - and especially Traditionalist ones - do not contain any spell information.
457976
romadgo..utter rubbish!...Nothing wrong in common law marriages, I do not live in the US, I am pagan and as a pagan I got 'wed' we had a handfastening ceremony.  Just because its not recognised by law doesnt mean it doesnt work.  Many of my friends live with their life partner, and have kids. A piece of paper doesnt keep you together, love does
1000584
At the risk of receiving another letter from an offended practitioner of the Wicca religion, I'll offer this historical and Christian perspective on it with the disclaimer that it does not apply to everyone who calls themself a Wiccan.\n\n\nWicca Spells - What is Wicca?\nWhat is Wicca and what are Wicca spells? While it is rooted in ancient pagan beliefs, the Wicca religion, as it is practiced now, is only about 50-years-old. Wicca is a belief system cobbled together in the 1940's and 1950's by Gerald Gardner from a variety of religious traditions and beliefs as well as Freemason rituals. Since Gardner published several books espousing his system of worship, many offshoots and variations of Wicca have sprung up. \n\nThere is no particular agreement between Wiccans, or "wise ones" concerning what they believe and worship. Some worship the "Goddess," some worship the "God," and some worship both. Others worship nature. Some Wiccans say they embrace Christian doctrine, while others reject it. Most promoters of Wicca believe in reincarnation. \n\nOne thing most Wiccans agree on is the fact that Satan is not a part of their pantheon and they vehemently deny Satan-worship as one of their practices. This is because they disavow the notion of moral absolutes. There is no such thing as good or evil, because it is all relative. Wiccans have only one law that they bind themselves to, called "The Rede." It simply states, "Do what ye will, harm ye none." In other words: "Do what ever you want to as long as no one gets hurt." The Three-fold Law governs consequences, and is a law of returns that states, "All good that a person does to another returns three-fold in this life; harm is also returned three-fold." \n\nWicca Spells - Mind Control\nWhat about Wicca spells? Not all Wiccans practice witchcraft (which they call "magick" to set themselves apart from illusionists and magicians). Magick is to Wicca what prayer is to Christianity. Wiccans claim that the practice of magick is simply using their minds to control matter, while Christians call upon God to heal people and to intervene and work in their lives. Because the Rede forbids harming others and the Three-fold Law sets forth consequences for those who do, Wiccans view themselves as "white witches" or "nature witches." \n\nWicca is basically a religion that is about minding your own business and living peaceably with your neighbors and environment. Wiccans are eager to draw parallels between themselves and biblical Christianity for the sake of earning credibility, but what does the Bible have to say about this religion? You won't find the word "wicca" in the Bible, so let's evaluate the beliefs in light of what God says about them. \n\nWicca spells are idolism - Romans 1:25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things, rather than the Creator…" Who wants to settle for second best? In Isaiah 40, God paints a very cool picture of how much greater the Creator is than His creation. If you are worshipping anything besides the Creator, you are just spinning your wheels.\n\n\nWicca spells bring false hope - Hebrews 9:27 says, "…Man is destined to die once, after that, to face judgment." God says we get one chance at life, and that is it. There are no do-overs. If we don't accept God's gift of Jesus in our lifetime, He judges us as unwilling to be in His presence, and we are sent to Hell. \n\n\nWicca spells bring disillusionment - Mark 7:8 says, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men". God is God, and we are not. We have a decision to make. Are we going to take God at His word and adopt His worldview, or not? Knowing God is hard work that takes a lot of discipline. Wicca is a religion that takes a pack of lies, ties it in a romantic ribb
931957
A very good question.\n\nI don't see any problem with parents teaching children their religion.  I would be very upset if someone told me I couldn't teach my children Wicca.  This actually happened to two divorcing Wiccans out in Indiana.  A judge decreed it wasn't "mainstream" so they couldn't involve their son in any of their ritual work or teachings even though both parents were Wiccan and neither of them said anything about their religion.  The son was too young to participate anyway, so the parents hadn't been involving him in ritual work, but the judge didn't care.  Fortunately it was overturned, but guess where I'm never moving!\n\nTeaching religion in school is a completely different thing.  Children shouldn't be ostracized or made to feel "wrong" because they don't follow the majority religion.  I know a lot of Christians (sorry, not trying to pick on them, but they do seem to be the squeaky wheels) object to prayer and God not being allowed in schools, but I don't think many Christians would be comfortable with their children taking classes in the significance of stones, crystals, candles and herbs for the use in ritual magick.\n\nSo, I have no problem with people teaching their children what they believe.  It shouldn't be allowed in school, however.\n\nBlessed be!\n)O(
369669
Wicca is a duotheistic religon (the deities being the God and Goddess) created in the 1960's and *popularised by Gerald Gardener (a bit of a revival of witchcraft, but with a structured dogmatic twist). Wiccan's have equal affinity to the feminine aspects of deity as to the masculine. They also believe in the Wiccan Rede (in short: "An harm it none, do what thou wilt") and they believe in the three fold law, ie. if you do anything bad to someone else then it will come back on you three times over (more of a punishment than creating a balance- as in Karma). Many Wiccans practice witchcraft (magical workings) but not all, as Wicca is primarily a religious path.\n\nWiccans observe the Wheel of the year (Eight annual festivals) acknowledging the changing of the seasons. They also believe in the three phases of the Goddess (maiden, mother and crone).\n\nTo clarify, Wicca falls under the umbrella term of Paganism, which is a term used to encompass a broad spectrum of belief systems. Wicca is also seperate from Witchcraft as not all witches are wiccans, many are not religious at all.\n\nHope this helps.\n\n*edit for accuracy as prompted by the post below me (thanks).
716831
Prostitution- offering sex for money is NOT illegal in the UK.\nHowever safety features for the prostitutes, and for society are not in place.\nI believe whether we want it or not prostitution will continue because there is the demand for it.  Therefore I would like to see\nbetter provisions for the service, taking in the account of the the needs of society, the sex workers, and the wife's and husbands of some of the people who will be clients.\nI am in favour of prostitution continuing, and becoming safer and more open.
887120
Sadly, the practice you describe is legal in England but was banned in Scotland some consioderable time ago.  The High Court decided it was extortion.  \n\nI agree that this is worth an insurance claim.  It may also be worth a call to the local paper...
1079265
Since Wicca is only about around the half-century mark in age, we're only starting to get generational families practicing it.  This will probably increase as time goes on.  I know that my daughter will be raised with the knowledge of what other faiths teach, and I have heard many Wiccans say the same.  In that way, I suppose she will choose, or not, as she wishes.\n\nI believe that a majority of Wiccans out there today are still those who chose the path after deciding another one (usually the one they were raised in) wasn't right for them.
666068
I would love to join your group. I am a 24 male from the uk, Live in between avebury and stonehenge in wiltshire which is cool. I suppose i am just starting to try to be wicca but find it hard as i have a lot of christian friends. However, i respect the earth and i believe in mother nature :) my email is    shane_phil_uk@yahoo.co.uk    blessed be :)
236713
Witchcraft (Wicca Craeft), is also called Wicca, or alternatively, The Craft. This previously underground religion has much to teach every human about survival and about the ethical use of natural innate powers.\n\n     The Craft is a way of life that investigates every potential that you have.  The Craft draws its strength from the diversity of Nature itself; indeed it rejoices in diversity. Your views and interests are just as valid as anyone else's, and we hope that you too will help to push back the artificial barriers that surround many religious dogmas.\n\n     As we will mention several times on this website, \nWitches are not Satanists. The negativity in that offshoot of Christianity is not for harmonious thinkers such as Witches.
140350
Does this help?\n\nhttp://www.witchvox.com/vn/sh/ukgb2_sh.html
1175290
The ATC Tradition of Wicca has been established in these United States as a faith fully recognized and protected under the law by the courts and Constitution, as well as the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  It has also been legally established and governmentally recognized in Canada and Australia.