Overview of Wicca and Christianity
Wicca and Christianity are two separate religions. While Christianity is one of the world’s main religions, historically Wicca has been quite a marginal faith. Wicca is a polytheistic religion that draws its spiritual guidance and knowledge from several sources, not just Christianity, making the practices of each faith differ drastically. However, they do share some common themes such as understanding and respecting nature, performing rituals, and emphasizing individual spirituality.
Key Differences Between Wicca and Christianity
Firstly, the belief of deity is vastly different between Wicca and Christianity. In Christianity, God is the singular omnipotent being, while Wiccans observe multiple gods and goddesses. Additionally, while worshipping of saints is central to Christianity, Wicca doesn’t include the veneration of saints.
Secondly, Wicca includes divination and spiritual practices that would be considered outside of the Christian faith (such as astrology, tarot readings, and meditation). Furthermore, magic, which does not feature heavily in Christianity, is an important part of the Wiccan faith and plays a role in many of their ceremonies and rituals. . Christian doctrines also disagree with Wicca in regards to the afterlife, as Christians believe in one’s eternal soul being rewarded with Heaven or damning one to Hell, while Wiccans believe that all souls will be reincarnated into another form.
Perspective From Religious Scholars
Dr. Idris Jaka, a religious scholar and professor at Chelsea University, states that while Wiccans and Christians share a “common respect for nature, the fundamentals of Christian beliefs contrast with the worship of more than one god – a key point of divergence between Wicca and Christianity.” He stresses the importance of understanding that Wicca is a separate faith, with its own beliefs and practices and should therefore be treated as such.
Meanwhile, Dr. Eva Kline, a priest in the Church of England, believes that Wiccans and Christians can coexist. She states that “the two faiths, while having clear distinctions, can work together and respect each other”. She expresses that the most important thing is to recognize and understand the beliefs of those who are different from us and to be tolerant of all religions.
Removal of Witchcraft Law in UK
In United Kingdom, Witchcraft Act of 1735 was recently repealed. The Witchcraft Act of 1735, also known as the Witchcraft, Sorcery and Enchantment Act, had made it illegal to practise witchcraft, sorcery and enchantment, along with challenging the authority of the Church of England. It used to impose the death penalty against people who were even accused of such practices.
Since the Witchcraft Act has been repealed, it serves as an example of how Wicca and Christianity can be more understanding and inclusive of each other, and also showcases the willingness of UK to reconcile its past in favour of modern religious freedom.
Wiccan Perspectives
Aya Moore, a Wiccan and a community leader, believes that the removal of the Witchcraft Law is a step in the right direction. She remarks, “Wiccans are misunderstood by many and often wrongfully compared to Christianity which is why this historic move is so important. People should not be persecuted for practicing their faith, whatever that may be. It’s time to move away from bias and be more open minded and accepting towards different faiths.”
Jemima Forbes, a Wiccan ritual specialist, echoes this sentiment. She explains, “The theological aspects of our religion are different from Christianity’s and it shouldn’t be a sore spot. We shouldn’t be demonized because of our practices. Every religion should be respected and treated equally, allowing us all to live side by side peacefully.”
Wicca Practices Compared to Christianity
For those who are unfamiliar with Wicca, it is important to distinguish between some of their beliefs and those held by Christianity. For example, Wicca is based off of the festivals and practices of nature and the cycles of the seasons, and instead of believing in sin, they are in favour of personal responsibility. Additionally, Wiccans look down on judging other people, as they consider it an infringement of someone’s free will and personal power.
Unlike Christianity, Wiccan spiritual practices may be done individually or as part of covens that focus on strengthening one’s connection with the gods and goddesses. Rituals are conducted in honour of the gods, usually during rituals of the full moon. These rituals involve the use of candles, incense, and other forms of offerings.
Wicca and Rights of the Practitioners
Through history, many Wiccans have experienced religious intolerance and marginalisation. Nowadays, it is generally accepted that Wicca is a legitimate religion, and many governments around the world have passed laws to protect the rights of Wiccan practitioners. In the U.S, 15 states have passed laws protecting their rights and in the U.K. Wicca is considered a legitimate religion.
That being said, to some, Wicca does not measure up to the standards of Christianity. This is primarily due to the lack of a concrete structure for the Wiccan faith, whereas most who practice Christianity have clear doctrines and beliefs regarding God and the afterlife. Nonetheless, by understanding and respecting the differences between the faiths, we can start to live in harmony together.
Modern Expression of Wicca Today
Nowadays, Wicca is described as a modern Pagan religion and because of the increase in media attention, its practices have become much more visible. Every year, the community honours eight esoteric holidays related to significant moments of the year, referred to as the Wheel of the Year. Their sacred holidays are Autumn Equinox, Winter Solstice, and Summer Solstice, which are also important holidays for many other traditional religions and Northern European spiritual faiths.
The main principle of Wicca is to “cause no harm” as it emphasises the notion that any energy has ramifications and directs practitioners to look forward to their act with responsibility and respect for others. Additionally, Wicca encourages its practitioners to seek knowledge from various sources and to question traditional existence and strive for self development. It does not encourage faith, but rather a spiritual connection between worshippers and their own chosen gods.
Reception Of Wicca
The rate of acceptance of Wicca is growing; it has been represented in more positive media and more people are curious to learn more and even practice it. This was not always the case as in the past, Wiccans were persecuted and accused of witchcraft, primarily during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. This resulted in hundreds of innocent people being imprisoned or even killed.
Although, more and more people are starting to understand the fundamentals of the religion and its significance, some still associate it with evil and misconceptions. There is still fear and judgement that surrounds the faith and its followers, leading them to hide their spirituality from others due to its strong associations with Satanism and other dark arts.
Wicca Education and Awareness
In order to reduce the judgement of Wicca and its practitioners, it is essential to increase awareness and education about the religion to those who are sceptical or those who lack an understanding of what Wicca stands for. One way in which this can be done is by engaging with Wiccan individuals and groups to learn more about their practices and beliefs. The more one knows and understands the faith, the less likely they are to hold unfounded beliefs and opinions on it.
Overall, Wicca is its own faith and it has nothing to do with Christianity, other than sharing some common themes such as honouring nature and respecting nature. It is important that rather than judge Wicca, we seek to understand it, as well as other faiths, with an open mind and respect for one another.
