Rosewicket Wicca Coven

I was just wondering, I'm sure many people have a wide spctrum of answers.

When I was eleven I decided that I LOVED learning about religions...particularly eastern "zen" types of religion and more animistic polytheistic religions. But I came from an open Christian (as in, not 'bible thumping') background.

I went through many, MANY religions, and ultimatly I decided I wanted to take bits and pieces of ones I like.

The Main ones I practice are Buddhism, Various Neo-Pagan, Hindu, Daoism/Taoism, and Shinto.

But as I said - I take bits and pieces from everything!

What about you? What religious background do you come from?

What other religions have you looked at besides Wicca?

What religions do you think are similar to Wicca?

What religions has studying Wicca lead you to come across/learn more about?

Great questions, Chi.

I come from a Christain family.. very religious. I went to a Catholic church program when I was younger and never enjoyed it. My grandma made everyone get up and go to church on sundays.. then we (my mom, brother, grandmother and me) moved here (Georgia). Everyone went there own way and we became distant from eachother. My grandma is still very religious and wants me to become more into Christianity.. but I know that its not for me.

I havent looked at any other religions and studied them. i was interested in Buddishm, but never really looked into it.

I think Wicca is its own group. Most other religions have rules of honoring their Gods, but they can do mainly whatever they want to others. Wicca is peaceful and makes everyone and everything come together and like in harmony. I think its beautiful and I am very glad I came to find it.

I agree Kohanna. As for me i came from Christianity--ALL my family members are Christian. The whole going to church on Sundays and stuff was me. Eventually I became distant  upon watching people jumping around and stuff soon as they started that music crap and that irritated me above all else(i feel sick thinking about it) and it made me feel ashamed of being one. Besides that i already(since i was 9) knew that eventually id find enough reason to not become Christian and that id be fed up with it only a matter of time. Then last year on the last Sunday of August i decided that i was no longer going to be Christian and that id be Athiest ubtil i found something that I liked and approved of. I was then talked to about Wicca and being as ignorant as i was at the time i immediatly thut devil worshippers (forgive me). As i reasearched it more i started to like Wicca more and more because it identified with my beliefs to the exact point. So now im here-a Wiccan. For a while i was thinking about Buddhism as well like Kohanna and Hindu like you Chi but iwill most likely stay a commited Wiccan.

Well, DeShadara, you don't have to fit into one faith label. I for one, do not - there are plenty of Wiccans that I drive insane! I have a book that I have collected of sacred spiritual textxs - many of them have nothing to do with Wicca. I have the charge of the Goddess and the God, the Thirteen Goals of a Witch, my Own personal version of the Rede (as I do not agree with the long version most Wiccans use), some Biblical quotes and stories, some pretty poems I have come across, a few hymns from the Vedas (Hindu document), quotes from many of the Dali Lamas, and lots of things that came out of spiritual books that have nothing to do with religion! And I know it fits me better then anything else - it makes no difference to me that many Wiccans would turn their noses up at it because it has some quotes from the bible, or that many Hindus would be upset that I didn't include all three of the Vedas... it just works for me.

I do feel the need to point out though, that the term 'devil worshipper' is a derogitory term for a Theistic Satanist - it is a very intollerant slang saying, I suggest you no longer use it, as to not offend anyone of that path.

I think it would benefit many Wiccans to read this, if they have not properly researched Theistic Satanism. It is even more misunderstood then Wicca.

It was written by one of the instructors of the Wicca courses I'm taking on Pagan history and Divination - he happens to be a Theistic Satanist and is by far one of the most respectful and resourcful people I have met on this path.

Chi, I read the (read this) and though I am aware of most of that I would also like to say that not all of their sacrifices are that "humane" as he puts it. My black cat sassy was sacrificed when I was a little girl and I loved her very much. So no my oppinion stays still the same. I will never try to involve myself in any form or any way of Satanism. Taking house pets is not "humane".  

Sorry about the little rant there touchy subject for me.

As for the original subject I am apart of all of the religens except Muslim and Satanism. I was raised with some of everything. I'm going to try to go through every religens traiditions for being entered in to that religen. I know that's going to take awhile with almost every religen having years of classes you have to take to be fully emersed in the religen but I'm going to try.     

There are plenty ogf psychopaths out there who make inhumane sacrifices, but I doubt they are actually Satanists... just psychos.

Many people think Wiccans make inhumane sacrifices. Well, obviously not - and if someone does make a sacrifice and claim to be Wiccan, they have completly missed the point and are just twisted.

Sacrifice does NOT equal Satanism.

On the other note... Everyone follows Symbolic Satanism, whether they will admit it or not. Symbolic Satanism believes in treating human things as Godly things, thus they try to indulge in their desires. Choosing a good hearty meal over meditating is a very Satanist thing to do... So basically if you have ever indulged on something, you have practiced a key tradition in Satanism.

I dont know Chi, I try to keep an open mind but Satanism just doesnt sit well with me. I can attribute it mainly to the things i was taught when i was younger but even being into Wicca I must admit that Im not that great with the Satanist concept. Because its frowned upon as being "evil" i suppose i just accepted it with my own personal ignorance but I wont direct any persecution to them or anything since it wouldnt be fair. Even so ill keep an open mind to the worlds religions.

Did you even read the article?

You claim to not have any wish to harm these people, yet you commonly use a derogitory term for them. The fact is, Rosewicket should be an open, safe place regardless of what religion you are, and you can't claim that it's okay to be ignorant because you were raised by Christians. Hating on Christians for supposedly supressing us, or hating on Satanists because we watch too much TV is, quite clearly  HATE. And we can't have hate here, it should be a safe place for all.

Satanists are normal, mature people. There are some psychos out there that claim to be satanist and go around hurting people, but those are just psychos who have no idea what they're talking about.

To them, "Satan" is a God. Just like our God and Goddess. Satan is the life, force, divinity, the thing that lets all life live. His name happens to be Satan, a God that has been worshipped for centuries longer then Christianity.

If Satanism is Evil, then so is Wicca. And Christianity. And every other religion. Since this is not so, we can conclude that Satanism is not evil.

Good point Chi. I guess somethings are just natural contridictions.

Before reading the article i thought that was a term they had no problem with. To be honest if i knew that it was derogatory i would never had used it in the first place. It was a mistake that I didnt mean to take in the first place.

Anyone will tell you that not knowing what is disrespectful is the source of bigotry... It's true for all races, religions, genders, sexual orientation, ect. Teaching people what is disrespectful and what isn't is the only way to help them stop offending eachother. Otherwise, we are the same intolerance that many Pagans claim to be running away from.

My apologies, Chi

I would also like to add my sincere apology to that. Just because something personal happend for me once does not excuse the fact of ignorence.  

I sincerly hope I did not offend anyone, I just think it is very imporant that if we're going to try to create a peacful, religiously tolerant environment, that we (not only as an online community, but as people in general) are tolerant of all faith - not just our 'favorites'. Flyawaybirdie, I hope you know that my heart truly goes out to you for the loss of your pet, I am very empathetic towards animals and no matter what anyone claims to be "practicing" it is never alright with me to harm an animal in such a manner, or even at all.

Likewise, DeSahadara, I'm sorry that you feel yoru religious upbringing may not have as many pleasent effects as you hope - but it's important that people arrive at their own religious beliefs with integrity, and with no intent to disrespect others, and the knowledge to know what is disrespectful and what isn't. There is a lot of pride to be taken at finding the belief that suits us, but there is also pride to be taken for others when they arrive at their belief, whether our beliefs conform to it or not.

Simply put, thank you Chi for understanding and thank you for opening my eyes to the fact that calling someone a devil worshiper is a type of derogatory term. I would have never used it in my life if I had known. Sometimes knowlege is hard to come by and sometimes its even harder to grasp but it is always worth it in the end.:)

Chi, thanks for giving me the proper knowledge so that I can be a better person to other people and thier beliefs. You're a very good person.

What religious background do you come from?

My family is Christian. Which denomination I'm unsure. They're not Church-going or really religious other than the table prayer we say.

What other religions have you looked at besides Wicca?

I've looked at Kemeticism, which I consider my core faith. Its hard to explain. I say I'm Wiccan- I believe in everything that makes one Wiccan but my favorite deities as well as some beliefs (Like the 42 Negative Confessions) I follow. Luckily Kemeticism's beliefs do not conflict at all with Wicca. I think the proper term for it is Tameran Wicca (Depending on if you believe that Wicca can be practiced Solitary or not.)

What religions do you think are similar to Wicca?

Hm Kemeticism has some things that are similar to Wicca. In the 42 Negative Confessions, one is "I have no used my magick to harm." We believe that all deities are the face of one energy Netjer (Coptic for God) Which breaks down into the Neteru (Gods)

What religions has studying Wicca lead you to come across/learn more about?

Kemeticism, Satanism (Yes, I have looked it up just to know the differences), Shamanism, etc.

Thank you Selene for bring the forum back to it's original topic Chi, DeShadara and I were sort of taking over. hahaha:) 

Lol. Good point Flyawaybirdie

Well - as usual I will post that I was brought up Catholic. While I felt fulfilled in the workings of Jesus Christ, I did not feel compatable with some of the Catholic beliefs and what I call "fear based" practice.

I believe that being human, Jesus understands our ability to try to be perfect but all of us have fallen short of that glory - that is why he chose to sacrifice himself on the cross to bear our sins. If he didn't understand our weaknesses then he would not have chosen to do so.

I just feel like the Catholic faith teaches us about Jesus Christ and his workings, then chooses which sins he won't forgive us for - which, seems to be chosen based on political values rather than religious ones. (That is my personal opinion) However, they for whatever reason do pick and choose which sin's are "unforgiving".

Because I feel the love that Jesus has for all of us, I cannot believe or grasp that he would be vengeful toward any particular sin as I believe big or small - you did it - and all you can do is ask for forgiveness.

I believe he is loving of all of us and forgiving of all sins - I believe it is a HUMAN who decided what is unforgiveable and in those teachings is a message that we should not forgive eachother for certain things that are really bad - and that is not the teachings of Jesus Christ. I believe through his example, he wants us to forgive eachother for what we do onto eachother - no matter how bad. It is about loving eachother - and I love - LOVE. Because in the end - I don't necessarily believe it is how many sins you "tally" up - it is how much love you gave and received.

And of course I believe in the teachings of Wicca - loving the earth and respecting it's bounty.