Let me preface what I'm going to say here by pointing out that I know shamanistic, animist and primitive religions like few Westerners do. I grew up surrounded by the African shamanistic faiths, and have worked extensively with
sangomas, witch-doctors and the like. I've studied the Asian equivalents, and the primitive pagan faiths of early Europe. I've also studied Wicca extensively, and count a number of Wiccan practitioners from various backgrounds (Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Gaelic, Druidic, Dianic, Asatru, etc.) among my acquaintances. A couple of them rate as good friends. So, I think I know what I'm talking about here.
Firstly, far too many people equate Wicca with Satanism. The two are quite distinct. Unfortunately, some of the better-known practitioners who have influenced Wicca (e.g. Crowley, Gardner, etc.) were quite openly Satanic in some of their ideas and expressions. This has led to a confusion in the minds of many about the correlation between the two, and is one reason for the hostility expressed by many Christians towards Wicca.
Secondly, many of the rituals and "magick" developed by Crowley, Gardner, etc. are pure and simple garbage. Gardner, for example, developed his emphasis on "sex magick" and the use of sex in rituals such as initiation, promotion, etc. purely and simply because of his desire to pursue an adulterous relationship with another woman. I think the best summary I've seen is that by Adrian Bott (himself a Wiccan): see his article at
http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/hoax.htm for a full analysis, particularly the second part, titled "Part Two: Gardner's Motive". I have researched this independently, and can confirm that Bott is speaking the exact and literal truth. Anything Wiccan based on Gardner's work is automatically suspect and likely to be full of inaccuracies, just as Gardner was himself.
Much of the Wiccan mythology (e.g. the Goddess, the Horned God, etc.) can be clearly demonstrated to be fabrications of the last half of the 20th century. Prior to this, there was relatively little known or written about these beliefs. Some Wiccan groups try to claim that they're operating from a secret oral tradition, handed down in stealth over the centuries. Unfortunately, there's no evidence whatsoever to back up their claims: and linguistic analysis of their texts, rituals, etc. (which is a whole field of study in itself) shows clearly that these are fabrications based on more or less modern texts from other disciplines, beliefs, etc.
Another problem with much of the modern Wiccan movement is that it's an outgrowth of the "I'm OK, you're OK" school of psychology. It tends to be self-centered to an absurd degree, promoting religious faith as an exploration of the divinity within each person, and thus justifies any conduct in search of that inner divinity as being religiously moral and OK. This is often used as an excuse for drug use, orgies, sexual experimentation, etc. I've met many so-called Wiccans who are not really religious at all in their approach to Wicca - it's simply a vehicle for sensual exploration.
However, given all these problems, I know full well that there are many Wiccan believers and practitioners who are genuinely seeking the Divine, by whatever name or under whatever form they know it. They are not to blame for the ridiculous falsehoods and posturings of the "founders" of the movement, and are in their own way genuinely seeking God. For this reason, I don't hold the falsehoods of Wicca against them. They are following in the shamanistic tradition used across huge parts of the world to this day, seeking to encounter divinity in the world around them by interaction with nature and the things of nature. Of course, I don't share their beliefs - I'm unshakeably Christian in my world-view, and don't expect this to change. However, I freely grant to them the same freedom I expect to receive from others: the right to seek God in my own way, according to the light I've been given. I may disagree profoundly with much of their "theology" or
weltanschaüng, but it's their choice, and they have the right to make it.
I think all of us need to sit back and think about this. If we expect the right to believe (and practice our belief) as we wish, we must extend the same courtesy and freedom to all others, no matter how much we may disagree with them. Of course, there are some belief systems (e.g. Satanism) that I'll fight with everything I have, because I believe them to be morally destructive and a serious danger to ordinary people: but I must fight them with my own lived example, first of all, and then with argument and debate and discussion. I can't just ban them, or kill their proponents - if I do so, what's to stop someone else doing the same to me because of my beliefs?
When we discuss Wicca, let's keep this in mind. It may be far from our own view of God or religious faith - but those practising it have the same right to do so as we have for our own traditions. A bit more mutual respect would go a long way, methinks . . .
