Wiccans and you.

[Doclector]

So, that whole "ebay bans spells, potions, and curses" response thread ( http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.385395-eBay-Bans-Spells-Potions-and-Curses?page=1 ) was interesting. Seriously, if you've got some time, read through it a little. It's brilliant.

However, it got me thinking, what do people on here think about "Wiccans". "Wiccanism". "Getting wiccy with it". I dunno how you'd say it. I think the response is going to be largely cynical, but I was curious.

Personally, I'll let people believe what they want. There are some bloody annoying people who dress extravagantly and constantly go on about auras and the like, but people are free to be wiccans/wiccankind/wiccid/wiccish/wiccy wiccy wah wild west if they want. And yes, that was another will smith joke.

Do I believe it? I've seen some pretty wierd stuff in my time thus far, so I like to keep an open mind. I guess I'm neutral on the believability of it at the moment.

DISCLAIMER: I need a disclaimer for everything these days. My jokes are not meant to offend anyone. But seriously, how do you say it in that context anyway?

 

[Valanthe]

This should probably be in the "Religion and Politics" forum, however I'll bite. Being a Wiccan is no different than being a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, it's a faith, with its own holidays, rituals, and beliefs on the nature of the spiritual world. With that in mind I view it as I do any other religion.

I don't have an opinion on any religion, rather I judge the person. If you share my belief of "live and let live," chances are we'll get along famously, but if you cannot accept the fact that I may or may not view the world in a different way than you do, then we will be at each other's throats.

Do I believe that the "wiccan Belief" is correct? I believe that their mythologies (Which are basically just old pagan beliefs repackaged) are based at least partially in truth, I find myself unable to believe that their 'spells' and such actually work, but of course, like in Voodoo, your belief is said to directly effect the result, so who knows, maybe my skepticism is preventing me from obtaining true power! (Cue bad anime music here)

 

[Revnak_v1legacy]

I just came here to thank the OP for linking to that thread. Mythrandia is officially my hero.

 

[DoPo]

I see no reason to treat Wiccans any other way that I treat the rest of the people. Namely, like people and on individual basis.

And as for whether I believe in Wicca...well, I haven't really looked into it, but I don't see a reason to not treat it the same way I treat Islam, Buddhism and so on.

So, yeah, I guess that was a lengthy way of saying that Wiccans aren't special. Sorry, Wiccans. If it's any comfort, I don't consider the rest of humanity special either.

 

[Doclector]

This should probably be in the "Religion and Politics" forum, however I'll bite. Being a Wiccan is no different than being a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, it's a faith, with its own holidays, rituals, and beliefs on the nature of the spiritual world. With that in mind I view it as I do any other religion.

Dammit. Sorry, I kinda deleted that dark realm from my mind, I didn't even think about it.

I just came here to thank the OP for linking to that thread. Mythrandia is officially my hero.

He's just awesome. I have no idea whether he's completely serious, all joking, or parts of both, but it's entertaining to read. He should write a book.

 

[Phasmal]

Gripe- People have a habit of mislabelling anything remotely `witchy` Wiccan.
A lot of people who are into magic and tarot and stuff like that are not technically Wiccans.
Right, this is a bit of an irritating subject for me. My parents are pagan.
I know pagan is a bit of a blanket term, but I don't particularly know which branch of the whole magic thing they hang out on or care to ask. So, when someone asks, I say `pagan`.

As for how I feel about it, exactly how I feel about any other religion. My parents honestly believe in whatever they believe in and it brings them comfort.
Plus, it's kind of fun, cause I can joke about it with them, especially when someone asks my mum for the thousandth time if she's a devil worshipper. I swear, someone `crossed` themself at her once.

 

[Doclector]

Gripe- People have a habit of mislabelling anything remotely `witchy` Wiccan.
A lot of people who are into magic and tarot and stuff like that are not technically Wiccans.
Right, this is a bit of an irritating subject for me. My parents are pagan.
I know pagan is a bit of a blanket term, but I don't particularly know which branch of the whole magic thing they hang out on or care to ask. So, when someone asks, I say `pagan`.

As for how I feel about it, exactly how I feel about any other religion. My parents honestly believe in whatever they believe in and it brings them comfort.
Plus, it's kind of fun, cause I can joke about it with them, especially when someone asks my mum for the thousandth time if she's a devil worshipper. I swear, someone `crossed` themself at her once.

Just to clarify, when I mentioned the "bloody annoying" people, I meant the kind of "hot topic" wiccans. Y'know, trenchcoat, probably teenage, typically "gothic" types. Those kinds of people.

And that bit about someone crossing themself is hilarious. Please catch it on video next time.

 

[Don Savik]

Like any religion they're absolutely ridiculous. Now, you can say this and that about tolerance, but I'll tolerate people, not whatever bullshit supernatural forces they think govern the cosmos. Call me cynical, a realist, a buzzkill, an asshole, whatever. Belief systems aren't immune to criticism and they don't grant special rights. Its free game for comedy if you ask me. And witches are HILARIOUS.

Its a case by case basis anyways. If I met a wiccan who is likeable and not a complete lunatic then I'll have no problem. If not, then I will have a problem. I think this is true for everyone honestly.

 

[Phasmal]

Just to clarify, when I mentioned the "bloody annoying" people, I meant the kind of "hot topic" wiccans. Y'know, trenchcoat, probably teenage, typically "gothic" types. Those kinds of people.

And that bit about someone crossing themself is hilarious. Please catch it on video next time.

Ha! Those kind of wiccans are the reason why I never use that word to describe my parents, it gives people weird mental images about what they must be like.

A lot of people seem to think `Do you worship the devil?` is a totally acceptable thing to ask a total stranger (mum wears a pentagram- not an upside down one though). Last time it happened we were in a petrol station. She has a great sense of humour about it though.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Strangely, according to my religion, I'm suppose to murder wiccans. Which is pretty damn harse if you ask me.

Personaly, I have no problem with them. They have the same level of respect I give to any form of belief in the world. Live and let live and all that.

 

[sextus the crazy]

I see no reason to treat Wiccans any other way that I treat the rest of the people. Namely, like people and on individual basis.

I was going to say something, but it has already been said.

 

[BeeGeenie]

I could say it's just a made up modern religion, only loosely based on ancient folklore... but people say the same thing about my religion, so I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[II2]

No, just kidding.

In my experience they're like any group of quirky subculture types, some are cool, lovely people and some are giggling gitboxes and some are self righteous assholes eager to tell you how wrong you are and some you wouldn't know for their interests or beliefs unless you asked.

 

[viranimus]

"Getting wiccy with it".

Funny to me personally... Ive "been with" a wiccan before. In retrospect I really wish I hadnt. Not for the beliefs, but for the individual.

The belief system itself is no more or less valid than any other theological ideology. However in a modern context seemingly it has a tendency to attract some very flakey individuals that are yearning for something to latch onto and to them it fills a void, but it always seems like they use it in a perversion of what it is actually intended to be.

So nothing against the ideology, really pensive about the people claiming to be its adherents. Honestly not all that much different than I view atheism and other religions.

 

[peruvianskys]

This should probably be in the "Religion and Politics" forum, however I'll bite. Being a Wiccan is no different than being a Christian, or a Muslim, or a Jew, it's a faith, with its own holidays, rituals, and beliefs on the nature of the spiritual world. With that in mind I view it as I do any other religion.

The difference is that Wicca has absolutely no historical, social, theological, or empirical backing. "Wicca" as it defined today is a groundless pastiche of real spiritual traditions at most and a completely invented, pulled from thin air social club for liberals and rich white people at worst; it attracts mainly those who are too undisciplined, flaky, or full of themselves to adopt a real religion but also far too culturally needy and intellectually lazy to just be atheists. It's fucking trash.

I'm sorry if I offend any Wiccans but I live in a community with a large population of them and I have not met a "practitioner" yet who isn't a massive tool, nor have I come across Wiccan literature or material that has gone against this mold in any way.

 

[peruvianskys]

As someone who once was a Dedicated Wiccan, I can pretty much confirm ALL of this. There are exceptions, but they're few and far between.

Good to know my friend! I hope you don't have to live around many anymore. They keep frolicking together in my goddamn city park on the Solstices and I just want to strangle them.