...Modern Wicca/Neo-Paganism often sees itself as an attempt to follow the magical practices of the ancient world, for example trying to recover the religion of the Goddess from the past. However, in order to understand the present, it is imperative to understand the origin of these magical practices and where their basis is derived from. In addition, to taking into consideration that these religions are exactly that two separate religions, therefore making uncovering these underlying resemblances and contrasting factors that much more important. Modern Wicca is a neo-paganistic religion in which the main focus varies. There are many texts and even websites nowadays that try to serve as guides for what Wicca really is or should be, but there is...
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...Wicca: A Neo-Pagan Religious Movement Augusta State University Word Count:1873 Abstract Wicca is defined as a Neo-Pagan nature based Earth worship religion. Unlike many orthodox religions, Wicca does not have a defined book or doctrine. Although the basis for all Wiccan beliefs, celebrations, and rituals are similar; no two followers perform them identically. There are many issues that define the Wicca Movement. The movement is motivated by their aspiration to be formally recognized as a religion; their desire for religious equality; and informing other about Wicca and other Neo-Pagan religions. The one main issue driving the Wicca Movement is the desire to be formally recognized as a religion by society. There are a number of factors that the Wicca Movement is trying to achieve. Although Wicca is recognized as a religion within the United States government, the movement wants to be formally recognized and accepted by the public. They desire the same religious equality given to orthodox religions. Universally, Wiccans aspire to demolish all uneducated ideals which illustrate them negatively. Wicca is a Neo-Pagan nature based Earth worship religion. Gerald Gardener established the term Wicca for three reasons: “(1) to encompass the feeling of a grassroots movement, since ‘Wica’ was the old European word for Witches; (2) to avoid the fear, hocus-pocus, and disbelief associated with the word ‘Witchcraft;’ and finally (3) because the religion he wanted to spread...
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...Witchcraft was believed to be an evil spirit, in an animal or human form that used spells. According to Study.com, witchcraft is, “is a broad term for the belief and practice of magic. It can be found in various cultures across history and means something slightly different to +every group. Anthropologists define witches as different then sorcerers because their magic comes from inside, and not through tools. Basically, a witch can curse someone without having to use a wand or crystal, while a sorcerer must use something.” Witchcraft scared a lot of people into confessing to false sins (Witchcraft - A Guide). This was viewed with apprehension mixed with fear that was in cultures (10 Amazing Facts…). A specific religion was Wicca (Witchcraft...
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...Regent University School of Undergraduate Studies CHRISTIANITY AND WICCA: DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED By COLLIS M. FOGLE RELS 107 Worldviews June 4, 2011 Professor Thomas Kreischer ” that the doctrines, commonly called orthodox, are contrary to reason, are FALLACIOUS; and a similar mode of reasoning, on: the truths of Natural Religion, will land us in atheism.” – ARCHIBALD AleXANDER Introduction The “New Age” is anything but new. This worldview and the myriad pagan and neo-pagan religions gathered beneath the shadow of its relatively large umbrella have been around for centuries. The modern church needs to be aware of the insidious threat posed by this seemingly platonic worldview so that the church, from pastors to congregation, can be adequately equipped to identify, pray and witness against this threat. Wiccans claim that Satan is a myth (and a Christian one at that) and that they believe in no such being. The Holy Bible, the inerrant word of God, says otherwise. There are only two sides in the eternal conflict that humankind is involved in and either we serve God or Satan. This paper will prove this fact and outline the stark differences between Wiccan and a Christian Theistic worldview. Jesus Christ is the key to salvation and without acceptance for His sacrifice; eternal damnation is the ultimate destination. The Bible denounces any and all occult practices. “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination...
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...Trends in American Popular Culture University of Phoenix Trends in American Popular Culture In the past decade there have been many new social because of technology. As technology advanced and old technology became more common, more people were able to stay in touch. In the early 1990s’ few people had pagers and cell phones. Today pagers are obsolete and it is not uncommon for a child to have a cell phone. People stay in touch by telephone, text message, e-mail , and social networking websites. One can pay bills online, communicate online, and even meet new people without ever leaving home. With all of the connectivity available, fewer tasks require a person’s physical presence. In the political arena it seems that not much has changed. Democrats and Republicans continue to support their own parties mostly. The only thing changing is the new issues that the two parties disagree about. The most current issues are health and global warming. Both parties agree that the country’s current healthcare system needs reform but they disagree about how it should be done. Democrats and Republicans also disagree about global warming. Most Democrats believe that the earth is because of manmade pollution. The majority of Republicans believe that the warming of the earth is not caused by man. One trend that stays throughout the years is that these two parties always have something to disagree about. The trend that I recently bought in to was purchasing a big high definition...
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...Comparative Religions Comparative Religions: Reflection Essay Luckily we live in a country where we are free to express ourselves religiously however we choose to. I was born into the Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity and have remained a Christian my entire life. Different religions have always interested me; I have even studied extremely different beliefs than my own such as Paganism and Wicca. As noted in the textbook, there are eight different elements in which religious beliefs can manifest, such as: A belief system, community, central myths, rituals, an ethical system, emotional experiences, material expressions of religion and sacredness. (Malloy, 2010, p. 6) Some people may feel that their religious beliefs are larger influenced by each of these eight elements, while others may only be influenced by a select few. I grew up in a very Christian household. My mother was a Christian, that’s what she always said even though she was Roman Catholic. I later learned that she meant she had strong beliefs in Christianity, while not adhering to some of the Roman Catholic beliefs. I would strongly agree that the element of community really played a significant factor on my initial belief in Christianity. Since I was surrounded by an entire family whose belief was in Christianity and around people that talked constantly about Jesus Christ being our savior, I was heavily persuaded into the belief system that is Christianity. As I was raised, my family would tell...
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...The symbol of feminine worship can be traced back to 22-24,000 B.C.E, when the artifact called the Venus of Willendorf was thought to have been carved. It depicted a feminine figure with an abundant figure that was naked and showed prominent breasts. It is thought that this artifact represented a Neolithic adherence to fertility and the female’s inherent importance in that society. If this is indeed the case, the reverence of the feminine has existed for nearly thirty thousand years. It is the case historically that there exists a female godhead in nearly every type of culture, all around the globe. Within the dogma of these cultures, the Goddess is worshipped as a Great Mother; she is nurturing and maternal, promotes fertility in both humans and the earth, and also like the earth, has a dark side which can destroy. It is this concept of the Great Mother, a figure who gives life, creates all, the explanation to the unexplainable; that despite the often forced conversion to Western religions, is still flourishing in many areas of the world. Women are the bearers of life and because of this our identity is inexorably entwined with the identity of Mother. Those who choose to not become mothers sometimes struggle with this aversion to the social and oftentimes spiritual norm, and are looked down upon in society as selfish or strange. Women who are unable to bear children also grapple with the inability to fulfill this deeply ingrained natural role. The identity of Mother...
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...The concept of witchcraft and the belief in its existence has existed since the dawn of human history. It has been present or central at various times, and in many diverse forms, among cultures and religions worldwide, including both "primitive" and "highly advanced" cultures, and continues to have an important role in many cultures today. Historically, the predominant concept of witchcraft in the Western world derives from Old Testament laws against witchcraft, and entered the mainstream when belief in witchcraft gained Church approval in the Early Modern Period. It posits a theosophical conflict between good and evil, where witchcraft was generally evil and often associated with the Devil and Devil worship. This culminated in deaths, torture and scapegoating (casting blame for human misfortune),[ and many years of large scale witch-trials and witch hunts, especially in Protestant Europe, before largely ceasing during the European Age of Enlightenment. Many cultures worldwide continue to have widespread practices and cultural beliefs that are loosely translated into English as "witchcraft", although the English translation masks a very great diversity in their forms, magical beliefs, practices, and place in their societies. Characteristics Historically the witchcraft label has been applied to practices people believe influence the mind, body, or property of others against their will—or practices that the person doing the labeling believes undermine social or religious...
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...and understand. In other practices, such as the Hinduism beliefs from the word originated, it means something that sounds similar on the surface but is quite different. In Hinduistic beliefs, Akasha isn't just the balance of those components that make up the world, but it represents something more within humanity itself. Akasha in these terms represents a sort of universal consciousness. However lovely this definition is, it differs greatly from its incorporation into Paganism. What this means to me then is something very important. While I am very interested in the idea of using magic as a means to further connect with my religion, I am more interested in what it means to honor the God and the Goddess. In Paganism, and more specifically Wicca, I hope to find the balance I feel like I am missing from life and the connection with the world around me. The concept of Akasha is significant in that it represents those things. I feel as though I have lived most of my life unbalanced and out of touch with nature and those things that call to me. If I wish to seek balance, then above all I seek the element of Spirit. In my own practice, I would plan to call upon the idea of Akasha very frequently when applicable. I wish to honor the god and goddess equally. I want to find a way to balance all elements into my life – whether it is the God for self confidence or the Goddess for intuition. One way I would like to do this is to find a way to represent the element of Spirit on my altar. I also...
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...Social Spirituality Religion is one of the things as humans we never forget. We all have different views and beliefs because we have varied cultures and traditions. Merely, we always fight for our belief to try and prove it and to be faithful. What we have the right to religion because is the freedom to choose we who we will worship or to not worship. Social Spirituality Emile Durkheim was born in April 1858 in Einal, Located in the Lorraine region of France. His family was devoutly Jewish and his father, great grandfather were all rabbis, Durkheim however, broke with tradition went to all Eole normale superiecure in 12879, where he studied philosphosy. He was a French Socialist and formally established academic discipline and, with Karl Marx and Max Weber was commonly cited as the principal architect of modern of social science and father of sociology. Emile Durkheim discussed about the totems or natural things like trees, animals, nature ETC that people worship and became the center of their rituals. We the people are always looking for a reason why we exist. We are always naturally curious that’s why we are always asking why we are here on earth and many other intriguing questions that are essential in our life. We are finding our purpose and searching for the answers. No one can really give us a concrete answer to our questions, because of this all the things that we can’t explain are works of our God. In our prehistoric times, when there is an earthquake...
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...Dark Goddess Hecate's celebration day is November 16 The Goddess Hecate was a deity of the night, crossroads, life and death. She was called Most Lovely One, the Distant One, Queen of the World of Spirits, goddess of witchcraft. To the Thracians especially, Hecate was goddess of the Moon, the dark hours, and the Underworld. Midwives were connected with her. Some myths say Hecate was the daughter of the Titans Tartaros and Night; other versions say of Perseus and Asteria (Starry-Night), or of Zeus and Hera. We do know her worship did not originate in Greece. One of her sacred animals was the toad, a symbol of conception. She was called the goddess of transformation as she ruled over the various passages of life, and could change forms or ages. Hecate was considered to be the third aspect of the Moon, the Hag or Crone (Carrier of Wisdom).The Greeks called Hecate the Hag of the Dead. (The word "hag" may have come from the Egyptian word "heq", meaning a matriarachal ruler who knew magickal words of power.) An ally of Zeus, she was accompanied by a pack of hounds. An aspect of the Amazon goddess, Hecate's chariot was pulled by dragons. Her symbols were the key and the cauldron. The women who worshipped her often stained their palms and soles with henna. Her festivals were held at night by torchlight. Every year on the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf, a mysterious festival was held in her honor....
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...The Witches’ Motivation Supernatural spirits roaming this Earth in the form of human bodies overturn morals and wreak havoc throughout Scotland. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the 3 Witches knowingly transform the once noble Macbeth into a corrupt King due to their twisted joy in witnessing the misfortune of others. In the 1600s, people of the Elizabethan era see witches to represent pure evil through their spells, potions, and wicked deeds. The three witches are referred to as “the Weird Sisters” (1.3.33) which translates to the Fates. Throughout Greek mythology, the Fates or the Moirai are goddesses who hold the power to manipulate one’s future and seek pleasure through the destruction of one’s wellbeing. Furthermore, the Witches’ love for chaos...
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...Across 1. A soldier that wears armor and rides horses. 4. What you shoot from a bow. 6. What a witch turns a person into. 7. A weapon that an archer uses. 8. What a wizard or witch can cast. 12. A place where crops are grown. 14. A story about wizards, dragons, knights, and princesses. 15. Have a spell put on it. 16. A woman who uses magic. 17. What you do to a frog to change it back to a prince. 19. A weapon that a knight might use. 23. Metal clothes that protect a knight. 24. A robber on the seas. 26. A horse with a horn on its head. 27. A place where prisoners are kept. Down 1. The ruler of the kingdom. 2. A nasty creature that guards bridges and eats people. 3. A small, nasty creature that causes lots of mischief. 5. A short humanoid that lives in mountains and mines for gold. 6. A small magical creature that lives in the wood and can fly. 8. Something a knight carries for protection. 9. A creature with pointy ears that lives in the forest. 10. The king's daughter. 11. A very, very large monster. 13. Spells and charms. 15. Very bad. 16. A person who casts spells. 18. A creature that is half woman and half fish. 20. A big nasty creature that lives in caves and eats people. 21. A fire-breathing reptile that eats princesses. 22. A place where the king lives. 25. The past tense of...
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...The worldview of the medieval Christian reader in terms of the existence, experience, and explanation of magic and supernatural events Magic and witchcraft was not only something familiar to the medieval Christian reader, it was also a part of their lives. The belief in magic and magical powers dates back to the earliest recorded history; people from ancient times have been trying to achieve different goals using supernatural powers. Unlike modern people who tend to question the credibility of every fact, medieval people genuinely believed in the existence of magic and did not question it at all. For the British, magic is a part of their creation and it was related to the Gods since they believed in the “Age of Miracles”, during which all kinds of magic were possible. Hence, there are many elements that might appear odd to the contemporary reader, but would seem perfectly normal to a person from medieval times. For example, a reader from the XXI c. would likely question the possibility of transmutation occurring in “The Three Werewolves”, or the nutritious capability of the magical apples in “From the Voyage of Mael Duin”, in contrast to the medieval reader. Medieval literature consists of the recorded stories that people used to tell each other most often. Most Celtic stories are told by Christian churches because many of the Celtic themes overlap with Christian beliefs such as the ability to survive fire, to breathe under water, to have power over nature, etc. – properties...
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... The attributes that most primal religions and prehistoric cultures:myths, purification rites, and methods of control. All of these are explained in the Noss pdf, but not all attributes apply to the every primal religion. For example, a method of control is Shamanism. Shamanism is when spirits conjure in pr out of people by a person who is similar to spirit possession. Shamans, have a role of typical witch doctors, they could be a man or a women, Apache, Inuit and several other primal religions share this attribute. A myth is a traditional story that typically involves supernatural beings and events. Myths were a necessity, especially in primal groups, they were vital to portray the patterns of the group life. The Legend of Sedna, is a great example of an inuit myth; the story talks about a daughter named Sedna going away from her father to marry a handsome man, fulmar (bird man) and had a child with him. Her father has been looking for his daughter and once he found her, he put her in a kayak to take her back home. Fulmar found out and transformed into his bird state chasing after them. His father noticed asked his daughter for forgiveness and cut her fingers off so she couldn’t hold on to the kayak. Every finger he cut off turned into a sea animal. She then sank to the bottom, and now Inuit Shaman would travel down to the bottom of the sea to her kingdom to comb her hair because she can’t. One characteristic of primal religions that I find very intriguing is the purification...
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