theconartist13@... asked this question on 4/20/2000:

who is the founder of wicca?

LadyCatW gave this response on 4/27/2000:

The closest thing to a "founder" that Wicca has is Gerald Gardner. I guess he could be considered the "founder" of modern Wicca.

But, we have moved beyond him, and Doreen Valiente, and many of the loved and respected authors of the early 60's and 70's.

We are a recreation of the ancient pagan religions, and as such, much of our worship is based on rigorous research. Some of us may research more diligently than others, but we all do it at one point or another.

Others will say that we are the decendants of those ancient pagan religions, and I will neither argue for nor against.

What I will say, is that it does not matter if we are formed from an unbroken line of witches that spans the mists of time, or if we are a recent religion that is a revival of the old pagan gods - what matters is what the faith engenders in the heart of man, woman, and child.

And that, my friend, is the true judgement for any religion - ours or any other. What emotion, what conscience, what value does that faith engender within the human heart and soul?

If the emotion is hate, or anger, or bigotry, is the religion itself positive?

Or could it be that the person is misinterpreting that faith as well.

Look at the faith. See what it does in the hearts of a large group of its worshipers. Do not judge any given faith on the stance of one or two worshipers. Search diligently.

Then match their actions to the teachings of that faith. IF their actions match the faith, THEN judge the faith based on their actions.

If their actions are contrary to the teachings of that faith, then search for new worshipers.