Wildwoodswoman asked this question on 3/25/2000:

I would very simply like to know more about Wicca. I lived in the "sticks", in the Missouri Ozarks for 16 years. Never heard of it, until moving to the city. And then I've only heard of Wicca via teenagers. I have never believed in a "one" god religion. I have tried to read the bible, on my own. Babble to me. I have come to beleive that most religious orders are simply money grubbing cults. What to me, if someone could explain is the difference between, Catholics, Jewish faith, Mormans, Babtists, Jehoviah(sp) witness, and Dianetics by Hubbard? I have never felt the need to have anyone other than my parents, G-parents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins to help me to know what is right or wrong. And to punish/chastise me when/if I do wrong. I find great joy, healing, comfort and solace in the earth, the elements and my family. So, so, so many of my so-called friends have invited me to their churches in the past. Untill the past 12 years, I always went with them (one time each). I went out of friendship and curiosity. I loved them and wanted to share and understand what it was they seemed to love and need and enjoy. Not counting weddings and funerals, I've been in 12 different relgious sects'(?) churches in the almost 39 years of my life. To this day, I JUST DON'T GET THE PAY TO PRAY thing. Many of my friends ask me if I feel hollow, or as if I am missing something. To this day, I have no idea of what they mean. If the sun never shined, the grass never greened, the sky was never blue; or never had clouds or rain, thunder and lightening never occurred, if the leaves didn't turn autu mn shades..etc. Then, I would feel empty, dull, alone. To me these things happen by order of nature and seasons. I enjoy, love and praise all of these things. I was taught to enjoy these these, and know about these things by by Great-Gma and G-ma. My Mom took me to a church as a child. My sister, and 2 brothers attended church. Learned their catycisms(sp-whatever). Even as I child, I refused to go. Just couldn't and still don't comprehend "THE NEED". My dad, I think went to church as a child. But he never attended in my lifetime, he was 46 when I was born. However, he and I never discussed the subject of religion. He never bade me to attend a religious service. And I only ever recall, being with him at weddings and funerals. He, and I were both uncomfortable in churches. It just feels fake to me, and it is all I can do to NOT say as much. Anyway, babble...babble. Do you get any gist of what I might be interested in from this? I'm looking for, I guess nature worship. Since I don't believe in a One God/s or whatever. I also don't believe in A Devil/s. I love life, period. To me, your life is your life for as long as it lasts. After that, you are worm food.

herbwitch gave this response on 3/25/2000:

first of all id like to thank you for asking the question you have no idea how many ppl have not been able to tell me WHY they believe what they believe. Wicca is to a religion base around the fact that Nature is a Being and that we as the human race do not own Her/He/It but are own by Nature (to me Natures a she so ill refer to Her that way) She is knid and cruel and she sees fit Wiccans come in every shlape and form and by this i mean that not all Wiccans practice the same Path but we have one tenet/belief that governs us all to one degree or other. An harm ye none do as ye will... This means that as long as you dont harm anyone including yourself do what ever you feel is for you. Now in conjuction with this tenet there is a law that we believe governs the universe as a whole its called The Threefold Law what that basically is the karmic law that states that for every action you do retribution will come back to you times three now under stand this applies to good acts and unkind acts. Wiccans as a whole dont necessarily believe in the concept of absolute evil that is depicted by the Xtian Devil. wiccans, though we have recently been declared a religion (only about three thousand years late) many Wiccans dont bellong to a church which in Wicca would be a Coven but are Solitaries like me Because I practice usually alone Im considered a Solitary. Wicca's practioners are called Witches tho because of the ugly connotations asociated with the word many prefer to be called wiccan. Because Wicca is an earth-based religion most wiccans are enviromental activists, herbalist, naturalists, crafty people. Because of the Burning Times (the inquisition when over 3 millions Wiccans and innocents were killer mostly by burnings) most Wiccans dont carry banners declaring their religion and many still practice in secret slowly coming out of the broom closet as it were. The wiccan community gather to celebrate under the full and/or new moon depend on what Work or Path the Solitary or Coven walks. They also celebrate the eight sabbats, there are four major and four minor. the major ones are candlemas, Beltane, Lammas, ans Samhain and the minor ones are the spring equinox the summer solstice, the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. Brightest Blessings Merry meet and merry part if you want to ask anything else please feel free to ask and there is more and more stuff on the internet about Wiccan or Scott Cunningham is a great author or Gerina Dunwich....:)

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