I am asking this question as I would be interested in seeing what people's definition of Wicca is. I don't really need some kind of Wicca101, just everyone's personal opinions of what Wicca is.

The reason I ask is that there seems to be two distinct concepts of what Wicca is, and I am interested in knowing what the consensus view is on here before I start debating with people. (Good debate is always great, but I don't want to be tarred as the Wicked Witch of the West too quickly. :P)

Thanks for any replies.

MD

Wicca was coined by the Gardnerian and Alexanderian followers and is now generally thought to be  a more modern witch as opposed to the craft that is debatably much more ancient and not so politically correct or new-age?

What do you see it as... a religion?

actually, wicca existed before the Gardenian and Alexandrian followers as it was around as a 1 of the studies of the Acient Egyptians

I thought that the wiccan way was modern witchy stuff?

I don't really know about wicca but i will be watching this topic to learn.

Suzi

Do you have any supporting arguments for this?

I am of the opinion, through fourteen years of research into religion, & the use of logic, that Wicca took on Egyption practices through the auspices of ceremonial magick. In particular the Golden Dawn, which has excellent documentation, & it seems apparently obvious to me, that the case is, that Wicca lifted that part of it, at the very least, from there. The evidence for this appears in many places, one of which is the fact that the Egyption system was a complete system with very little being transmitted to any future religion. (reconstructionism excluded)

Another argument that could be put forth would be the portions of the Greek system in use by most modern neo-pagans. I speak of course of the four elements. The four elements are from the Greek system of thought.

I haven't seen any evidence for circle casting outside of ceremonial magick & modern neo-paganism. The oldest references that I have found, come from the ceremonial magick of the middle ages.

Lastly, for now, is the idea of spiritual "salvation". This is an effect of a world-denying religion, in that there is something perceived as inherently wrong with the world, & we need to lift ourselves up through successive lifetimes (reincarnation is from oriental religion) in order for "salvation" to be accomplished.

It seems that, either Wicca was a religion practiced by almost every ancient religion in the world, or, more likely, that it took these different elements to create the system.

Wicca is a wonderful, helpful religion for many people, however, claiming that it is ancient, especially without any supporting arguments, is mere speculation, at best.

If you need for me to elaborate more, let me know. I would be more than happy to accommodate.