Wicca Unknown to Most Americans
Although some say Wicca is the fastest growing religion in the United States, most Americans still say they have never heard of the term before, according to a new survey released Monday. Slightly more than half of Americans (55 percent) say they have not heard of Wicca, a national survey conducted by The Barna Group found. Among those that have heard of the religious group, most have an unfavorable view (52 percent) of it.
Those most likely to hold a “very unfavorable” view of Wicca were found among residents of the South and Midwest (52 percent of whom had a very unfavorable opinion); born-again Christians (67 percent); and socio-political conservatives (61 percent).
Two-thirds (62 percent) of those who have heard of Wicca described it as an organized form of witchcraft. A much smaller percentage of Americans think Wicca is a form of Satanism (7 percent) or a religious cult (7 percent).
Wicca is a loosely organized, under-the-radar religious group that is best known for its use of magic sorcery, and engagement in witchcraft. It has no recognized guidebook or body of “sacred literature” to define its practices, but instead is based on rituals and pagan beliefs.
Members go through initiation rites and worship gods and goddesses found in nature. In general, Wiccans embrace the concept of karma and reincarnation, and do not follow any strict code of morality.
The growing religious movement is most popular among young people, who are increasingly interested in witchcraft and are comfortable with the idea of worshipping nature, according to The Barna Group.
Yet despite its mounting popularity, very few people claim to be Wiccan. Based on interviews with more than 4,200 adults in 2008, The Barna Group found that Wiccans represent about one-tenth of one percent of all American adults.
In other words, among the nation’s 230 million adults, less than 250,000 people claim Wicca as their primary faith group.
The report is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,203 adults across the United States, age 18 and older, in November 2008.
Wicca Unknown to Most Americans
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posted by Lon at 10:00 AM
4 Comments:
It's a real shame that Wiccans feel they have to go underground. I have to admit that America is just sooooo provincial. We can readily admit and be loud and proud about being Christian, but if you're a Scientologist, Humanist, or Wiccan, forget it. You're going to have to keep it to yourself. Thanks for the informative article. Perhaps if people learn about it, they won't fear it.
For the most part, Wicca is just one of those things rebellious kids get into to be different, then they grow out of it by the time they graduate high school or college. I knew some self-proclaimed Wiccans in high school, but it meant nothing. After all, is it really a religion if everybody is making up their own rules and rituals? Kids playing at being witches like some Goths play at being vampires.
Of course, I'm sure there are those who do take it seriously, but not many.
Well Adam, you are mistaken on that. It is not one of those rebelious religions that kids go to. There are many adults in it also, but Wicca itself is just a name give to a group created by Gerald Gardner in 1954. He took several different practices from all over the world and put it together and called it Wicca.
It is basically Paganism.
No we are not making our own rules up, yes we do have rituals, but no devil worshiping. WE do not believe in the devil, we Honor the Elements and yes many have different Gods/Goddesses they call upon. IF you took the time to study it yourself, you would realize, it is honoring the earth and all living things.
Many in Florida do not hide it and it is getting more widely throughout the US, not Wicca persay, but Paganism.
ALL religions started with paganism and many things are still practiced today that way. Like I said, if you took the time to STUDY it you would learn the truth.
I left the Christian church because of the hypocrites and lies and all they wanted was money.
I found my pagan path which is my heritage from Ireland, and have been very happy since. I am a good person, yes raised Catholic, but because I am pagan, does not mean I am an awful person. I am good, and do not lie, or cheat or steal, all this is put into you when you are born and your parents bring you up with values. I take my vows sereiously too.
It is not just kids here, I am talking about ADULTS. There are over 3 million pagans in the US and many of us do not hide it any more.
I suggest strongly, you read up on it yourself before you judge others......
I'm a feminist Wiccan and I take my religion very seriously. I'm not crazy about the fact that teenagers play at it without understanding the commitment to the Goddess that is required and I especially don't like that people bring their patriarchal damage into the Craft with them, but every religion has people who don't take it seriously. That's not a reason to denigrate the entire group. Wicce is very different from what most people think it is. It's a positive, life-affirming way to be in the world. Unfortunately, the media is controlled by people who benefit from the status quo, and they don't like us, so they do maybe one story on Samhain where they snicker at us and reinforce to people that it's fine to be nasty to Witches. It's a shame, because it would never be tolerated where any other religion is concerned. Wiccans are often very seriously harassed and attacked and, at least during the Bush administration, hate crimes against us were not prosecuted by the Justice department.
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