mta
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Wiccan/Pagan/Other
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Feb 24 22:59 UTC 1999 |
I havea very basic question here. I think it's been touched on in some
previous items, but not discussed in depth.
Background: I've thought of myself as "a pagan" and a "hearth witch" for
decades. I never really thought much more about labels than that, but if
asked whether I was a Wiccan, my answer was generally "No, not exactly".
See, I assumed Wiccan was a specific path of paganism -- sort of like Baptists
are a specific sect of Christianity. I think of myself as a generic pagan
rather than the more specific Wiccan because I borrow freely from whatever
traditions speak to me. Sure, there are Wiccan aspects to how I worship.
There are also Hindu and native American aspects, and many others.
Recently however, I was told that I was being dishonest in not calling myself
Wiccan because that's what I am...
I dion't deny it -- I'm just not sure how to separate what a wiccan believes
from everything else I believe. I have no idea whether I'm a Wiccan or not.
So...can anyone try to give me a hand in understanding what distinguishes a
Wiccan from any other Pagan tradition?
Thanks!
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jazz
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response 1 of 25:
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Feb 25 03:26 UTC 1999 |
It's a good question. I can think of several definitions as I
understand them, and I'm sure I could find a dozen people in this conference
alone who could correct me, or disagree with me, or take offence.
Wicca's always had Celtic overtones - though most of the serious Celtic
believers I've met perfer to think of themselves as Wittan, instead - but also
conveys anything descended from Gerald Gardner, and can cover many different
theologies.
Don't let them give you a hard time about labels; the pagan community
hasn't agreed upon one yet. :)
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