Are Wiccans Satanic? (Earth, tradition, beliefs, myth, pagan)

[Fluffy]

Well Ill just add another idea into the mix. There are different definitions of Satanism.

Religious Satanism
"devil worship"
Christian Satanism

The first has very little in common with Wicca... the 2 religions agree on some areas but disagree heavily in their central ethos: whether harming is right or wrong.
The second has, if anything, more in common with Wicca since more people in this category practice magick. Additionally, it is totally decentralised, much like Wicca. Beyond that, however, the similarities stop since it barely passes as a religion to be honest. Wiccans who claim to practice black magick, IN MY OPINION, would be put into this category.
The third is an argument often used by Christians. The argument goes like this: If you are not following Gods path then you are aiding Satan. This could then be used to claim that ANYONE who is not a Christian (Wiccans included) is a Satanist. Using this definition Wicca would be sat firmly in the "Satanist camp". A further similarity between Wicca and Satanism can be seen here in that a common Wiccan God, Pan, has certain physical characteristics that resemble the image accepted by society as the stereotypical Satan.

However, I think a distinction must be made here since the first 2 definitions imply that the people involved within them knowingly choose to follow their paths whilst the 3rd does not but more implies that the people have been misled into following an "evil" path.

I'd like to add that since beliefs within Wicca and Satanism are very varied, much moreso than in other religions, it is very difficult to compare the 2.

[Ðå®k룃]

There is a very simple anser to that question: No. Christianity claims that it is but if you look at Christianity, then you can see where Wicca has influences. There is no devil worshipping involved, simply because there is no devil.

[huajiro]

Aren't you Satanic if you are not Christian?

(I am being an a-s)

[t3gah]

Since this question "Are Wiccans Satanic?" has to do with the term satan that question is confusing at best. Satan nor Devil are the names of the chief ruler of the demons or fallen angels in the Christian bible. There is a name given by the Hebrews of the time but Beelzebub is well, not a name given by God, it means "owner of dung". All the demons are devils and satans too towards the Christian God. So the question lies between the worldly definition of 'satanic'. Dictionary.com says words such as, evil, cruel, mean, etc. But then there's this definition... http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=wicca

According to the world definition and worldly, not Christian view of 'wicca', it's harmless and not satanic. However the Christian bible does mention witchcraft or sorcery in these verses...

Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10, 1 Samuel 28:3, Galatians 5:20, Revelation 22:15

And all those scriptures are linked to the chief of the fallen angels. The one the world thinks is named Satan the Devil. So according to the Christian God they, wiccans are bad news and should be avoided. Anyone who says it's not the Christian devil or devil worship has not really looked at the scriptures since the source of all sorcery, spirit mediums, spells, magic, etc., in Biblical times came from the chief enemy of the Christian God, Beelzebub.

devil means slanderer

satan means accuser or advesary

demon means inferior deity

angel means messenger

[Master Vigil]

So to a Christian, Wicca could be seen as satanic. Alright fine, but that doesn't make it satanic at all.

[Circle_One]

The second has, if anything, more in common with Wicca since more people in this category practice magick. Additionally, it is totally decentralised, much like Wicca.

This is true to a point however, obviously as stated, not all who practice magick are Wiccan, nor is it true that all Wiccans practice magick, so for this case even the fact that both Wiccans and "Devil Worshippers" cannot be considered a common bond as practicing magick is not a prerequisite for being Wiccan, nor do I think it is one for being a "Devil Worshipper"

Wiccans who claim to practice black magick, IN MY OPINION, would be put into this category.

I shouldn't even get started on this, but it was mentioned, so I shall. There is NO such thing as "Black Magick". Magick has no color, and anyone who says it does surrounded themselves with too much media and not enough actual fact. People who claim to practice "Black Magick" are nothing more than fluffs using that media-ized term as a means of frightening others who have no idea about any kind of magick. It's the whole "I'm Wiccan and I practice black magick, so FEAR ME!" thing. Now people always try to win this argument by saying "Yes, there is such a thing as black magick. That's the bad kind of magick, curses and stuff." But first: Wiccans don't cast curses (they do however have the power to, they just refuse to as it goes against all they believe) so anyone who says they're Wiccan and cast curses are fluffs, and second: True, there is such a thing as "bad magick" but still, this magick has no color, it is not black just as healing magick is not white. It is good and bad, simply put.

And as for Wiccans being Satanic; Wiccans don't believe in "Satan" or any other of these Christian fallen angels or demons that t3gah mentioned. However, as Fluffy said the deity that Satanists worship does closely resemble the Wiccan god Pan, but not all Wiccan traditions worship or believe in Pan. If I'm not mistaken only two or three of the hundreds of traditions actually recognize Pan and worship him by name.

[Seyorni]

I think part of the problem arises from the fact that wiccans refer to themselves as witches. The popular conception of a witch is that of a servant of Satan. When someone announces s/he's a witch the first instinct of many is to grab the children and flee. They aren't moved to sit down and discuss Wicca's technical definition of the term.

Their PR people should have nixed that term on day one....

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

I think part of the problem arises from the fact that wiccans refer to themselves as witches. The popular conception of a witch is that of a servant of Satan. When someone announces s/he's a witch the first instinct of many is to grab the children and flee. They aren't moved to sit down and discuss Wicca's technical definition of the term.

Their PR people should have nixed that term on day one....

True, but I think, to many, it is a form of 'owning' that term. Calling someone a 'witch' and having them grin and nod is more than slightly empowering.

Besides, it also opens up the delightful phrase "Are you a good..."

[FyreBrigidIce]

I think it is important to reiterate a comment I made in another thread.

There are different translations of the Christian Bibles.

While some state that sorcery or witchcraft is evil, others state that in the early days of Christianity, sorcery was poisoning, meaning anyone who used poison to harm another person was against God. These variations make it difficult to know which definition to accept.

As for the dictionary definition that t3gah mentions, those who follow the Wiccan path honestly and sincerely can not be satanic because they do not believe in using their craft as a means to hurt others, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or otherwise. This is the whole concept of "An' Harm Ye None, Do What Thou Wilt." True Wiccans prefer helping others rather than hurt them, as do many members of other pagan religions.

I also would like to state again that Christianity began after other religions had already been established and practiced for centuries so the mention that sorcery and witchcraft in some translations of the Bible as evil and a tool of Satan or Beelzebub does not really effect practioners of these religions.



I have prrofread this post to be sure that if I addressed different posts I specified who they were adressed to. I think I can safely say that this post is generalized more than a direct response to any particular post. However, if I missed something, please feel free to politely ask me who I was referring a comment to.

[Godless Dave]

Originally Posted by Circle_One

However, as Fluffy said the deity that Satanists worship does closely resemble the Wiccan god Pan

And it's not a coincidence. Early European Christians based their ideas on what the devil or Satan looked like on the Roman Pan and the Celtic Horned God. They did this as part of the effort to teach that all non-Christian religions were Satanic. The Bible itself doesn't describe what Satan looks like.