Wicca
The practice of witchcraft, nature worship, worship of the Gods and Goddess, paganism and neopaganism, various groups with assorted names. In modern form, it is a revival of pagan religions (neo-paganism) and the worship of “pre-Christian” Gods and Goddesses. A common creed is, “Do what you will, and harm none.” Modern Wicca owes much to the influence of Gerald B. Gardner and has been further advanced by the writings of Patricia Monaghan, Silver Ravenwolf, the late Doreen Valiente, and the leading occult publisher Llewellyn World Wide Ltd. In popular culture, films and television programs such as The Craft, Practical Magic, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Charmed have helped attract teens and children to this growing religion.
- Watchman Fellowship's 2001 Index of Cults and Religions
One might call Wicca organized Shamanism. However, Wicca itself has its beginnings in the 1930's when Gerald Gardner met an English family that practiced various forms of witchcraft. Gerald Gardner made his religion public in the 1950's. Gardner read and included various beliefs and practices of older religions to form his Wiccan religion in where he encouraged nudism and flegellation, which is beating as a form of discipline. Needless to say, Gerald Gardner used this "religion" to get women. How else could a geek hook up? So basically, Wicca is as about as old as Kwanzaa.
Wiccans generally worship a horned god and a goddess. The goddess is generally viewed as superior. Gardner knew several occultists including the Luciferian Satanist named Aleister Crowley. Wicca was compiled by joining various forms of "magick" from Shamanism, traditional Satanism, Dianic worship, Magi, Qabalah, Druid, Masonry, Baal Shem, Rosicrucianism, and Andresetoa. Wicca supports an "all religions are equal" view, does not believe in absolute evil, denies that the Bible is true, and is a highly Liberal religion.
BIBLICAL RESPONSE from Watchman Fellowship
Because followers of Wicca do not believe the Bible to be the Word of God, it is difficult to demonstrate the error of Wicca from a biblical standpoint. However, from the Christian perspective, Wicca's theology has been condemned for centuries.
1) Witchcraft and magic (enchantments) are condemned. Lev. 19:26, 31; Deut. 18:10-11; 2 Chron. 33:6.
2) Worship of other gods (or of goddesses) is condemned. Exodus 20:3; 1 Kings 11:4-5.
3) Esteeming nature above God is condemned. Romans 1:21-25.
4) Satan and his influence of evil are real. Zech. 3:2; Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 6:45.
Works cited:
Wikipedia.com
Stuttaford, Andrew. Strange Brew - Wiccan Industry, National Review, Inc. New York, New York, 1999.
Watchman Fellowship - http://www.watchman.org/profile/witchpro.htm
Demons, Witches, and the Occult by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart
The Occult
Jeremy Brown 2004