by D. Anderson

Created on: October 03, 2008

The word "religion," by definition, means: "1)A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs; 2) a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects; 3) the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs or practices; or 4) the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith." (Dictionary.com)

Nowhere does it define "what" constitutes a religion: Christianity, Buddhism, etc. Religion is not defined by one or as one particular group but rather defined as a system of beliefs. The definition does not say "religion is Christianity" or "religion is any belief system that follows an Abrahamic or Judeo-Christian God." The Greeks, worshipping many Gods, had a religion. Wicca, worshipping a God and Goddess, is a religion. If I make up a religion and we worship the God "Ju-Ju" and I create a system of beliefs and get others to follow it, it is a religion.

Neither do the definitions state that a person has to attend church to be religious to in order to follow a religion. Now, "organized religion" could be defined as Christianity or Muslim or even Buddhist where they is an official doctrine and there are temples, mosques, churches, etc that a person can go and attend, An organized religion implies that there is a head of that religion (the Pope, pastors, priests, elders) and that there is an official doctrine. Therefore, Wicca could not be identified as an organized religion even though separate groups or covens might have a Priest and Priestess residing over it and may even attend a Unitarian Universalist church, there is no official doctrine such as the Qu'ran, the Bible or any other such doctrine.

Wicca is recognized by the government and military as a religion and the pentacle is an approved symbol for deceased military personnel to have on their headstones. Wicca, despite having a doctrine (religious book), does have a set of moral codes in the form of the Wiccan Rede in which it is stated "and if it harm ye none, so mote it be," which is the basic principle that Wicca is not to be used to harm others (with physical or emotional violence, with curses or hexes, etc). Wicca also has a belief in superhuman agencies in the form of a God and Goddess of equal value, oftentimes Wiccans observe a variety of Gods and Goddesses and call upon whichever one fits the celebration or intent of the spell or ritual. And, most definitely, Wiccans have ritual observances. There is no end to the number of rituals that can be done in Wicca. Wicca also has 8 sabbats (holidays) that are observed each year and also 13 esbats that follow the full moons.

By all means, it is a religion and one of the fastest growing religions according to recent surveys. There are Wiccans in every state across the country and even across the world. Also, by these definitions, Atheism, Agnosticism and even general Paganism (a broad, umbrella term for any non-Christian path) are all considered religions despite actually acknowledging a higher power. They fit under the definition of "2) a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects and 3) the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs or practices."

By these definitions how could Wicca NOT be recognized as a religion?

Learn more about this author, D. Anderson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.