by Angela Magee

Created on: February 26, 2008

Wicca and Satanism have far less in common than the extreme Christian religious intolerants think, and a bit more in common than may be realized by the Wiccans trying so hard to convince those intolerants otherwise.

A lot of Wicca's historical fact is lost in story and rumor. What we do know is that Gerald Gardner coined the term Wicca (or Wica, as they say it was originally written). And while we may never know how much of Gardner's practice in witchcraft came from the coven he had reportedly be initiated into in 1939, we can easily see that Gardner's later acquaintance with Alister Crowley had an influence on the Wicca Gardner practiced and taught. The Wiccan Rede is an example. Gardner wrote "no harm to others and do what thou wilt" (or in the more familiar Doreen Valiente version "An it harm none do what ye will"). About 50 years earlier, Crowley had written, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" and also, "Love is the law, love under Will."

Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, read the works of Crowley, though, according to his biography at the Church of Satan website, he was unimpressed by the members of Crowley's magical order that he'd met. Nonetheless, Crowley's influence can be seen in the "Fire" section of the Satanic Bible and elsewhere.

What does all that mean as far as the connection between Wicca and Satanism is concerned? Pretty close to nothing. I've read the Bible. I feel secure in assuming that the Pope has read the Bible. That's a really flimsy connection.

Wicca is a nature religion, the initial focus being a British seasonal system with the Goddess and God in the center. As the religion grew, many people added to or changed the original system to suit. For instance, while the religious and magical system may be kept, groups and individuals often replace Gardner's version of the Gods with those of their own heritage. This can mean a Roman Goddess and God rather than English, or an entire pantheon. The important point here is that people go to Wicca to get in touch with pagan, pre-Christian roots. Satan, being a figure in the Judeo-Christian tradition is excluded. Most Wiccans don't believe in Satan, never mind worshiping him.

Yes, magic is included in Wicca. There are those who think magic or witchcraft and associate the words with evil. I probably can't convince such people otherwise, so I'll simply state for the record that it is another way of working with the world, not an evil way.

There is no short and easy way to explain

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