National Geographic: “Wicca”

National Geographic follows one coven’s celebration of Beltane, or May Day.

Secondary Sources: T.M. Luhrmann, Persuasions of the witch’s craft

In Tanya Luhrmann’s controversial anthropological work, Persuasions of the Witch’s Craft, she notes two marked characteristics of Wiccans; first, that they “tolerate a surprising spiritual diversity. Central to the ethos is the notion that any path to a religion is a path to a spiritual reality, and whatever symbols and images one chooses are valid… Second, they practice what they call magic” (Luhrmann).

Her second characteristic is somewhat redundant; her first point seems to be an observation of personality traits rather than beliefs. I have seen this tolerance of diversity reflected in my research, up to a point. For those religions “under the umbrella” of Wicca or paganism, Wiccans do encourage each other to believe what feels right, so long as it harm none. However, there seems to be quite a bit of bitterness between Wiccans and Christians. Several websites I have found have open letters addressed to “Christian visitors,” written to urge potential critics to keep an open mind, or to express frustration at unjust criticism. Because the Christian Bible has specific commands against witchcraft and paganism, many devout Christians seem to display a tendency to criticize or attempt to convert Wiccans.

From a critical standpoint, Luhrmann doesn’t seem to regard witchcraft as a religion in the same way that we would regard more mainstream religions; she makes a point of addressing the idea that “the contrast between the role of wizard and computer scientist seems so extreme,” as if she is surprised that witches don’t advocate witchcraft in their business lives (Luhrmann). It would seem silly to be shocked that Christians don’t suggest that their business partners pray in their work lives, or to be shocked that a computer scientist is also Jewish. With her detached manner of discussing her subjects, it is easy to see where she ruffled feathers within the community. 

Link

Church and School of Wicca

Another resource that teaches the principals of Wicca and the defining characteristics. I find this and the Center of the Elemental Spirit interesting; oftentimes Wicca is portrayed as something that is practiced in solitude. This is the first I’ve seen emphasis on the “Craft” of ritual, or that someone can teach it. 

Several of the websites I have encountered specifically identified Christianity and Christians as their main persecutors or naysayers. I’d like to explore more about the relationship between Christianity and paganism or witchcraft; it seems there is a significant amount of bitterness on the part of practicing Wiccans, especially since there are identifiable passages in the Bible which, using the words “witchcraft” or “paganism” synonymously with polytheism, advocate their punishment or conversion.

“Out of the Broom Closet”

Another secondary source, “Out of the Broom Closet”: The Social Ecology of American Wicca” by Gary F. Jensen and Ashley Thompson, addresses more closely the topic I am interested in: what attracts people to Wicca? What are the demographics of practitioners,  and how do people overcome historically negative stereotypes of “witches” to identify with this religion? The abstract is as follows: 

 

Abstract:

The fastest growing form of religious identification, spirituality, or “new” religious movement in American society over the last decade is Wicca and related forms of “Neo-Paganism.” However, with no national organization and minimal local organization, little is known about its distribution across a privatized religious landscape nor about the features of state social and cultural environments that are receptive or contrary to its spread. This study uses Internet data to create estimates of the comparative strength of Wiccan-Pagan identification across the 50 states and conducts multivariate analyses of the ability of variables suggested in prior research to explain its distribution. Not only are the findings consistent with expectations, but differences in correlates of Wicca using the Internet data in contrast to existing measures of “New Age” spirituality highlight the empirical importance of maintaining distinctions between the two.

Numbers

To highlight the importance of understanding Wicca and Wiccan ideals, I have located a secondary source that measures the percentage of US residents who self-identify with each religion. According to the ARIS poll, .01% of Americans identify as Wiccan, Pagan, or Druid. That’s about 307,000 adults, putting Wicca and paganism as the seventh most-popular religion in the United States.

I found it interesting that while oftentimes Wicca and “New Age” religions are used interchangeably, they are here described as separate religions.

 

http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html

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Morty Sings Justin Timberlake (feat. Elizabeth Tisdahl)

In an unprecedented demonstration of town-gown unity, president Morton Schapiro and Evanston mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl have teamed up to bring sexy back.

Go ahead, be gone with it.