posted on July 31, 2004 07:37:33 PM new
When Christianity was first introduced, there wasn't the mass conversion as suggested. Christianity is a man-made religion. It has not evolved over thousands of generations, such as the Old Religion did. The only ones to actually adopt Christianity were the leaders, and the whole country was classified as being Christian. During the first thousand years of Christianity, in Europe, the Old Religion still predominated.
Pope Gregory the Great tried to induce a mass conversion. He built the new Christian churches on the sites of the older temples, where people were accustomed to worship. He smashed all "idols" and sprinkled the temples with holy water to rededicate them. When the first churches were built, the only artisians available to build them were among the Pagans. In decorating the churches they very cleverly incorporated figures of their own deities. This was so that if they were forced to attend the churches, they could still worship their own deities.
While Christianity was growing in strength Wiccans and other Pagans were their greatest rivals. The Church pulled no punches in getting rid of it's rival. The God of the Old Religion was a Horned God, so therefore they based the Christian's devil upon it. So, they claimed Pagans to be "DEVIL WORSHIPERS!" They didn't take into consideration that the people were happy, good, and often morally and ethically better living than the Christians.
The charge of devil worship is absolutely ridiculous. The Devil is a purely Christian invention. The whole concept of evil associated with the Devil is from an error in translation. The original testament Hebrew Ha-satan and the New Testament Greek Diablos simply mean "opponent" or "adversary." The Old Gods were more human in that they had both their good and bad side. The idea of an all-good, all-loving deity negated an antagonist. The view of an all-good god was developed by Zoroaster in Persia in the seventh century BCE. The idea spread and was adapted by Christianity.
As Christianity grew in strength, the Old Religion was pushed back more and more. At the time of Reformation, it only existed in outlying country districts. Non-Christians were now know as Pagans (people who live in the country) and Heathens (one who dwells in the heath).
Everything that the Witches did was reversed and used against them. They did magick to promote fertility and increase crops, the Christians claimed that they made women and cattle barren and killed the crops. The Church deemed this the "work of the Devil!"
In 1484 Pope Innocent VII came up with the Bull against Witches. 2 years later, 2 German monks, Heinrich Institoris Kramer and Jakob Sprenger produced the famous concoction of Anti-Witchery, the Malleus Maelficarum (The Witch Hammer). This book contained instructions for the prosecution of Witches. When the book was submitted to the Theological Faculty of the University of Cologne, it was denied publication. Kramer and Strugel forged the approbation of the whole faculty (this was not discovered until 1898)
With the Malleus Maleficarum out, hysteria spread like wildfire. For nearly 300 years the persecutions continued. People had gone mad. Inhabitants of entire villages were all put to death, when there was only 1 or 2 Pagans expected living there, with the cry of: "Destroy them all...the Lord will know his own!"
Since fertility (of crops and beasts) was of such great importance, there were certain sexual rites enacted by the Wicca. These rites further enraged the gloomy Inquisitors and Reformers who sought to repress the religion. The rites of the Craft are joyous in essence. It is and was an extremely happy religion. These people could not comprehend this.
A rough estimate of total number of people burned, hung, or tortured to death on the charge of Witchcraft is 9 million. Not all of these were followers of the Old Religion. An example of this is the case of the so-called Witches of Salem. It is doubtful that any of the victims hung there were really followers of the Old Religion. Possible Bridget Bishop and Sarah Good were, but the other were nearly all pillars of the local church till they cried out on them.
In 1604 King James I passed his Witchcraft Act, but was repealed in 1736. It was replaced by an act which stated that there was no such thing as Witchcraft and to pretend that have occult powers was to be charged with fraud. By the late 17th Century the surviving members of the Craft had gone underground into hiding. For the next 300 years, to all appearances Witchcraft was dead. The religion had lasted 20,000 years prior, and will not dies so easily. Secret covens still continued practicing, unknown to all.
Christianity had a field day. Hence, most writings of Wicca and Witchcraft are from the Church's point of view. They were heavily biased against the Old Religion. Then Dr. Margaret Murray produced The Witch Cult in West Europe in 1921. She showed that Witchcraft was still alive, though in small groups. She researched and produced more informative books about Wicca and Witchcraft.
In 1951 in England, the last laws against Witchcraft were repealed. Witches started speaking up. In 1954, Dr. Gerald Gardner admitted to his involvement in the Craft in his book Witchcraft Today. He was the first to give the Witches' side of the story. As a result of his books, people were shocked to see that many covens began to speak up in Europe. Gardner got permission from his Coven and started to spread the word about Wicca and Witchcraft. We owe him a lot, for it is because of him that we can enjoy the Craft today.
The first Witch to stand up in America was Raymond Buckland. With that more and more Covens started to come out of the "Broom Closet" and be recognized.
Witchcraft has grown with the times, changing over thousands of years, for if it did not, it would have died a long time ago. Rejoice in your religion and be merry. For the Craft is a religion of love and joy, lively and peaceful. Respect Nature and do your best to help those in need. If you ever feel drained, go to an oak or pine tree and relax under it. You will feel all of your frustration and tension gradually disappear as you close your eyes. When you stand up, hug the tree and thank it. Feel the love and comfort and accept it. Appreciate the earth and grow to live with and learn with others.
Why would that bother you and how does that affect you in any way???
FOR SOME, LIFE IS SO MISERABLE!
True Americans do not exclude anybody. They recognize that everyone should have the same rights. Bigotry, intolerance and hatred are cancers of the mind.
posted on July 31, 2004 09:17:59 PM new
I think anyone who knows anything realizes that Wicca is NOT devil worship. Certainly ignorance has been involved for centuries, but I think most people who actually listen know better.
"If you ever feel drained, go to an oak or pine tree and relax under it. You will feel all of your frustration and tension gradually disappear as you close your eyes. When you stand up, hug the tree and thank it. Feel the love and comfort and accept it. Appreciate the earth and grow to live with and learn with others. "
That's not a religion, it's a walk in the park! It's fine to have respect for nature, but that is NOT a religion. Where is the element of the "supernatural" that all other religions have?
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on July 31, 2004 09:38:31 PM newFOR SOME, LIFE IS SO MISERABLE
I am sorry your life is so miserable yeager, is that why you're so interested in religon lately? Getting ready for the here after?
However, when you post an article you should have the courtesy to post the source and/or at least the writer... but then maybe stealing auction descriptions is ok also because after all what does it matter... right.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
Homosexuality is a choice that can be corrected...
[ edited by Twelvepole on Jul 31, 2004 09:41 PM ]
What is the here after anyway? In your mind please!
True Americans do not exclude anybody. They recognize that everyone should have the same rights. Bigotry, intolerance and hatred are cancers of the mind.
It's fine to have respect for nature, but that is NOT a religion. Where is the element of the "supernatural" that all other religions have?
