Merissa Bartlett

Wicca. Germanic Neo-Paganism Merissa Bartlett

Research Paper from the year 2012 in the subject German Studies - Literature of History, Eras, grade: 80.00, Memorial University of Newfoundland, course: German 2900, language: English, abstract: "Let no one be found among you who... engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." (Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 18:10-11) Christianity has posed a problem for the Wiccan Neo-Paganism religion for centuries; it has led most people to believe that Witchcraft is bad. Along with modern media and society fueling the flame already created by Christianity, Wicca has been branded as a bad religion, mainly because there is little understanding into the religion. Wicca is the Old English word for witch; witches (usually women, but also men) were people who used charms, spells, and herbs in rituals of healing, and as aids in childbirth, matchmaking and spiritual guidance (Hubbard 173). The term was adopted by Gerald Gardner as a general name for the witchcraft religion he had helped revive in the 1930's, and is now used mainly in that sense, being pronounced 'wickah'. A member of the religion is there for a Wiccan, pronounced 'wickun'. Wicca is an earth-centered religion; it stresses living in harmony with nature, puts emphasis on feminine deities, and holds celebrations according to the 'Wheel of the Year' (Hubbard 175).