by Clark Ford, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Iowa State University

         Modern Witchcraft, or Wicca, is a serious, positive, nature-based religion that is growing rapidly in the United States and has broad appeal for young people.  Unfortunately, this is a religion that remains largely misunderstood by the general public.  The most common, and most damaging misperception is that Witchcraft is the same thing as Satanism.  Witches do not worship evil, nor do they sacrifice animals, and they are as appalled at the precepts of Satanism as everyone else is.  In Wicca, the central moral value is "and it harm none, do as ye will."  The phrase "and it harm none" is applied not only to people, but also to the creatures of the Earth, and the Earth Herself.
         Witches are nature people, worshipers of the Goddess, healers of the planet.  They also include gardeners, herbalists, ecologists, animal lovers, mystics, midwives, feminists, and holistic healers.  Witches are found in every segment of the population and number in the tens of thousands in this country.  Young people are increasingly attracted to Wicca due to its values of empowering women, honoring the earth, and celebrating one's individual spiritual path.
         Modern Witchcraft traces its spiritual lineage to the ancient Goddess worshiping cultures of Europe, the Mediterranean, Persia and Asia.  Its people include those who, over the centuries, have been persecuted as pagans, and burned at the stake as Witches for pursuing a spirituality outside of dominant Christianity.  The inquisition in Europe resulted in the death and torture of
hundreds of thousands of innocent women who were labeled as "Devil worshipers."  This is ironic, since the Devil, or Satan, is a Christian concept and has no place in the beliefs or practice of Witchcraft.
         Perhaps this misconception persists because Witchcraft seems so very different from other mainstream religions.  Actually it has much in common with other religions.  The concept that humans are spiritual beings is one that Wicca shares with all the dominant religions.  Our holidays are based on the seasons and the cycles of the moon, and are derived from the same pagan
celebrations that were adopted by Christianity.  The magical rites our priestesses and priests perform to connect with the divine have much in common with those of the Catholic Mass.  The Wiccan belief in the dual nature of the divine as both Goddess and God is similar to that of a growing movement in Christianity that recognizes this concept.  A widespread Wiccan belief in
reincarnation and cosmic justice over many lifetimes is similar to that of Hindus and Buddhists.  An identification with the Earth and Her creatures, with the energies of the four directions, and with the elements, is similar to that of Native American beliefs.
         What is different about Wicca?  Perhaps it is that Wicca and Witchcraft seem to fly in the face of the dominant male hierarchy of the Christian church and of the western culture that arose from it.  Wicca is a feminist and ecologically-oriented religion that elevates and honors the Earth, women, and female sensibilities.  Sexuality and pleasure are honored rather than made a sin.  Intuition, caring, and feeling are paid attention to. Women are empowered and equal to men.  The Earth and Her creatures are revered rather than exploited and degraded.  The divine is seen everywhere in both women and men, in the heavens and on earth, and in the cycles of nature.  There is no dualistic concept of good and evil.  All things are born, live,
grow old, die, and are reborn.  This cycle of nature, and an understanding of humans as being part of this cycle, are celebrated.
         While other religions have fought for public recognition and respect, Wicca has remained hidden, secret, and  misunderstood.   A national organization of Witches, the Covenant of the Goddess, now provides legal ministerial credentials to Wiccan Priests and Priestesses.  Witchcraft is recognized as a legitimate religion in the U.S. Army, by the Unitarian Universalist Church, and by the Parliament of World's Religions.  Nonetheless, legal persecution of those calling themselves Witches persists.   In a fairly recent case in Iowa, a father's visitation rights with his son were curtailed by the Department of  Human Services due to his Wiccan beliefs.  He was ordered not to expose his son to any Wiccan religious symbols or to practice
his religion during visitations.  Fortunately, the Department of Human Services backed down when this was challenged in court.
         I believe the time is past due for Witchcraft to receive the kind of sensitivity and respect afforded other religions and minority groups.  The Inquisition is over.  Witches are not evil, nor are they Satanists.  By the same token, they are not very much at all like Witches portrayed in movies, TV, and other media.  These portrayals, and other negative stereotypes and
acts of discrimination against Witches in our culture are based on ignorance and are both injurious and wrong.  Wicca is a vital, positive, empowering, nature-loving religion that deserves the respect and rights due to all beliefs
in this land of religious freedom.
 
Copyright 1998 by Clark Ford, Ph.D.