Ten Things Christians Should Know About Pagans

1. Wiccans do not worship Satan.

This is the most popular one, and the most insidious. It comes from the assumption that Christianity is the Only Real Religion and all else is Just Plain Evil. I've even been told that you don't have to believe in the Devil to be one of his devotees. What kind of logic is that? I suppose it's the same logic that said if a woman is thrown in the water and floats she's a Witch, but if she drowns she must be innocent.

2. Wiccans do not sacrifice animals or children.

I could crack a hundred jokes about this one, but seriously--Wiccans have a deep and abiding reverence for life, and our guiding principle is "If it harms none, do what you will." How this could translate into killing innocents is beyond me. The fact is, all things kill to survive--even vegetarians. The operative phrase here is "to survive."

3. Wiccans revere a Goddess and a God, as well as Their endless manifestations in nature.

We don't worship rocks, at least not in the way you'd think. Rocks, like trees and clouds and the Moon and your Uncle Albert, are all part of the Divine and made up of the same essence, so when we give reverence to our Lord and Lady we, in a sense, give it to the rocks as well. Our Goddess and God are complementary, parts of a whole, and we are parts of Them. We need no intermediary, no preacher up on a pulpit, to reach Them for us.

4. Wiccans generally don't have orgies.

Besides being a dangerous health risk in this day and age, the more people you add to your sexual life the more complicated it gets, and the more likely someone is to get hurt. Refer to the "harm none" stuff above. Most of the time during our rituals we have enough of a problem getting ten people to chant together--group sex would be a logistical nightmare. We do have a very sex-positive attitude, believing that what is natural to the body can't be bad since the human body, and all creation, are part of the Divine.

5. Yes, we cast spells, or most of us do.

Spells are basically a way to help influence the probability that something will occur, using the life energy that flows through and connects all things. We don’t believe that spells cause flash-bang miraculous changes and produce good luck out of thin air; we work within the natural order but do not control it. Many of us also pray, or do that instead of magic; for my perspective on the differences and similarities between magic and prayer, click here.

6. No, we usually don't hex.

Again refer to "harm none." Self-defense is another thing altogether; we're not expected to stand idly by while we or our dear ones are hurt. One of the great freedoms of Wicca is also its greatest responsibility: we are free from the constraint of someone else's moral law, but we must decide every day how our own laws are kept. We must balance the harm we do just by breathing with the healing we are capable of. We also have a belief that what you send out into the universe will eventually find its way back to you for good or ill--evildoers aren't usually worth the consequences of hexing them.

7. Whatever you saw on Charmed, Sabrina, or Buffy, it's probably crap.

8. No, I won't cast a spell to get you a boyfriend or get rid of a troublesome ex.

Do your own damn spells and stay out of my karma.

There are many Wiccans who will never perform magic for others on the grounds that they won't tamper with someone else's free will; I'm of the opinion that our oldest role as Witches was that of the village healer, and if we have the power to effect creat positive change in the world, not to use it to benefit others would be anathema.

9. No, we're not out to get you.

Despite all ranting Evangelists to the contrary, Wiccans are not out for the downfall of Christianity. We dislike the negative consequences of its domination over society, and we'd like to see Christians act a little more Christlike, but it's not our religion. This world is big enough for all kinds of faiths, and god/goddess/gods are simply too big to be squeezed into one idea of how They should look. When you get down to it, all the arguments and holy wars have been over whose picture of the Divine was going to hang on whose wall. Vocabulary isn't worth killing over, is it?

10. Yes, we've heard about Jesus.

If you've been born again, we're happy for you. I'd like to see more Christians who are as happy with their religion as I am. A person who is truly in touch with his or her spiritual nature is a beautiful thing no matter what faith witnessed it. However, Wiccans aren't going through some kind of phase. We like it here. Trying to get us to lose such an essential part of our lives isn't just presumptuous, it's offensive, so don't be surprised if our reaction to the "good news" isn't what you'd hoped.

Copyright 2006 Dianne Sylvan. All rights reserved.