Cult Characteristics: Is Wicca a Cult or a Genuine Religion?
Author: Rev. Mirado Crow
Is Wicca a cult or is it a genuine religion? Many Wiccans have asked me this, and on many occasions, I just want to tell them to do their research on what a cult actually is. But since I really don’t see myself doing that, I have instead provided the following information.
One of the most devastating experiences someone could face is to realize that a loved one is involved in a cult. So many family members, friends, co workers or other people may tell you that Wicca is a cult and that Christianity (or whatever religion they believe in) is the only genuine or “True Religion”. They will try to ‘save’ you from a self-defeating dark force known as the ‘Devil’ or ‘Satan’. The birth/origin of Satan is up to interpretation, but can be traced back to the Christian misinterpretation of the pagan Horned God. Since this belief sprang out of the area of the Mediterranean, perhaps it derived from the worship of the God, Pan, or Cernnunos, The Horned God of The Field, Rebirth and Fertility. Some of the imagery and descriptions of the devil is almost identical to that of the Horned God.
The claim of Satan or ‘Devil’ worship made by the some Christian doctrines about our faith is something I dismiss easily with a smile on my face. The actual word, Satan, is not a real name for a spirit but a Hebrew term meaning “adversary”. So if you happen to be called, a “Satan”, they are actually correct ala their doctrinal terminology because Witchcraft, and all sorts of Paganism, are considered as the “adversaries” to Christianity.
The Christian story of Lucifer however, is a misrepresentation because we also see him in the Roman Pantheon the later being his true Pantheon. Lucifer is, in the Roman Pantheon, the brother of the Goddess Diana [1] (Goddess of Witches) , and the “Bearer of Light”. Lucifer, in Christian mythology was considered — as he was in some stories in Roman mythology — the ‘morning star’ and the term is referred to within the Bible. ‘Lucifer, son of the morning’ is translated into Hebrew as “Helel ben Shakhar”, which then translates to ‘Day-star, son of the Dawn’. Though the morning star is the planet Venus (as it is the ‘star’ you would still see in the morning despite the rising of the sun) , the Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Arabs identified the morning star as male. In Latin, Lucifer means “Light Bearer”, and in Greek, the morning star was called, “Phosphoros”, also meaning “Light Bearer”. So how Lucifer was translated later into meaning “devil” is a complete invention of the early Christian Church.
The observation of the morning star, and it’s defiance of the sun was the basis for the influence of the Christian story of how the Seraphim Lucifer defied Yahweh, and for that, must be punished. Another story of how Lucifer fell from grace in Christian lore was for his pride and lust when he refused to worship Adam because he thought only his maker deserved worship. (Though in the story, it was not Lucifer’s lust, but his angel’s of who were lusting for the feeling of a family life that caused them to also fall, and the destruction of mankind with the Great Flood as told in the story of Noah and the Ark [i].) That may have been derived from the story of the “Epic of Gilgamesh”, and possibly the story of the “Lost City of Atlantis”, both of which are tales [written long before the story of Noah] of a Great Flood. It wasn’t until St. Jerome mistranslated ‘Lucifer’ that it became interchangeable with ‘Devil’ [2].
When someone hears the word “cult”, one could automatically think “devil worship” though to the trained mind, this may not be the case. In order for a group to be known as a cult in today’s world, it would usually employ some forms of manipulation. Though groups of believers and worshippers were known as cults in ancient times, the term has evolved with the times. Cults in today’s world are those whose groups will insinuate their ‘personality’ into your everyday life, taking away from your personal spiritual and social growth.
“Cult – Formal religious veneration…great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book) , especially: such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad.” [3]
One of the ways I refute anyone in a crusade against Wicca, should that person claim Wicca is a cult, is by providing the actual definition of the word, “cult”. With observation, you will notice and realize that Wicca is actually not a cult but a genuine religion, and that all the major religions of today’s world could be accused of being cults because they idolize purported historical persons or supposed ‘saviors’. Christianity worships Jesus (someone they claim to be an actual person, and some denominations go the further route to worship Mary) , Islam idolize Mohammed, Buddhism idolizes Siddhârtha Gautama (also known as Buddha or the Supreme Buddha) , and Hinduism idolizes His Divine Grace (a person within the highest office of the religion) . …and many more cults are out there, claiming to be genuine religions.
Paganism, though a group of religions based on ancient worship, do not worship or idolize people; they work toward the divine and the many aspects thereof. They do however, give respect to those of a higher office, because they have given of themselves to the Craft, to better the communities understanding of ancient worship and how it can improve the wellbeing of the world and the society of today and tomorrow.
Lore Twisting: The first mark of a cult is its manipulation of lore. It’s religious lore (and those of other religions) is twisted to fit that group’s interpretation. Private interpretations are forbidden because the leader is, of course, the only one who is able to understand the Divine properly. The teachings distort the historic and obvious truths of other beliefs to not only fit their own gains, but to make that other faith appear to be influenced by evil or bogus.
Historical Manipulation: This appears when the group has forged historical documentation for induction within doctrinal belief. There is very little regard for historical accuracy or fact, except what will benefit the group’s claim and attempt to disprove others. Though many of the documentations/declaration might be proven to be untrue or historical forgeries (and therefore mere hearsay) , cult members must hold to the belief that what the cult says is true is indeed true and dismiss any proof to the contrary.
Suppressive Manipulation: Almost all cults will definitely try to suppress other ways of life or beliefs. If you are not what they expect you to be, your rights are suppressed and you are not trusted throughout that community until you conform to their standards.
Mental Manipulation:: Many times cults manipulate people’s minds. There is basically no respect for individual thought and individual interpretation is sometimes preached against. Cultists claim that spiritual and mental development can “ONLY” be achieved if you are within their group or worship their pantheon. Education is usually directed away from anything that may challenge their doctrinal teachings, and the convert is bombarded with the cult’s doctrine and literature. The cult calls for its members to convert others to its doctrine, and have them to abandon their old way of life (or family) , and depend on the cult’s way of living.
Finally, cults are really fond of manipulating reality. They foster an exclusive “us/them” mentality in which ‘society’ and old associates are all out to get them. Everyone outside of the group is an evil person who must be shunned and/or punished. I have listened to many Christians tell me “If it’s not in the Bible, then it’s not real.”
You can see that Wicca, and all sorts of Paganism, are not cults because they do NOT fall under the categories mentioned, or the dictionary definition above. Many of the major religions of today’s world have fought to suppress ways that did not conform to their own. In November of 2008, an organized voter block of religious advocates helped to pass Proposition 8 in California, which prohibits same sex marriage. (Happily this has since been reversed.) And in Africa, Witch Hunts still go on, along with major hate crimes against others of different faith groups (non-Christian) spearheaded by various Christian sects [even ministers and priests]. In 2010, many people were accused of witchcraft, and either jailed or killed there. Organizations from within the United States sometimes funded these groups.
So when you encounter accusations of being a member of a cult, as a Wiccan remember that Wicca is NOT a cult by definition. Wicca is a genuine religion by practicality and actuality in every aspect of definable definition. Wicca’s goal is to reach toward the Divine, and does not worship any one person or persons but rather has facilitators by which individual spiritual growth may freely be reached.
Footnotes:
[1] Which the rumors of Witches being in League withthe Christian Devil is probably derived from. The relationship between Lucifer and Diana is possibly how the Christians link Witchcraft to their Spiritual villain. Which the rumors of Witches being in League with the Christian Devil is probably derived from. The relationship between Lucifer and Diana is possibly how the Christians link Witchcraft to their Spiritual villain.
[2] Helel ben Shakhar, translated into latin would be, “Lux ferre”; which means, “Light-Bearer”, and another rendering of this translation is, “Lucis fer” which is, “To carry Light”. This is the translation he used to link the God of Light to the Christian villain ‘Devil’.
[3] Merriam Webster’s Deluxe Dictionary; Tenth Collegiate® Edition (1998) see Cult Pg. 441
Endnotes:
[i] More on the Origins of Satan can be found in “The Black Arts: A Concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology, Alchemy, and Other Mystical Practices Throughout The Ages” by Richard Cavendish Pg. 269
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