Are they really serious?

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This may belong in the university section but anyway I have some friends who claim to be witches (wica or whatever it is called) and pagan. You know, the sort of religions you wouldn't normal hear of until you really got out that christain community setting. Anyway, I am asking, can they really be serious about these religions. Not to say there nothing serious about them but well they seem to really "follow" these. Maybe I'm just expecting a stereotypical vision people of these religions. If you anyone could explain these, particularily wica to me that would highly appreciated.

I did a bit of research into it when I was in highschool, it is a bit interesting, they often call them selves white witches, generaly to me it does not seem too bad. Personaly I take some of the ideas into my philosophy, sometimes it does seem a bit silly but what religion doesnt.

True

I'm a christian, but it seems like a fashion trend to me, I think some people critique it as McPaganism (try a google search), and I can understand that because it seems rather shallow a lot of the time.

As I understand it's about self will as a way of attracting divine or supernatural forces. I think Aleister Crowley is a big hero to many would-be 'witches' and he was a colossal egomaniac (an interesting character too). Christians generallly deny the importance of the self and defer to gods will, so i guess in some ways it's the opposite of christianity. I find it hard to take seriously, the send ups of paganism in some comedies are hilarious.

You might be right.

I am Pagan, and my Granny who died some years ago has taught me something 'cause I have a Gift, and I AM a witch. Mr. Crowley had no influence on my mind. The Gift can't be a fashion and if you're talking about magic, you can't define it to be "black" or "white" 'cause it's MAGIC. It's greatly doubtful that those who divide magic into "black" and "white" know anything about it at all.

Had a feeling you would speak up about it. Could you explain a little bit about your religion? Does it really have a lot to do with magic? What is this "Gift" you speak of? What does grant you?

Fair enough, but we can still classify pagan magic as "good" and "bad" based on its intended effect(s). Anything malicious and harmful (the black) versus anything benign and helpful (the white). Would this be a fairer assessment, Chaotica?

I though after Crowley being mentioned, would be scared to meet his witchy counterparts.

I would not want to meet the disciples of Alestair Crowley. Never know what kind of mojo they've got going. It's best to steer clear if there's any possibility of demonic influence(s). I'll it like the proverbial plague until I'm strong enough in my faith to repel demonic influence.

From what I've seen, for some people it's a fad and for others it's a serious spiritual path. When I was younger I dated a Wiccan who seemed to have picked it up primarily as an act of rebellion. It's really a very modern religion, not an actual reconstruction of an ancient one. This is generally true of neo-paganism despite the borrowing of skeletal forms and theologies, and it's probably a good thing. Other religions have evolved through shifting paradigms in thought and it would make sense to me that the revival of an older religion take into account contemporary thinking.

They're fairly ordinary people, for the most part. Thelema has become remarkably stodgy. The sociopaths now get attracted to LaVeyist satanism much more than they do to Thelema. Thelema is too much work for them, anyway.

Truth be told, though, Crowley claimed to have been behind the foundation of modern Wicca, specifically with his good friends the Gardners. Supposedly, the whole "Wiccan Rede" was a dumbed down version of the Thelemic Law. The Wiccan Rede goes something like "If you harm none, do as you will." The Thelemic Law is "'Do what thou wilt!' shall be the whole of the Law." Crowley's claim was that the "if you harm none" was added for the unsophisticated masses' consumption. The hoi-polloi couldn't be trusted with complete freedom--they'd screw it up.

I'm a serious witch. I don't identify with any group, I follow my own path. I work magic more for my own benefit than actually changing the world. My craft is basically another form of meditation. I focus myself and calm myself, putting me in a better place psychologically, thus improving my world. You do better in life if you have a better attitude, people respond to you better and such. I work magic to improve my mind, so that I may affect my world. I don't see anything really mystical about it. Then again, I don't think the supernatural is supernatural, all things follow the natural laws, the laws are just not fully understood yet.

That could have come right out of Crowley's "Theory and Practise of Magick".

Well, my religion is based on feelings more than on dogmas and statements, so it was formed by ethnicity with similar feelings which probably were transmitted from one to another with spiritual power and thought, otherwise I can't explain how Pagan religion on my land could appear. They just FELT and could direct the power of Nature and everyone possesses this ability, more or less. Today, of course, it seems to be magic and the Gift is that I'm a child of Nature. Isn't it natural that a mother helps her child?

I don't think that everyone can be satisfied if, for example, one man in a village collects good harvest from his field and another man - a poor harvest. They work the same, but there appears a conclusion that the first man's wife is a witch and she has sent some evil magic forces to kill the harvest of the second man this is told from one to another and the reason of this all is simple envy. Even if that woman is not a witch even if she has sent only GOOD spirits to the first field... Well, it's quite enough for the envious people, right? Everything comes out of rumors, hence all these "white" and "black" and "pink/blue/green/striped" magic and, slowmutant, I've told that Crowley is known to me ONLY AS A NAME, so don't be so anxious