View the Burning Times - In the memory of those persecuted, tortured and murdered for their religious belief.

Misconceptions of Wicca and the Craft (A Preface)

In opening, I would like to start off by saying that I do not advocate that Christians are bad people.  Many are good people, and allow others to live how they wish to.  However, it's the fringe-element who are politically motivated, or blind to the word of their own bible (brainwashed, et al.), that wish to crush pagan faiths, and wish to do us harm.  This fringe-element isn't limited to just the Christian faiths, but to the pagan faiths as well.  These fringe-elements hi-jack the religions, changing the laws/rules of their belief system to fit their warped sense of "what is".  This needs to be fought at all levels, within all religions, to bring us back to a peaceful life.

In the later part of February 2004 an issue was raised in an E-mail group.  It concerned the use of the word "Warlock", and created an outcry of rage from a few people.  In explaining that the word warlock and waerlog were two different words, not to be confused with one another, and that the use of the word "Xian" (as used in an earlier posting by another member) was a more harmful term than was "Warlock", the reply from the list owner was less than intelligent.  She merely stated that "it's nice that we can agree to disagree" and that "Xian" was a politically correct term for Christian.  This is obviously not the case.  The term "Xian" can be viewed in the same light as the "N" word while "Warlock" is just a benign term for a male witch.  This is an obvious issue, since there seems to be a lot of this "agree to disagree" going on.  Too many people claiming to be from a long line of witches, when in fact they are not, are spreading their disease among the innocent who are just starting their spiritual path.  If they were from such a long line, they would know there are laws and rules within the Old Ways, as there is with Christianity.  There are far more things in common with these religious fundamentals than pagans even care to believe, let alone Christians.

Despite the commonality between Christianity and Paganism, many pagans have been killed and tortured for not converting to "the one and only true faith." Today, our faith is still subjected to a certain level of hate.  There are verbal fights, church burnings, religious discrimination, all conducted towards people of many faiths.  We see mothers being taken to court by ex-husbands for custody issues because she is "a witch".  We see Christianity being taken to court because of "Separation of Church and State".  But we see Islam being taught in our public schools without the same outrage of such separation.  We wouldn't be allowed to have public prayer over a city loudspeaker system, neither Christian nor Pagan.  But Islamic Call to Prayers are permitted to be sent over a town-wide loudspeaker system.  Where is our dearly beloved separation of Church and State?  Can we not see that everyone is now a victim of intolerance?  As pagans, we must not show hatred towards our Judeo-Christian brothers and sisters.  And they should refrain from such hatred as well.  What good does this hatred do?

The Old Religion, as with all Pagan religions, are being wrongfully painted as one of being evil.  Our symbols and holy days are made to look as if only those who worship "Satan" would use or observe them.  The Pentagram alone draws sneers and gasps from those who are not enlightened, thinking that the one who wears such has sworn an allegiance of evil, rather than good.  Such absurd and ridiculous ideas must be stopped.

 Religion is supposed to teach us about morality, love and life.  Wicca, The Craft, the Druids, none of these, nor the many other "pagan" faiths are evil at all.  The fact of the matter is, these religions are actually peace loving, earth based religions, which are centered around the love of nature, and all living creatures that exist on this planet.  We do not believe in an absolute form of good, or evil. 

I do feel that one thing should be cleared up.  On the topic of persecution:  When it comes to the Burning Times (the period in history where people were killed on charges of being a witch), the numbers cited for those killed during the burning times have been greatly exaggerated. While the numbers being cited are upward towards the 9 million mark (numbers cited by Gardner, and Starhawk), the actual numbers of men and women killed on claims of witchcraft are actually closer to 40 - 50 thousand over a period of three centuries (see Briggs, Robin: Witches and their Neighbors, 1996, Page 8). This still does not make the killings any more proper nor less significant.  But the numbers being thrown around need to be more accurately cited.  Also, the killings in Salem, while done in the name of God under claims of witchcraft; these were done merely out of jealousy, hate and greed.  Most claims of witchcraft were false and unfounded, done so merely to confiscate the property and monies of the accused.

In closing, I would pray that we as a people cease the battle against religion.  Those who hate Christianity so much, as those who hate Paganism, need to realize that there does not exist any separation of Church and State in our Constitution, despite the partisan influence by our Supreme Court Judges here in America.  If we do not put an end to such political influences, and end the "Republicans this, Democrats that....." then all of our freedoms will vanish.  The only thing that exists in our Constitution is an "Anti-Establishment" clause, prohibiting the government from establishing any one religion, or by ordering none at all.

Rev. Dr. Scott Baldwin HP/DD
March 2004

The following are the Charges of the God and Goddess. There are several forms of these charges in existence to this day. Some are in elegant story form, while others are in simple form, such as those provided below. Please take the time to read each.

The Charge of the God

Listen to the word of the Great Father, who of old was called Osiris, Adonis, Zeus, Thor, Pan, Cernunnos, Heren, Lugh, and by many other names:

"My law is harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life, and mine is the dish of salt of the earth, that is the body of Cernunnos that is the eternal circle of rebirth. I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and beyond death I give the promise of regeneration and renewal. I am the sacrifice, the father of all things, and my protection blankets the earth."

Hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the winds, whose voice calls the seasons:

"I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of Light, sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame, I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me. For I am the flesh of the earth and all its beings. Through me all things must die, and with me are reborn. Let my worship be in the body that sings, for behold, all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals. Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing within you. For these too are part of the mysteries found within yourself, within me, all beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings." 

The Charge of the Goddess

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Ceridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

"Whenever you have a need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked to your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine is also the joy on earth. For my law is love unto all beings. Mine is the secret that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron to Ceridwen that is the holy grail of immortality. I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth."

Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:

"I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold - all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you who seek to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire." 

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