Wicca :: essays research papers

WiccaJan Phillips article The Craft of the Wise tells of how she came tolearn of one of her ancestors who was hung during the Salem Witch Hunts. Thislit an interest in her mind to further research the root word of Wicca, the craftof the wise. By consulting many books ab issue witchcraft, she learned that Wiccais more of a nature and imagination based religion than the passcasting voodoopracticing stereotype it has been made out to be in the past. Through herresearch, she finds out that Wicca and Paganism have become the fastest growingreligions in the United States. She then goes on to tell the differences amid magic and the supernatural. She closes by stating that we should try tosee ourselves in other people instead of focusing in on our differences.The second article I set concerning Wicca emphasizes Jan Phillips thatdespite peoples personal preferences we are all human beings. The article DoYou Believe In Magic tells the plight of two practicing witches, the Rileys,who chose to open a heathen shop in a predominantly Christian town. Due todifferences in religious views, their land lord refused to renew their lease.Many townspeople, including several town ministers, publicly voiced theirobjections to the couples business venture. The Rileys gathered fellow Pagansfrom surrounding areas and marched down the towns main street publiclydisplaying their beliefs. People began to compare this incident to the SalemWitch Hunts. clean as Jan Phillips ancestor was tortured because of sheallegedly chose to practice her beliefs, so were the Rileys for choosing to gopublic with their beliefs.The third article I read was about an average American woman who is alsoa High Priestess of a Boston area coven. She tells of how traditionalProtestant beliefs were not for her, and how Wicca seemed to fit her idealsbetter. Like the Rileys, she too has been the victim to discriminations out-of-pocket toher religious choice. Ms. Ralph, the witch mentioned above, describes anincide nt when a coworker was bothered so much by her religion that she went toMs. Ralphs superiors. The coworker claimed that Ms. Ralph was performinganimal sacrifices and was threatening to cast a spell on her family. Ms. Ralphcouldnt understand how someone could be so opposed to anothers personalbeliefs. In the end of the article she goes on to say that her boss saw through with(predicate)the whole scheme, and listened to what her religion really entailed. To hersurprise he was very open-minded to her religious practices, and she wondered