does anyone know (for those in the know) how old wicca is?

Question

does anyone know (for those in the know) how old wicca is?

Answer 1

It came about in the mid 20th century, authored as such by Gerald Gardner. I believe that was around 1950. However, that does not mean that contemporary Neo-Paganism or even Wiccan tradition is not much older.



Wicca is a form of religious witchcraft, and there is evidence that at least some of these practices are much, much older.



Some wish to claim that as Wicca is only around 60 or 70 years old, that it is invalid, somehow with the misguided belief that antiquity lends authenticity.



The truth is that Gerald Gardner may have founded Wicca, but religious forms of Paganism have existed for quite some time.



Gleb Botkin started the Church of Aphrodite on Long Island in 1938, some family traditions have been in existence for quite some time. In some families, these were syncretized with other religions.



Also, there are many newer denominations of Christianity coming about quite often, and many of them change over time.



So, while officially, Wicca is only some 60 years old in name, the traditions that comprise it are actually older than the religion itself.

Answer 2

The first published book on Wicca came out in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, although Gardner published a fictional book which incorporated many Wiccan ideas in 1949. There's evidence he was creating his first Book of SHadows in 1948 or 49. He claims to have been following it since 1939, but there's no evidence to support it. He was probably part of some occult group at that time (through a woman known as Dafo), but what they were doing was most likely not Wicca (but may have given Gardner some ideas for Wicca). The trail goes totally cold before 1939.



I find it safe to say that Wicca is a 20th century religion less than one hundred years old. There's just no evidence whatsoever that a religion looking anything like Wicca existed earlier than that.



Anything that claims Wicca is older than that is either based on discredited academics (generally the Murray thesis) or is quite simply invented on the spot.

Answer 3

Depends on the version of Wicca. There is Gardnerian Wicca which was popularized by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s. This of course lead those to state that it is only 60 years old.



Looking through history, Wicca is older. Many of the practiced rituals and symbols are over hundreds of years old. Even Gerald stated that Wicca is older with "secret societies". Many dismiss this claim as for no prove, but the prove is there. Not many look into history and realize that "burning of witches" was a form of converting those to the religion of the area.

Answer 4

Wicca has in common terms existed as a results of fact the 50s, according to possibility somewhat till now, yet incredibly the twentieth century. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, Wicca, new nonetheless it is, attracts from historical pagan religions as notion. Many innovations (nonetheless via no potential all) in Wicca come from pre-Christian ecu ideals. Wicca has a tendency to be created from predominantly Celtic innovations, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it has different impacts. There by no potential became a unmarried God or Goddess that became worshiped in pagan situations. The pagans had many gods and goddesses in each and every custom. the unmarried God/dess build became one among Gerald Gardner's innovations. perception interior the Lord and female is for this reason strictly modern-day. Karma is an concept this is from eastern religions, and as is reincarnation. As for books that would desire to be extra informative than those you have, "Wicca: A handbook for the Solitary Practitioner" via Scott Cunningham is an magnificent e book for novices. Ray Buckland is particularly good too. stay faraway from Silver Ravenwolf nonetheless. She's a fraud. might you hit upon peace and happiness on your course. Venus Bless

Answer 5

Depends on whom you ask. I put up something similar to this and got lambasted for it since 79% of Wiccas don't believe that it wasn't invented before the Monotheistic beliefs, even if you have proof!



Not saying it has to be old to be a religion, and Wicca is actually an umbrella name that is now being used for many paths such as Gardener, Correllian etc. Also I noticed that the Gardenarians say that the person who heads the Correllians is a lier because he believes that it is much older. I happen to agree with that point put by Hubbard. I believed it long before I know Correllian existed. But to me both make valid BELIEFS about the same Title of Wicca!

Answer 6

Not really. Gardener documents having joined it in 1939

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_hist.htm



and several of its components pre-date Christianity. There is a good argument in this website:

http://www.wildideas.net/temple/library/letters/ageowicca.html



"The most important thing,...is to make clear... that by saying that Wicca as a whole does not go back to pre-Christian times, you are not saying that it isn't a valid religion, or that there are not some symbols, beliefs, deity images, magical practices, etc. within it that do. Because for a lot of people, what gets their back up is the implication that something can't be valid if it isn't old, and by making clear that validity is not the issue at hand, you can avoid a lot of headaches. "

Answer 7

Gardner popularized the word "wicca" in the 1950's although the word was already in existence prior to that. Gardner is also the one who formalized it into the tradition it is now. He claimed it was a pre-existing tradition but that has never been proven and it appears to be drawn from a variety of sources.

Answer 8

I am older than wicca. It was invented about 1954 about the same time as Scientology and Raelism. It was reinvented from old fashioned "white" witchcraft, spiritualism and half-digested pagan ideas mixed up with the usual woo-woo drivel.

Answer 9

About 50 years old this year.

Answer 10

Yes. Lots of people know.

Answer 11

It's going on 70.



Edit: Why? Is it important? I can't imagine why.



Edit:Teawitch, please demonstrate your "proof." We're still waiting. We all asked you for proof before.