What’s the Deal with Wicca by Steve Russ is a “deeper look into the dark side of today’s witchcraft.” The author gives a quite detailed picture of Wicca and why it appeals to teenagers expecially, and compares it to Christianity. If you are a teenager or know a teenage considering Wicca, knowing about this religion will help you relate to him or her.
Wicca is an interesting mix of religions. It’s complicated, both contemporary and centuries old, and a mix ofoccultism, neopaganism, and witchcraft. Wicca’s core beliefs are the same now as they were hundreds of years ago, but it’s been repackaged as a New Age style of witchcraft. The details of Wicca though, changes from person to person or from coven to coven since Wicca is a do-it-yourself flexible belief system. If the Wiccan sees something in another religion they like, they’re free to blend it in their own system. It allows the teenager to be free of restrictions and outside control.
Wiccan believe in something called the Rede which basically says, “An ye harm non, do what ye will.” A Wiccan is free to do or worship in any way they see fit as long as they don’t harm another. Other than that, Wicca seems to be a piecemeal individualistic religion where they appoint themselves as their own rulemake of what’s right and wrong.
This allure of personal power is what makes Wicca so enticing and dangerous. While the Wiccan may worship or call upon the powers of famous, powerful people (mostly Roman gods and goddess but they’re free to call upon Egyption gods, or Hindu, Buddhist, Celtic… or even Jesus), they do not realize they’re trying to use spiritual beings as a tool. In short, they’ve appointed themselves their own god, to boss around the ancient dieties.
Christianity differs by submitting to a higher authority. Rather than boss around a god, a Christian seeks to submit to God, to do what God wants.
Some Wiccans believe that all religions are essentially the same and that there are many paths to God, but a closer look at the actual beliefs show that this is not possible. Wiccans, for instance, believe in reincarnation, while Christians believe that we live and die once and then we are judged. Wiccans believe in witchcraft, manipulating their surroundings by invoking invisible powers, while the Christian God detests witchcraft. And Wiccans believe that it’s more important to reveal your own truth through experience and have no absolutely moral code or concept of sin.
As much as Wiccan want to believe Jesus is a “great white witch with a coven of thirteen,” a review of Jesus’ teachings show that Jesus would have soundly rejected such a description. Jesus is the Son of God who sacrificed himself for our sins, and who says the only way to heaven is a belief in Him. In short, the Wiccan belief is incompatible with Christianity. They can’t both be right.
I found the book highly descriptive about Wicca and all it’s various forms, and enjoyed the individual stories from teenagers who told why they left Christianity for Wicca, and I enjoyed the compare and contrast with Christianity. I recommend What’s the Deal with Wicca hightly.
Chasing the Wind 
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