Welcome to the Coven's Parental FAQ

No. Wicca is not an evil religion.

Wiccans believe that everything exists in balance and try to maintain that balance. Wiccans revere nature as sacred and worship a single divine deity called "the All" or "the Great Spirit". This God, which can be seen as the same as the Christian God, is both male and female and is also called the God and Goddess. This duality allows the creator being to be both male and female, mother and father. Sometimes Wiccans will call it the God and sometimes they will call it the Goddess.

Wiccans believe in surrounding themselves in positive energy by doing good deeds and loving themselves and others. Wiccans have one rule: harm none. This means that no matter what happens, you must never harm another. Many Wiccans take this to extremes and become vegetarian. Wiccans believe that all living beings are equal and deserve respect.

This also means that Wicca is not biased against any other person, group, or organization. Wicca accepts all people of all ages, all races, all religions, and all sexuality. Truthfully, a person can be a Christian and a Wiccan at the same time. Wiccans believe in many of the same basic concepts of Christianity such as love thy neighbor, thou shalt not kill, etc. Wicca adds a few ideas of its own such as love and care for your body and mind, treat all life as sacred, forgive others, love life, and do good deeds for others.

Wiccans do not believe in the devil. Wicca is based on a variety of religions, all of which predate Christianity, before the concept of a Satan had been invented. Wiccans do not practice the Christian faith, so they do not have a concept of the devil. Wiccans believe that evil can only exist within humans, so we must work to be good people and create good karma for ourselves.

There are a variety of ways a person can learn about Wicca. Wicca is an increasingly popular religion found all over the world today. Even popular television shows have changed within the last few years to include Wiccan characters. Indeed, you most likely know at least one Wiccan, though you may not know it. Wiccans look and act just like anyone else, because they are just like anyone else. Your son or daughter could have heard about Wicca from people at school, books, television, or the internet.

Being Wiccan does not mean your child is in a cult. Wiccans do not believe in controlling others, so it is unlikely that your son or daughter is in a cult. Cults, however, can form within any religion, even Christianity. Cults are started by bad people who want total control over others, not by the religion they may be based on.

If you still think that your child may have joined a cult, check this link to see if your child fits any of the descriptions.

Sometimes practicing Wicca is just a phase for teenagers. Some teens come into Wicca because of something they saw on television. After they find out that Wicca is not what they think it is, their interests may wear off and they quit practicing or move on to something else. Often, however, teens find that the peace and serenity the religion offers them is just what they are looking for and they practice for the rest of their lives.

Your son or daughter is probably not serious about Wicca if:

• They are interested in Wicca because of a movie, TV show or book like "The Craft", Charmed or Harry Potter
• They do drugs or practice other illegal activities
• They are uninterested in school, reading, or studying

Some parents are extremely religious and would rather not let their children practice anything other than their own religion. Before you punish your child, remember this:
Though they are young, your children hold their beliefs just as sacred as you hold yours.

You cannot force another person to believe something they do not. Teens are at a critical point in their lives when they are especially prone to rebelling and voicing their own opinions. Punishing teens will usually drive them further away from you. It will not prevent them from practicing their religion. The best thing you can do is be there for them and support them, no matter what happens. The more you let your children know that you respect and trust them, the more open they will be with you in all aspects of their lives in the future.

Wiccans do not believe in hating any group of people, especially because of religious differences. Wiccans believe that there is no one true or perfect religion and that all religions are right for those who wish to practice them.

Wiccans do not believe in proselytizing. They do not believe in converting people to their own beliefs. Because religious persecution is common, Wiccans are normally very quiet about their religion until confronted. Your child will most likely not have heard about Wicca unless they asked about it.

Go to this link to learn more about Wicca and its traditions:
Coven of Midnight Lessons

Here are two passages from the good book that may help to ease your fears:

Matthew: 7, 16-20:
By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.