Religion 101 (26 page)

Throughout history the calamities that people are subject to are often blamed on someone else, when all the time it’s his or her own doing. This common fault in human nature was, and is today, the basic motivation of prejudice: Find a scapegoat and blame someone else for what’s wrong. The Christian witch-hunts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were a time when thousands of witches were persecuted and executed, usually by burning them to death. While it’s difficult to believe, between 1994 and 1995 more than 200 people in South Africa were burnt to death after being accused of witchcraft. Even today the Harry Potter books, which have given wonderful pleasure to thousands of children and adults, have been condemned by certain Christian fundamentalists.

Central Beliefs

Wicca is the witches’ religion, said to derive from an ancient Celtic society that is older than Christianity. Other sources say the religion is a modern one that does not have a long historical connection. Either way, Wiccans were, and are, seen by the churches as having ties to Satan, which they did, and do strongly deny. They insist that Wiccans are no more like Satanists than Buddhists, Hindus, or Muslims. Modern Wiccans maintain that present-day Wicca was created by the merging of some of the ancient Celtic beliefs, deity structure, and seasonal days of celebration, with modern material from ceremonial magic.

The general belief is that Wicca arose as an important movement in England during the 1950s. The movement has claimed a fast-track expansion into North America and Europe. Some estimates put the number of adherents at 800,000 in the United States alone. That’s at best an estimate because Wiccans are, understandably, reticent about telling people of their beliefs. Imagine someone at a company meeting standing up and saying he had to go because he was late for a meeting at his coven, essentially announcing he was a warlock. Not quite the same as being late for a meeting of the Sunday school choir.

If the adherent figures are true, that would make Wicca one of the largest and fastest-growing minority religions in the United States. However, it is doubtful if the correct figures will be ever be known or substantiated. Wiccans see themselves as victimized, more so than any other religious group.

Covens

Wiccans worship in a coven. Traditionally, a coven consists of thirteen people. It is preferred that the makeup of the group is six couples who are emotionally connected. The thirteenth member will be the High Priestess or Priest. Generally, there are no rules about the group, it can be mixed gender or not. However, some covens do have one gender, for instance Dianic Witches. Typically, covens meet in private homes or meeting rooms. On some occasions, holidays in particular, they meet out of doors. Nights of the full or new moon are times of choice.

Legal Recognition

A recent development has been made that allows witches and covens to become legally recognized. Churches, seminaries, and antidefamation leagues have been formed.

Covens don’t advertise for members; they come through word-of-mouth recommendation and have to be unanimously approved by all the members of the coven before they become full members themselves. It might be asked that if witchcraft is so secret, how does one find a coven? Basically, the advice is networking, something the Internet has made much easier. New Age stores also often provide a meeting place for those interested in Wicca.

As an alternative to trying to find a coven, a person might prefer to learn about becoming a solitary witch or warlock. Many prospective adherents do this. Once a person feels well informed and confident enough, he or she could perform a spell to act as a kind of personal beacon to draw others of like mind. Traditional Celtic jewelry could also be worn — for instance, crescent moon earrings or a Celtic pentagram.

Religion 101 Question

What’s the ideal number of members in a Wiccan coven?

Thirteen.

Practices

Witchcraft members adhere strictly to an ethical code called “Wiccan Rede.” They believe that whatever they do comes back to them threefold. Thus, if they did harm they would get harm back to the power of three. Therefore, they have no incentive to curse anyone; the curse would come back to haunt them three times over. All witches practice some form of ritual magic, which must be considered “good magic.” Their ethical code is spelled out in the saying: “An’ it harm none, do what thou wilt.”

Calling oneself “Witch” does not make a witch, but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A witch seeks to control forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with nature.

— The Council of American Witches,
Principles of Belief

A deep respect for the environment features strongly in Wiccan religious activity. So, too, does the value of the feminine and the need to balance what many women, witches or not, consider the overly oppressive practice of masculine domination in traditional religions.

Witches generally worship a god and goddess, seen as different aspects of the same deity. The deity is known as the ultimate omnipotent god force in the universe and is the same God most people worship. However, witches relate better to both a mother and father figure, which is why the name
goddess
figures predominately in the craft.

Religion 101 Question

How do witches cast spells?

Typically, a witch will start a spell by casting a circle, burning some incense, lighting a special candle, then doing some rhythmic chanting.

Rituals

Wiccans have many rituals; one of the most charming is called handfasting. The ceremony was derived from the medieval wedding practices used in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Handfasting is basically a marriage ceremony, although it may not be a permanent state unless a valid marriage license has been obtained and a licensed priest is present at the ceremony and legally certified.

Originally, the ceremony was not considered a wedding, but a declaration of intent to marry. If, after a year and a day, the couple are still committed to each other, then they would be legally married at an official ceremony.

Before the ceremony can begin, the area chosen is traditionally swept free of debris and negativity by the Maiden of the Broom; once that’s done the ceremony commences. The actual ceremony follows in a fairly traditional manner, although like Christian marriages, for instance, the couple may personalize it. The Wiccan ceremony starts with the High Priestess circling three times and incanting:

Three times round,
   Once for the Daughter,
   Twice for the Crone,
   Thrice for the Mother,
   who sits on the throne.

Everything proceeds with the giving of the vows, the placing of wedding bands, and giving thanks to the elements. The ceremony ends with the opening stanza being repeated.

Festivals

Based on the Celtic calendar, the Wiccan calendar recognizes two seasons, winter and summer, each of which begins with a celebration. The eight major holidays are called the Eight Sabbats. Some covens may follow the festivals, others may have alternatives. Minor holidays are called the Lesser Sabbats.

Note that the dates given in the list below may vary:

• Yule. The Winter Solstice, December 21. The Sun God is born at Yule.
  
• Imbolg (also called Imbolc), February 1/2. The first signs of waking up from winter (also known as Groundhog Day).
  
• Ostara. The Vernal Equinox, March 22. The magical times when day and night are equal.
  
• Beltane, May 1. A great fertility celebration (also known as May Day).
  
• Litha. The Summer Solstice, June 21. It is also known as Midsummer and St. John’s Day.
  
• Lughnasadh, August 1. The beginning of the harvest season.
  
• Mabon. The Autumn Equinox, September 22. A time to give thanks for the earth’s bounty.
  
• Samhain, November 1. Samhain is the New Year’s Day of the Wiccan calendar. Just as the Wiccan day of celebration begins at sundown, so the year begins with the beginning of the dark half of the year.
  

RASTAFARIANISM

The Lion of Judah

The origins of Rastafarianism go back to Marcus Garvey (1887–1940), one of the early founders of the Pan-Africanist movement. Garvey preached that his followers would return to Africa; he predicted that a future black African king would lead the people.

In 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen (1892–1975) was crowned king of Ethiopia. He claimed the title Emperor Haile Selassie I (Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, and King of Kings of Ethiopia). Thus, Haile Selassie fulfilled the prediction of a black king. As far as the Rastafarians were concerned, he was the living God for the black race. They believed that he was the Jesus Christ that Christianity speaks of, that the white man tricked the world into believing that Jesus was a white man.

Jamaica

Jamaica was sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1494; years later it was colonized by the Spanish, and subsequently by the British. The slave trade, which was introduced by the Spanish, continued on until the 1830s when it was abolished. In 1959, Jamaica became an independent country within the British Commonwealth.

It was after Haile Selassie was crowned that Rastafarianism came into being. One of its early leaders was Leonard Howell (1898–1981), who was later arrested by the Jamaican government for preaching a revolutionary doctrine. Here are his six principles:

1. Hatred for the white race.
   
2. The complete superiority of the black race.
   
3. Revenge on whites for their wickedness.
   
4. The negation, persecution, and humiliation of the government and legal bodies of Jamaica.
   
5. The preparation to go back to Africa.
   
6. Acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as the Supreme Being and only ruler of black people.
   

On April 21, 1966, Haile Selassie visited Jamaica. Two things resulted from his visit: April 21 was declared a special holy day, and Selassie strongly advised Rastafarians not to immigrate to Ethiopia, urging them to liberate the people of Jamaica first. Many people have since wondered about his motive for discouraging immigration. It’s possible that he saw the possible immigration of thousands of Jamaicans to Ethiopia as causing far more problems than it would solve.

Rastafarians (sometimes called Rastas) do not accept that Haile Selassie is dead. They believe that his atoms have spread throughout the world and live through individual Rastafarians. The Rastafarian name for God is Jah.

Central Beliefs and Holy Writings

The original belief system of Rastafarianism was so vague that what was part of its doctrine was largely a matter of individual interpretation. Rastafarians accept the Bible, but with reservations. They think that much of the translation into English has produced distortions so that while the basic text may be in order, it should be viewed in a critical light. They have no holy scriptures, apart from the Rastafarian interpretation of the Bible.

The doctrine of Rastafarians has similarities to Christianity in that they believe that God revealed himself in Moses, their first savior, followed by Elijah and then Jesus Christ. But sources differ. One of them asserted that Rastafarians believed that Haile Selassie was actually Jesus Christ. Others believe that the devil is actually the god of the white man.

What’s It Mean?

The expression “I and I” is frequently heard in the Rasta dialect. It means that all are absolutely equal. This means that people wouldn’t say “you and I,” but “I and I.”

The two major symbols that exemplify the Rastafarians, as well as identify them, are dreadlocks and
ganja
(marijuana). Dreadlocks symbolize the Rasta roots. They are the antithesis of the blond look of the white man and his establishment. The way the hair grows and is tended represents the Lion of Judah (Haile Selassie). By association this has come to represent priesthood. As is probably well-known, dreadlocks have been adopted by many black people (and even some white people) even though they may not be adherents of Rastafarianism.

Ganja
is the Rasta name for marijuana; it is used for religious purposes, and its religious justification is based on different verses from the Bible:

• “He causeth the grass for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.” (Psalms 104:14)
  
• “Thou shalt eat the herb of the field.” (Genesis 3:18)
  
• “Eat every herb of the land.” (Exodus 10:12)
  
• “Better is a dinner of herb where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” (Proverbs 15:17)
  

The use of the herb among Rastafarians is extensive, and not only for religious ceremony. The Nyabingi celebration, for instance, uses the herb for medicinal purposes, such as for colds.

The use of
ganja
for religious rituals started in a cult commune set up by Leonard Howell in the hills of St. Catherine called Pinnacle, which overlooked the city of Kingston.

The growth of Rastafarianism is attributed to the worldwide acceptance of a reggae artist, Bob Marley (1945–1981), who became a prophet of the belief in 1975. The movement spread, mainly to black youth throughout the Caribbean, many of whom saw it as a symbol of their rebelliousness. The expansion also found believers in England and the United States.

SCIENTOLOGY

The Hollywood Celebrity Religion

Scientology developed in the 1950s as an extension of a best-selling book,
Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health
by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986). The book detailed Hubbard’s new form of psychotherapy and became widely popular. In 1952, after developing extensive disagreements with others in the dianetics organization, Hubbard founded the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International.