Theitic

Wicca is a contemporary pagan religion that emerged in England during the first half of the 20th century, introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner. It is considered a new religious movement and a form of modern paganism, often categorized by scholars as a nature religion, a mystery religion, and a magico-religion due to its incorporation of magical practices. Wicca draws inspiration from Western esotericism and ancient pagan motifs, integrating them into its theological and ritual traditions. Over time, Wicca has diversified into various traditions, each with its own organizational structure and practices, leading to differing views on its definition and boundaries.

Wicca evolved from Western esoteric traditions in early 20th-century England. Gerald Gardner played a significant role in its public introduction in 1954, incorporating elements from ancient paganism and 20th-century hermeticism into its beliefs and rituals. Doreen Valiente contributed to developing its liturgical traditions in the 1950s. The religion's teachings were disseminated through published works and private initiatory transmissions. Over the years, Wicca has branched into numerous traditions, leading to a decentralized structure and varying interpretations of its core tenets. Some traditions, known as British Traditional Wicca, emphasize initiatory lineage, while others adopt a broader definition.

Wiccan theology is diverse, encompassing theistic, atheistic, and agnostic viewpoints. Theistic Wiccans hold varied beliefs, including pantheism, monotheism, duotheism, and polytheism. A common theological structure is duotheism, venerating a dualistic divine of the Goddess and the God, often conceived as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God. These deities are sometimes seen as aspects of a universal divine force. The Horned God is frequently associated with nature, the afterlife, and serves as a male role model, while the Mother Goddess is linked to life, fertility, and womanhood. These concepts have been compared to Taoist principles like yin and yang.

Wiccan practice involves celebrating lunar cycles (Esbats), associated with the Goddess, and solar cycles (Sabbats), linked to the God. The Wiccan Rede offers moral guidance, often related to magical practices. Practitioners are called Wiccans, witches, or pagan witches, with terms like 'wizard' and 'warlock' generally discouraged. Initially referred to as 'Witchcraft' or 'the Craft', the name 'Wicca' emerged in the 1960s, derived from Old English terms for magic-workers, symbolizing a connection to the pre-Christian past and offering a less controversial self-designation than 'Witchcraft'.