But, not many know that the word Pagan comes from a Latin word paganus meaning “not of the city,” or rural. When Christianity was being spread, the last places it would reach would be the rural areas of a country or province, it was “Pagans” who were converted last, and in most cases, they were converted incompletely, so that their faith become a mixture of the new and the old. Many local saints, such as Saint Brigit, and holidays, such as Christmas, are Christianized versions of Pagan deities, adopted so that the locals would accept Christianity as part of their beliefs. Just watch, bring up this simple information around some Christians and they will deny it or not believe it, but it is true.

Now lets look at the word “Wicca” - where does it come from? What does it mean? There is possibly two sources for the word “Wicca” - the first having come from an Anglo-Saxon word “wic” or “wit,” meaning wise or learned. A person who was called “Wiccan” was a person who has knowledge, usually of healing and of herbs, which placed them apart form ordinary people. The other possible source is from the Celtic term “wick,” which means to bend or be supple. Wiccans were and are people who bent, or adapted, as life and conditions changed. Another possible interpretation of wick is “bending with your Will” as one does in the process of Magick ~expalined in "magick"~ Wicca is also referred to as The Craft, meaning the craft of the wise. These two terms, Wicca and The Craft may be used interchangeably throughout this section.

Wicca is unique in that unlike Judeo-Christian beliefs, it does not have a doctrine imposed by a hierarchical organization, and does not provide its followers with anything like the bible or a holy book. However, there are many traditions in Wicca that are passed down by each generation, as in the old days when everything was an oral tradition. It allows individuals to worship and practice by themselves, and the individual is given a chance to develop and continue to refine their own beliefs and spiritual practices and to find their own spiritual path. This emphasis on individualism attracts many people, and allows each person to believe as they choose - there really are many Christian Wiccans who follow the Bible and the teachings of Christ, but who practice them in the more open and personal way of Wicca.

Here is a brief summury of beliefs which most Wiccans, but not all, have in common:

• Dual polarity of Dietry
• Belief in reincarnation
• Respect for all; human, animal, plant, mineral, celestial and spiritual kingdoms alike
• Immanence of Deity
• Resepct for Mother Earth
• Wicca is a free choice religion - no proselytizing
• All initians are Priests and Pristesses
• Equality of all sexes and races
• Education and learning are valued and continualy pursued
• Wicca is cross cultural
  

  Sources: Websters Dictonary; "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham