[Vision2020] The Persecution of Quakers: Shame On OurPuritanForefathers

[Paul Rumelhart]

While I agree that Wicca dates back to the 1950s, there are people out 
there who profess to come from a long line of witches, having been 
taught by a family member.  Supposedly, this was kept secret until the 
climate was right to be able to come out of the "broom closet".  The 
foundation of Wicca and it's subsequent popularity apparently has helped 
to open that door.

There is a book called Aradia, which describes a branch of witchcraft in 
Italy that supposedly has ancient pre-Christian roots.  The witches are 
called "Strega".

I don't know how much to believe this.  I've never met a witch that 
learned it as part of a family tradition who is older than 15, so I 
can't say how believable they are individually.

Paul

Andreas Schou wrote:
> The "ancient origin" deal is... um, sketchy, at best. Or, rather, it's 
> an article of faith rather than an expression of historical fact. 
> Wicca traces its origin back to the 1950s,  when an English 
> bureaucrat/occultist published an account of joining a coven in rural 
> England. The actual coven he joined seems to be of dubious authenticity.
>
> -- ACS
>
> On Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 10:02 AM, Sue Hovey <suehovey at moscow.com 
> <mailto:suehovey at moscow.com>> wrote:
>
>     But isn't Wicca ancient?  I thought Wiccans traced their history to
>     Stonehenge and beyond?
>
>     Sue H.
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     From: "Chasuk" <chasuk at gmail.com <mailto:chasuk at gmail.com>>
>     To: "deb" <debismith at moscow.com <mailto:debismith at moscow.com>>
>     Cc: <vision2020 at moscow.com <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>>;
>     <dave at ravencroftfarm.com <mailto:dave at ravencroftfarm.com>>
>     Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:29 AM
>     Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Persecution of Quakers: Shame On
>     OurPuritanForefathers
>
>
>     > On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 23:01, deb <debismith at moscow.com
>     <mailto:debismith at moscow.com>> wrote:
>     >
>     >> Surprise! For me, Witches are Real!
>     >
>     > I'm going to ask you a question, Debi.  I can't help myself; I've
>     > always been curious.  It is intended respectfully, so I hope it
>     comes
>     > across that way.
>     >
>     > First, an instant of preamble:  I believe that all religions are
>     human
>     > inventions.  Preamble finished.
>     >
>     > Why choose a religion invented so recently that its origins
>     can't even
>     > be cloaked by antiquity?  I often wonder this about Mormonism as
>     well,
>     > invented by Joseph Smith.  The overlap isn't that great: Gerald
>     > Gardner died only about 7 years before Brigham Young (Smith's
>     > successor) was born.
>     >
>     > I mean, if you aren't going to choose a faith hoary with age (which
>     > enrobes it in at least a little bit of plausibility), why not be a
>     > humanist, or some flavor of skeptic, or even invent your own?
>     >
>     > for example, I'm a confirmed non-theist, but I've always found
>     > Hinduism attractive mythologically.  It is so joyously carnal and
>     > colorful.  If I was going to pick a mythology, that would be my
>     > choice.  Krisha and Ganesha and Hanuman rock.  The Mahabharata is an
>     > amazing document.
>     >
>     > So why Wicca?
>     >
>     > Chas
>     >
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