-1Kiara Williams

Mr. Hererra Religion December 11, 2011

Religion Paper

Wicca is a peaceful, harmonious way of life that encourages oneness with the divine and all of existence. To fully describe Wicca George Knowles a Wiccan author said that Wicca has no high authority, no single leader, no prophet and no Bible to dictate its laws and beliefs. Catholicism is the faith, practice and order of the Roman Catholic church. Although these are two completely different religions they also share some of the same similarities. Both Catholicism and Wicca have false assumptions surrounding them. Many people think that Wicca is a devil worshiping religion when in reality they try to distance themselves from satanic elements. Many people also think that Catholics worship the saints when really they pray to the saints to intercede to God. Catholics and Wiccans also have a deity or higher being that they answer to. Wiccans believe in a Wiccan goddess that they refer to as The Mother. Catholics believe in the one and only God. Some of the main principles shared between the two religions are generosity, patience and respect for the earth and the creatures that inhabit it. Wiccans and Catholics also each have a set of rules or guidelines to live by, the Wiccans have the

Wiccan Rede and Catholics have the Ten Commandments. Wicca a religion that dates back to the 20th century when it first started in a small English country. Catholicism a much older religion dates way back as earliest as the 14th century. Each respective religion has their own special festivals and holy days that they celebrate. Wiccans celebrate Samhain which is the pagan new year and it takes place on October 31st. Another important holiday for Wiccans is Yule which takes place on December 21 and is the Wiccan variation of Christmas. Catholics also have their own share of holidays and holy days including Christmas, Easter, The Immaculate Conception and Ash Wednesday. While Catholics believe that God watches over them, Wiccans believe that the forces of nature watch over them. Though these beliefs seem different to each other they are actually very similar. Both religion also have many symbols and holy objects that they use for worship. Catholics have the cross, altars, and chalices that aid them while worshiping. The Catholics symbol of worship is the cross. It is a reminder of the suffering that Jesus endured to absolve us of our sins. The Wiccans use the sword, horns, spears, candles, gold, brass, diamonds, the sickle, the arrow, the magical wand, the trident and other symbols to represent their God. Each religion also uses forms of song and prayer in their daily or weekly rituals. Where Catholics pray, read from the bible, sing holy songs and attend weekly services in the Church, Wiccans use ancient chanting, lilting songs and magical dances under the moon and stars. While Wicca and Catholicism have similarities they also have many differences. The two religions are almost complete opposites to one another. Wicca is not even really

a religion at all it is more a way of life. A lot of the beliefs of the two religions actually go against each other. An example of this would be that Catholics practice and encourage abstinence while Wiccans practice expressing their sexuality and their sexual desires. Wiccans are also a polytheistic religion while Catholicism is a monotheistic religion believing in just God. Wiccans see various elements of nature as gods while Catholics believe that all of nature is a product of Gods creation. Wiccans and Catholics way of worship are also very different. Catholics express their devotion to God by praying, attending church services and observing holy days of obligation. Wiccans express devotion to their God and Goddess, by facing the moon, absorbing powers to mix with their own energies, taking long walks beneath the trees, and studying nature through flowers and plants. Wiccans also have a special interest in magic. They use astrology and sorcery to try and become closer to their gods and nature. They are a very superstitious religion and they highly believe in karma. Wiccans dont really believe in a afterlife, they have several beliefs on what happens to that person. One belief is that the person is reincarnated into another living life form. Another belief is the division of souls and that is that your body and soul fly apart at death and become part of all the divine every of life. Catholics on the other hand believe in a Heaven and a Hell. Catholics believe that although your actions in this life determine where youll go in this life, Jesus always will forgives us and will always try to lead us to salvation. Wiccans have a strong desire to protect and preserve nature. Some Wiccans believe that all living things (including stars,

planets, humans, animals, plants, rocks) have a spirit of some type. Both religions teach a better way of life through understanding and love of the world around them. They just have different beliefs and practices in doing so.