What Is Wicca? What Wiccans Believe

The Pagan Federation says Wiccan-based Pagans see all the goddesses as one Great Goddess and all the gods as one Great God. Wikisource records the short form of the Wiccan Rede as “An it harm none, do what ye will.” Christians confess one God, and that Jesus is the way to the Father.

Key points

• The Pagan Federation says, “Paganism is not dogmatic. Pagans pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience.”
• It says Wiccan-based Pagans “see all the goddesses as one Great Goddess, and all the gods as one Great God, whose harmonious interaction is the secret of the universe.”
• Wikisource says, “The most common form of the rede is An it harm none, do what ye will.”
• Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Exodus 20:3 · King James Version says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
• John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 · King James Version records Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
• What is paganism? quotes the Federation’s definitions. Witchcraft and the Bible quotes Deuteronomy 18. Gerald Gardner’s books are not quoted; they are still in copyright.

What the Federation says

The Pagan Federation says:

Paganism is not dogmatic. Pagans pursue their own vision of the Divine as a direct and personal experience.

Pagan Federation

On Wicca it says:

Wiccan-based Pagans in the modern world, see all the goddesses as one Great Goddess, and all the gods as one Great God, whose harmonious interaction is the secret of the universe.

Pagan Federation

It also says, “Pagan religions all recognise the feminine face of divinity. A religion without goddesses can hardly be classified as Pagan.”

The Rede

Wikisource, “The Wiccan Rede”, says:

The most common form of the rede is An it harm none, do what ye will.

Wikisource, “The Wiccan Rede”

The same page says “Rede” is a Middle English word for advice or counsel, and that “An” is an old form of “if.” The long 1975 poem printed on that page is not copied here.

The Christian claim

Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:Deuteronomy 6:4 · King James Version says the LORD our God is one LORD. Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Exodus 20:3 · King James Version says there shall be no other gods before him. Isaiah 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.Isaiah 44:6 · King James Version says beside him there is no God. John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1 · King James Version says the Word was God, and John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 · King James Version records Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Christians do not confess a Great Goddess and a Great God whose interaction is the secret of the universe. They confess the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that Jesus is God. That is the Trinity.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wicca the same as all pagan religion?

The Federation’s sentence quoted above is about “Wiccan-based Pagans.” What is paganism? quotes the wider definitions on the same page: a polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping religion.

What does the Rede require?

The short form on Wikisource is “An it harm none, do what ye will.” What does the Bible say about witchcraft? quotes a different standard: Deuteronomy 18:10–12^18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. ^18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. ^18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.Deuteronomy 18:10–12 · King James Version.

Why is Gardner not quoted?

His books are still in copyright. This page quotes the Federation and the short Rede sentence that Wikisource states.