| As the religion of Wicca becomes more popular, a | | | | casting malicious spells, as well as a variety of other |
| greater portion of the population is more likely to | | | | things that other religions and the medical profession |
| encounter it in one form or another. There are books | | | | don't have any moral objection to. |
| describing Wiccan practices even in mainstream | | | | Another basic tenet that reinforces Wicca's benign |
| bookstores, there are sites devoted to sharing the | | | | nature is the "Law of Three" which states that |
| Wiccan religion (as well as tearing it down) all over | | | | anything that we send out into the world returns to |
| the Internet, and the majority of us have probably | | | | us multiplied by three. This means that Wiccans are |
| encountered the idea of Wicca on TV or in a movie. | | | | extremely generous with positive things and very |
| With the growing popularity of Wicca as a religion, | | | | hesitant to do harm to others. Belief in this |
| many of us will probably encounter more and more | | | | boomerang effect is a clear deterrent to a lot of the |
| Wiccas just in our day to day lives. | | | | behavior that the Witches of old were accused of. |
| Since Wicca is becoming more and more prevalent | | | | Another interesting fact about the religion of Wicca is |
| and more accepted, it's a good idea to be informed | | | | that, far from worshiping Satan, its adherents don't |
| about what Wicca is and what Wiccas stand for. First | | | | even believe in the existence of Satan. Instead of |
| of all, while Wicca is another name for Witchcraft and | | | | seeing the world as having good and evil forces in it, |
| technically followers of the religion can be called | | | | Wiccans believe that the supernatural forces in the |
| witches, the name "Wicca" was chosen in order to | | | | universe are neutral and that people can choose to |
| distance the religion from the common association | | | | use these forces for either good or evil. |
| that witchcraft has with Satanism, human sacrifice, | | | | Another tenet of Wicca is religious freedom. This one |
| and consorting with demons. While these associations | | | | comes more from the persecution that nature |
| are widespread, they have their basis in propaganda | | | | worshipers have faced over the centuries than any |
| spread over the course of the second half of the | | | | fundamental religious belief. This ideal of religious |
| second millennium by Christian churches and the | | | | freedom deters Wiccas from evangelizing, though |
| budding medical establishment as they tried to | | | | they are still eager to share their religion with people |
| undermine Witchcraft as a religious belief and a | | | | who are interested in it, and makes Wiccas accepting |
| resource for medicine, respectively. | | | | of other religious beliefs. |
| In reality, Witchcraft- especially in the modern form | | | | While it must be understood that any religion is made |
| of Wicca- is extremely benign due to its core beliefs. | | | | up of individuals and that individuals can have |
| One of the main tenets of Wicca is "Harm None." | | | | behaviors and attitudes that are unbecoming to their |
| Much like the Hippocratic oath which states "First do | | | | creed, hopefully this article will give you an idea of |
| no harm," one of the fundamental beliefs of Wicca is | | | | what you can expect when you inevitably meet a |
| that it's wrong to do harm to others. This clearly | | | | Wiccan. |
| prohibits the sacrifice of humans and other animals, | | | | |