Sabrina. Buffy’s friend, Willow. The three raven-haired sisters of the WB. The Blair Witch. If you don’t know what I’m talking about yet, you’re probably over 50 or don’t own a television! Yes, it seems that prime-time on TV has become the "witching hour" with so many programs like "Charmed" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." But are these television shows advertisements for the occult? Honestly, it would be hard to take any of these programs seriously for advice on dating, much less on religion, but they do point to a shocking trend in American life: witchcraft and paganism have become "cool."

And not only cool, but rapidly growing in numbers—in some places faster than traditional religions. The United States and Canada are experiencing a massive explosion of interest in neo-paganism. Want proof? How about the thousands of “covens” or pagan churches that are being founded. Of these groups, many of them are founded and operated by teens who found Wicca themselves, not because their parents brought them up in it.*

some Neo-Pagan Beliefs & Teachings
— Neo-pagan ethics. If your idea of a witch is someone giving the “evil eye” and putting hexes on people, then you certainly wouldn’t think that they are concerned about right and wrong. Right? Well, wrong, actually. Wiccans follow a creed called “the Rede” which states: “An it harm none, do as ye will” or in plain English: “As long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, do what you want.” This is quite different than the Satanic creed: “Do what thou wilt is the whole of the law” or in plain language: “Do whatever you want—period!” The Rede seems nice, but it does fall short of “loving your neighbor.” After all, Christians are called to do a lot more than just “not hurting anyone.”

— The Law of Three. Many neo-pagans also believe in the Law of Three or the Law of Return, an idea that is similar to karma in Buddhism: “For good or for ill, shall be returned to us threefold.” Again, in plain-speaking terms: “Whatever you do will have consequences for you three times over.” Sounds like another biblical idea, doesn’t it? “Whatever you sow, that will you reap” (Job 4:8). The difference is that the consequences according to the Bible come from God’s authority, not nature itself.

— Emphasis on feminine deity & feminism. Wicca was founded by a man, but witchcraft traditionally and in modern times is made up of mostly females. Wiccans usually speak of the Goddess rather than God, or sometimes “the Goddess and the God.” Because  of Wiccan theology and a long history of the abuse of women, feminists have been drawn to Wicca.

— Neo-pagan worship. One thing most neo-pagans, especially Wiccans, have in common is their reverence for nature. They are concerned with the changing seasons and the cycles of the moon. They are looking for harmony with nature rather than dominion over it. In fact, Wiccans believe that to the extent that there is a god or goddess above everything, that god(dess) is in everything. (The technical term for this is pantheism.) That means that killing animals for any reason is wrong to many neo-pagans, so many neo-pagans are animal rights activists and/or vegetarians.

— Sexual license. One of the biggest attractions to Neo-paganism is “no rules” sexuality: anything that doesn’t hurt anyone and is consensual is okay. Neo-paganism embraces homosexuality as normal and positive, which is why many homosexuals have been drawn into it. “If it feels good, do it,” is not far off the mark from what is promoted in the Rede. Wren Walker, one prominent Wiccan, proclaims: “We have no rules which prohibit homosexuality, nudity or pre-marital sex. Sex as the generative force in nature is seen by most pagans as something utterly sacred. We feel that the physical act of love is to be approached with great respect and responsibility.” Christians would agree that sex is holy and ordained by God, but God has placed boundaries around sex for our good (not to keep people from having a good time). sharing with neo-pagans

SHARING WITH NEO PAGANS
Just as with any other person, a Wiccan needs God. They aren’t any farther away from Him than any other lost person, or for that matter, any farther away from Him than we were before we were saved. Keep these things in mind when sharing with a Wiccan:

01 We have common ground with Wiccans. Christians value creation, want equal rights for all people, and believe in not harming one another. 

02 Know that Christians have a lot of baggage to overcome when it comes to history. What has gone before in the name of God was many times evil. Don’t  defend what  some Christians have done in Jesus’ name. Instead recognize wrong for what it was and what it is.

03 Understand the outcast. Why have they chosen Wicca? Yes, some think it will give them power, but many are drawn to it because they feel rejected by mainstream culture. Don’t be a part of that problem: become friends with the lonely, the loners, and yes, the strange.

04 Make deposits into that bank of trust. Show neo-pagan teens that you really do care, and that they are not some kind of notch waiting to be carved in the side of your Bible. Build that trust by acts of kindness, friendship and honesty.

05 Ultimately, remember the gospel is a challenge and a confrontation (not by you, but the Truth itself). Don’t be surprised if your witch friend isn’t friendly when it comes to Jesus. Accepting Jesus is liberating—and it comes at great cost as well. The gospel doesn’t need to be watered down; just share honestly from the heart.

Frequently asked questions

01 Is witchcraft a form of Satanism?

— Calling witches “Satanists” or “devil worshippers” is unproductive, at the very least. Wiccans by definition do not believe in Satan, since they reject most traditional Christian teachings as well. Wiccans and pagans would not deny being occultic (having secret, mystical teachings and practices), but they reject the worship of evil, animal sacrifices, and anything else associated with harming others.

02 Are neo-paganism and witchcraft part of the New Age movement?

—                The New Age movement holds many tenets in common with witchcraft, yet witches reject many of the practices and beliefs common to New Age practitioners. Wiccans might scoff at spirit channeling but embrace reincarnation or karma. Neo-pagan and New Age movements may have some similar ideas and practices, but the two are not the same. Neo-pagans draw exclusively on nature religion traditions; New Agers draw from all kinds of traditions.