A few questions...(long)

[reesesmomma]

Okay, I'm really new to all of this so bare with me. :) I'm really not even quite sure if Wicca/Paganism is what I believe. See, I was raised in a Southern Baptist home. We went to church every Sun. morning, Sun. night and Wed. night. I always hated it. I never felt like I belonged. Plus, I hate being forced to do anything. Anyway, when I was about 17 I fell away from the church. Some things happened and I finally decided I'd had enough. So, I started questioning everything I had been tought for the last 17 years. I came to the conclusion that the bible is a work of fiction and heaven and hell are also made up. I don't believe in the "devil". I also don't believe in "god". I do however believe that there is something that put us here. I'm just not quite sure what. I believe in reincarnation and kharma. I believe that we are all put here for a reason, and we have a path to follow. It's our job to figure out what it is. Since I was 17 I've been trying to find something to call myself. I'm not Christian, or Athiest, or Budhist, or Mormon, or Muslim, or any of the "popular" religions. So far Wicca/Paganism seems to fit the most. But I haven't read everything there is, and I don't really know a whole lot about it. SO...I'm asking you...what are the cornerstones of Wicca and Paganism? What do Wiccans and Pagans believe in? Please help me! I feel so lost.

[Raevyn]

First, there are stuck threads in this forum to help you. There's also a thread or two in Pagan Geek with sites you can get more info from, and you can visit the Recommended Books thread in Books for help finding literature to read. There are also countless people here to help you with any questions you may have, and a wealth of information as well.

That said, Paganism is a group of religions and paths and can't be nailed down to specific beliefs or rules. Pagans include Shamans, Druids, Witches, Wiccans, and more.

Wicca is easier to think about though. There are a few threads on that here if you care to look. The first rule of Wicca is "harm none", which is part of a poem of advice for Wiccans. There's also the rule of 3, which says whatever you send out in terms of energies etc. comes back to you 3x over. Finally, Wiccans usually believe in a God and Goddess who represent polar opposites of balance, and celebrate holidays throughout the year called Sabbats which mark the changing of seasons and their God and Goddess. They also often have Esbats at full and sometimes new moons to do magick.

Wiccans and Pagans alike sometimes participate in divination and scrying, herbcraft, magick, and so on, but these are not requirements.

Welcome to our forum :)