So much has been written recently about Wicca that you probably think you have a decent handle on what this "religion" is all about. But do you? Are Wiccans witches? Do they worship the Devil? Do they believe in God? The answers may surprise you.

First, let's talk about what Wicca is not. A Wiccan is not a Satan worshipper. Far from it. In fact, morality plays an important role in Wiccan tradition. Let me describe two central tenets of popular faiths today, and you try and guess which one can be attributed to the Wiccan tradition, and which to some other belief. Ready?

-- We are all given free will to make choices that affect our lives, and whatever we choose to do, so long as it does not harm another person, is acceptable.

-- "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." In other words, the way you treat others will have a direct affect on the way you are, in turn, treated. "What goes around, comes around" would be another way to phrase it, or "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Both of these beliefs probably sound familiar to you. In fact, the so-called "Golden Rule" is in there, isn't it?

So, would it surprise you to know that, as well as being central to the teachings of many faiths, including the Judeo-Christian religions, both of these are also a lynchpin of the Wiccan morality? Maybe it's time to re-think that whole black-hatted witch notion.

Why Wicca Gets a Bad Rap

It's hard to say where it started, but somewhere in its history Wicca came to be associated with things like "black magic," sinister "witchcraft," and, as mentioned above, Satanism. None of these associations is true, but they still persist today.

Many feel a cause of the misunderstanding of Wicca is the fact that most Wiccans don't openly broadcast their faith. This secrecy, for some reason, must mean Wiccans are hiding something.

But it's actually more likely that Wiccans conceal their beliefs because of a fear of being persecuted for them. And so the cycle continues. Wiccans maintain their secret faith, the rest of us mistrust them because of that secrecy, and on it goes.

Another aspect of Wicca that many don't understand is the concept of the Wiccan ritual. True, to outsiders these gatherings may seem strange.

But ask yourself what someone who knows nothing of the Christian faith would think were they to attend a Catholic mass. No doubt many of the ritualistic acts performed during that ceremony would seem bizarre to someone unfamiliar with the faith. (The same can be said for any of the major world religions - I'm not trying to pick on Christianity here.)

In reality, a Wiccan ritual can be a celebration of many things, most of which can be traced to events such as a successful harvest, courtship, or the bounties of the earth - far from what you'd expect a coven of evil witches to embrace.

So there you have it - the truth about Wicca. How does it compare to what you used to believe? Drop me a line with your thoughts - I'd love to hear what you think.