Wicca vs. Neo-Wicca
So, on 
pagan, there was a girl who was having a hard time because she had to keep her Wiccan beliefs hidden from her family, and she asked for advice.
Instead of that, two people decided to tell her that she's not Wiccan, but neo-Wiccan, as "Wicca is a priesthood." To quote one person, "Sorry but I think it might be an idea to forget about practicing for now and concentrate on study, Wicca is a priesthood, it is initiate only and as covens generally do not accept under 18’s I think it is unlikely that you are Wicca, more than likely Neo-wicca or pagan."
What with the huh now??
I agree that you have to actually practice a religion to claim its name. However, some people think that real Wicca is always done within a coven setting, as Gardner intended, and it has formalized doctrine. They say that solitaries or those who incorporate other belief systems into their Wiccan practice should call themselves "neo-Wicca."
My take:
If you're Wiccan, you just are. Nevermind the people who say you have to be in a coven or whatnot or call yourself something else. This is about practicing your belief system, not semantics. If you keep the sabbats, honor the Goddess and God, and generally follow all of the practices of Wicca, you're Wiccan.
Let me put this another way. Someone who believes that Jesus is their savior is Christian wether or not they go to church or study and worship at home. Two people both believe that Christ is their savior, but their practice of worship is different, they may be different denominations, but the one who isn't more traditional isn't a "Neo-Christian."
And as far as the priesthood bit: The decision to join clergy is something else entirely, imho. Even within covens, not everyone is suited to be or even wants to be part of a priesthood. There are many specializations within the Pagan/Wiccan arena, only one of which is Priest/Priestess. So to say the nature of Wicca has to do with training all initiates into an eventual clergy would be false to me.
The only bit of this semantic jumble I agree with is the use of the word "initiation." An initiation is bestowed upon one by another. As a solitary, I did a "dedication." However, in my sight, there is not a whole lot of difference between one who has just been initiated and one who has just been dedicated. Both are practicing their belief, and both have teachers, wether they be humans, books, or even intuitional guidance by the Gods themselves.
Your mileage may vary, and discussion is welcomed.
pagan, there was a girl who was having a hard time because she had to keep her Wiccan beliefs hidden from her family, and she asked for advice.Instead of that, two people decided to tell her that she's not Wiccan, but neo-Wiccan, as "Wicca is a priesthood." To quote one person, "Sorry but I think it might be an idea to forget about practicing for now and concentrate on study, Wicca is a priesthood, it is initiate only and as covens generally do not accept under 18’s I think it is unlikely that you are Wicca, more than likely Neo-wicca or pagan."
What with the huh now??
I agree that you have to actually practice a religion to claim its name. However, some people think that real Wicca is always done within a coven setting, as Gardner intended, and it has formalized doctrine. They say that solitaries or those who incorporate other belief systems into their Wiccan practice should call themselves "neo-Wicca."
My take:
If you're Wiccan, you just are. Nevermind the people who say you have to be in a coven or whatnot or call yourself something else. This is about practicing your belief system, not semantics. If you keep the sabbats, honor the Goddess and God, and generally follow all of the practices of Wicca, you're Wiccan.
Let me put this another way. Someone who believes that Jesus is their savior is Christian wether or not they go to church or study and worship at home. Two people both believe that Christ is their savior, but their practice of worship is different, they may be different denominations, but the one who isn't more traditional isn't a "Neo-Christian."
And as far as the priesthood bit: The decision to join clergy is something else entirely, imho. Even within covens, not everyone is suited to be or even wants to be part of a priesthood. There are many specializations within the Pagan/Wiccan arena, only one of which is Priest/Priestess. So to say the nature of Wicca has to do with training all initiates into an eventual clergy would be false to me.
The only bit of this semantic jumble I agree with is the use of the word "initiation." An initiation is bestowed upon one by another. As a solitary, I did a "dedication." However, in my sight, there is not a whole lot of difference between one who has just been initiated and one who has just been dedicated. Both are practicing their belief, and both have teachers, wether they be humans, books, or even intuitional guidance by the Gods themselves.
Your mileage may vary, and discussion is welcomed.