It's been almost a year since I last posted here, but that's because it's taken about a year to really get my life somewhat organized, drop some stress and really find some time to start thinking about my religion again. Last night I had a strange dream about taking an odd class with someone who I identified as Selena Fox, but I know it wasn't her. The later today I was looking for some good Pagan Webinars and I kept coming up with page after page of Wicca/Pagan 101 classes. Sigh. Ok, time for a religion rant.
If anyone wants their religion to be taken seriously, should we really offer 101 classes? To me that is making the religion sound like a hobby. "Oh look honey, basket weaving 101 is full, but we can still make it to Wicca 101! Let's go!" Any religion is a lifestyle and shouldn't be taken lightly. If you're getting the bulk of your information from a 101 class, then you can be sure you're not learning religion. You're learning a very shallow unskilled amount of fluff or basic philosophy, nothing that truly gets to the heart of the religion.
I have yet to go somewhere and find where other faiths are going to Christianity 101, Muslim 101 or even Satanism 101. Ok, first big difference in all of these, that I will acknowledge; these are all book religions so they have a book telling them what to do. Ok, fine. You've got that argument out the way, now please let me counter with...Silver Ravenwolf is not equivelent writing to the Bible, the Qur'an or any other religious text. It is a load of fluff written to make money not teach religion.
Sure there are some basics that you might need to learn in order to consider yourself truly Wiccan, but you don't need a 101 course to do that, most won't teach you what you need to know anyway. For example, that great lesson on Circle casting! Yay, now you've read it and you can cast a circle with the best of them. What does that mean? What are you accomplishing when you cast that circle? Is it a visualization or an actual physical circle? If you can't see it, how do you know you did it right? Do you know what purpose the circle holds? Do you feel any different after casting the circle? Did that 101 book teach you anything about the circle other than "walk around the circle 3 times with incense, visualize a white light surrounding you" etc. Sure it may have given you a very basic idea of what a circle is, but to truly get to the religious sense of the matter, do you know why you're doing what you're doing? Really know. Not just, "well, the book told me to do this."
In other religions priests and pastors must dedicate their lives to those positions. They must take a certain amount of schooling and usually they go into their schooling knowing a bit about what they are getting into it for. They aren't allowed to lead a church or sermon until they have shown a certain amount of aptitude as a religious leader. Please don't think that a Pagan religion is different and that because you read a Wicca 101 book, or several similar books that all say the same thing, that you now know enough to lead a coven or circle. I promise you don't. The reason the same information is in all of those books is because it is basic and it is easy. There is little philosophy and little depth. The depth is created through actual practice; not just reading and trying it out a few times.
I can't leave this rant alone here. It begs the question, "if it's not worth it to learn from these 101 books and sites, then where am I supposed to learn this religion." Good question, it's not easy. You need to find a teacher, preferably one who isn't going to charge you (I've never seen another religion charge for this type of teaching, it is unethical). Then you need to make sure they are respectable. Ask them questions, and be prepared to answer questions. Ask at local metaphysical stores or Unitarian Churches who would be good to speak with. Realize that not everyone who teaches religion knows what they are talking about, and make sure that any student/teacher relationship you enter does not require you to stay with that teacher for any reason. And finally. After you've done all of that, and you think you know it all. You don't. The best thing about any religion is that you are always learning and growing and building spiritual relationships.
Good luck! And please, stop minimizing the Pagan faith by offering "hobby" type classes. There is a Pagan faith and there are practices that some Pagans do, like Tarot, Crystalmancy, Magic, etc. Feel free to offer 101 classes on these practices, just not on the religion itself. It really does make it sound cheap and I know those who are truly dedicated to this faith do not follow a cheap crackerjack box religion.
