Wicca

Wicca is a sub-class of the Pagan system of beliefs. You may often hear a Wiccan, or a self-professed "Pagan," stating that they are different, but the fact is that "Pagan" is an all inclusive term for any religion or system of beliefs that is not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. Wicca is essentially a denomination within Paganism; a system of beliefs under that main classification, as are all who profess to be Pagans. Any who would say they are simply "Pagan," are unfamiliar with the terminology of their religions.

That being said, the actual beliefs of Wicca can tend to vary from practitioner to practitioner. The essentials that most - if not all - share is that there is either a 2 part supreme being or 2 supreme beings, male and female. They believe in balance in all things, i.e. "Yin and Yang." They believe that in the Earth all things thereon have a spirit in them, from flowers to trees to housecats to humans. As such they are most often opposed to harming anything that can be considered living.

They believe in a threefold law, also known as karma or the "golden rule." Essentially they believe that whatever you do to another person will be returned to you threefold, wether it be good or bad. They believe that magic can be gathered from the Earth, the moon, and nature itself at certain periods or times, usually designated by something in the solar system. They do not acknowledge the Satan or any supreme evil being, and do not acknowledge a personal God either, only a male and female, yin and yang creator. Most Wiccans tend to pledge their alliegance to the female. The rest of their beliefs are best summed up by asking a follower of this religion, since, as stated, they tend to vary often.