There are both advantages and disadvantages of raising a Wiccan child in this day and age. First, to bring a child up with a spiritual structure is very important, whether it covers the touchstones of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Wicca, or any other religion. This sort of upbringing provides a child with a sense of moral guidelines and an initial connection to the Divine. Several scholarly studies have shown that a majority of pre-teens and teenagers have some sort of belief system, but are not quite sure what it entails. Introducing a youth to some of these ideas allows them to better examine themselves and figure out what they truly believe. It is important, however, not to 'shove religion down their throats.'
Many similarities exist in spiritual schooling for children of all religions. During their religious education, children learn about the origins of their parents' faith, the history of the history of the holidays, and important prayers, all-the-while getting a feel for the structure of a place of worship and interacting with like children and adults. These are no doubt great benefits, and though these institutions are primarily in place for children of the major religions, Wiccan schools are being built much more frequently these days.
But there are some fundamental differences between raising children under the traditional Western Religions and in Wicca. While the foundation of Western Religions are historical accounts, namely the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Koran notwithstanding the issue of fact or fabrication, the basis of Wicca is actual practice. Sure, there are Wiccan arts and crafts projects that can be performed, and important symbols that can be drawn, but the major facets of Wicca are composed of the reverence of nature and the practice of Magick. I believe that the reverence of nature provides a true advantage for the Wiccan child relative to others. She or he would not stand in awe of a structure and have the belief that this is a 'house of god' imposed upon him or her. Rather, they would be able to look at the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, feel the wind, and watch the creatures run past him or her, offering a better sense of the Divine's manifestation upon Earth.
However, the Circle poses a different problem. The Wiccan Practitioner does not confront a black and white path to spirituality based upon one momentous event. They are instead learned in the arts of energy manipulation in an effort to help others and try and understand the Universal Law. This might be very difficult for a young child to understand, as opposed to learning simplified stories about historical figures who played an important role during a given time period.
Further, because many of these religious events are considered mainstream, should the Wiccan parent allow their child to partake in the celebrations of Western religions, and should they permit their child's friends to participate in Wiccan Rituals? For example, given the delicate nature of Halloween for Practitioners of the Craft, could a Wiccan parent look past her child dressing as a witch and going trick-or-treating with her friends?
This seems to be an individualistic choice, based upon factors such as the persecution that a particular individual has faced for their beliefs, their lineage of Practitioners, and how they view the future of Wicca. But it is to be remembered that unlike some religions, Wicca as a whole does not discriminate upon others.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Are you a Wiccan with a child? If so, do you offer your child a Wiccan upbringing? How so? If not, how would you raise your children amongst the hodgepodge of religious thought? Let us know what you think! Please feel free to share your thoughts on our Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/7witchescoven.
I look forward to reading your responses.
J. Roslyn Antle, High Priestess
