Outline for Research Paper

Thesis: Many believe that Wicca involves worshipping the devil and dangerous spells, I

have found that Wicca is actually a peaceful religion that worships nature.

Background:

Major Points:

I. Some Wiccans believe that what you do will eventually come back to you three times.

a. Opposition: This is a ridiculous belief, similar to karma or sinning and it doesn’t really matter.

b. A2

c. This idea has been repeated in many different sources, there is also the Wiccan Rede

II. Each witch makes Wicca their own. Some tag in other religion’s practices.

a. Opposition: Because witches are able to make the religion their own, they can worship Satan.

b. E1, E2

c. They could worship Satan, but Marion Gibson, author of Witchcraft Myths in American Culture, believes they tag in religions like Buddhism, feminist philosophy of Cixous or Irigaray.

III. Wicca is becoming more well-known, especially in other countries, and it is becoming more accepted into socities.

a. Opposition: I don’t know and haven’t heard anything about Wicca so this must be untrue.

b. F1

c. In America, Wicca hasn’t been as widely practiced as in other countries but in London the witches are becoming so accepted that the Beltane ceremony was openly celebrated and shared with others and the witches were able to be a part of the parade.

IV. Wiccans do not worship the devil or Satan.

a. Opposition: Does a “Horned God” sound like a peaceful man to you? I picture the devil.

b. B1, D1, F3

c. The “Horned God” represents the Lord of Death, winter and the hunt, supposedly male divinity. The Moon Goddess, on the other hand, is the Mother Goddess, Summer, fertitlity and birth, which is supposed to be feminine. They do not mention a devil, just seasons and things each sex is believed to need a blessing for.

V. Hollywood glorifies witches, but also give them a bad reputation.

a. Opposition: Witches deserve bad reputations for their evil deeds.

b. B2

c. Hollywood has created bad witches like Alphaba in the Wizard of Oz and the witch in Snow White, but in reality people don’t look or act like these characters. No one is colored green permanently from birth, has a face covered in worts or a big crooked nose that looks sinister. Unless the person made it widely known, it would be difficult to pick out the witch in a group of people.

VI. Conclusion