Area 1, Msg#162, Apr-05-96 21:54 PM
   From: Theophenie Settell                   
     To: Bob Albert                           
Subject: Hello...

Paganism/Wicca is a nature-based polytheistic religion, dating back to WAY 
before Christianity.  We basically believe in a Goddess and a God(the Goddess 
being a three-fold Goddess(Maiden/Mother/Crone), and the God being also three-
fold(Young Man/Father/Dying God).  We have eight main holidays...  dividing 
the year equally(the year being likened to a Wheel, or called the Year of the 
Wheel)... these days are Samhain(pronouced Sow-En) on November 1st(our New 
Year), Beltane(May 1st), Imbolc(February 1st), and Lughnasadh(or 
Lammas)(August 1st); these make the four major quarters....  then you have 
the lesser days...  Spring and Autumn Euqinoxes and Summer and Winter 
Solstices.

We do not believe in the Christian Devil(hence the hilarity of the thought of 
us being Satanists... how can we worship something we have no belief in???)...
We live be the Rede(our only Law)...  which says "an harm ye none, do what 
thou wilt"(pretty much the same as the Golden Rule).

If you would like to learn more...  the first book that I suggest for ANYONE 
wanting to know about Witchcraft as a religion(and know the truth, not the 
"green faced, old hag on a broomstick notion) is called "Witchcraft from the 
Inside" by Ray Buckland...ISBN # 1-56718-101-5

Blessed be,
Ladyhawke