Bachelor of Dark Arts

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=18382&in_page_id=2

This post is in response to the kind folks who decided to add comments. My comment is too large to fit on that site, so I decided to post it here.

Hail and well met!
First I would like to say that I agree with Lh of London in that "Wicca is a spiritual path you are drawn towards and follow, learning as you go." However, I must DISagree with her in that "this (the personal connection to Wicca) is something that cannot be taught or appreciated over the internet". This is because for myself, and many others such as myself, it has been an amazing experience. I first began at Witchschool with my studies, and then did end up finding a realtime mentor within the Correllian Nativist Tradition; my studies have furthered from there.

There are thousands like myself that use WitchSchool as it was meant to be used -- a learning tool. Does it replace a real-time teacher? No, of course not. The First, Second, and Third Degree courses are meant to be taken over quite a lengthy period of time; but this does not prevent those who wish to learn for the sake of gaining information from doing so. I would also like to say that the Correllian Nativist Church International, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in the United States -- its only affiliation with WitchSchool is that WitchSchool provides a way for the Correllian course materials to be disseminated. Out of thousands of initiates, we have about 40 in our High Priesthood -- that is to say, those who have been initiated into the Third Degree of our organization.

Secondly -- Karl of Los Angeles, California. Karl, as I have previously stated, the Correllian Nativist Church has about 40 High Priest/esses in our entire Tradition. It is a fact that those who wish to become Third Degree MUST take several, in-person intensives, as well as complete MANY other requirements, before they will be initiated into the High Priesthood of the Correllian Tradition.

Now let me address Stephen of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. "What if that person was not "stable" or worse a sexual predator", he asks. This is why the Correllian Nativist Church DOES have background checks performed for those who wish to become Clergy within the Correllian Nativist Church -- ESPECIALLY Third Degrees. There are also several other steps designed to weed out those who are "unstable" or who may be sexual predators. The church does not hesitate to contact appropriate authorities if a sexual predator (or the like) is suspected. Please do not confuse us with organizations that would give their membership -- especially our Clergy -- the "rubber stamp", because this is simply not so. I do not appreciate comments that are downright false -- such as those you have made regarding our policies on accepting individuals into our Clergy.

And finally, Kasha of Newcastle. I understand that many Traditions do not like the idea of "celebratory Wicca" -- that is to say, those who come to circle and celebrate as often or as little as they have the time/money/resources/desire to do so. My question is, why reinvent the wheel? Why put restraints on who can call themselves "Wiccan" and who can't? It is my personal opinion that doing so pushes thousands away from a wonderful spirituality that ANYONE ANYWHERE can practice. Are you God/dess? Certainly not. So why do you think you have the authority to tell those who have NO desire to become initiates that they CAN'T be Wiccan? The fact is, you can't; because as it has been noted by other commenters, belief comes from WITHIN. Religion is not a cloak which you can put on and take off at will; it is not jewelry that one simply has because it "looks cool" or is "in style".

That is all I have to say on the matter. Nobody can tell another that they AREN'T something; that is the greatness of what we call personal religious and spiritual choice. If you BELIEVE you are Wiccan, then you ARE Wiccan, and that is the bottom line.

Blessed Be,
Rev. Liz Hamilton