Conservative reckonings estimate 200,000 Witches and/or Neo-Pagans in the US alone. There could be many more who are simply more private about their religion. Fear of persecution is very real Witches are still working hard for our First Amendment rights. See here for an interesting article.
Most Wiccan parents allow their children to become involved in the Craft or learn about Paganism if the child wishes; few, if any, require of their children adherence to any particular path. Most Pagans/Wiches became so because they wanted freedom of choice, and so do not force their children into their religion. There are indeed Pagan/Wiccan children and young adults. They're just like other kids. They go through adolescent rebellion and life crises just like other kids; they may even be slightly more well-adjusted than non-Pagan kids, if only because the Craft provides rituals and/or recognitions of Life Passages.
Q. How do you become a Witch?
The Craft does not actively seek converts. We do not proselytize. We are willing to inform when asked, and training is available in varying degrees of formality. Some Witches believe that one must be born with the talent to become a Witch. Others believe that all people have the ability, and that becoming a Witch is simply a matter of training. Some people know from an early age that they are Witches; others come to the Craft as adults - most of us grew up in a tradition other than the Craft. And there are many out there who do what we would call Witchcraft who have no idea what to call it, or even that there are others like them in the country or the world. Being a Witch, like doing Magic itself, is "a matter of symbolism and intent." But almost everyone will tell you it takes study: Witches and Pagans read a lot. This is a religion you must actively participate in. Since you are your own Priest/Priestess, you must work for it. Most find it well worth it.
There is no requirement that you must denounce your old religion. Since Paganism is panthiest (meaning we believe in many gods) there is room for exploration of many religions. However, there are many who choose not to worship the deities from the religion they were raised in. There are many reasons for this: some found their old religion to be unwelcoming, intolerant, repressive, unfulfilling, or sexist, just to name a few reasons. There are instances of Christian Witches, or Jewish Witches, who claim to be of both faiths. The reality of this is contested among the Pagan community, but they recieve no hostility for it. We believe all paths lead to the same source, and every person is on their own path. Generally, it is believed that if you follow the Rede, are open to the idea of more than one Diety, and are understanding of others, you are a Pagan.
Q. What form does the practice of Witchcraft take?
The form and context vary from group to group and between each ritual, and may run the gamut from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous ritual to simple meditation. Generally the practice is to consecrate a sacred space, the "circle" and then work magic and worship the Goddesses and Gods within it according to the forms agreed upon by that particular group of Witches.
As the immanent life force, as Mother Nature, the Earth, the Cosmos, the interconnectedness of all life. Some see her as encompassing all Dieties, including male ones and spirits such as faerys.
Q. Do all Witches practice their religion the same way?
Yes and no. Wicca, the religion of the Witch, is a highly individual religion. Moreover, the number of different sects within the Craft may give the impression that no two groups practice the same way. Though practices may vary, most traditions have many similarities, such as the working of magic and a respect for nature. Most Witches find enough common ground for mutual support and productive networking throughout the Craft community.
Q. Is Witchcraft a "cult"?
No. A cult is generally taken as a gathering of people who owe blind allegiance to one charismatic leader who ostensibly represents "truth". They indulge in "extravagant homage or adoration" (Webster's Dictionary), usually of their leader, thus trading the ability to think for themselves for "salvation" and a sense of belonging. This is the antithesis of the Witchcraft experience. Most Witches come to the Craft through reading and communing with nature and later finding like-minded groups. Witches tend to be highly individualistic.
Q. Do Witches have a "Bible"?
No. A bible is supposedly the word of a deity revealed through a prophet, or more generally, "a book containing the sacred writings of any religion" (Webster's Dictionary). Witchcraft is a Pagan folk-religion of personal experience rather than transmitted revelation. A Witch may keep a "Book of Shadows" which is more like an individual's workbook or journal -- meaningful to the person who keeps it -- containing rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc. Covens may keep a similar group book. There is no one document taken by all Wiccans as authoritative, as in Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. Though many Pagans tend to read the same books, none are considered to be The Word of God/Goddess.
