Why Do Wiccans Hate Newcomers?

Well, try not to judge everyone in that religion from the actions of one or a few of their members. There is a word for that.

I would agree with Cazzie. Your experience was with one person it would appear. Likewise, she may have reacted to a question—the question may have triggered a memory of a similar situation that was extremely negative.

Couple of thoughts…
Maybe contact her again…offer to meet for coffee and let her know of your interest in learning the Craft and becoming Wiccan

Find another Coven in your area. You found one. Maybe there are others.

I know of several Wiccans who have studied the Craft on their own. Be diligent in seeking source material and in daily ritual practice, meditation.

There is a common thread that I practice and I gift you…As it harms none—do as you will. Ask your high priestess to forgive you for your misstep, that you meant no harm…and that you do have a true interest. She may have been testing your resolve…The Craft requires both inner strength and inner resolve. Show her those…

Namaste.

Maybe Wiccans don’t want their religion become some mainstream crap that every Bob gets into. Maybe they’re hipsters, or hate the notion of “everyone is Wiccan now”. Dunno, I ain’t a Wiccan.

I do know that one elitist does not make a movement. If you want to know about Wiccans, meet as many of them as you can. Don’t judge a whole movement on the behaviour of just one member.

I’ve known many practitioners of various forms of Wicca in my life, and have always found them to be kind, considerate, caring people.

In fact, several years ago I was browsing tarot cards at the bookstore once and a fatherly gentleman struck up a conversation with me, mentioning that he was a priest in a local coven, and gave me his card and invited me to come ‘round if I had a mind to do so.

Another, a friend I met 2 years ago or so, is a priest in a certain Wiccan denomination. I was discussing with him my respect for the Craft, that if one were to remove the Supernatural from the religion, there’s nothing left that would denounce the practice. Who can argue with “keep the earth healthy” and “as long as you’re not hurting anyone, do as you like”?

He said if I’d like to continue studying the religion, he’d be happy to ordain me as well, since his denomination did not strictly require belief in any gods in order to practice.

Wiccans have been the target of all sorts of negative publicity (and burning, and being called names) for centuries. It doesn’t surprise me that as a group, they would be defensive about their beliefs. After all, they don’t know if you are out to disparage them, make fun of them, or are seriously interested in them.

so the rudeness that you describe may be a defensive reaction to all of the crap they have had to put up with.

@abcbill “An” does not mean “As”. I can’t tell if that was just a typo so I feel compelled to point it out. Wiccan rede

As others wrote, Wiccans in general don’t hate newcomers, or randomly tell people off. I’d ask what was going on in that interaction, since my impression from the way you wrote the question is that you don’t seem to really know.

@elbanditoroso “Wiccans have been the target of all sorts of negative publicity (and burning, and being called names) for centuries.”

Well, since the 1950’s anyway.

How about the late 1600s and the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts?

I googled what @Darth_Algar said and he’s right, @elbanditoroso:

Wicca (English pronunciation: /ˈwɪkə/), also termed Pagan Witchcraft, is a contemporary Pagan new religious movement. It was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and was introduced to the public in 1954 by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant.

Paganism has been around forever, witchcraft forever, but the religion “Wicca” since the 1950’s.

@elbanditoroso

Wiccans love to claim their religion has been around for centuries, but the fact is it’s modern construction utilizing bits and pieces of older religions. Same with Asatru. There were no Wiccans at the Salem witch trails*.

(*Nor indeed were there any witches or pagans. Just a bunch of Christians freaking the fuck out and turning on their own over shit they didn’t understand.)

Quite, that Hammer book has a lot to answer for. Its author is probably STILL trying to explain it to St. Peter pleading his case at the Pearly Gates.