Teenage Feminine Divine

In comments at Eschaton, Moonbotica alterted me to this interesting article about the growth of Wicca among younger Brits, especially young women.

A study of teenagers and their consumption of books, magazines, kits, film and other media found that there are some 700,000 internet sites for teenage witches. The Pagan Federation claims to have several hundred inquiries a week from young people, and has set up a network for those under 18.

"There has been a noticeable rise in the number of young people identifying themselves as witches," said Denise Cush, professor of religious studies at Bath Spa University.

Perhaps most interesting are the study's findings concerning the reasons for rising number of young witches: According to Professor Cush's report, based on interviews with witches aged 18 to 24, it is the attitude to women that most attracts them: "Paganism and witchcraft appealed because of their clear feminist credentials and absence of homophobia. A main attraction is the positive valuation of women in comparison with other religions."

Certainly for me and many women of my generation, Wicca's positive attitudes towards women, including and exemplified by its worship of Goddesses, was a huge part of Wicca's attraction. Interestingly, I assumed that other religions, especially the three main Abrahamic cults, would gradually improve their attitude towards women and the feminine divine, thereby depriving Wicca of some of its attraction for women and slowing the growth of Wicca. I was wrong, xianity and Islam, in particular, have, if anything, gone backwards in their attitudes towards women and the divine feminine over the last twenty years or so.

The article concludes with some discussions with young British witches and their reasons for being interested in Wicca now range from "My mother's a witch" to "My family is xian and that didn't speak to me." You'd have been hard-pressed to find a woman in my generation who could honestly (sixties' dubious assertions of long-lived family trads notwithstanding)have given the first reason to explain her interest in Wicca. It's going to be fascinating to watch the development of this religion over the next generation. How big can a religion grow when at its core it is based upon lack of organization, freedom, and an absence of dogma?

PS: How cool a name is "Bath Spa University"?