One misconception that some non-Pagans have is that roving groups of Wiccans are out to convert others. Evidently, contemporary Pagans gain some sort of Karmic Bonus Points for every new member they sign up, and travel around stealthily trying to recruit unsuspecting souls into joining the Wiccan Club. Nothing could be further from the truth, although I've often wondered what I'd do with those Bonus Points if I had them -- maybe redeem them for fun prizes, like Greenbax Stamps at Piggly Wiggly.
At any rate, cut and paste the following into your memory right now:
WICCANS ARE NOT OUT TO CONVERT YOU
We're also not out to convert your child, your mom, or your best friend. And here's why.
It's because although we don't mind sharing our beliefs with you, or answering questions if you have them, we also believe everyone needs to choose their spiritual path for themselves. I can tell you how empowering Wicca has been for me, or how it's helped me get through some really dark times, or even how I've used the knowledge I've gained to become a successful and happy person. But I'm not you, and you're not me, which means what works for me might be completely different for you.
Spirituality is an individual need. What Bob needs in a religion is not necessarily what Jim needs in a religion. Bob may feel called to a structured doctrine, with laws laid out very specifically for him, and clear guidelines as to what the deities want from him. Jim, on the other hand, may find that a more free-spirited approach works best for him, where he has just one or two basic rules that he can interpret in the way that works best for him. These are two very different sets of needs, and may be met by two very different spiritual paths. Wiccans understand that what's right for one person may not be right for the next, and they respect that difference.
Finally, understand that Wicca is a mystery religion. This means that while there's an awful lot of publicly available information, there's a whole lot more that you don't learn until you actually become Wiccan. We don't go around blabbing to strangers about what we've learned, because gaining that knowledge takes a lot of dedication, study, effort and hard work. Wiccans have no interest in signing up a whole bunch of new recruits because traveling the Wiccan path is something that shouldn't be taken lightly.
Wiccans are also not out to convert your child or teenager. That's because we believe religious upbringing is the job of the parents. It's YOUR duty to educate your child in spiritual matters, not ours. If a teen wishes to learn about Wicca, and asks questions, we'll happily answer -- but we'll never accept a minor into a Pagan or Wiccan group without parental permission. Even then, it's kind of iffy. We'll also never offer private study lessons to someone who is underage.
It's often said that the seeker must come willingly, on their own, or their search isn't really valid. That's the case here -- people who choose for themselves to learn about Wicca will be met with open arms. On the other hand those who are happy otherwise are free to remain as they are.
We don't have a recruitment club, we don't get Frequent Flier Miles, or free toaster ovens for every new member we rope in. We want to practice the spirituality that works best for us, and we respect that need in others. We believe that it's healthy to have religious diversity, and we know that people who are meant to follow a Wiccan or Pagan path will eventually find their way to one when the time is right for them.
