Wicca

==Acceptance==
[[File:Baphosimb.svg|thumb|The use of the [[Stanislas de Guaita#Rosicrucian activities|inverted pentagram]] by the [[Church of Satan]] has contributed to the misidentification of Wiccans as [[Theistic Satanism|Satanists]].]]
{{Main|Religious discrimination against Neopagans}}
Wicca emerged in predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] England, and from its inception the religion encountered opposition from certain Christian groups as well as from the popular tabloids like the ''[[News of the World]]''. Some Christians still believe that Wicca is a form of [[Theistic Satanism|Satanism]], despite important differences between these two religions.<ref name="Davis2003">{{cite book |title=New Religious Movements and Religious Liberty in America |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=up5fnY7Wp1wC&pg=PA75 |publisher=[[Baylor University Press]] |location=[[Waco, Texas|Waco]] |first1=Derek |last1=Davis |first2=Barry |last2=Hankins |edition=2nd |year=2003 |page=75 |isbn=0-918954-92-4 |oclc=52895492 |quote=Much to the chagrin of practitioners of Wicca, there has been confusion in the minds of many about their religion, which is often linked with Satanism, although there are important differences.}}</ref> Detractors typically depict Wicca as a form of malevolent [[Satanism]],{{sfn|Doyle White|2016|p=1}} a characterisation that Wiccans reject.{{sfn|Hanegraaff|2002|p=309}} Due to negative connotations associated with witchcraft, many Wiccans continue the traditional practice of secrecy, concealing their faith for fear of persecution. Revealing oneself as a Wiccan to family, friends or colleagues is often termed "coming out of the broom-closet".<ref name="slate031204">{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2090966/ |title=Witch Way |work=Slate.com |author=Bewitched |date=4 December 2003 |access-date=16 May 2008 |quote=Believe me, coming out of the "broom closet" is a one-way trip.}}</ref> Attitudes to Christianity vary within the Wiccan movement, stretching from outright rejection to a willingness to work alongside Christians in [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] endeavours.{{sfn|Pearson|2007|p=x}}

The religious studies scholar [[Graham Harvey (religious studies scholar)|Graham Harvey]] wrote that "the popular and prevalent media image [of Wicca] is mostly inaccurate".{{sfn|Harvey|2007|p=35}} Pearson similarly noted that "popular and media perceptions of Wicca have often been misleading".{{sfn|Pearson|1998|p=54}}

In the United States, a number of legal decisions have improved and validated the status of Wiccans, especially ''[[Dettmer v. Landon]]'' in 1986. However, Wiccans have encountered opposition from some politicians and Christian organisations,<ref name="RISwiccan">{{cite journal |url=http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol2No2/wicca.htm |title=Something Wiccan This Way Comes |journal=Religion in the News |first=Mark |last=Silk |date=Summer 1999 |volume=2 |issue=2 |issn=1525-7207 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524174633/http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol2No2/wicca.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007}}</ref><ref name="BarrProject">{{cite news |url=http://www.lawstreet.com/journal/art991101wiccan.html |title=Barr's Witch Project: Lawmaker Wants to Ban Witches from the Military |work=LawStreet Journal |date=1 November 1999 |access-date=11 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000229034145/http://www.lawstreet.com/journal/art991101wiccan.html |archive-date=29 February 2000}}</ref> including former president of the United States [[George W. Bush]], who stated that he did not believe Wicca to be a religion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Neela |title=Use of Wiccan Symbol on Veterans' Headstones Is Approved |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/washington/24wiccan.html?_r=0 |access-date=1 August 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=24 April 2007}}</ref><ref name="George W. Bush Justifies Off-The-Cuff Bigotry">{{cite news |url=http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/bushwicca.htm |title=George W. Bush Justifies Off-The-Cuff Bigotry |work=Positive Atheism Magazine |date=1 June 1999 |access-date=30 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202065205/http://positiveatheism.org/writ/bushwicca.htm |archive-date=2 February 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2007 the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] after years of dispute added the Pentacle to the list of emblems of belief that can be included on government-issued markers, headstones, and plaques honoring deceased veterans.<ref name="Veterans Pentacle">{{cite web |url=https://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.php/lady-liberty-league/veteran-pentacle-quest |title=Veteran Pentacle Quest |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Circle Sanctuary |access-date=28 December 2015 }}</ref>
In Canada, [[Heather Botting]] ("Lady Aurora") and [[Gary Botting]] ("Pan"), the original high priestess and high priest of [[Coven Celeste]] and founding elders of the [[Aquarian Tabernacle Church]], successfully campaigned the [[British Columbia]]n government and the federal government in 1995 to allow them to perform recognised Wiccan weddings, to become prison and hospital chaplains, and (in the case of Heather Botting) to become the first officially recognized Wiccan chaplain in a public university.<ref name="atccanada.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.atccanada.org/services/wiccan-chaplaincy/ |title=Wiccan Chaplaincy |publisher=Aquarian Tabernacle Church Canada |access-date=2 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510103310/http://www.atccanada.org/services/wiccan-chaplaincy/ |archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="vsun20101216">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/12/16/pagans-celebrate-solstice-with-yule-rituals/ |title=University of Victoria chaplain marks solstice with pagan rituals |work=Vancouver Sun |series=The Search |first=Douglas |last=Todd |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=27 March 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003002/http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/12/16/pagans-celebrate-solstice-with-yule-rituals/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The oath-based system of many Wiccan traditions makes it difficult for "outsider" scholars to study them.{{sfn|Pearson|2001|p=56}} For instance, after the anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann revealed information about what she learned as an initiate of a Wiccan coven in her academic study, various Wiccans were upset, believing that she had broken the oaths of secrecy taken at initiation.{{sfn|Pearson|2001|pp=55–56}}