Interactions with new media

 After some time of doing research, I've come to find that the Wicca faith followers use all forms of new media and have no particular religious/moral stance against it. I signed up on a Wiccan message board called www.everythingunderthemoon.net/forum and asked a few questions about Wiccans’ use of media.

Most of the responses I received were personal opinions rather than one position on what Wiccan doctrine states or what an authority figure has said in the past. Since Wicca is a very personal religion (you choose what you want to believe and how to act as long as you don’t harm others or yourself—and understand that you are accountable for the consequences of your actions if you do so), most Wiccans accept and use media in their own ways and not according to how someone else tells them to. However, there will be some Wiccans that will reject certain media such as news reports, television shows, or movies because of the inaccuracy of their reporting on Wiccans and Witches.

One member of the forum under the username “The Judge” told me:

“Currently I use social media, such as, Facebook, email, postal services, and this web forum to communicate with others. I use these forms of media because they allow me to respond to questions, and to make corrections. The internet web forums also allow us to find information and ask questions of others who may have had more experience or more knowledge in certain areas of interest. I have used this forum to get my bearings and to find information about things I didn't know. It has also allowed me to help others who were asking questions.”

He’s referring to the media that misrepresent—in an exaggerated manner—the Wiccan faith and therefore he must use his own form of communication, in this case social media, to correct those assumptions and extreme misrepresentations.

To sum up his thoughts this user said, “I'll just say that I am willing to use any form of media as long as it doesn't betray the intent of the message. Mis-quoting people is not only counterproductive but also disrespectful to the originating author/speaker.”

This comment to me, seems to be true for portrayals of any religion. Of course the media will do what they have to in order to provide entertainment to their viewers, which most of the time consists of inaccurate or extreme representations of a religion.

A  response from forum member “Raynelae” said:

“I feel many people misunderstand the Wiccan ways, movies like "The Craft", even though I'm a fan of the movie, make Wiccans and Witches look bad, and sadly people believe those fictional stories. I do not reject the media because I feel there are some good things to it, in fact the internet has gotten me quite far in my Wiccan studies. I really wish everyone would at least know what we Wiccans really are and what we aren't.”

So, although she seems a little disquieted on the subject once again about inaccurate portrayals, she seems more positive on the use of new media and uses it to her advantage to further her studies rather than correcting other people on their understanding of the Wiccan faith.

Nevertheless, both of these users gave insightful commentary that opens one’s eyes to see that it’s important to do research and use media in a positive way to learn more about a religion before one assumes anything.