Wicca in the Mainstream

October 29, 2004

Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/155/story_15517_1.html

On October 29, 2004 Beliefnet reported, "in the last 20 years, some Wiccans have lost custody of their children, their jobs, their homes after their faith became public. But today, as Wiccans celebrate Samhain, the new year and one of their most sacred holidays, their spiritual path is enjoying vast popularity and widespread acceptance. This weekend, Samhain celebrations and rituals will happen all across the country—and many Wiccans expect record turnout... Wicca may, in fact, be the fastest growing religious movement in the United States. According to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey, the number of people who identified themselves as Wiccans grew from 8,000 in 1990 to 134,000 in 2001--a growth rate of 1,575 percent."