While Jews, Muslims and Christians fight among themselves, one religion has darted in front of all the others to become the America’s fastest growing faith.

The religion of the witch trials becomes religion of the future with the membership exploding, according to experts. This is bringing consternation to believers in the Big Three of faith.

One expert claims that the number of Wiccan experts is doubling every 30 months. A recent book entitled “Generation Hex” by author Marla Alupoaicei declares that it will be the third largest religion of faith by the year 2012. This explosion of membership in Wicca has come about because of social estrangement, loneliness and the need to belong according to Dillon Burroughs co-author of the book. Although the West Coast and Salem, Massachussets is experiencing the most rapid growth, groups can be found all over the country, including the South and Mountain states.

Its about time is all I can say. Like a lot of Wiccans, I attended church regularly when I was younger. I was a member of the Methodist faith, Missionary Church, and have attended everything from Catholic to Pentacostal services. I always believed in more however, I felt that God was everywhere, in every rock, tree, person and flowed in energy that I could feel ever since I was young.

But it wasn’t until I was in an anthropology class in the 1980s, and read about tribes found in the 50s in the Brazalian rain forest that had never had outside contact with other humans that I really questioned Christian religion. How could this tribe, who had its own heirachy of Gods, be dammed to hell by virtue of never having been exposed to Christianity? The God of my understanding wouldn’t do that.

I was lucky, because it was within a few years of this I was exposed to Wicca through, of all things, a sci-fi book. Because of it, I got my hands on Scott Cunningham’s book, guide to the Solitary Practitioner, and my path has been Wiccan/Native American ever since.

I think a lot of people are questioning their faith. They see elaborate, expensive churches, evangelists begging for money on TV. The church getting richer, and the common folk getting poorer. Tithing that is required in some religions, despite incomes dropping. And those same evangelists, pastors, and fathers; who are supposed to be their spiritual leaders; charged with all kinds of sins and crimes.

Then along comes a religion that doesn’t require an expensive church. In fact, it is better practiced outdoors in natural settings. It doesn’t require a pastor or father as a channel between you and God, but shows you how to ask the God and Goddess (and numerous other deities) for help directly. Instead of going to a service and listening to a sermon, you create sacred space and create your own rituals and ask the God and Goddess to come and listen and help.

My God and Goddess are very personal to me. I talk to them on a daily basis, and ask them for help and guidance in all aspects of my life. I don’t eat animals, because my belief is harming none. And I follow the threefold law, and try to treat others as I want to be treated, and not put harm out into the universe, but love and understanding.

I hold rituals in sacred space to better attune myself to the Gods, to concecrate items I sell to other Wiccans, to celebrate the Sabbats and Esabbats, and to honor the Goddess and God.

It is not surprising then that others want to follow this path. It is also not surprising as more and more do, the organized religions of the world might use scare tactics to “bring people back into the fold”, trying to paint Wicca as one step away from worshiping Satan.

Please, I don’t even believe he exists, let alone worship it! I believe Satan was a construct of the church to help bring the pagans of the time “back into the fold” and was based on the Horned God of my understanding, the God of the hunt, fields, and forest. If there is anything even remotely “Satan like” it is evil people who do horrible acts against others.

I think Wicca is here to stay, and I celebrate the fact is is growing and there are more and more people out there that feel as I do. We are all free to worship whatever deity we feel closest too, and do as we will as long as it harms none (including ourself).

Time will tell how this will all pan out, but as our numbers grow, and we become more in the majority, I see mainstream religions having to accept us, or find themselves fading in popularity. Hopefully, we can all learn from each other, and learn tolerate each others beliefs.