Wiccans - Please define what a false wiccan is?

A false wiccan is someone who parades around saying to everyone and anyone they are wiccan. They can curse you with the blink of an eye, cast spells in the cemetary at midnight, and carry around their "book of shadows" and show everyone their spells. They also wear black clothing and say that a person isn't a true wiccan unless they do all of the above mentioned.

A true wiccan respects their own privacy. Keep to themselves their own beliefs unless it is to teach or help another learn more about the wiccan ways. A wiccan cannot be identified by the clothes they wear, nor the jewelry they wear (although some will wear a pentacle). Some wiccans don't even cast spells, and focus more intensly on the spiritual aspects of Wicca (meditation, communing with the Goddess and God, etc.).

--Just because I'm not Wiccan, doesn't mean I can't give a thoughtful answer with respect.

Hmm this is a very interesting question! I've been reading the answers and mulling it over for a couple of hours now and hopefully I'll be able to properly articulate my opinion. First, I'm surprised at how many people still separate 'christianity' and 'catholicism'. Ok, so you can be Christian without being Catholic just like you can be Pagan and not be Wiccan. But if you're a Catholic you are a Christian. No biggie. BUT it really irritates me at how many still equate Wicca with Witchcraft. Since the original question specifically mentions WICCA, my answer will be from the viewpoint of a Wiccan - not a witch or the ex-Catholic I am ;) I do think they can be combined by Wiccans. For example, the Opening of the Temple Ritual I have learned calls in Archangels. I could see it working especially for those who follow a more eclectic path who pick and choose from other traditions. The Blessed Virgin could be the maid/mother aspect of the Goddess (if you leave out the immaculate conception and mother of Jesus part). The sign of the cross could be interpreted as the triple aspect also. I'm sure there are other correlations but am too tired to think of them right now. Of course this is a one-way street, it would NOT work for the christians/catholics, unless as has been said, they just want to "dabble" in witchcraft and ease their conscience at the same time. As to the why part, well, as I said I used to be Catholic and am still learning Wicca. While I no longer fear any kind of divine retribution or suffer guilt I've talked to others at my school who do not have such an easy time letting go. Whether or not they might desire such a combination as a transition into full Wicca or end up some eclectic christo-wiccan-pagan remains to be seen. There is at least one member I know of at my school who considers himself both Christian and [wiccan or pagan I can't remember which]. Hoping this has made at least a bit of sense, goodnight and bright blessings! EDIT: Wiccanforlife, did you really mean to say that a respectful Wiccan does not practice witchcraft?

I've never heard the term "false wiccan" before, though I guess it could be anyone who doesn't follow the preset formulations you have in your mind that make up a "Wiccan."

For instance, in the 70s, Starhawk considered her monotheistic eco-feminism Wicca, and everyone was happy that she was part of the crowd, but today the history has been rewritten so that only Duotheistic (Goddess and God) brands of Paganism can be called 'Wicca,' so Starhawk is no longer called Wiccan, and anyone who follows her (especially reading her first book where she refers to her religion then correctly as Wicca) and calls themselves Wiccan would be a 'falst wiccan' by historical revisionists or those who just aren't old enough to remember the history of Wicca.

Another possible 'false wiccan' is someone who pretends to be Wiccan and starts talking about "calling up Demons" from an ancient Text they found in an old Voodoo store, or something. The stories are always the same, with it ending badly and her/him finding Jesus... These are always Christians pretending to have had a history with a religion they haven't even put a day or two into researching, with their made up story to try to trick people into converting to their religion.

Labgrrl pretty much nailed it. I am very reluctant to call anyone a "false Wiccan." Basically, as she described it, it would require someone deliberately lying about their religious affiliation. There's lots of shallow Wiccans, ill-informed Wiccans, goofy-Wiccans, fad Wiccans, obnoxious Wiccans and so forth, but I wouldn't label them a "false Wiccan."

I honestly didn't know that people used the term false Wiccan. Wicca is belief in the God and Goddess (In some traditions only the Goddess) and honoring them to put it bluntly for all traditions. I guess a false Wiccan would be a "Rebel Satanist" who uses the term for shock value without even knowing what they are talking about.

A false Wiccan would be someone who claimed to be Wiccan and was lying about it...which is not something one could determine from a place like this.

That being said, not all Wiccans are good examples of our religion...some Wiccans are sucky Wiccans....doesn't make them non-Wiccans.

Edit: I think it's possible for someone to be a "false Wiccan" For example, if a reporter who was a Christian (for example) lied about his faith to get access to the non-public rites of a group, he'd be a false Wiccan... and a creep. Nothing like having strangers at a wedding, right? Likewise, there has been at least one instance of an author who has never participated in Wicca claiming to be a "High Priest" when it can be demonstrated he was practicing another religion at the time and not participating in Wicca...they'd be "false Wiccans." Now, someone with wrong, stupid or even just outright goofy ideas about Wicca that they practice? Those would be Wiccans who aren't very good examples of Wicca... but we don't excommunicate people for being morons.... :)

One who has a stereotypical view of what Wicca is and using insulting terms such as "fluffy bunny" or "playgan" to insult new comers to the path.

Perhaps you're referring to what some call "fluffy bunnies." Those are Wiccans who are in it for the cute bunnies and flowers and wearing hippie clothes, and not interested in personal development.

Frou Frou explained it the best! Those people who are more "wiccan" than others. They are just as intolerable as the holy than thou Christian types, they both smack of self-righteousness.

Any one who uses the name "Wicca" for shock val.

The term "Wicca" is a very loose term. There are very many different paths in "Wicca" that one can take.

The Truth.