I ve held discussions with other Wiccans and we have not agreed upon even a single point of our personal spirituality. Then, without even blinking twice, we will calmly go off together to participate in a ritual, unconcerned about how the other will be interpreting what goes on there. Our religion is such that it doesn t require us to subscribe or swear to a common interpretation or set of beliefs. In fact, it seems to me that most of us kind of expect this disparity of beliefs. We even seem to revel in this fact.
Community is a vital part of any religion.
The ATC has consistently attempted to build community among those who describe themselves as Wiccan. Our rituals, festivals and events are designed to in clude rather than ex clude. For instance, though the Diana s Bow rites that I wrote for our monthly celebrations at the Moonstone Circle at Index use the goddess Diana, the rituals were designed to present a mystery and sacrament that can be universally understood and variously interpreted. Strange as it might seem to some, it would take very little change in names and some description to use almost any other female deity. I dare say, I could even change the religion to Christian and hardly have to change the ritual.