Traditionalism and Eclecticism

What is the difference between Traditionalism and Eclecticism? How does a Traditionalist view an Eclectic? Does a Traditionalist think that their way of working is more correct than that of an Eclectics’? These are many questions that are asked regarding our Tradition, our views on certain issues, and the way we view others in the pagan community. This article is a response to those questions, in hopes to bring every individual that reads it, either as a seeker or an initiate, to a greater understanding of occult knowledge within Traditional British Witchcraft. This article should be read carefully, because this is a response and not the response of Traditional British Wica. Each Initiate of Traditional British Wica may have a difference response to the same questions and this should be debated at length.

What is the difference between Traditionalism and Eclecticism?

Traditionalism is the act of strict adherence to traditional methods or teachings and accepts these methods or teachings as authority, especially in cultural or religious practice. Traditionalism is also a system holding that all knowledge is derived from a divine source or revelation and is transmitted by tradition. Eclecticism is the act of making a decision on the basis of what seems best instead of following a single doctrine (teaching) or style. So a Traditionalist is a follower (initiate) that adheres to a particular Tradition as a means towards greater understanding of cultural and religious practices and accepts these practices as authority because these teachings and practices have validity within the Tradition. An Eclectic, is an individual that selects and chooses from various sources, not following any one system, as of philosophy, but selects and uses what are considered the best elements of all systems.

How does a Traditionalist view an Eclectic?

In Wica, a Traditionalist view on Eclecticism and Eclectic is very diverse. Each Traditionalist views Eclecticism in a different way, however most will agree that taking information from different sources and applying them to a religious matter is unwise and unsafe. It is never wise to assume that you can take a deity from one culture and another deity from another culture and make it work effortlessly. The reason behind this is as diverse as the reason behind why that decision was even made because most cultural views on the deities are different and most cultures have a different method of working with a particular deity. You have to ask yourself the question is the deities’ compatible and most of the time you will come to the realization that the two deities are not. To answer the original question, it is only through Tradition that Wica has remained alive and it is through Tradition that it will survive.

Does a Traditionalist think that their way of working is more correct than that of an Eclectics’?

I have been asked this question many times and have had some defensive remarks, but from my point of view, and from many others that have been in a Traditional Circle, the energy in a Traditional Circle is more intense than that of an Eclectic Circle. The reason for this is simple. In a Traditional Circle, the initiate draws upon the collective power of all initiates, in the past and the present. The reason this can be achieved is because there is an established link between initiates through the process of initiation. This process didn’t happen suddenly and is one of the main reasons that all candidates wishing to join a Traditionalist Coven aren't accepted.