Nvuah is not an exclusive religion. There is no philosophy or teaching in Nvuah which claims that Nvuah is the only true or right path or that Nvuah is necessary for salvation or spiritual evolution or enlightenment. In fact, while some members of Nvuah view this path as the only right one for them, it is perfectly acceptable for members to maintain active membership in other religions while training and participating in Nvuah.
However, Nvuah teaches that there is no "One True God" and that no other way is the only right one either. So while Nvuah is very accepting of all spiritual orientations, it teaches a philosophy which will not always be universally compatible. This means that while a monotheist or moral absolutist is welcome to come and learn the basics of Nvuah, he will find it difficult to advance through the training without having some sort of crisis of faith as a result of the conflicting philosophies he recognizes. While some may be able to reconcile the idea of there simultaneously being many gods and one, it is rare that one individual is capable of completely integrating two conflicting ideals.
Additionally Nvuah, while it grows and changes, does not merely absorb external influences and convert them into spiritual practices at random. The structure, philosophy, and most of the practices of N'vuah have been established. It will not be imbibing large quantities of foreign matter from other religions in the future.
This page tackles the differences that may arise between certain Nvuah philosophies and other popular forms of spirituality and religion. It deals primarily with those that will most obviously cause difficulties for interfaith members. This in no way means that members of these faiths are barred from Nvuah. They are instead encouraged to study what they will and determine their path from a position of greater knowledge and experience.
The following paragraphs will deal with the history of Wicca very briefly. This is by no means a comprehensive account. Craft history is also a source of quite a bit of controversy. Here you will only see information that is taken directly from scholarly sources.
Wicca began in many places and at many times and in many pieces. A good place to start is with a man named Gerald Gardner who was a self proclaimed amateur anthropologist and world traveler. He learned Eastern philosophies during his travels in Asia and Ceremonial Magick in the style derived from Jewish Kabbalah from a Rosicrucian group that met and practiced in England, his home nation. There he was connected to a woman named Dorothy Clutterbuck who introduced him to the Craft. This is almost all that is known for certain regarding his first encounters with the elements of (what would become) Wicca.
The Craft that Ms. Clutterbuck introduced him to was not the one that exists today. It was a group of very eccentric and mostly rather wealthy people who fought to keep a few folk magick practices alive and secret. Gardner claims they did this only in the darkness of night in the New Forest. The members of the so called New Forest Coven worshipped the "Old Gods." Presumably, these were Aradia and Cernunnos (or Karnayna). They culled Aradia from a book by Charles Leland on Stregheria - Italian Witchraft, and one of the members must have known the name Cernunnos from his or her family legends as Cernunnos' existence in Celtic religion was not confirmed (or discovered) until recently. Previous to the discovery of his name on carvings scattered across the British countryside, the Craft was the only evidence of his ancient existence.
Gardner's version of the Craft was very different from that of the New Forest Coven. He and his High Priestess, Doreen Valiente, made massive additions to the text of the Coven's Book of Shadows and even added some material from the Key of Solomon the King and other works published by Aleister Crowley. This was done to give the old folk magick and Pagan polytheism a definite structure and clear articulation. Gardner essentially recreated Wicca. He is not, however, the founder of the religion.
To read more about the History of Wicca, the following book is highly recommended:
Now from the perspective of Nvuah, Wicca is almost a cousin. What traditional Wicca lacks is a deep connection to the Spirit Realm. While Wiccans certainly believe in that connection and may individually work toward deepening it, the feeding of spirits and consulting with them religiously is not a defining aspect of Wicca. The history of Nvuah is intertwined with Wiccan history in that it was very much inspired by Wicca and that it is also Kabbalistically structured. The meditation style in N'vuah is also somewhat Eastern as is that of Wicca.
However, Wicca is a morally absolutist religion, which dramatically separates it from Nvuah. While Wiccans are adjured to "harm none," practitioners of N'vuah are encouraged to do what they truly believe is right. That does not mean that Nvuah is amoral. Quite the contrary. Nvuah encourages strict moral philosophies and discussion. They must be determined by the individual, though, and not by the collective. While this may seem scary to adherents of morally focused religions, it is actually quite comforting to the adherents of Nvuah. It is also an interesting phenomenon that, while all are allowed to design their own moral systems, those diverse systems seem to intersect on almost every vital issue.
The first thing usually taught in Wicca is the ending of Gwen Thompson's "Rede of the Wiccae."
An' it harm none, do what ye will.
Wicca has one chief moral teaching and it is: do not hurt anyone, anything, not even yourself. Witches are encouraged to "step lightly on the Earth," to avoid interfering in natural cycles and to preserve Nature as it is and should be. While members of Nvuah generally agree with these moral ideas, there are always exceptions. Some members of Nvuah would argue that moral relativism is the core of every religious ethical system and even that morals indeed are inherently relative.
Wicca is generally considered duotheistic. The Divine Spirit is viewed as being God and Goddess, both male and female. Very traditional Witches will use Cernunnos and Aradia as their deities or find another pairing from Celtic mythology such as Lugh and Dana. More liberal Witches, many of whom choose to call themselves "eclectic" will choose their own gods and not always only two. Because Wicca does not have a universally recognized core doctrine, worship is viewed as an issue of personal choice and Witches seldom argue over what gods should be used to practice the Craft. Specific traditions, however, are often established in honor of certain deities and require the same honor from their adherents. While, in Wicca, the Lord and Lady are the center of religious devotion, N'vuah works more closely with the Guardian Spirits of the religion and the Watchers. While Nvuah teaches of the existance of the gods and encourages all practitioners to find a patron deity to worship and learn from, the focus is on "lesser" enetities who are designed for direct communication with human beings. The gods are seen as being slightly aloof when it comes to human affairs as they have been by many ancient cultures for thousands of years.
A service in a Coven of Witches generally includes several elements. First of all, it is usually held on a Full Moon. A Circle is cast around or including an altar. On the altar rest several important tools used in the conducting of the service. Once the Circle is cast there is usually a power raising ceremony which involves chanting, dancing, drumming, singing, or just breathing, and then the power is channeled to accomplish a certain ritualistic goal. That goal can take the form of a spell. Spells are usually used to increase a Witch's confidence or affect some other beneficial change of personality. Nvuah operates along the same lines ritualistically but the power raised is usually that of the Guardian Spirits who perform magick for their devotees and occasionally even possess them.
Special meetings are called for holidays. The Quarter Days, or the more important and historically lunar holidays of the Craft, are Samhian, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lughnassadh. The day for each is different every year but most sources list standardized dates for the holidays, respectively: October 31, February 2, May 1, and August 1. The Cross Quarter Days are the solstices and equinoxes. All of the holidays feature thanks given for the abundance produced by the Earth for mankind and the exploration of spiritual mysteries in Nature. The holidays of Nvuah have not been entirely established. The Eight Sabbats have been observed by Nvuah practitioners in the past but they are not entirely compatible with the mythology of Nvuah. Nvuah does have its own holidays, which are listed on the Wheel of the Year page.
Though most Witches have no formal training and are not initiated into any Coven or Tradition, many groups of Witches have certain Rites of Passage which grant progressive access to members. Initiates are generally given some kind of secret intelligence or energy upon their passing or raising in the Craft. Usually this is an exploration of a "Mystery" which is a paradigm or worldview that yields power. N'vuah maintains this tradition and it is clearly imported directly from Wicca. The Rites of Passage in N'vuah are different, however. They are ordered differently, give less authority to the recipient, and contain actual secret teachings and historical information not only spiritual realizations.
It would be difficult to deny that a New Age is coming to the world. But in Nvuah there is not a lot of focus applied to this idea. Nvuah recognizes the Apocalypse as a cyclical phenomenon that has occured many times in history, marking out the periods where mankind has overcome spiritual ignorance and intolerance. The most recent Apocalypse was the Great War (WWI and WWII), though the double term of the last George Bush was arguably a miniature Apocalypse based on the prophecies of many prophetic cultures. Nvuah prophesies one additional type of Apocalypse in which the world actually ends but the Guardian Spirits have informed the Oracles of Nvuah that this is in the unforeseeable future and of no concern to modern society. This has occurred before as this greater Apocalypse is also a cyclical event. The most recent one is described scientifically as the "Big Bang."
Nvuah and its Oracles have no concerns regarding 2012. In fact, even the Mayan Oracle is silent regarding 2012, which is extraordinarily ironic considering the amount of media attention the year is now receiving. Nvuah teaches that 2012 will be an opportunity for raising human consciousness. There will be more to come, most certainly. Nvuah also recognizes a time coming when monotheistic religion will essentially fall apart as its proponents evolve spiritually. This should take the next 100 years, though if enough people believe in 2012, this shift may very well choose that year to begin.
Nvuah does not take New Age practices into itself willy nilly either. While chakra meditation, chanting Hindu mantras, and chinese medicine may be infinitely beneficial, they are not innate parts of Nvuah. Nvuah has its own energetic healing system, its own Spirit Songs, and even its own developing herbal, crystal, and runic lore. Nvuah is also not a religion that teaches "release" from the cycle of Reincarnation. It instead asks, "Why would one want to be released?" The physical life is a gift and a joy in N'vuah and not an illusion to be overcome.
This section requires a disclaimer. Nvuah does not advocate any negative feelings toward or treatment of Christian people. However, because Nvuah teaches that the collapse of monotheistic religion will be the next great leap in human spiritual evolution, it could be described as a practice which is politely opposed to Christian philosophy. That is not to say it is anti-Christian. Nvuah is not against any faith. However, one will find that members of Nvuah are not inclined to warmly welcome evangelists from other religions. Nvuah does not, as a policy, try to bring in converts and it is openly opposed to proselytizing from any religion. Christianity happens to be one of the most, if not the most, proselytizing religions in the world. It is no surprise, then, if there seems to be tension between Nvuah and Christianity.
This tension is an important quality in Nvuah. It is a Luciferian faith (see below), which basically means that it emphasizes freedom from exclusivist and elitist religion. Again, this does not mean that Nvuah is anti-Christian. In fact, Nvuah views Christianity as a valid faith even if it encourages certain unwelcome practices. Christianity is also a very diverse faith. While such so called Fundamentalists as Fred Phelps are viewed in a highly negative and even adversarial way, there are less confederated Christian groups which practice quietly and peacefully and advocate love and charity. Practitioners of Nvuah are aware of this diversity.
It should also be noted here that Nvuah also utilizes sections of the Bible for spiritual exegesis, particularly the Creation Myth of Genesis and the diatribe against the King of Tzor in Isaiah. While Nvuah teaches that the Christian interpretation of these passages is both academically and spiritually defunct, it is understandable that Christian scholars would arrive at such conclusions. Also, Jesus is viewed as the twin brother of Lucifer in Nvuah, placing him in an important role in deeper Nvuah philosophy. Whereas in Christianity, Jesus saves the people from Hell and sets them on the path toward salvation and the establishment of the Church, here Jesus is a catalyst for political, religious, and social change. He defies every paradigm set before him and even challenges the very authority of the God of Israel.
If Nvuah has a Wiccan mother, than it has a Jewish father. While the religion and philosophy of Judaism have barely touched Nvuah, the mystical path laid out by Kabbalah - originally just the higher knowledge gained from studying Jewish Law - is certainly a heavy influence. Kabbalah has become, in the present, another New Age phenomena with a Jewish slant. But the Kabbalah that permeates Nvuah and is taught to its Oracles is from the oldest Kabbalistic book ever written, Sefer Yetzirah.
The trouble with appropriating Jewish ideologies and world views into N'vuah is their monotheistic nature. N'vuah views Kabbalah as a set of blueprints and a source of meditative techniques, not as a spiritually authoritative philosophy. Nvuah also steers clear of Western Kabbalah, especially as delivered by the greats of Ceremonial Magick near the turn of the twentieth century. Western Kabbalah has been infused with Christian philosophy almost to the point of no recognition.
Jewish people are wholeheartedly welcome to study Nvuah as much as any others are. All interested persons from other faiths - and this is the point of this section - should just bare in mind that they are entering into a different faith. During Nvuah training and ritual, Seekers and veteran members alike worship the Old Gods and communicate with the Spirit World.
Long story short, Satanism is a vastly misunderstood religion. Nvuah is not a Satanic religion but it boldly insists that discrimination against Satanists and their faith must end. Within the monotheistic and Pagan worlds, Satanism seems to have no place. Even those that claim they are open and accepting refuse to include Satanists in their activities without knowing anything about their beliefs and practices.
First of all, there are many types of Satanists. Some believe they are really worshiping the devil described by Christian mythology. Others do not believe in any god at all. Still others worship Self and insist that life is about pleasure. While Atheism is not a philosophy compatible with Nvuah, the other Satanic philosophies, frankly, are compatible. Nvuah does not teach the existence of Satan or any adversarial being at all. But if an individual who does would like to be involved in Nvuah and otherwise seems an appropriate candidate, he will not be rejected.
It should be said here that all popular forms of Satanism advocate against sacrifice of any kind. Whether human, infant, or animal, sacrifice is prohibited. Those rogue groups that do advocate or practice sacrifice, whether legal or otherwise, are generally shunned by other Satanic groups.
On the topic of sacrifice, Nvuah is not opposed to animal sacrifice but it also does not actively advocate its use. Animal sacrifice for religious purposes is protected by provisions in United States Supreme Court Law and in other countries similar provisions are made. Religions like Lucumi, Santeria, and others that insist on the necessity of animal sacrifice are viewed as valid by Nvuah. Those who are opposed to animal sacrifice because of monotheistic beliefs should remember that to this day some Christians, Jews, and Muslims maintain sacrificial practices.
It is very difficult to explain Luciferianism without first listing the things it is not. It is not Satanism. it is not anti-Christian. It is no single religion. Luciferianism is a philosophy that, when taken seriously, can help the believer avoid spiritual bondage under a religious dogma. Luciferianism is the idea that religion is fallible and will always be fallible, that religion and all things must be questioned, and that the monotheistic ideals of our age have lived their term and should be done away with.
Nvuah does not advocate any violent revolution but it predicts a spiritual turnover in the next 100 years and quietly applauds this universal shift as it begins to become apparent.
On the subject of the term Luciferianism, it is indeed derived from the name Lucifer. Lucifer is the god of light in and he has none of the evil connotations or malice of the Christian character Lucifer who was invented by biblical interpreters in the Middle Ages.