Literary / Christmas Magic

[Byzantine]

What's the difference between the kind of magic in the works of Lewis and Tolkien on the one hand, and devil-worshipping magic on the other hand?

And where does Christmas magic come in? Like, the kind that fills Santa's bag and makes reindeer fly?

Just wondering. Could use clarification esp. on Christmas magic for a blog post.

Edited November 22, 2012 by Byzantine

[PhuturePriest]

Well, a Dominican Friar had a wonderful video if you can find it on reasons why Harry Potter and books like that are not sinful. His main argument was in reality, magic is unnatural to us. We have to get it through some form of demonic power. But in the world of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, it comes naturally to them. They don't necessarily choose to use it, it is just a natural power they have. Plus, God does not exist in those books, so it is not going against any moral law.

When it comes to Christmas magic I'm no help.

[Not The Philosopher]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1353630135' post='2514946']
Plus, God does not exist in those books, so it is not going against any moral law.
[/quote]

Wrong at least in Tolkien's case. Tolkien's universe is supposed to be a fake mythology from pre-Abrahamic times. So while there's no depiction of true religion in Middle Earth, I'm pretty sure he intended Eru Illuvatar to be a sort of representation of God from a pagan point of view, if that makes sense.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable in Tolkien lore can explain this a bit better.

[Not The Philosopher]

But iirc, the only good characters who use magic in LOTR are non-humans like elves, Wizards, Tom Bombadil etc., so what you said above about it being natural to them could still apply.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Not The Philosopher

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Not The Philosopher' timestamp='1353633005' post='2514978']

Wrong at least in Tolkien's case. Tolkien's universe is supposed to be a fake mythology from pre-Abrahamic times. So while there's no depiction of true religion in Middle Earth, I'm pretty sure he intended Eru Illuvatar to be a sort of representation of God from a pagan point of view, if that makes sense.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable in Tolkien lore can explain this a bit better.
[/quote]

Of course. There is a Godlike figure in The Lord of the Rings. However, God as we know Him does not exist. This is the point I was trying to make.

[Byzantine]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1353630135' post='2514946']
Well, a Dominican Friar had a wonderful video
[/quote]

Any chance you could give me the name and/or location of said video?

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1353780436' post='2515974']

Any chance you could give me the name and/or location of said video?
[/quote]

He has an entire series on it, at least twelve videos, but this one in particular works on magic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrX_qrm9XYA&feature=relmfu

[Byzantine]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1353781337' post='2515979']

He has an entire series on it, at least twelve videos, but this one in particular works on magic:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrX_qrm9XYA&feature=relmfu[/media]
[/quote]

Cool! Thanks!

Btw, Dominican capes (are they called capes?) are AMESOME!

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1353782520' post='2515991']

Cool! Thanks!

Btw, Dominican capes (are they called capes?) are AMESOME!
[/quote]

They are officially called the cappa, which I'm pretty sure is some foreign language for "cape".

[Byzantine]

Who knows?