Resurrexi Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Is it a sin to believe in magic (e.g. believe that it is real and that it can do horrible things and that it is evil and that it comes from satan)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philothea Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 Why would that be a sin? I thought that was pretty much the Christian understanding of the supernatural stuff that people call "magic." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted April 30, 2006 Author Share Posted April 30, 2006 good, I was just making sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akalyte Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 magic is evil. Magic is disgusting. I have wiccan sisters who do magic. Its virtually impossible to convert them. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blovedwolfofgod Posted April 30, 2006 Share Posted April 30, 2006 some of those kids who try to practice magic are funny... so small and young and outcast that they have to fool with demons more ancient and powerful than all of us... okay, so the only funny part is the image in my head of someone so small imagining that they can control something so big and strong. its just ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toledo_jesus Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 when speaking of magic, we must differentiate between "magic" and "mana." In the more animistic cultures, there is a strong belief in the existence of various spirits which can exert influence on human events and upon nature. A tree spirit will extend a root for you to trip over, a water spirit will flood the plains every year with silt and allow you to grow crops. The energy which can be produced by these spirits is what is known as "mana". In terms of Christianity, it is akin to Divine Grace. "Magic" is an attempt by a human to control and divert that "mana" to his own ends, be they good or evil. Curses, spells and the like are merely efforts to use this energy to accomplish one's own desires. So, in Christianity, perhaps it can be said that the Consecration of the Host is a "magical" act. The priest performs the ritual and by Divine Grace we have the Consecration. So, "magic" as a concept is not evil, though it is definitely true that any magic outside of Christianity is dangerous and sinful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philothea Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote name='blovedwolfofgod' post='966060' date='Apr 30 2006, 02:40 PM'] some of those kids who try to practice magic are funny... so small and young and outcast that they have to fool with demons more ancient and powerful than all of us... okay, so the only funny part is the image in my head of someone so small imagining that they can control something so big and strong. its just ridiculous. [/quote] I agree. It's funny... except of course that there are terrible consequences. I get all creeped out when I hear pagans talking about spells and such. I seriously hope they're just highly imaginitive. The other possibility is awful to consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted May 1, 2006 Author Share Posted May 1, 2006 I would call this Catholic "magic", "supernatural". The kind of magic I'm talking about would be classified as "preternatural". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolou Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote name='StThomasMore' post='966275' date='Apr 30 2006, 08:05 PM'] I would call this Catholic "magic", "supernatural". The kind of magic I'm talking about would be classified as "preternatural". [/quote] right. If anyone wants to know why to stay away from "magic" read the book An Exorcist Tells His Story by Father Amorth an Exorcist for the Catholic Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blovedwolfofgod Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote name='philothea' post='966270' date='Apr 30 2006, 05:59 PM'] I agree. It's funny... except of course that there are terrible consequences. I get all creeped out when I hear pagans talking about spells and such. I seriously hope they're just highly imaginitive. The other possibility is awful to consider. [/quote] There are actually curses that can kill people. The native Hawaiins have a curse that they cast on you if you REALLY do something to tick them off. They treat it with great respect, cause it actually kills people. It causes a numbness in your legs that moves up and then you die shortly after, and it doesnt seem to be inhibited by distance. That little tidbit is courtesy of Dr. Francis MacNutt, pretty much the Catholic authority on charismatic healing prayer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theologian in Training Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote name='StThomasMore' post='966027' date='Apr 30 2006, 03:04 PM'] Is it a sin to believe in magic (e.g. believe that it is real and that it can do horrible things and that it is evil and that it comes from satan)? [/quote] Have to admit, when I saw this thread I thought you meant magic, in a performing arts context, like David Blaine, Criss Angel, Harry Houdini etc. The magic, however, that you are talking about does exist, and can be very dangerous for the well-being of one's soul and the souls of others. I have known wiccans, and former wiccans, and spoken to an exorcist, and they all believe in the power of magick (they spell it differently). I think a lot of people believe in it, as they should, in fact, I was reading a book called "Spiritual Warfare Prayers" whereby they have binding prayers against hexes and other malevolent magick. BTW, I googled "magick" and wikipedia seems to have a great little definition..check it out: [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick[/url] God Bless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peccator Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 Speaking ss someone who used to be into Satanism - STAY AWAY. Demons and evil spirits are real, and fooling around with magic is to open yourself up to attacks from them. Do not be fooled, magic and the like are not harmless fun. Please, I cannot stress this enough - Stay away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 from the catechism:[list][url="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a1.htm#2115"][b]Divinization and Magic[/b][/url] [b]2115 [/b] God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility. [b]2116 [/b] All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. [b]2117 [/b] All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity. [/list] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC IMaGiNaZUN Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 As far as i can tell, we need to have faith that God will take care of us. People who are tempted to use magic are so distraught and depressed, feeling that the universe around them is out of control. They feel it is their responsibility to control. But when they choose to take control with things like magic, they sin. When they give up faith and hope that God is in control, and that they attempt to usurp that authority they fall into sin. SHALOM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toledo_jesus Posted May 1, 2006 Share Posted May 1, 2006 [quote name='phatcatholic' post='966876' date='May 1 2006, 11:09 AM'] from the catechism:[list][url="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a1.htm#2115"][b]Divinization and Magic[/b][/url] [b]2115 [/b] God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility. [b]2116 [/b] All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. [b]2117 [/b] All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity. [/list][/quote] The Catechism is consistent with the sociological definition of magic as an attempt to exert influence and wield power. Or perhaps I should say sociology is consistent with the Catechism... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now