Fantasy Magic

[journeyman]

[quote name='Tindomiel' post='985296' date='May 19 2006, 11:10 AM']
I think people tend to have some really strange ideas about what constitutes magic in fiction. I have never, for example, considered Tolkein's elves "magical". Here are several definitions of magic:

[i] 1. any art that invokes supernatural powers

2.magic trick: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers

3.charming: possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; "charming incantations"; "magic signs that protect against adverse influence"; "a magical spell"; "'tis now the very witching time of night"- Shakespeare; "wizard wands"; "wizardly powers" [/i]

Now I don't think the "magic" of the elves corresponds at all to these definitions. As far as they (and many other fantasy of mythical creatures) are concerned, theses "magical" abilities are simply natural characteristics that humans don't possess and are thus rather mystified by.
[/quote]


Especially as technology outraced people's imaginations, anything that isn't understood becomes "magic."
In the D&D environment, is "healing" any different than miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles? Is "defending" any different than the scene from Isiah (or was it Elijah) where the servants eyes were opened to see all the angels on the ramparts? (by the way, I've heard stories about (non-Catholic) missionaries who (a) were defended by angels or (b) were slaughtered by the people they were trying to convert, but those people were converted on the next round of missionaries because they had seen the angels) Teleport or bilocation?

Not that I've played that many, but I've skimmed several of the rule books and I really can't remember a D&D game world where a real "Christian" rule for "magic" was laid down. I think that would have to be developed by the game leader and participants.

The Harry Potter texts are more "incantational" magic. The basic theme of the books is that there is an inherent ability (distinguishing them from the 'muggles") and each individual has strengths and weaknesses that are revealed by their spells, but they are all (except maybe (mostly) for the potions - which are still a large part chemistry?) incantational . . . which suggests an exterior, rather than an interior, source.

Boy, that was a real run on sentence . . . did everyone understand? Did I?

[Crispy]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' post='986370' date='May 21 2006, 10:37 AM']
RM: Why are you casting magic missile? There's nothing to attack here.
BM: um, uh, I attack the darkness.
[/quote]

WHERE'RE THE CHEETOS?!?!?!

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='Crispy' post='989481' date='May 24 2006, 11:45 AM']
WHERE'RE THE CHEETOS?!?!?!
[/quote]
CAN I HAVE A MOUNTAIN DEW?

[scardella]

Regarding MMORPG's specifically, I think that because it's always available and easy to get on and you cannot pause it and its open ended nature, it is much more a temptation to be grow out of whack in terms of time spent on it. W/ pen and paper ones, you have to get together a specific group of people in order to do something with it. W/ regular video game rpg's, it has a specific storyline and ends. You can also stop it at will and come back to it without dire consequences.

[JJMG2001]

I think what we should do is look at the definition of magic given by the catechism:

"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." CCC 2117

Now I don't entirely understand what the definition of occult is but I've always seen it as involving demons or false gods after all magic comes from a word for pagan priests but I know there must be a little more too it because of other ways the catechism uses the term magic. Nonetheless because of this I think that if the power comes from inside of the person as described above when talking about elves it cannot be considered magic as the church defines it because it is simply part of a creatures natural abilities thus not supernatural. So for example in Harry Potter I see the "magic" simply being special powers that they have naturally and are therefore it is not really magic at all. Just like Superman’s ability to fly. Or Spiderman’s Spidy senses. So any of that kind of "magic" cannot be sinful and therefore even if this fiction cause temptation it cannot be sinful. That said there is defiantly fantasy where they are talking about magic and meaning magic but I think that they definitely aren't wrong if the Christian God doesn't exist in the world of the story and you aren’t tempted. But honestly what Christian is tempted to worship a pagan god or call upon ones power. That said in these types of games I usually put myself on the side of the religion that you can tell was molded after Christianity but I don’t see anything wrong with not doing so. It is kind of like fighting on the side of the Communists in Command and Conquer it doesn’t mean you actually want to advance their cause. In fact the only things I’d be cautious about are books/games/movies/etc. that promote the occult in a Christian world.

[philothea]

[quote name='JJMG2001' post='991714' date='May 27 2006, 10:34 PM']
That said there is defiantly fantasy where they are talking about magic and meaning magic but I think that they definitely aren't wrong if the Christian God doesn't exist in the world of the story and you aren’t tempted.
[/quote]
Good post.

There certainly are such occult-centered novels, but they would not be marketed as "fantasy" genre (at least, not as far as I've seen).

Most of the realistic ones wind up being called "horror."