Why do some people believe in magic ?

[MassimoTheChristian]

I am of course talking about White and Black magic. I saw a thread on another fourm talking about these things but that didn't convenience me of the existence of magic but I still wonder why these people believe in magic ?

 

[synger]

I have a number of neo-Pagan friends who practice magical rituals. They describe it as a way to communicate to the universe their wishes, and to influence things to happen a certain way. Much of it is "sympathetic magic", meaning that they include like things into the ritual -- coins for a ritual for wealth, hair braided together in a ritual for handfasting/marriage, smoke or water (or both) in rituals for cleansing, etc.

As for why they believe in it? I think it's because humans are built with an understanding that we are very small in this universe, and we like to believe we have some way to influence things to make our lives better. I can't think of a faith that doesn't have some sort of way to influence the supernatural -- prayer, offerings, fasting, dancing, meditation, disciplines, rituals, songs, festivals, food...

Those who believe in magic probably see it as just another means to influence the supernatural.

 

[Offline4Better.]

I am of course talking about White and Black magic. I saw a thread on another fourm talking about these things but that didn't convenience me of the existence of magic but I still wonder why these people believe in magic ?

Cos they follow the doctrine of demons.

Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV): "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

 

[NBB]

I didn't believe either, until some satanic attacks happened to me, i spent years wondering what happened to me, the Holy spirit helped me understand some witch did 'works' against me.

 

[bèlla]

The bible clearly addresses this in several places. If you've read about Moses, Daniel and Elijah you'd know it's real. Your lack of belief doesn't mean you're immune to attack as @NBB notes and you'd be better off keeping it to yourself lest you attract the wrong influence.

@NBB, the strongest altar wins. Belief in Christ doesn't necessarily mean yours is the greatest. At the lower levels that may hold true but an adept magician could make your life a living hell. That's the deeper meaning of Elijah's experiences with Jezebel. He didn't challenge the priests until he performed the miracle with the widow and was hiding for a reason.

~bella

 

[RileyG]

Superstition.

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Palmfever]

There are many instances of divination and sorcery in scripture. Faith can move mountains. Scripture does not deny the supernatural, it advises against it.

Miracles were performed in the old and new testament. Moses with Gods power and Pharaohs magicians.

Christ is the King of Kings. Christ/God is the creator of all.

Acts 13:8
But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Magic is a tool often used by Satan and it will continue to be so.

2 Thes 2:9
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

It is not just superstition. There are spirits.
God is a Spirit...
We believe and follow the true Lord of lords.

Sam 28:8
So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

9 But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

10 Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

11 Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

14 “What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

We exist in a natural universe.
God is Supernatural.
With faith His Spirit can perform miracles in us. Isn't this why we pray? Why bother doing so if there can be no healing, no job, no resolution of conflict, no forgiveness.

We place our faith in God.
Leave that other side alone. They will be destroyed.

 

[NBB]

Superstition.

Nothing more, nothing less.

It's not superstition, the devil forces have power, but they can't use it unless people give them rights, sadly the witches, are helping the devil bring suffering manipulating spiritual things with that stuff they do.
It's the worst you can do get involved with that. But today people think is all games and funny.

 

[RileyG]

It's not superstition, the devil forces have power, but they can't use it unless people give them rights, sadly the witches, are helping the devil bring suffering manipulating spiritual things with that stuff they do.
It's the worst you can do get involved with that. But today people think is all games and funny.

It's the devil and demons that do the magic, not the people themselves. The people have no "power." If that make sense.

I agree, it's NOT fun and games.

 

[MehGuy]

I don't believe in magic but I have read that in some parts of the world people actually gun other people down because they believed they put a curse on them.

 

[RileyG]

I don't believe in magic but I have read that in some parts of the world people actually gun other people down because they believed they put a curse on them.

Is it common in some tribal groups or Islam? Apparently, Islam has a lot of black magic, according to an ex-friend who was semi-practicing.

 

[MehGuy]

Is it common in some tribal groups or Islam? Apparently, Islam has a lot of black magic, according to an ex-friend who was semi-practicing.

Hmm.. I cannot remember the specific country. I think it was a missionary doing work in Haiti who said things like that happen there.

I'm sure this kind of thing happens all over the world, especially places where education is very poor. Heck.. we had our own problems with witch burnings once upon a time.

 

[RileyG]

Hmm.. I cannot remember the specific country. I think it was a missionary doing work in Haiti who said things like that happen there.

I'm sure this kind of thing happens all over the world, especially places where education is very poor. Heck.. we had our own problems with witch burnings once upon a time.

IIRC, Haiti is mostly Catholic with Voodoo or hoodoo influences. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s some folk magic involved.

 

[jayem]

Anything claimed to be supernatural exists only in the human imagination.

 

[RileyG]

Anything claimed to be supernatural exists only in the human imagination.

I entirely disagree. Using that logic, you are saying God is only part of the human imagination.

 

[jayem]

I entirely disagree. Using that logic, you are saying God is only part of the human imagination.

I'm saying that all of the gods, of all the world's religions, are products of our imagination. Check the link. Christians of all varieties are currently the largest religious group with 2.4 billion adherents. But they only account for only 31% of all religious believers. 2 billion Muslims, who make up 24% of believers are in 2nd place. 1.3 billion Hindus come in 3rd. Buddhists are 4th, with 500 million. About 16% of the world's population are totally non-religious (which includes my wife and myself,) or have some spiritual beliefs of their own design.

World Population by Religion: A Global Tapestry of Faith - Population Education.

So this is my question: If the Christian god is really the one and only true God, why would He (or She) allow the worship of all these false gods? And why would God tolerate Christians splintering into many so denominations, i.e., Catholics, various Protestants--such as Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, and Unitarians--to name several. And each with their own doctrines and rituals. To me, this makes no logical sense. Which is why I say that all the world's religions are human creations.

 

[RileyG]

I'm saying that all of the gods, of all the world's religions, are products of our imagination. Check the link. Christians of all varieties are currently the largest religious group with 2.4 billion adherents. But they only account for only 31% of all religious believers. 2 billion Muslims, who make up 24% of believers are in 2nd place. 1.3 billion Hindus come in 3rd. Buddhists are 4th, with 500 million. About 16% of the world's population are totally non-religious (which includes my wife and myself,) or have some spiritual beliefs of their own design.

World Population by Religion: A Global Tapestry of Faith - Population Education.

So this is my question: If the Christian god is really the one and only true God, why would He (or She) allow the worship of all these false gods? And why would God tolerate Christians splintering into many so denominations, i.e., Catholics, various Protestants--such as Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Christian Scientists, and Unitarians--to name several. And each with their own doctrines and rituals. To me, this makes no logical sense. Which is why I say that all the world's religions are human creations.

I will reply to the best of my ability.

Respectfully,

You are an atheist, you have no relationship with God or experience of God.

Whereas, as a Christian, I do have a relationship with a living God and know him.

I believe, because he revealed himself to me.

Regarding multiple religions and denominations, I will only state it’s part of human nature people are divisive.

I know this answer probably won’t please you, but I doubt any faith-based answer will please you.

And, oh yes, I’ve had experience with the paranormal.

“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.”- Stuart Chase

 

[jayem]

I will reply to the best of my ability.

Respectfully,

You are an atheist, you have no relationship with God or experience of God.

Whereas, as a Christian, I do have a relationship with a living God and know him.

I believe, because he revealed himself to me.

Regarding multiple religions and denominations, I will only state it’s part of human nature people are divisive.

I know this answer probably won’t please you, but I doubt any faith-based answer will please you.

And, oh yes, I’ve had experience with the paranormal.

“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.”- Stuart Chase

Thanks for the reply. Belief is a component of all world religions. Example: as per Islamic doctrine, the angel Gabriel appeared in a cave to Muhammad when he was about 40 years old. And informed him that he was chosen by God to preach the combined teachings of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other religious figures. The Quran, which supposedly states God's desires for mankind, was written by scribes based on Muhammad's revelations.

It comes down to faith. Billions of people have faith in the Quran. Billions more have faith in the Bible. Who--if anyone-- is correct?

 

[RileyG]

Thanks for the reply. Belief is a component of all world religions. Example: as per Islamic doctrine, the angel Gabriel appeared in a cave to Muhammad when he was about 40 years old. And informed him that he was chosen by God to preach the combined teachings of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other religious figures. The Quran, which supposedly states God's desires for mankind, was written by scribes based on Muhammad's revelations.

It comes down to faith. Billions of people have faith in the Quran. Billions more have faith in the Bible. Who--if anyone-- is correct?

Exactly. Well said. It’s faith.

 

[stevevw]

I am of course talking about White and Black magic. I saw a thread on another fourm talking about these things but that didn't convenience me of the existence of magic but I still wonder why these people believe in magic ?

I think a belief in the supernatural is inherent in humans. We are born theists. So whether its a belief in God, gods, nature itself, aliens with magic like powers, witches, Sharam casting spells, or make believe Hollywood movies we are naturally tuned for such beliefs.

Its when our belief is not attuned to God we will look to place our belief in other metaphysical ideas. A common one today is a form of Paganism where nature itself has power to heal or guide people supernaturally. Like with the fortune telling of astrology or the mystical power of the moon and sun. Like a spirit nature or the universe itself can be an entity that can change things supernaturally.

This seems a common theme throughout history where people have turned to Gods creation itself as the supernatural as it reflects Gods creative power. But they reject the creator as real.

I also think modern tech and science has given humans a sense that anything is possible. Its getting like people are finding it hard to destinguish what reality is and will believe all sorts of stuff that we would say was unreal and magical thinking 20 or 30 years ago.