Do you believe in magic?

[Deadbolt]

It's coming up in a few threads relating to the fictional children's book series, Harry Potter that said series introduces kid's to witchcraft.
Now as people who live in the real world probably know, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of magical powers, witchcraft, fortune telling and the occult have no real validity and would be harmless but for the actions of practitioners of said arts preying on the pocketbooks of hapless sods who actually believe in this stuff.
So, the only reason I can think of why people would be so afraid of a children's book that deals with witchcraft is because they actually believe in it, otherwise, where's the harm?

 

[Voegelin]

Do you believe in magic?

Seems pretty evident C.S. Lewis' Screwtape got his wish and we have a plethora of materialist magicians running around today and have for quite a while.

 

[Mling]

I don't exclude the possibility of some sort of magic, but certainly nothing like Harry Potter.
My guess would be that there might be a set of "rules" that governs the spiritual world, the way that physics governs the physical world. If true, it might be possible for humans to gain the ability to influence it.

All guesses, of course, and not something I would say I believe, but an interesting thought.

 

[Vene]

Sure, it's called physics

Seriously, no. But if it did exist I would be all over it.

 

[Washington]

It's coming up in a few threads relating to the fictional children's book series, Harry Potter that said series introduces kid's to witchcraft.
Now as people who live in the real world probably know, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of magical powers, witchcraft, fortune telling and the occult have no real validity and would be harmless but for the actions of practitioners of said arts preying on the pocketbooks of hapless sods who actually believe in this stuff.
So, the only reason I can think of why people would be so afraid of a children's book that deals with witchcraft is because they actually believe in it, otherwise, where's the harm?

And they do believe in it, and for good reason. Well, at least reason in keeping with the Bible.
Consider: Christians are people who believe that Moses could part the Red Sea by stretching out his hand (evidently this little gesture was required before god would divide the waters). Moses also made water flow from a rock. Then there was Joshua who made the Sun and Moon stand still. And, of course, Exodus 7 mentions the magicians of Egypt who could change rods into serpents. So it's only natural that Christians believe in magic.

 

[flicka]

Nope. There isn't any real magic.
But my friends thought my mom was a witch when I was little becase she did things....but those "things" were just her being aware of stuff that other people wern't and using it to her advantage . I've freaked people out too by "knowing" stuff I shouldn't possibly know. Again, I'm just more aware and know where to look

 

[Deadbolt]

Exactly, it's all trickery, or knowing one additional fact, something all the great illusionists (Save for a few noted charlatans) stress.

 

[KalithAlur]

Would telepathy be considered magic?

I think some people want the existence of psychic energy to be revealed in a subtle, enlightening way, to lessen the extent of abuse caused by psychic energy.

I think occult practices which seem to have "reality-manipulating" tendencies might be explained by the idea the environment can be manipulated telepathically - subtle psychic currents entering people's brains and influencing their behaviors to produce a specific result.
this might be a partial explanation of synchronicity.

i don't think the existence of psychic phenomenon has been disproven, and indeed believe there is much serious scientific validation for such things.... but any evidence brought to the table seems like hocus-pocus, and so is quickly dismissed.

 

[Maranatha27]

Scripture indicates that demons have power to produce certain miracles. The city of corinth was steeped in this when paul visited on his missionary journy. Black magic. Yes there is some form of magic, but demonic to say the least.

 

[tapero]

It's coming up in a few threads relating to the fictional children's book series, Harry Potter that said series introduces kid's to witchcraft.
Now as people who live in the real world probably know, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of magical powers, witchcraft, fortune telling and the occult have no real validity and would be harmless but for the actions of practitioners of said arts preying on the pocketbooks of hapless sods who actually believe in this stuff.
So, the only reason I can think of why people would be so afraid of a children's book that deals with witchcraft is because they actually believe in it, otherwise, where's the harm?

as to Harry Potter, I'm not commenting on that, as know nothing much about it. But friends tell me their kids read it and how awesome the books are.

But as to other things you mentioned, they are real, and done by demons.

We see this is the bible.

Not all who say they are x y or z are using demonic abilities to do what they do of course.

But there are those who are used by demons I suppose or who are able to thru demons to do certan things.

I am not speaking of magicians, as those we see on tv.

Or at a kids show.

Anyway, the above is most likely why so many fear kids readubg harry potter, tho again, not a topic I'm going into here as no nothing about it. But what I mean is Christians know (those who do know) that demonic abilities are real etc.

We had wizard of oz, and I wasn't a Christian way back and was probably way before our time, not to mention the countless other things many of us grew up on, and I never had a problem or got into the occult, but as I said, can't speak to potter books at all.

So, if you like, I'll pull up some bits from the bible, showing you what I mean.

take care
tapero

 

[Deadbolt]

Scripture indicates that demons have power to produce certain miracles. The city of corinth was steeped in this when paul visited on his missionary journy. Black magic. Yes there is some form of magic, but demonic to say the least.

The source doesn't matter, what you call black magic was probably close to what modern Astrologers and Cold readers are doing these days, using trickery to make a buck.

 

[Deadbolt]

as to Harry Potter, I'm not commenting on that, as know nothing much about it. But friends tell me their kids read it and how awesome the books are.

But as to other things you mentioned, they are real, and done by demons.

We see this is the bible.

Do we see it anywhere else? Specifically, anywhere we can scientifically verify?

 

[tapero]

Do we see it anywhere else? Specifically, anywhere we can scientifically verify?

I guess one sees it when it occurs.

As I have never been around with one does such, never seen it myself.

Your op q was do you believe in magic.

Doesn't matter about science to me in the least.

I dont' believe in magic.

I do know that by demonic ability some things are done.

 

[Deadbolt]

I dont' believe in magic.

I do know that by demonic ability some things are done.

lets assume that magic and demonic ability are the same thing, where is the evidence for it? I don't believe in the bible anymore so it doesn't really strike me or any atheist as a credible source of evidence.

 

[ebia]

It's coming up in a few threads relating to the fictional children's book series, Harry Potter that said series introduces kid's to witchcraft.
Now as people who live in the real world probably know, there is no scientific evidence for the existence of magical powers, witchcraft, fortune telling and the occult have no real validity and would be harmless but for the actions of practitioners of said arts preying on the pocketbooks of hapless sods who actually believe in this stuff.
So, the only reason I can think of why people would be so afraid of a children's book that deals with witchcraft is because they actually believe in it, otherwise, where's the harm?

Well, many atheists (quite reasonably) think religious fundamentalism to be dangerous, but they don't (I presume) think it's true. A belief can be dangerous whether true or false if it leads to behaviours that are harmful.

(Not that I have a problem with Harry Potter - just addressing your logic.)

 

[Deadbolt]

Well, many atheists (quite reasonably) think religious fundamentalism to be dangerous, but they don't (I presume) think it's true. A belief can be dangerous whether true or false if it leads to behaviours that are harmful.

(Not that I have a problem with Harry Potter - just addressing your logic.)

Yes..as I stated going broke because you're giving all your money away to a supposed psychic is a harmful behavior. Enjoying a good book is not.

 

[ebia]

Yes..as I stated going broke because you're giving all your money away to a supposed psychic is a harmful behavior. Enjoying a good book is not.

Sorry - i must have missed your post that said that.

I see no reason to suppose that Harry Potter would lead to such behaviour. (Not that I like the stories - but if someone else does that's fine.)

 

[Renton405]

I do believe in miracles and things that can't be explained. However the occult is a relatively new thing still. Thats why its called "NEW Age". There aren't many old surviving grimoires on magic these days. The Greater Key of Solomon was found in the 15th cenutry, and it attibutes the secret magic king solomon used. However there are many things that just don't seem correct, since the book mentions Jesus Christ(and King Solomon existed hundreds of years before Christ). So most it is seems questionable. Theres are other grimoires, like the Lesser key of Solomon, but that was written a few hundred years after the Greater Key. Either way its not something to get involved in, there is enough demonic activity as it is..

 

[Deadbolt]

I do believe in miracles and things that can't be explained. However the occult is a relatively new thing still. Thats why its called "NEW Age". There aren't many old surviving grimoires on magic these days. The Greater Key of Solomon was found in the 15th cenutry, and it attibutes the secret magic king solomon used. However there are many things that just don't seem correct, since the book mentions Jesus Christ(and King Solomon existed hundreds of years before Christ). So most it is seems questionable. Theres are other grimoires, like the Lesser key of Solomon, but that was written a few hundred years after the Greater Key. Either way its not something to get involved in, there is enough demonic activity as it is..

And yet, we don't seem to see it in any verifiable way...

 

[Catherineanne]

So, the only reason I can think of why people would be so afraid of a children's book that deals with witchcraft is because they actually believe in it, otherwise, where's the harm?

I have no doubt whatever that there are some people who are so adept at manipulation that they are able to do what a more primitive culture would call magic. They treat those around them as objects, and make those people do what they want without asking.

This is certainly true. It is all understandable in terms of modern psychology, but it is also able to be described in terms of magic.

I have such people in my family, and I know this to be true. One in particular is not a witch, but believes herself to be, and with good reason. She is like a spider at the centre of a web, and her family are the flies caught in the mesh, there only for her to feed from, and to be drained of emotional energy at every encounter.

Once we would have called this magic. Now it is sociopathy. Same thing.