Magic (paranormal)

:For other uses of the term or name "Magic", see Magic (illusion) or Magic (disambiguation). For other uses of the term or name "Sorcery", see Sorcery (disambiguation).

Religious attitudes towards magic

Indigenous traditions

Appearing from aboriginal tribes in Australia and New Zealand to rainforest tribes in South America, bush tribes in Africa and ancient Pagan tribal groups in Europe and the British Isles, some form of shamanic contact with the spirit world seems to be nearly universal in the early development of human communities. The ancient cave paintings in France are widely speculated to be early magical formulations, intended to produce successful hunts. Much of the Babylonian and Egyptian pictorial writing characters appear derived from the same sources.

Related Topics:
Australia - New Zealand - Rainforest - South America - Africa - Pagan - Europe - British Isles - France - Babylon - Egypt

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Although indigenous magical traditions persist to this day, very early on some communities transitioned from nomadic to agricultural civilizations, and with this shift, the development of spiritual life mirrored that of civic life. Just as tribal elders were consolidated and transformed into kings and bureaucrats, so too were shamans and adepts devolved into priests and a priestly caste.

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This shift is by no means in nomenclature alone. While the shaman's task was to negotiate between the tribe and the spirit world, on behalf of the tribe, as directed by the collective will of the tribe, the priest's role was to transfer instructions from the deities to the city-state, on behalf of the deities, as directed by the will of those deities. This shift represents the first major usurpation of power by distancing magic from those participating in that magic. It is at this stage of development that highly codified and elaborate rituals, setting the stage for formal religions, began to emerge, such as the funeral rites of the Egyptians and the sacrifice rituals of the Babylonians, Persians, Aztecs and Mayans.

Related Topics:
Shaman - Priest - Persians - Aztecs - Mayans

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Magic and the Magi

Magical beliefs and practices are common in many cultures and religions. The word magic comes from the beliefs and practices of the Magi (singular, Magus), Persian priests and scholars, followers of Zoroaster, who were credited by the classical world with mastery of astrology and other arcane arts.

Related Topics:
Culture - Religion - Magi - Magus - Persian - Priest - Zoroaster - Astrology

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In Judaism and Christianity

Officially, Judaism, Christianity and Islam characterize magic as forbidden witchcraft, and have often prosecuted practitioners of it with varying degrees of severity. The traditional theologies of these religions have held that the apparent effects of magic are either delusional or the result of fallen angels manipulating nature on behalf of the sorcerer, hence witchcraft has often been seen as a type of pact with demonic beings.

Related Topics:
Judaism - Christianity - Islam - Witchcraft

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Unofficially, Jewish and Christian mystics have practiced varying forms of magic for hundreds of years. Jewish folk stories often feature wonder-working rabbis and sages as protagonists, whose powers more or less resemble magic. For more information on Jewish mysticism, see Kabbalah.

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In Islam

Muslims, followers of the religion of Islam, believe in magic, but forbid practice of Siher. Siher translates as sorcery or black magic. Muslims believe that two Angels taught sorcery to mankind in order to test their obedience.

Related Topics:
Muslims - Islam

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:And they follow that which the devils falsely related against the kingdom of Solomon. Solomon disbelieved not; but the devils disbelieved, teaching mankind sorcery and that which was revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut. Nor did they (the two angels) teach it to anyone till they had said: We are only a temptation, therefore disbelieve not (in the guidance of Allah). And from these two (angels) people learn that by which they cause division between man and wife; but they injure thereby no-one save by Allah's leave. And they learn that which harmeth them and profiteth them not. And surely they do know that he who trafficketh therein will have no (happy) portion in the Hereafter; and surely evil is the price for which they sell their souls, if they but knew. (al-Qur'an 2:102)

Related Topics:
Solomon - Devil - Babel - Angel - Allah - Al-Qur'an

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However, whereas performing miracles in Islam is reserved for a prophet ("Nabi"), some schools of thought within Islam believe in a form of metaphysical training in which the seeker can obtain the power to perform miracle-like events (called "keramat"), not unlike the Persian Magi before Islam. During the golden age of Islam, there was an influx of Hermetic and Chaldean thought due to the translation of many texts into Arabic. Magic based on angels, properties of the 99-Names of Allah, verses from the Quran, and the power of the Arabic letters became accepted as an alternative to sorcery between the ninth and thirteenth centuries. One of the most famous books of this era was the Shamsu al-Ma'aref al-Kubra, by Ahmed al-Buni. This book was later banned by orthodox Muslims as heresy, but continues to be read and studied widely. This kind of magic was called, instead of Siher (Sorcery), Ilm al-Hikmah (Knowledge of the Wise), Ilm Shem Yah (Study of the Divine Name), and Rouhaniat (Spirituality). For example, in Islamic tradition, as well as in Judaism, King Solomon, the wisest of all men, could communicate with the animal kingdom. That is believed to be God given, a miracle. But then we read of a mysterious person in the circle of people around Solomon by the name of Asef ben berkhia, who is said to have been able to outperform the angels with his knowledge of the Divine Names. Magical power through Divine blessings ("keramat" e.g.) is therefore attainable by man; it is iktisabi, to put it properly.

Related Topics:
Hermetic - Solomon

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Many muslims, especially during the middle ages, believed in these esoteric sciences such as Alchemy and Astrology, where a student under the proper master (pir) could obtain this knowledge. The Persian scientist Biruni, for example, is said to have been famed for his knowledge of using Astrology to foretell the near future with astrolabes.

Related Topics:
Alchemy - Astrology - Persian - Biruni - Astrolabe

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Suffice to say that although Islam frowns on "magic", yet it approves of the practice within the mold of religion. Whereas the Persian magi were believed to use Agate stones to influence the weather, the contemporary muslim is encouraged to wear the Agate ring for protection and longevity, among other benefits. And whereas weavers of flying carpets are written to have been persecuted in medieval Persia http://www.chn.ir/english/eshownews.asp?no=2300, the presence and even ability to communicate with genies ("jinn" in the Qur'an) is openly acknowledged.

Related Topics:
Agate - Persia

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In Hinduism

It has been long accepted by many that Hindu India has been the land of magic, both supernatural and otherwise. Hinduism is one of the few religions that has sacred texts like the Vedas that talks about both white and black magic. The Atharva Veda is a veda that deals with mantra that can be used for both good and bad. The word mantrik in India literally means magician since the mantrik usually knows mantras, spells and curses which can be used for or against forms of magic. Many ascetics after long periods of penance and meditation are supposed to attain a state where they attain supernatural powers. However many choose not to use them and instead transcend beyond physical powers into the realm of spirituality. Many siddhars are said to have done wonders and miracles that would have been impossible to perform.

Related Topics:
Hindu - India - Vedas - Atharva Veda - Mantra - Mantrik - Ascetics - Penance - Meditation - Siddhar

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See also the book of Necronomicon.

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