Difference between revisions of "Magic"
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| − | '''Magic''' is a collective term for seemingly physically impossible acts perpetrated by a person or people. Magic differs from a [[miracle]], which is a physically impossible act perpetrated by [[God]] (or, in the [[Catholic]] tradition, by a [[saint]] aided by God). Perpetrators of magic are called varyingly ''magicians'', ''[[mage]]s'', ''[[sorcerer]]s'', ''[[witch]]es'', ''hexers'', or ''[[wizard]]s''. | + | '''Magic''' is a collective term for seemingly physically impossible acts perpetrated by a person or people. Magic differs from a [[miracle]], which is a physically impossible act perpetrated by [[God]] (or, in the [[Catholic]] tradition, by a [[saint]] aided by God). Perpetrators of magic are called varyingly ''magicians'', ''[[mage]]s'', ''[[sorcerer]]s'', ''[[witch]]es'', ''hexers'', ''[[shaman]]s'', ''witch doctors'', or ''[[wizard]]s''. |
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| + | Common uses of magic have included spells to gain influence over government officials, to obtain the love of an unwilling person, to win legal cases, and to prevail in cases of uncertainty, for example in horse-racing or other forms of gambling. Rituals which attempt in general to harm another person of a protected or superior social status have also been a common form of magic. Magic has also been frequently used by businessmen to divert trade and customers away from their rivals. | ||
The term 'magic' derives from the name of the [[priest]]ly caste of the [[Iranian]] religion, ''Magoi'' in [[Greek]], which at the time of the Graeco-Persian wars in the fifth century BC were commonly beleived in Greece to have practiced religious rituals hostile to Greek Freedom and victory in the wars of that time. The Greek word μαγοι is the one used in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to describe the three ''[[Wise Men]]'' who come to visit Jesus at his birth. | The term 'magic' derives from the name of the [[priest]]ly caste of the [[Iranian]] religion, ''Magoi'' in [[Greek]], which at the time of the Graeco-Persian wars in the fifth century BC were commonly beleived in Greece to have practiced religious rituals hostile to Greek Freedom and victory in the wars of that time. The Greek word μαγοι is the one used in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] to describe the three ''[[Wise Men]]'' who come to visit Jesus at his birth. | ||
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The word "magic" has become somewhat synonymous with sleights of hand, trickery, and [[deception]]. As a result, by using the label "magic", a person can negatively characterize ritual practices or beliefs that he wishes to condemn. For example, the last Roman Emperor to practice the traditional Roman religion, [[Julian]], characterized the apostles [[Paul]] and [[Peter]] as the greatest magicans who ever lived, in an attempt to reduce the wonders of [[Christianity]] to mere wizardry. | The word "magic" has become somewhat synonymous with sleights of hand, trickery, and [[deception]]. As a result, by using the label "magic", a person can negatively characterize ritual practices or beliefs that he wishes to condemn. For example, the last Roman Emperor to practice the traditional Roman religion, [[Julian]], characterized the apostles [[Paul]] and [[Peter]] as the greatest magicans who ever lived, in an attempt to reduce the wonders of [[Christianity]] to mere wizardry. | ||
| − | + | The term magic was commonly used to describe ritual practices practiced outside of the control of state authorities, so that, for example, practitioners of [[healing]] and [[exorcism]] in Classical Greek culture who were not associated with the temples of a Greek city state were commonly, as by [[Plato]], criticized as magicians. | |
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| − | The term magic was commonly used to describe ritual practices practiced outside of the control of state authorities, so that, for example, | ||
[[Category:Religion]] | [[Category:Religion]] | ||
Revision as of 21:25, June 24, 2008
Magic is a collective term for seemingly physically impossible acts perpetrated by a person or people. Magic differs from a miracle, which is a physically impossible act perpetrated by God (or, in the Catholic tradition, by a saint aided by God). Perpetrators of magic are called varyingly magicians, mages, sorcerers, witches, hexers, shamans, witch doctors, or wizards.
Common uses of magic have included spells to gain influence over government officials, to obtain the love of an unwilling person, to win legal cases, and to prevail in cases of uncertainty, for example in horse-racing or other forms of gambling. Rituals which attempt in general to harm another person of a protected or superior social status have also been a common form of magic. Magic has also been frequently used by businessmen to divert trade and customers away from their rivals.
The term 'magic' derives from the name of the priestly caste of the Iranian religion, Magoi in Greek, which at the time of the Graeco-Persian wars in the fifth century BC were commonly beleived in Greece to have practiced religious rituals hostile to Greek Freedom and victory in the wars of that time. The Greek word μαγοι is the one used in the Gospel of Matthew to describe the three Wise Men who come to visit Jesus at his birth.
Use as a Pejorative Label
The word "magic" has become somewhat synonymous with sleights of hand, trickery, and deception. As a result, by using the label "magic", a person can negatively characterize ritual practices or beliefs that he wishes to condemn. For example, the last Roman Emperor to practice the traditional Roman religion, Julian, characterized the apostles Paul and Peter as the greatest magicans who ever lived, in an attempt to reduce the wonders of Christianity to mere wizardry.
The term magic was commonly used to describe ritual practices practiced outside of the control of state authorities, so that, for example, practitioners of healing and exorcism in Classical Greek culture who were not associated with the temples of a Greek city state were commonly, as by Plato, criticized as magicians.