Many of these practices are widely regarded as [[superstition]] with no functional basis, and thus ineffective - the [[divination]] rituals will provide no insight into the future, the spells have no influence and the demons will not appear. However, the occult does have fervent [[believer]]s. Further, the presence of warnings in the [[Bible]] against various practices that would now be regarded as occult demonstrates there is a level of truth and real danger behind them.
Many [[Christians]] see the occult as being profoundly [[evil]], criminal, destructive, life threatening, and/or [[Satanism|Satanic]]. Some Christians take this further, and argue that even fictional depictions of occult practices (such as [[fantasy]] books) or non-supernatural recreations ([[magician]]s' performances) may be dangerous.
Concerning occult practices, the [[Israelites]] were told: