Divination

 

Photo by jasper benning on Unsplash

Ah, magic, from conjuring up the dead to disappearing rabbits, magic has been around since the beginning of time, both as a source of entertainment as well as a source of illicit profit, especially when it comes to card games connected to gambling. This sleight of hand also applies to religion as religion is also a way to make money and gain power, something done since the beginning of time.

Americans are fascinated by magic. TV shows like “WandaVision” and “The Witcher,” books like the Harry Potter series, plus comics, movies and games about people with powers that can’t be explained by God, science or technology, have all been wildly popular for years. Modern pop culture is a testament to how enchanted people are by the thought of gaining special control over an uncertain world.

“Magic” is often defined in the West as evil or separate from “civilized” religions like Christianity and also from the scientific observation and study of the world. But the irony is that magic was integral to the development of Christianity and other religions – and it informed the evolution of the sciences, too.

In early Christian stories, the magician Simon uses magic immorally

to try and gain power and influence. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Celsus argued that the miracles of Jesus were no different from the magic performed by marketplace sorcerers. Origen agreed the two shared superficial similarities, but claimed they were fundamentally different because magicians cavorted with demons while Jesus’ wonders led to moral reformation. Like the story of Simon the magician, Origen’s disagreement with Celsus was a means of teaching his audience how to tell the difference between morally suspect magicians who sought personal gain and miracle workers who acted for the benefit of others.

Ancient authors invented the idea that the miracles of Christians possessed inherent moral superiority over non-Christian magic because ancient audiences were as enticed by magic as modern ones. But in elevating Christianity above magic, these writers created false distinctions that linger even today.

The Sting

Awesome movie, the card sharp scene, a classic to the max. :)