Do you believe in magic?

[Job42]

Only the magic of and within the imagination.

To say that if one believed in miracles would mean one would believe that the demonic is capable of a fantastic sort of magic is to equate one with the other. That just cannot be and in fact puts one at risk of attributing the powers of God to Satan.

For one thing, miracles aren’t (at least not completely) a product of pure human effort. They require the power and will of God. Secondly, demons are fallen angels so it’s not much of a stretch to assume that they’re in fact far, far more limited and inferior in terms of power.

I’m sure demons are capable of giving the possessed the phenomena of levitation, increased strength, and perhaps eerie psychic abilities but that is a far cry from shooting out arcane blasts from your hands, transforming into a dragon, or turning your next door neighbor’s big doberman into a sheep.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to eat dinner and then work on my little fantasy story… hopefully, I’d have rid myself of the song the thread title so deviously planted into my head! DX

The powers of God I would think are infinitely superior to the “powers” of Satan, but God allows Satan some power over this world, as he did in the case of Job, for example. Why then wouldn’t the Lord allow Satan miraculous powers as well?

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

Magic tricks by magicians and such are just deceptions-- slight of hand, etc, so no, I would not call that real. But if the OP is talking about divination, curses and such those are real. The Bible clearly tells us that they are real and that they are forbidden. Why would God forbid something that does not exist? Why would we be told to offer a blessing and not a curse on those who persecute us?( Rm 12:14) It is because we can curse. Such people who cast spells, curses etc are knowingly or unknowingly working with the enemy to accomplish their goals (see Acts 13:6 about the magician whom Paul identifies as son of the devil).

For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. (Eph 6:12)

Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. (1 Pet 5:8)

If you are Catholic, and do not believe in magic, please review the Catechism on the subject. Clearly if it did not exist it would not be included here.

CCC 2117:

All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

and 2138

Superstition is a departure from the worship that we give to the true God. It is manifested in idolatry, as well as in various forms of divination and magic.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

The powers of God I would think are infinitely superior to the “powers” of Satan, but God allows Satan some power over this world, as he did in the case of Job, for example. Why then wouldn’t the Lord allow Satan miraculous powers as well?

The Old Testament is riddled with literary devices that are not uncommon among other non-Christian myths at the time they were written. Therefore, I don’t take so much literal value than I do its actual message (in the case of Job, it is faith regardless of bad circumstances).

The devil would actually have lots to lose if he could actually grant you the powers you would see in popular fiction and at a more frequent pace. It would prove that he exists for one thing and in turn would lead people to the same conclusion that God exists.

 

[Job42]

The devil would actually have lots to lose if he could actually grant you the powers you would see in popular fiction and at a more frequent pace. It would prove that he exists for one thing and in turn would lead people to the same conclusion that God exists.

That’s why he usually does not grant those powers with “Satan” stamped on right on them. He usually gives them wrapped up in the pretty looking package of “New Age,” or “Fortune Teller,” for example. Although a few people are willing to follow Satan himself in a direct way knowing full well that God exists.

 

[BVM_1221]

No.:dts:

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

That’s why he usually does not grant those powers with “Satan” stamped on right on them. He usually gives them wrapped up in the pretty looking package of “New Age,” or “Fortune Teller,” for example. Although a few people are willing to follow Satan himself in a direct way knowing full well that God exists.

You have to be joking. New Age practitioners can’t control the weather or open magic, interplanar gateways to bring forth Lovecraft-style monsters. Read post #40 if you want a description of what ‘real magic’ is: Simple delusions of grandeur that one has supernatural powers.

 

[Job42]

You have to be joking. New Age practitioners can’t control the weather or open magic, interplanar gateways to bring forth Lovecraft-style monsters. Read post #40 if you want a description of what ‘real magic’ is: Simple delusions of grandeur that one has supernatural powers.

I know that New Age practitioners can’t do any of that. It is about holistic healing through the energy that they claim pervades the universe.

I performed a New Age technique on myself once before my conversion and I can attest to the fact that there is power behind it.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I know that New Age practitioners can’t do any of that. It is about holistic healing through the energy that they claim pervades the universe.

That’s just people exaggerating the power of positive thinking. Thinking the glass is half-full doesn’t make it fuller but hey, you feel better inside.

Again, simple delusion.

 

[TheHolyTrinity]

There has been an area that may be considered by some as magical/demonic influence, dependent on understanding and believes. Generally with Scientific Remote Viewing, whereby, one obtains accurate and detailed information on distance, locations and time. It is a controlled shifting of awareness. During SRV one connects with an underlying and knowledge where information is available to all. SRV does not involve an out-of-body experience, use hypnosis or channelling; it does involve an altered state of consciousness. SRV works on a set methodology - the tasker, monitored sessions, coordinates etc.

At the height of the cold war, the Soviet Union and then other countries developed a new and terrible form of psychic warfare called psychotronics. This school of espionage some believe that remote viewing, ESP and psychic spying, telepathic hypnosis and even remote killing are a whole lot of hog wash – it is not, it is here and is happening now and is here to stay – some of the resent captures - most likely the incorporated above methods where used to achieve these captures.

As I have said too many, the reality we live in is not the real reality. There is so much more to this world that is hidden to mainstream society almost like a veil. Knowing the reality beyond the veil - certainly changes ones view of the world we live in.

 

[Labarum]

Magic exists and to deny its existence is just as dangerous as denying the existence of the Devil.

Black magic and white magic all derive from demonic sources. It’s effects are real.

A good book to read is “An Exorcist Tells His Story” by Fr. Gabriele Amorth who is is the Chief Exorcist of Rome.