Morality of translating something that might be considered "magic"

[sidetrack]

Here’s a hypothetical scenerio.Let’s say your an expert on ancient languages.You asked to translate some ancient book that was recently found.While your doing your translating you start unravelling some history and myth in that book but there’s some mystical stuff at some point in the book.Particulary very detailed descriptions of some kind of mysticism,rituals and “spells” as you continue translating.I’m not even going to get whatever* alignment *good,bad or neutral that stuff has.Howver since your in a practising member of a religion like Catholicism which greatly disaproves of such things would it be morally okay to refuse to continue translating something of that nature.Would it even be reccommendable for a non-religious person to refuse to uncover that kind of stuff?.Ughh,this would seem like one of the most unnerving types of tasks you could do in a job.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Magic is sometimes defined as a Science in which the experiments don’t work. In short, it is nothing more that nonsense.
The Church prohibits its practice because its practice puts “false gods” before the Lord.
However, the translation of any “magical” document, especially an ancient one, would not necessarily have the intent of practicing the magic. Therefore, the act of translation would not be a sin.
You have to realize that the translation of old documents-especially religious ones- aids us in the study of humanity, which in itself is not sinful.
And, there is no way that one is going to unleash satan or other demons by the act of reading or translating documents. That happens only in fiction and horror movies, and is completly against Catholic teaching.

 

[underacloud]

You’d presumably be translating it for historical value, not to enable the acting out of the rituals? If some strange sect commissioned you to translate ancient writings for the purposes of their rituals, then it might be different. But if it’s merely historical, there’s nothing wrong at all.

 

[Anthony_V]

Magic is sometimes defined as a Science in which the experiments don’t work. In short, it is nothing more that nonsense.

The danger is that it could lead to occultism, which is very effective in destroying a person’s life. Worst case scenario, there’s a possession or obsession. I don’t think magic or the occult is something to be taken lightly, because you’re dealing with the eternal fate of someone’s soul.