Irish Murdoch
Critical Thinker
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2003
- Messages
- 372
Dancing David said:
The story's actually from the Pali Canon, and it's the Buddha who makes the withering remark about the cost of the ferry.
So do you believe in magic or sorcery?
- Thread starter DangerousBeliefs
- Start date
The story's actually from the Pali Canon, and it's the Buddha who makes the withering remark about the cost of the ferry.
In this thread it has been asserted that religion and magic are one and the same. If I may, I would like to propose a distinction (though one that makes much of religion as it is practiced, in fact, magic)
Both obviously deal in truth-claims regarding the supernatural.
The distinction I offer is this:
Religion is the seeking of supernatural truth in order to adore.
Magic is the seeking of supernatural truth in order to profit.
I would define God as the greatest possible being. We will set aside (as irrelevant to my post) whether such a being exists. If I seek that being on the belief that, if it exists, it ought to be adored and that I would wish to do so (I am not saying that God demands to be worshipped, meely that a being of the definition i proposed would merit it in my mind), it is a religious action.
If I seek that being on the belief that, if it exists, it can cure my cancer (I don't have cancer, so far as I know; it is strictly an example), it is magic. As I day, much of religion would qualify as magic by that definition.
I think the classical way of saying this would be to say that magic is a practical undertaking while religion would be a speculative undertaking. Anyway, it is strictly a thought, nothing more.
Both obviously deal in truth-claims regarding the supernatural.
The distinction I offer is this:
Religion is the seeking of supernatural truth in order to adore.
Magic is the seeking of supernatural truth in order to profit.
I would define God as the greatest possible being. We will set aside (as irrelevant to my post) whether such a being exists. If I seek that being on the belief that, if it exists, it ought to be adored and that I would wish to do so (I am not saying that God demands to be worshipped, meely that a being of the definition i proposed would merit it in my mind), it is a religious action.
If I seek that being on the belief that, if it exists, it can cure my cancer (I don't have cancer, so far as I know; it is strictly an example), it is magic. As I day, much of religion would qualify as magic by that definition.
I think the classical way of saying this would be to say that magic is a practical undertaking while religion would be a speculative undertaking. Anyway, it is strictly a thought, nothing more.
evilgoldtoesock
Scholar
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 82
Yeah, good point...
Crowley was an interesting character. NOT always the most moral guy himself.
Still, some appreciate his work. To those that don't, that's quite allright with me. There are many reasonable philosophies out there, each with their own validity...
Anyway, I conclude my comments on this topic. It's been a good discussion.
Crowley was an interesting character. NOT always the most moral guy himself.
Still, some appreciate his work. To those that don't, that's quite allright with me. There are many reasonable philosophies out there, each with their own validity...
Anyway, I conclude my comments on this topic. It's been a good discussion.
Dancing David
Penultimate Amazing
Bubbles said:
Just to further blur the lines between the two, I think that they are the same, a magician is a practicing religionist.
Some people use thier religion for personal gain, such as when people buy a statue of St Francis or whoever and bury it until they sell thier house or someone prays to win the lotto.
The highest forms of magic are invokation where the practitioner craetes a space for the indwelling diety.