Most cultures of the world have religious beliefs that supernatural powers can be compelled, or at...
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Transcript of Most cultures of the world have religious beliefs that supernatural powers can be compelled, or at...
Most cultures of the world have religious beliefs that supernatural powers can be compelled, or at least influenced, to act in certain ways for good or evil purposes by using ritual formulas
These formulas are, in a sense, magic
-- Magical thinking is an action which hopes to get something back in return
-- Worship is an action with no pay back
-- Magic tries to control or manipulate mystery and the sacred
-- Worship flows from a trusting relationship with mystery (GOD)
--Magic is compelling the supernatural to act performing certain magical acts in a particular way:
Crops might be improvedGame herds replenishedIllness cured or avoidedPeople may be more fertile
-- Worship accepts that which is sacred and mysterious --It cannot be compelled or forced
--Magical practices tend to be fearful and compulsive
--Worship rituals are willingly and freely entered into
Based on the principle that “like produces like”
For instance, whatever happens to an image of someone will also happen to them
This is the basis for use of Voodoo dolls in the folk tradition of Haiti
Prehistoric cave paintings May be referred to as Black Magic if it
is used to do evil
Based on the principle that things or persons once in contact can afterward influence each other
In other words, it is believed that there is a permanent relationship between an individual and any part of his or her body
As a consequence, believers must take special precautions with their hair, fingernails, teeth, clothes, and feces.
If anyone obtains these objects, magic could be performed on them which would cause the person they came from to be affected
For instance, someone could use your fingernail clippings in a magical ritual that would cause you to love them or to fall ill and die.
This may also include the consumption of the body/body parts
A pagan religion with a long history that stretches back to the beginning of human time
Any practice of magic, especially Black Magic and the use of spells and the invocation of spirits
Witches were originally thought to be healers who nurtured as well as destroyed
Used to explain the unexplainable A belief system that uses magic as the most
logical explanation for illness, accidents, and other unexpected occurrences, there is no room for natural causes or chance
At one point, seen as part of a vast conspiracy of individuals in a league with the devil undermining Christianity, eventually leading to witch hunts
It was believed that both spirits and people needed the power that was present in life and blood
The higher the cost of the sacrifice, the greater the yields of return
Ex. Abraham being ready to sacrifice Isaac which symbolized having faith and trust in God
Shaman: mediator of souls between the physical and non physical world. A specialist who is involved in healing (usually has high status in society) Enters into a trance, journeys
to other worlds in order to get help from guardians or spirits
Sorcerers and witches: invoke supernatural forces to cause harm or heal
Urarina Shaman, Amazonian rainforest, 2006
A magical procedure of engaging in dialogue with the sacred/divine by which the cause of a particular event or the future is determined.
Shamans usually go into a trance to find out the answers from their spirit helpers
The ancient Romans divined the outcome of battles or business deals by autopsying chickens and examining the condition of their livers
Still exists in many parts of the world today
Examining tea leaves in the bottom of a cup, lines in a hand, tarot cards, astrology, etc.
Source must be understood
An inanimate object worshipped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit
EX. Holy Water from Lourdes, France Over 50 official miracles are linked with
the water in the spring
Magic has continued into modern society as sacred mysteries of life continue to perplex human beings
The right foot of St. Peters statue in Rome, for example, is worn thin by people kissing and touching it for good luck
People rub the Buddha’s belly for good luck
In India, if a horoscope dictates that it is unsafe to leave home, students are able to miss school
Hindu’s baby dropping for good luck –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rndVUQZhA3Q