Christianity and Magic

[bloom]

I've was noticing how a lot of TV Christmas shows rely on Magic as a main ingredient. Like something "magical" happens and that that is supposed to be related to Christmas for some reason. It doesn't seem at all consistent with regular Christian belief/faith.

So I'm wondering - is it just a Hollywood thing? Like it makes a good show...

Are there better ways to express the Christmas message and Hollywood just doesn't get it?


And I wonder how people around here see it. Do Christians see it as a good or bad thing? How about Wiccans, others...?

[Razorback_Democrat]

1. It fits with the commercial aspects of Christmas well

I think that the magic, Santa, etc. have been hijacked by commercialism as the retail industry sees Christmas as its biggest season.

Our economy depends on the magic aspects of Christmas I guess.

To really celebrate Christmas as the celebration of Christ's birth (although he wasn't likely born in December) is not something that makes people rush out to buy things to give. To realize the symbolism of the celebration is to realize the birth of a movement that has lasted (through thick and thin and in different forms) 2000 years through changes as dramatic as one can imagine. Society has gone from Nomadic tribes to modern industrial/technological societies, yet Christianity persists.

[Warpy]

2. magic or miracles?

It's a real close call for most believers.

[dobegrrrl]

3. Pagan origins

The priests began the celebration of Christmas at the time of the Winter Solstice because they knew the people would not abandon their feast - holidays days. Winter Solstice, for Pagans/Wiccans and others that practice the religions of the Earth, view the Solstice as the rebirth of the sun. The first day of winter is the longest day of the year and thereafter days grow longer - thus the rebirth of the son. I don't believe it is a coincidence that Christmas is the "birth of the son."
It is a magic time.

[showpan]

4. Christmas means more money

and lots of spirits when your a CEO making millions...or is that spirit...lol
That's prbably close, I think that some Pagen influences are present as with other holidays as they have evolved. It doesn't take much imagination to look at the group that runs hollywood and see why it's become so commercialized. Christmas is big business.

[bloom]

5. I've started reading a book sort of about magic...

and it struck me as I was reading descriptions of TV shows - that the message did not seem religious in the Christian sense as much as it did in a Magic based-religious sense. IOW - God/Jesus had nothing to do with the miracles.

So here is my theory - a lot of Christians (and others) enjoy the Magic aspect and it probably distorts the precepts of their religion - but they don't care because it makes a good story, anyway. (And perhaps liberal Christians don't care if Paganism is the basis or not).

Meanwhile - it seems like strict Biblical types would see this as an example of the "evil liberal media".

Just a thought.

[mrgorth]

6. Christians believe in magic

they just don't realize it because they call it something else and the Church termed pagan magic "evil".

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Most Christians I know...

just don't think about it all that much. Some of the fundagelicals get their knickers in a knot over "withcraft," though.

In the Middle Ages, magic was a big thing amongst the churchly types. You did have to careful to be the right type of magician, though, and the best ones were often seen to be blessed by God for practicing miracles. The lousy ones were often as not seen as pawns of a lesser demon who did not impart the proper skills to his minions.

Christian magicians back then had a fair part in putting quite a few people to the stake back during the Europeqn witchhunts.

[Nikia]

8. I had a female ancestor who practiced Hexcraft

She was considered a powerful healer in her area of Pennsylvania, but was still considered Christian. I have been trying to find more about it. I guess that it isn't practiced much anymore, but that it was common amongst early German immigrants.