Genesis 1 and Magic, Theism and Magic

[infide]

While I was thinking about the implications of God incanting a world into existence, I was struck by how this story really reflects something inherent in theism - a belief in magic.

Think about it - God chants a spell and then things happen. We aren't told that God takes some dirt (atoms?) and molds it into various things. Rather God chants magical spells and things magically happen.

This, I think, parallels another curious act of the religious - prayer. It has long baffled the more intellectual among them the exact purpose of prayer to a being who by definition knows more than you and can never be told something that they do not know. Nor can this god's will be thwarted, we are told in several places in the Scriptures. Even the commonly used colloquialism "alignment to the will of God" is nonsense, because according to their theology, the very idea of something happening that is not aligned to the will of God cannot, even in theory, happen.

So there is no reason to pray, at all. But, what if the real meaning of prayer actually has more to do with copying their God as portrayed in Genesis 1, by doing magical incantations. Some Christians certainly talk about prayer in this way - do it often enough or intense enough, or whatever - and things will magically happen in your life.

Just some thoughts for your Sunday :-D

Peace,
JD

[Soyeong]

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[infide]

Please define magic and miracle.

This is what dictionaries are for, my friend. I am not using the word magic in any special way - not, of course, the illusions of a man with a top hat at children's parties - but, as the occult belief in the power of incantations or spells to influence supernatural power over the natural world.

This is something specifically forbidden by the law of moses, but practiced in their religious rituals nonetheless - especially with things like consulting the Urim and Thummin.

Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to first read what the Bible says about prayer and why we should pray before you commence with the speculating next time.

Don't talk to me about what the Bible "says". Such is a meaningless anthropomorphism (or theomorphism?) uttered by ignorant people who believe that the Bible says "one thing" about nearly everything. If you don't know that the Bible is a work of various human beings over thousands of years with many, many varying viewpoints, then we won't get very far in this discussion.

If you have a particular viewpoint or interpretation that you would like to talk about, then post that. Otherwise don't waste people's time.

Peace,
JD

[Soyeong]

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[Manwë Súlimo]

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