magic???

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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Found a reference to this by sfworker, a new guest, and found the information very interesting. One thing kept plaguing me, however. (No pun intended) The equating of magic and the power of God was a bit confusing. (As it is frequently in literature) The Bible story of Moses and the plagues may help us to see that there is a difference. The magicians in Pharaoh’s court were able to duplicate the first two plagues by what power they posessed, their enchantments. Where this power is from is not specifically stated in the Bible, but I believe there are two sources of supernatural power, God and Satan. (a theory, but read the whole of Scripture, Genesis to Revelation, in the original Hebrew and Greek if necessary, and see what you think) When the magicians could not duplicate the subsequent plagues, they said, “This is the finger of God.” Exodus 8:19

Another place that illustrates the difference is Revelation 21 and 22. Those who practice magic are sent to the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. Another theory: If we get what we want by any other means than prayer and supplication to God for what is in accord with His will, we are acting in the same manner as someone who practices the magical arts. “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” I Samuel 15:23 Read the story in I Samuel 28 about King Saul and the witch at EnDor. Also see Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10, II Chronicles 33:6 and any other references in the Bible to witchcraft, sorcery, etc. Satan deceived Eve telling her they would be “like God.” This was true, but how one goes about it is where the deception comes in. We can be like God. In fact it seems that He wants us to be like Him. Our trouble sometimes, and Satan’s, is that we want to “be” God, in control of things. There won’t be any job openings.

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:confused: Saul battled Sauron?

I should read the Bible more, I suppose.

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If you want to witness, the board rules specifically say that posts should be in Great Debates.

If you want to talk reality, then the reality is that those stories are instructional fictions and are not to be taken literally, or as history. They never happened. There were no Adam and Eve. Jews were never slaves in Egypt. There was no Moses. Nobody performed any magic. These are fables.

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These always bring to mind the classic article in The Onion about Fundamentalist Aesopians Interpret Fox-Grapes Parable Literally and their inability to eat grapes.
They were stories, fables, parables and superstition designed to ally fears of the unknown in a Bronze Age existance. Not long after they were used to create a well-heeled peasantry to serve the political and religious leaders.