Is it a contradiction that people who believe in magic would call others stupid for believing in a god?

Question

There are many people who say that belief in a god is ignorant even though they have no trouble believing in mediums, witchcraft, and other occult practices. Belief in a god actually makes more sense than belief in magic without a higher power because where would the supernatural come from if there wasn't a higher power.

Answer 1

A few others have answered this question quite well, but here goes. To paraphrase Aleister Crowley, Magick is the Art and Science of causing change to occur in conformity with one's Will. Most people use the term to refer to external change -- material results. This change can also (and most often is) internal -- the Magician seeks to transform himself -- this is sometimes called "inner alchemy," and can be compared to self-administered psychotherapy. Traditionally, if you look at the Grimoires (books of magick) of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, they are very much tied in with religion. During the operation, the magician is to prepare himself through prayers, fasting, purification baths, and the recitation of particular psalms. For the modern magician, belief in a god or gods may be indispensable for effective magick, or it may be irrelevant, depending on the personal philosophy of the magician. Some believe very strongly in a higher power, others believe that that higher power is an aspect of themselves. What they may be calling stupid isn't the belief in God itself, but the blind and unquestioning belief in One and Only God as revealed by the Bible and interpreted by only the most Fundamentalist forms of Christianity. It is narrow-mindedness and unexamined blind-faith that the magician ridicules (and rightfully so) not the belief in God(s).

Answer 2

No, it is not a contradiction. I have to say, I am a Christian, and I still understand this. They are not opposing the idea of a Creator, or "Force" of good. People who believe in magic actually believe quite strongly in positive forces of spirituality and practice many of the things the Bible teaches. When they state they do not believe in God they are stating a misbelief in the "version" of God Christians have represented to them. They are opposing the idea of an absolute because absolutes have been used to judge and injur them instead of to edify and strengthen them. I am not saying "they are saved" in the way a Christian would consider "saved" ... I am saying, take their words in context and with understanding of where they are coming from rather than focusing solely on the "logistics" of their words.

Answer 3

I think people who believe in magic would not be calling others stupid to believe in gods as magic has something to do with supernatural beings. It need not to be the god of christian or muslim.

However, people who believed in christian god will go around calling people who believes in magics, such as the wiccan or the pagans, as stupid or Satan worshippers.

In my own thinking believing in a god is just as stupid as believing in magics or miracles. But personally, I prefer wiccan or pagans as they are the more merry type and sometime their stories are very much nicer and they are more friendly towards none wiccan or pagans :D.

Answer 4

I believe in magic and do not believe in the God of Abraham. But I also do not consider people who believe in Him or any Christians "stupid." Everybody has their own beliefs!

Answer 5

surely that Catholics do have self belief in many the failings which you're speaking approximately. "Christians" probable do not. Catholics have self belief that that's attainable to instruct bread and wine into flesh and blood. Catholics even have self belief that the devil actively is in touch in the international and the demons can and could desire to be solid out via reciting holy words. this could sound like witchcraft to three. We even have self belief in miracles the place healings have going on like sight decrease back to the blind because of the fact Jesus Christ stated so. As for the different beings, Catholics have self belief that their are beings that are non actual visitors to the earth that have affected the direction of human heritage. yet as for extraterrestrial beings are you able to instruct that there are extraterrestrial beings? No so why do you have a issue with somebody who believes that they are made in the image and likeness of God, probable via an evolutionary technique, and that he created us out of love and we are the top of his creation.

Answer 6

Actually, John R any person that would attempt to shovel their crappy beliefs, whatever they may be, onto another free thinking person is nothing more than a narrow minded unthinking lamb that is being led to the slaughter. Use the brain that you have to investigate all and discover your own way!

Answer 7

It really depends on which type of "magic".

Wiccans are really just confused Christians, so that might apply. Yes they are, don't argue, go read "The Golden Bough" and tell me they just didn't make Jesus a woman.

People who practice "Magick" would probably tell you there is no god.

Answer 8

it has been my personal experience that those who beleivein god tend to jump to the conclusion that anyone who doesn't beleive in their god is stupid. In fact I know many wiccans and they are all very nice and accepting of everyone. Beleif in god makes no more sense than beleif in magic, its just that it makes more sense to you.
Try to be more understanding, everyone has a right to beleive in what they want, if someone wants to beleive that a moose is god then good for them. And just for the record I'm catholic.

Answer 9

Investing one's faith totally in some structured religious denomination appears to the unconverted as putting the "seeker" to bed, saying "Okay, all the answers are here so my search is over".....

The still wandering seeker grasps at straws hoping to find a thread of truth.....

It's not so much a "contradiction" to me as an impossible dilemma-

Answer 10

They're both weird things to believe, but I find that the magic people are usually a lot nicer, and a lot more fun.