Is Magic EVIL?

Is magic inherently evil, or is this a cultural construct shaped by power, religion, and philosophy? In this video, we explore the historical and theological framing of magic as ‘evil,’ from ancient texts like The Book of Enoch to the European witch trials and the controversial ideas of Aleister Crowley. We’ll examine the concept of evil itself, from Augustine’s privatio boni to Nietzsche’s critique of moral binaries, and explore how magic has been interpreted in monotheistic, polytheistic, and modern esoteric traditions. Join us as we challenge the assumptions surrounding magic and evil and uncover their complex interplay across cultures and time.

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REFERENCES

References

Andrews, C., & Faulkner, R. O. (1990). The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. University of Texas Press.

Augustine of Hippo. (397–426). On Christian Doctrine.

Crowley, A. (1904). The book of the law.

Crowley, A. (1929). Magick in theory and practice. Castle Books.

Dodds, E. R. (1951). The Greeks and the irrational (2nd ed., Vol. 25). University of California Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.8501105

Douglas, M. (1966). Purity and danger: An analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo (1st ed.). Routledge.

Federici, S. (2004). Caliban and the witch. Autonomedia.

Lopez, D. S., Jr. (2009). Buddhism and science: A guide for the perplexed. University of Chicago Press.

Nietzsche, F. (2013). On the genealogy of morals: A polemic. C.G. Neumann

Oomen, B. (2006, November). Witchcraft, violence, and democracy in South Africa. PoLAR: Political and Legal Anthropology Review, 29(2), 305–310. https://doi.org/10.1525/pol.2006.29.2.305

Pinch, G. (1994). Magic in ancient Egypt. University of Texas Press.

Ricoeur, P. (1985). Evil, a challenge to philosophy and theology. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 53(4), 635–650. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/LIII.4.635

Stuckenbruck, L. T. (2017). The myth of rebellious angels: Studies in Second Temple Judaism and New Testament texts. Eerdmans Publishing.

The Book of Enoch.

Yates, F. A. (1964). Giordano Bruno & Hermetic tradition (1st ed.). Routledge.

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00:00 Introduction

03:04 Support Angela’s Symposium

04:13 Conceptualising Evil

10:31The Historical Association of Magic with Evil

17:25 Magic and the Relative Nature of Evil

22:53 Case Studies

23:27 1. Magic and Evil in The Book of Enoch

24:56 2. The Witch Trials of Early Modern Europe

26:22 3. Aleister Crowley and the Reclamation of Magic

27:43 Analysis of Case Studies

28:54 Section 6: Conclusion

32:49 Support Angela’s Symposium

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Published on January 19, 2025

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