Is Fictional Magic a Gateway to the Occult?
The question in this blog post’s title is one which many are quick to answer without much thought. On one end of the spectrum are those who passionately answer in the affirmative: “Scripture explicitly prohibits the practice of magic, so of course depictions of magical powers and practices—whether they’re labeled ‘fiction’ or not—are a gateway to the occult.” Those on the other end of the spectrum answer with equal passion: “Because fictional magic is different from what Scripture prohibits, it’s obviously not a gateway to the occult.” What makes the issue complicated is that there are sincere believers firmly planted in each of the above camps. Who is right? Is the truth found in only one of those camps, or is it somewhere in the middle? A wonderful new resource is available to help answer these questions. On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic , authored by Marian A. Jacobs and published by B&H Publishing. This book develops a robust theology o...