This is a subject that I’ve been pondering for a while, but it was brought to a head for me this week when I, once again, heard a new host on a podcast I listen to make the typical “magic is always bad/evil in fiction” comment that all-too-many Christians have made for years. I’m shocked there are still people adhering to this anti-Dungeons & Dragons propaganda that was prevalent during the ‘80s (the ‘80s, people! Thirty years ago!) What made this even more ironic was this particular host was my age or a little younger.

This host (who shall remain nameless) has made it clear on several occasions that he thinks magic, particularly when presented in a dark fashion, should never be presented in fiction. He even said when he guest-starred on podcast run by one of his co-hosts while discussing Wonder Woman’s origin in the animated film Justice League: Gods and Monsters, that he liked her “more science-based” origin. The more I hear him, the more I realize that it isn’t just “dark” magic he opposed, but all magic. It makes me wonder if he hates Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings just because they include magic, despite them being written by Christians.

Admittedly, I once held to similar views, so I can’t fault him too much. But with age (and education) came new ideas. I’ve now concluded that magic is no different than science in speculative fiction. In other words, they aren’t evil in and of themselves.

First—and I owe my college chum Aaron Brosman for pointing me toward this—while magic is regarded by many Christians as evil, they forget that evil is incapable of creating. This idea comes from J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings (I wish I could remember where he said it). Here’s the logic behind it: 1) God is wholly good. 2) Everything was created by God. 3) Everything God created was good (Gen. 1:31). 4) Everything that is now “evil” was once good. 5) Ergo, evil can only corrupt what was once good.

By extension, this means that God, not Satan, created magic. One only has to look at the miracles performed by prophets like Elijah, the Apostles, and, yes, Jesus Himself to see “magic” at work. They call fire from the sky (2 Kings 1:10), healed the sick (Acts 3), and even raised the dead (Elijah – 1 Kings 17:17-22; Jesus – John 11:1-44). In other words, fire magic, healing magic, and necromancy (sorta). And these were God-fearing men and the Savior Himself, not people like the Witch of Endor (no, she didn’t hang out with Ewoks).

The difference here is twofold: 1) the source of the “magical” power, and 2) the motivations for using it. The purpose of magic, whether in real life or in fiction, is ultimately to acquire power. This manifests as command over the elements, animals, spirits, and/or people (curses, love spells, etc.). This grants the user certain abilities and/or privileges. So, the reason God forbade the practice of magic in passages like Deuteronomy 18:9-12 isn’t because the practices themselves but because mankind would use it to seek power separate from Him. This has been humanity’s tendency since Adam and Eve sinned. God knows this and doesn’t want anything to come between Him and His creation. Along with that, the source of much of those magical powers was demonic, so it’s also a form of protection. The Devil and his angels may promise power to those willing to ally with them, but in the end they will only exploit and torment those who fall into their clutches.

Now, that isn’t to say that all depictions of magic in fiction should be forbidden. The sources of the magic aren’t always demonic. Even when they are, they’re presented as evil, or at the very least in a negative light. For Christians to shy away from the realities of evil is arguably naïve.

So, I have a question for you: If magic is about the acquisition of power, how is it “holier” than magic?

Stop and think about it. In both real life and fiction, sinful people use science to acquire power apart from God. Some perhaps think that by using science they can become gods themselves, in some way. Stories like Frankenstein by Mary Shelly touch on this theme. Dr. Frankenstein seeks to overcome death itself by conducting experiments to reanimate dead bodies. He uses science to violate the natural laws put in place by God Himself (mind you, death didn’t exist before the Fall, but I digress). In real life, humanity used science to create the nuclear bomb, a weapon whose power rivals that of mythical gods, if not God Himself. Speculative fiction is replete with mad scientists who seek power through the use of science. Are they any different from the sorcerers in fairy tales? But just like magic, God created science, so science isn’t inherently evil.

This is why Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that it wasn’t enough to simply not murder or commit adultery. No, it someone was angry at his fellow man or lusted after someone, he was already guilty because he sinned in his heart. It’s relatively easy to keep rules. Even the Pharisees did that. But Jesus cut through that and went straight to the, well, heart of the issue. It wasn’t enough to keep rules: what truly mattered was one’s motivations and thought life. He later said, “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander” (Matthew 15:18-19).

So, no, magic isn’t the Devil’s creation. Writing characters who utilize supernatural power that isn’t demonic and for the right reasons isn’t immoral. Writing characters who do use demonic magic for acquiring power for evil purposes is true to life.

I would encourage you to take a closer look at what the Bible says about magic. It’s not as simple as you think.

P.S. I understand there are people who may choose not to read/watch/play such stories because they were once involved in the occult, and I can respect that. That’s like an alcoholic avoiding beer.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Are magic and science no different?

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