Magic?

[Lounge Daddy]

[quote name='sacredheartandbloodofjesus' post='1896130' date='Jun 19 2009, 06:02 PM']I doubt St. Albert practiced astrology. Maybe you meant astronomy, which is perfectly permissable by the chuch.Its the study of the universe and stars.[/quote]

Yes.

Astronomy used to be a lot more acceptable, when it was used as one of many ways of trying to "read" God's will. The same was true of "casting lots," and allowing a copy of the Bible to fall open and pointing at a verse and reading it.

But those things lead to misunderstanding, superstition, and were used exclusively to divine the future etc... they began to be banned by the Church. Also, our general understanding of science played a roll as well.

Things change. Cremation, on the other hand, was associated largely with superstition, paganism, and a challenge to the Church's teaching on the resurrection. So it wasn't permitted at a Catholic burial. Today, it is permitted by the Church.

Edited July 12, 2009 by Lounge Daddy

[elizabeth09]

Could we have no magic and call it a non-magic world for once?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='elizabeth09' post='1943552' date='Aug 8 2009, 01:42 PM']Could we have no magic and call it a non-magic world for once?[/quote]
Well it sure would be a lot safer. Unfortunately it's just not the case.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Lounge Daddy' post='1917858' date='Jul 12 2009, 10:00 AM']Yes.

Astronomy used to be a lot more acceptable, when it was used as one of many ways of trying to "read" God's will. The same was true of "casting lots," and allowing a copy of the Bible to fall open and pointing at a verse and reading it.[/quote]

I've always imagined that casting lots was the biblical way of drawing a name out of a hat.

[elizabeth09]

Yea, but you might have one movie with magic out of 5 movies.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' post='1943627' date='Aug 8 2009, 03:35 PM']I've always imagined that casting lots was the biblical way of drawing a name out of a hat.[/quote]
Speaking of which, I'm reading Benedict's Spirit of the Liturgy right now, and I just finished the section where he talks about the relationships between Christianity and nature religions, especially in regards to how stars and even astrology itself can in some ways be regarded as foreshadows of the New Covenant. Very fascinating perspective.
You've read that one, right?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1944132' date='Aug 9 2009, 10:55 AM']You've read that one, right?[/quote]

I've read parts of it.

[Apotheoun]

I agree with St. Ignatios of Antioch who told the Christians of Ephesus that magic, spells, divination, etc., have all been overthrown by the incarnational dispensation established by Christ.

[elizabeth09]

Is it a good book?