It was inevitable that this subject would eventually surface in this series. After all, the supernatural elements in many role playing games are the ones most feared and criticized by those who oppose them, and eventually something would have to be said about them.
But it is just ironic coincidence that the issue has come up in October, the month in which issues of pagan magic and supernaturalism are most debated in the church, the month in which most Americans, at least, celebrate what some still think is the ancient and mystical pagan Druidic festival of the New Year, Samhain, thinly veiled under the pseudonym Halloween.
So what is it about imaginary magic which gets so many people so upset? And how can we who dabble in such imaginary arts justify such actions in view of their claims?
The complaint is that witchcraft and sorcery are roundly condemned in the scripture. The Law of Moses made it a capital offense to be involved in such things; they were declared to be offensive to God. This was renewed in the New Testament, where again the use of divination and magic was rejected. If this is so solidly opposed in scripture as a reality, it is suggested, it must be the case that even imagining it is repugnant to God.
I’m often surprised at how minor texts get blown out of proportion when the speaker has nothing at stake and wants to be right. The scripture says far more about immorality and adultery. Breaking and keeping promises gets much more attention. Even having proper regard for Sabbaths, remembering to pay tithes, and leaving gleanings in the fields at harvest for widows and orphans would appear to rank higher on the list of God’s concerns. And far, far more is said about the importance of making the proper sacrifices at the proper times (and this was not abrogated by the first century church—more than once Paul made sacrifices in fulfillment of vows, and the other apostles encouraged him in this). Sorcery does not appear to have been more important in the law than obedience to parents (judging from penalties) or maintaining a kosher diet (based on the amount of text dedicated to it). It was not even on the list (in Acts 15) of things the Jerusalem church wanted the gentile Christians to observe so as not to offend Jewish Christians. To hear the critics, you would think that entire books of the Bible were written about the evils of magic, when in fact it’s only a handful of verses out of the thousands.
But indeed there are verses in the Bible that condemn sorcery. Saying that it is a minor issue doesn’t cause it to cease to be an issue; it must be considered.
We as Christians face a difficult problem in relation to “magic” and “supernaturalism”: not everything that includes such ideas matches our beliefs about it, and there are real concerns about people being led into a supernatural belief that opposes God. But we miss a critical point about our own age which was never true before the late nineteenth century. There is a far more dangerous and pervasive view about magic and supernaturalism abroad today. Many people believe that such matters are completely irrelevant at best, nonexistent at worst. We, as Christians, very often very foolishly trick ourselves into thinking that it would be better to read that spiritual questions are immaterial than to read wrong answers to those questions. But the notion that spiritual questions don’t matter is a much more wrong answer than any that can be given by anyone of any faith, even worse than answers which are made up out of whole cloth.
There’s probably a danger that someone attending a Pentecostal camp meeting could come away with a very wrong idea about magic, convinced that if you just believe something hard enough, regardless of what it is, you can change the world. Such nonsense is sometimes bantered about in the medical community—that faith healing really exists because the faith of the people who believe in such things works psychosomatically within their bodies to promote natural healing at a highly accelerated rate. Certainly there’s evidence for that; but it ignores the power of God to heal. (I want to state that I am not Pentecostal and have not been involved in faith healing; that I do believe God can and does work miracles today; but that I don’t think every claimed miracle is genuine.) Any time you convince someone that there is a supernatural world they have not previously credited, you run the risk that they will embrace wrong and dangerous ideas about it. But until they embrace some ideas about it there is no hope that they will turn to God and the truth.
So anything that promotes a belief in supernatural power such as magic is better than anything that discourages such a belief. Certainly some kid might grow up to seek answers to his hunger for the supernatural in Wicca or Satanism or Buddhism; but better to have him seeking spiritual answers than believing that there are none. Christian authors of the past century made a point of using magic in their stories as a pedagogical allegory for the spiritual battle that rages around us. In most games that include magic, it is one of the chief weapons in a spiritual war made manifest in the imagined reality. If it leads people to consider whether such a supernatural battle might be raging in our reality, it has done a great thing, even if not all who see the question immediately find the right answer.
But what about those Bible verses? Do we just toss them out because we want to use something God says is bad as an allegory for something good?
First, we must come to understand that what modern popular culture means by sorcery and witchcraft is not at all what God meant when those words were written. In our western world we have created a concept of the wizard dabbling in arcane arts, learning to use supernatural power directly through potions and sigils and devices. But in the biblical age no one had imagined such a notion. Sorcerers and witches believed and knew that their powers came from gods, from spirit beings who were in competition with the God of Israel for their worship. Their magic involved religious rituals and rites which amounted to worship of these deities in exchange for favors which amounted to power. They didn’t do divination by some magical cards which had the power to tell your fortune; they did it by praying that some spirit being would use the cards to do so. They didn’t curse and bless by some charm that contained the power to do so; they did it by praying to some spirit to curse or bless. They didn’t work miracles because they had some magic wand or staff that contained power, but because they petitioned their gods to work on their behalf. The “magicians” of Egypt were not embarrassed because Moses was more powerful than they were. They were embarrassed because Moses’ God was more powerful than the gods on whom they called. The plagues of Egypt were an affront to those wizards not because Moses had more power than they had, but because God made a particular effort to demonstrate that He was Lord in all the things in which they believed their gods held sway.
God is not against divination. He directed His people to cast lots to determine His will in regard to the division of the land; he honored Gideon’s requests regarding the dew and the fleece; He gave the Urim and Thummim to the priests so that they could divine His will. He doesn’t object to divination, but to divination which calls on other gods to answer. He doesn’t object to blessings and curses—He commanded His priests to bless and curse—but to blessings and curses which call on other gods. He doesn’t object to the use of “magic” powers, power from the supernatural world breaking into the natural world to do the miraculous; his prophets parted rivers, called fire from the sky, brought water from rocks, caused food to multiply, controlled the weather, and raised the dead, often without so much as a by your leave to the Almighty whose power they wielded (and on one occasion being scolded by God for not doing it the way He wanted). He forbids His people from getting such magic power from anyone but Himself.
The imagined godless magic which we find so offensive is a fantasy construct. It has no counterpart in reality and is not mentioned in the Bible. The magic opposed in the Bible is that of competing religions that would lead God’s people away from Him.
In other words, it is not the wizards in such games who should concern us. It is the priests. Those characters who use some sort of freely available magic power which they have learned to tap are not involved in the sorts of activities God condemned and forbade in scripture, because their powers have nothing to do with the worship of other gods. The cleric characters are the ones who call upon spiritual beings to work on their behalf, and it is thus these who would be offensive to God. Yet since such games have generally been “doctrinally neutral”, that is, not supporting or opposing any particular religion, it is also the priest characters who best represent that form of magic of which God approves. It isn’t what kind of magic they are doing that matters, but on Whom they call for the power and the answers.
Maybe we are on thin ice here; maybe there is a problem with having characters in a game call on any deity. But that is a bigger subject than this month can contain, so it will have to wait for another time.
This article was originally published in October 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL.
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So when someone claims to be a “psychic” is it the type of psychic that only sees the future? Cause alot of places with “psychic” usually use tarot cards, Crystal’s or thier own “gift” like in this link http://www.bibletruths.net/Sermons/BTSO151.htm, and no I’m not afraid anymore just want to study more about this topic and see what is and what is NOT connected to Deuteronomy 18 in terms of certain mental powers like astral projection, that’s actually not a mind power that when the soul leaves the body and that’s unbiblical… I just want to explore more
O.K., I’m going to try this one more time. What Deuteronomy 18 is condemning are Ancient Middle Eastern Religious Practices which call upon spirits to act on behalf of the caller.
Modern psychics are condemned because they claim to be able to do things comparable to those practices. Many of them make claims that their gifts are spiritual, hence magical; frequently they speak of having a “spirit guide” who assists them. Whether this spirit guide is thought to be a deceased person or some kind of angelic or demonic or similar being, that would make it a false religious practice. Tarot readings are generally opened by invoking the involvement of a spirit to control the cards. We talked about the control of cards in Faith and Gaming: Mechanics in an early article, but not about spirits doing so. The involvement of spirits makes it something opposed to God.
On the other hand, someone who claims that his abilities are entirely mental, what we call psionics or mind powers, is not talking about magic or religious practice, and in that sense Deuteronomy 18 does not apply. The strongest argument that can be raised against them is really that we don’t believe their claim, that such mental powers do not exist as natural abilities but only as spiritual involvement, and therefore although they say they are not involved in religious practices, we believe that they are. That’s a bit judgmental, but it’s probably not avoidable.
Once again I hope this helps.
–M. J. Young
This does help and May the 4th be with you! (From Idaho at least) and out of curiosity how do you know Deuteronomy 18 so much?
I have two degrees in biblical studies and one in law, and have been studying the Bible for close to sixty years now. Because of my position as Chaplain of the Christian Gamers Guild, the issues about magic have arisen frequently, so I needed to have a solid understanding of the major texts that are cited in that connection.
Wow that actually awesome dude!
So when Deuteronomy18 condemns anything that Grant’s powers from spirits then wouldnt the Russian dude who coined the term telekenisis because of his research from mediumship, seances and channeling https://www.motionpictures.org/2013/10/the-carrie-phenomenon-a-brief-history-of-telekinesis/ but there are VARIATIONS of this power spiritual like Ermac or Kenshi from Mortal Komabt or Jedi/Sith from Star Wars, Jean and among others are genetic mutations/born, Eleven is natural from Stranger Things, and so on and so forth… I think others see it as occult or demonic either by ignorance or they just are a bit judgemental when it comes to fiction and I know for sure clairvoyance is condemned as its linked to soothsaying and no I’m not worried I just like to explore more and see what can be linked up to Gods Words and what is not
Let me remind you: neither the “Russian dude” nor anyone else has ever demonstrated telekinesis or another other supposed psychic power. That means he gave a name to something that doesn’t exist, and attempted to explain how something works that never did. So maybe he is right and there are spirit powers that can do things like that, but probably he is wrong, and it doesn’t matter what he called it or how he claimed it worked because it doesn’t really exist.
I do appreciate that there are VARIATIONS in media about the mental power, some are purely mental, other spiritual, other technological etc
Oh ok and that’s basically it for my case, it’s a blank canvas in the world of fiction cause it’s fake and it dont matter in the real world cause it really dosent have a real world counterpart
I’m just glad that other people did not make mental powers STRICTLY spiritual and could be technological, purely mental, genetic, etc… the ones I’d stay away is Kenshi and Ermac from Mortal Kombat cause their powers are spiritual cause the are powered by spirits among others
I know we solved it but I’m curious at your commentary from this article of Compelling Truth :
”According to the Institute of Noetic Sciences noetic science studies “how beliefs, thoughts, and intentions affect the physical world.” The noetic scientists believe that while traditional science focuses on external observation and is grounded in objective evaluation, measurement, and experimentation, there is another way of obtaining knowledge — the subjective or internal, including gut feelings, intuition, and hunches. This includes experiences that cannot be explained or proven “rationally” but are felt to be absolutely real. Noetic science attempts to apply a scientific lens to the study of subjective experience and to ways that consciousness may influence the physical world.
Noetic (from the Greek word meaning “mental”) science has been equated with parapsychology, metaphysical philosophy, and New Age thought. It is an attempt to establish a connection between the human mind and the physical universe. It attempts to discover the power and source of human intelligence, including how thoughts cause physical effects.
Noetic science delves into the areas of telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, and self-healing. In spite of the exhaustive studies into these areas, where they have been found to be unscientific at best and outright fiction at worst, people continue to seek knowledge through them. This is little more than the ancient practice of Gnosticism, which is seeking a higher knowledge, not from the Bible, but acquired on some mystical higher plane of existence.
Mankind has always attempted to gain knowledge outside that which God has provided through His Word. The Apostle Paul warned that the preaching of the Word would not be sufficient for those who seek to gain knowledge through superstition. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Teachers of extra-biblical revelations will always be with us. Noetic “scientists” prove that to be true.
The Christian worldview is one based on the truths of the Word of God, “the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). In His Word, God has given us all we need so that we “may be complete, equipped for every good work ” (2 Timothy 3:17). As such, there is no need for Christians to involve themselves, or give credibility to, any metaphysical pseudoscience, including noetics.”
What specifically is Gnosticism? And no I am NOT worried about it anymore but this is out of curiosity and studying purposes cause I already know what New Age and parapsychology is
What do you think of this from Compelling Truth?
And another thing: can Gods gift be genetic? I’m also making these powers genetic along with divine intervention cause there are actually beneficial mutations but they are temporary as most mutations are neutral or negative, others corrupt this idea as evidence for Evolution (which actually has a pagan root than a scientific one) and sadly the writer in Marvel make the X-Men x gene something as a evidence piece for Evolution (but once again they mix EVERYSINGLE BELIEF in thier company so ita very mixed)
And what can REALLY be labeled occult or not? Cause others say mental powers are of the occult but I’m curious on what actually IS occult
https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-occult-defn.html could this be used to perfectly describe what is TRUELY the occult?
Can Gods gift be genetic? I’m also making these powers genetic along with divine intervention cause there are actually beneficial mutations but they are temporary as most mutations are neutral or negative, others corrupt this idea as evidence for Evolution (which actually has a pagan root than a scientific one) and sadly the writers in Marvel make the X-Men x gene something as a evidence piece for Evolution (but once again they mix EVERYSINGLE BELIEF in thier company so it’s very mixed)
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Psychics.html I know we’ve been down this road before but I was curious on what your commentary is on this article
http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/Articles_Psychics.html I know we’ve been down this road before but I’d like to see what your commentary is on this article cause that I think about it sure mental powers are mostly fake but if Eastern religion or “occult” sects try to “develop” or “use whatever within yourself” they take it too far. And no I’m not worried about it anymore I’d just like to see what’s your answer
I don’t worry about that link anymore, sure MOST of the stuff condemns IS in Deuteronomy but not telepathy (cause like what we’ve discussed it’s more fake of recent imagination) so I ain’t worried about it no more, it focuses on the BAD
Sorry for sending it a second time it didnt seem to work on my end