pretty sure draven was only half joking as the position of the Catholic Church on magic is well known and documented throughout history.... just saying
You are right about it being well documented. A quick Google search will reveal that the
current Catholic position on magic is as follows:
All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. (Catholic Catechism 2117, emphasis added).
What most of us consider magic and mentalism doesn't fall in this category because we aren't trying to tame occult powers, but we are merely presenting an illusion. If you actually believe that you have attained occult powers and the ability to control demons from reading Tarbell, I would agree that such a belief is "gravely contrary to the virtue of religion" and probably indicative of greater psychological problems.
As part of this discussion, people may want to look at the Society of American Magician's website, there is an explanation of the Occult Investigation Committee (which traces its existence back to Houdini). The OIC looks into people who use magic methods to claim paranormal or occult powers. The issue being that people who claim those powers usually use them to make people's money disappear (and reappear in their own pockets) and discredit magicians. From the OIC's mission statement:
The usefulness of the OIC seems to be more current today than ever. The constant story of the gullible and innocent having their life savings wiped out by con-artists passing as fortune tellers and mediums continues at an all time high. The popularity of occult-related television shows that gives credibility to ghosts, mediums, and the paranormal are some of the highest rated. Many who claim to have powers to see into the future, communicate with the dead, and work with the police to find the missing have become celebrities, and at the same time lining their pockets on the backs of the bereaved. The relentless advertising of so called “certified Psychics” who can guide you by phone at $5 and up a minute brings in millions of dollars a week, paid by many who can ill afford it.[/QUOTE]
This goes to how you portray yourself. In many ways, presentation is difference between Geller (who claims actual powers) and Banacheck (who does not and who has actually worked with James Randi to expose those that make such claims).
I was actually referring to magic in the pegan, spell casting, witchcraft kind of sense. Not as in Illusionary entertainment.
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Now, do you want bible verses? I can provide them for you, or are you good to go with a little history reminder? However for most for the sake of argument allow me to once again reinforce that my earlier statement about the Christian god's adverse preference to magic (or Magick for sake of clarity) is strictly reserved for the kind of magic performed by witches and Pegan spell casting lot.
Now with countless witches burned at the stake by the Christian faith, more hung by the neck until dead for the mere suspicion of witchcraft, and while we're at it please don't let me forget to mention that lovely little group of blood thirsty jerks known as the Spanish Inquisition, surely you don't intend to tell me that you don't think the Christian dogma is anti-magic?
Now I can quote bible verses but I'll just stick with one from Revelations, for sake of time.
Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Your historical references are the equivalent of saying, "Don't go to the doctor because they will use leaches to bleed the bad blood out of you." Just as doctors don't use leaches anymore to try and heal people, I'm pretty sure nobody has been burned at the stake for witchcraft in the United States or Europe in the last 100 years (and I'm pretty sure that even back then no one was ever burned at the stake for making a rabbit appear out of a top hat).
I agree with your distinction between Magic (evidencing illusion) and Magick (evidencing occult powers). The bible verse you reference and the quote from the Catholic Catechism I referenced both are talking about what you would call Magick. I'm pretty sure that I'm not subject to eternal damnation in any religion for making sponge bunnies multiply in spectator's hands or for having a zombie ball float eerily in front of me.
Now, we all know that we do is Magic (illusion). However, if you choose to present it as Magick (occult), you do so at your own risk. In that case, I would speculate that your presentation is
designed to get a reaction through the use of the concept of the occult.
However, I think what the original poster is talking about people's reaction's to Magic NOT Magick (or Magic presented as Magick for that matter). In part, I think any negative reactions will be a result of people confusing Magic with Magick. How you perform and your presentation will, to a large degree, influence the spectator's reaction. If you use the words "Purple Puppy Chow" to make things happen in a kids show (a la David Ginn), nobody is going to object on religious grounds. If you presentation is dark and your patter mentions summoning spirits, then you are running a risk of offending people.
At the end of the day, I suspect you are more likely to meet a heckler who doesn't like magic than someone who thinks you are the devil because their card rose to the top of the deck.