Dear All
Thanks for that - very helpful in clarifying the argument -
I wonder whether the Roman usage of "magic" is pejorative
(or maybe loaded, a bit like "Pagan")
and used to distinguish the "true" old-time
Roman "religion" from the nasty eastern influences ie "magic" that was
undermining the
empire?
I thought it was an interesting point (forgotten who made it) that
the styling of "magic" as technology may not be a modern construction
(as I'd thought)
but have older precedents - examples given from medieval Arabic philosophy.
I can't help thinking that the modern use of the term "technology" does
differ from the older one.
I can live with the term "spiritual technology" someone suggested -
but modern use implies some disenchantment.
So magic would be just a useful thing for mundane ends -
examples given include: getting seats in pubs, starting the car, fixing
the photocopier.
I'm guessing the older use of Technology is more like Sanskrit "Shastra" -
thus Yoga can be seen as a spiritual technology but in modern age has become
something that can be divorced from its spiritual base -
and is useful as a form of
physical exercise -
It's often said that the Egyptian milieu is different and often undermines
pet theories in other areas. The Egyptians dad
their own word more magick (Heka - Coptic Hik)) which is both an activity
and the name of an ancient god -
which is one of the best arguments against
a division of magic and religion.
bb/93
Mogg
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