Magical texts

Magical texts are written documents which show or refer to knowledge of ancient practices of magic. Texts which are using magic might also be described as "texts of ritual power". Scholars and historians are aware that many texts of magic were written during antiquity, of which relatively few though are extant as a result of destruction of material. Emperor Augustus suppressed material by ordering the burning of 2000 scrolls (ordered during 13 B.C.E. ), authorities of Christianity pursued a frequent destruction of material pertaining to magic during at least the early centuries of Christianity (Betz 1996). Alternatively the converted Christians of the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19 verses 17-20 of the Bible, burned their own books, of presumably writings of magic, upon becoming Christians.

A reason why monotheistic religions would have chosen to destroy the texts of magic is, historically and also today, individuals within those religions have a tendency to know other religious beliefs as superstitions and to stigmatize the religions as being magical, which translates as their taking a position where-by other religions are thought of and so perceived as both morally, and spiritually, inferior. Accordingly, magical was synonomous for a kind of heresy for those authorities concerned.

Magical

Magical is the adjective for magic. It may also refer to:

Magic (paranormal)

Magic or sorcery is the use of rituals, symbols, actions, gestures and language with the aim of exploiting supernatural forces. Belief in and practice of magic has been present since the earliest human cultures and continues to have an important spiritual, religious, and medicinal role in many cultures today.

Magic is sometimes practiced in isolation and secrecy and often viewed with suspicion by the wider community. In non-scientific societies, perceived magical attack is sometimes employed to explain personal or societal misfortune.

The concept of magic, as distinct from religion was first widely recognized in Judaism, which defined the practices of pagan worship designed to appease and receive benefits from gods other than Yahweh as magic.Wouter Hanegraaff argues that magic is in fact "a largely polemical concept that has been used by various religious interest groups either to describe their own religious beliefs and practices or – more frequently – to discredit those of others."

Magical (song)

"Magical" is a pop rock song written by American musician Meat Loaf and British musician John Parr, and it was released as a 1985 single by Parr as a part of his self-titled debut album. A few months later, an alternative version of the song was released in the U.K. as a single by pop group Bucks Fizz. It entered the charts by both artists in the U.S. and U.K. respectively but was not a big hit for either, although Parr's version managed to rise into the top 40 of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

John Parr version

John Parr began working with Meat Loaf for the latter's 1984 album Bad Attitude. Together they composed some songs, including "Magical", which became the opening track for Parr's debut album. Parr scored a US hit with the song "Naughty Naughty" in late 1984 and was followed up in April 1985 by "Magical" which entered the Billboard Hot 100 that month but stalled at No.73. It also reached No.28 on the Mainstream Rock chart. In Parr's native UK the single made no impression, although he did go on to achieve success a few months later with the song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)", prompting his album to enter the UK charts. "Magical" remains the only (released) song written by Meat Loaf that he never recorded.