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? asked in Society & CultureMythology & Folklore · 4 years ago

Black magic comes from the devil. Where does white magic come from?

About a month ago, I was studying the Tempest for English, and my class had to distinguish whether Prospero (protagonist) was using white or black magic, and why he (spoiler alert) gave it up.

I already know that black magic is given by the devil after he tricks a person into selling their soul. However, I m not so sure about where white magic comes from, and if there s really a boundary between the two.

Update:

Before anyone asks, I am not a believer in magic. I just think religion and mythology is an interesting subject.

Also, I'm referring to the Christian idea of magic, since that's the sort of magic I assume shakespeare meant too

3 Answers

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  • Ghost Of Christmas Past
    Lv 7
    4 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Magic in this context means the rituals of the animistic religion that preceded Christianity in England. Using spells to harm others is called black magic. Using spells to benefit others is called white magic. Associating animism with the devil was mediaeval Christian propaganda. Selling one's soul to the devil is a 16th century German yarn based upon the dissolute life of one Johann Georg Faust who claimed to have done so.

  • Kaysibabes
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    Three places for things to come from- devil, God and yourself - devil has many tricks and pretends to be an angel of light.

    Anything not of God is witchcraft

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    The devil

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