Do You Believe in Magic?

[megamania]

So, in order for something to be called magic it should change the event, not influence it, or does influencing count with a shade of gray (or doubt)?

My choice of words are never very good.

Magic can not be easily defined.

Things we can define through science today was considered magic years ago.

There are things we can do that some would consider magical now (or at least paranormal) that eventually may be described / defined through parapsychology eventually. Predictions, TK and the such.

As for casting fireball or the such.... without a big can of beans and a lighter I doubt many will ever be able to caste fireball.

 

[Ranger REG]

My choice of words are never very good.

Magic can not be easily defined.

Things we can define through science today was considered magic years ago.

There are things we can do that some would consider magical now (or at least paranormal) that eventually may be described / defined through parapsychology eventually. Predictions, TK and the such.

As for casting fireball or the such.... without a big can of beans and a lighter I doubt many will ever be able to caste fireball.

So, it's like porno vs. art ... you'll know it when you see it.

Kinda odd, that the D&D wizard class -- mind you, I haven't read 4e -- would have a spellbook that contains the "recipe" or "formula" for casting spells. Is it possible to call that magic when it can be ... for lack of a better word ... codified ... as you would with a scientific experiment, or making chemical?

 

[Angrydad]

I'm in the "no" camp on magic. I think that if someone were able to rub some bat guano and sulphur together while mumbling some words and then blast a ball of fire out of their hands there would be some sort of physical and measureable explanation. If such an incident were to occur, I think it would just require us to reexamine our conception of the nature of reality. Anything is possible, but I think that there is some set of laws by which it is all governed, we just don't understand these laws completely so things might seem like "magic".

 

[Bob the Destroyer]

Trying not to delve too far into religious territory here, I voted yes because the definition seems to include miracles. I don't believe in magic outside of God, angels, or demons and their works. So... I guess I believe in Divine magic but not Arcane.