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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Clavis" data-source="post: 5047792" data-attributes="member: 31898">The point of much religion is, on a certain level, to make miracles more likely. So, miracles should occur more frequently for the pious than for the impious. They're a reward for behaving in accordance with the god's wishes. On the other hand, some miracles might really have no point other than a reminder that the god exists and can work miracles. For instance, if the god decides to create a portrait of himself on some peasant's piece of burnt bread...Very true. Many magicians and scientists were quite devout, but nonetheless ran into serious conflicts with the religious powers-that-be. The way that the magician or scientist sees themself, and the way that the church or temple sees them, could be very different. It's very easy for religious leaders to see the scientist/magician as leading people away from faith in the divine, even if the scientist/magician's aims are actually pious.The conflict between magic and religion makes a good explanation for why a game world isn't overrun with magic. Perhaps clerical healing is only available for those who are not known to consort with wizards. Why isn't every nobleman raised form the dead? Because those nobles chose to employ magic in their wars, and many gods won't help anyone who displays a lack of faith by turning to magic! People would have to make a choice, whether to accept help from wizards or priests. That would historically be the point of view of the Theurgist, someone who employs the methods of religion to magical ends, and the methods of magic to religious ends. A good example would be Apollonius of Tyana. Theurgists tend to run into problems with the religious orthodoxy, of course.</blockquote>

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