The Priest & the Magician
The Choice Between Contemplation & Control of Nature
Joseph C. Atkinson, in his book Biblical and Theological Foundations of the Family, provides a compelling explanation of the rise of magic in the midst of the ancient religions. Israel’s conception of God differs radically from that of her surrounding neighbors, among whom there is a curious duality concerning the conception of power above. First there are the gods, who represent the forces of nature, visible and invisible—the sea, the sun, fertility, the fire, and so on. But, as Atkinson’s research documents, the gods in the ancient pagan faiths are often seen calling upon “meta-divine forces” to surmount their own limitations. Atkinson writes:
The gods do not have supreme power, nor do they ultimately determine the nature of created reality, for they themselves, at some level, are a part of that same order. In the pagan worldview, both the gods and human beings have to accept the power of the fates. (emphasis mine)
THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:
N. E. Ziegenhagen is the vicar of Trinity Anglican Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and six children.
A Journal of Mere Christianity—Delivered to Your Door
- Essays on theology, culture, and the Church
- Contributors from across the Christian traditions
Six print issues (one year) of Touchstone, plus full online access and PDF downloads for only $39.95.
Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives for only $19.95.
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
more from the online archives
30.5—Sept/Oct 2017
The Critical History Before, During & After Martin Luther by James Hitchcock
27.4—July/August 2014
The Bible, Sacred Theology & the Mind of Christ by Patrick Henry Reardon
24.5—Sept/Oct 2011
on Wondering or Wandering Through College Education by Anthony Esolen
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor
