Black magic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

For other meanings, see Black magic (disambiguation).

Black magic is the branch of magic used to perform evil acts or draw on malevolent powers. Black magic is usually invoked to kill, injure or cause destruction. It may also be used for personal gain. Typically, one who practises black magic is known as a witch or warlock.

The differences between black magic and white magic are debated, and several theories that compare and contrast the two branches include the All as One theory, the No Connection theory, and the Separate but Equal theory.

• All as One: All forms of magic are evil, or black, magic. The religions that maintain this opinion include most branches of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism. This view generally associates black magic with Satanism.

• No Connection: Black and white magic are both forms of magic, but are completely different from the base up, and are accomplished differently, even if achieving similar effects. This stance is the one most often presented in fiction, including the Harry Potter series, at least in part.

• Separate but Equal: Black and white magic are exactly the same thing, differentiated only by their end goals. Under this belief, the same spell could be either white or black; it is determined by the end result. The majority of religions follow this belief, as does the remainder of fiction that does not follow the No Connection theory.

See also

• Necromancy
• Left-hand path