[Help] Apologetics

[Curtisf265]

Can anyone recommend a good book that deals strictly with logically defending the idea(s) of magic(k), of the type found for various religions?

 

[Durward]

In Defense of Magical Thinking: Essays In Defiance of Conformity to Reason by Jack Preston King (2017)?

There are a few books talking about how this is part of our standard consciousness, and they also usually state that humans are hardwired for belief in God(s).

• In Defense of Magical Thinking: Essays In Defiance of Conformity to Reason by Jack Preston King (2017)
  This book argues for "magical thinking" as a rational alternative to a purely materialistic, mechanistic view of the universe. It serves as a philosophical defense of the subjective experience of magic.
• Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe by Dean Radin, PhD (2018)
  Radin, a scientist, uses empirical data from parapsychology to argue that magic is a real phenomenon that can be understood through, and is supported by, modern science.
• Magic: An Occult Primer by David Conway (1972)
  This book attempts to build a logical case for the existence of magic, spending a significant portion of the text arguing that it is not "fictitious nonsense." It draws from biology, chemistry, and physics to support its claims, attempting to bridge esoteric traditions with rational thought.
• Religion as Magical Ideology: How the Supernatural Reflects Rationality by Konrad Talmont-Kaminski (2014)
  This book analyzes magical and religious beliefs through a cognitive and evolutionary perspective, arguing that such beliefs are not irrational but are actually products of human cognitive processes.
• The New Hermetics: 21st Century Magick for Illumination and Power by Jason Augustus Newcomb (2007)
  This work delves into the "how" of magic, offering a structured, psychological approach to magickal workings that aligns with modern self-development theories, breaking down rituals into logical steps.
• Magic, Science and Religion and Other Essays by Bronislaw Malinowski (1948)
  This classic anthropological work argues that magic is not illogical, but rather a functional tool that humans use to gain control over situations that are uncontrollable, acting as a rational mechanism within its own context.

How many of these exist on this site would be a upper right corner "Search" function.

 

[Curtisf265]

Thanks so much! These recommendations are exactly the type of thing I had in mind.

 

[Beyond Everything]

logically defending the idea(s) of magic(k),

Logic is a useful tool for navigating biological reality, and it can be a useful tool for thinking about certain aspects of magic (ie, logically thinking about magical claims vs actual results), but magic at its core is not amenable to logic. It's like using algebra to defend the taste of chocolate. Nonsensical.