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@r-m-archer

So if I understand your point correctly, you’re saying that you agree that magic and supernatural things are sin, but it is fine to right if portrayed carefully as thing a person does in the book that is wrong, like any other sin such as murder, theft, lust, lying, etc…Is that correct?

If that is what you’re saying, that is a valid point, and not one I’ve thought about much. I suppose that could be done, if done very carefully as you say, but I want to say a few things that I believe must be kept in mind if it is done. First, it must be clear, beyond even a small doubt clear, that the magic or supernatural elements are evil, sin, and were mistake. In addition to this, I don’t think the magic/supernatural things should give any benefits, even temporary benefits (such as saving someone’s life) to the characters, because if it does, it will easily be confused with the normal way people use magic in books. Also, I wouldn’t recommend having a main protagonist use magic, even in a clearly sinful, unhelpful, and damaging way, because it could confuse the reader, seeing that they are after all, the protagonist. But, you’re probably already going to do that, so just be careful. Lastly, I just want to make sure we agree that the way you are describing magic to be used, is not the way people (such as Sanderson, Rothfuss, and Riordan) use it in books, they use it as a totally okay ability or power that has side effects, which, it seems, you might actually agree with me that it is unbiblical to write. Do you agree with that? That things like Harry Potter are bad to right?

You’ve really got me thinking about whether I’d ever write a book with magic in that way Miss Archer. xD You have to be extremely careful and clear that it is bad, that’s the gist of my answer I guess.

@taylorclogston

I was wondering if anyone was going to ask about that. 🙂 So here is what I mean: Even if I don’t use words like magic, supernatural, sorcery, etc…if I were to make my fantastical abilities feel ritualistic, through pagan cermonialish type stuff, chanting, blood rituals, or things that really feel like it’s coming from some demonic or spiritual realm, then it is bad. I know that is kinda vague, but I’m not the only one who thinks this, in fact, see my response to Rose below and her comment about this very thing.

As for Sanderson’s books, first off, as I said, I really liked Sanderson’s fantastical abilities of the armor and abilities power by storms (storms shards I think?), and I don’t think he called it magic in the book (everyone calls it the magic system of course 😡), but that’s not what’s keeping me away from it. I did pretty extensive research on Wikifandom (because I really wanted to read The Way of Kings, it looked great), and was incredibly disappointed to find that not only is there something called the Old Magic, but much worse, there was god like beings, supernatural realms, a false religion, reincarnation of a character (I hate reincarnation so much, it’s the weak way out), and I think the characters even go to a sub-natural realm. Not good stuff, very unbiblical. As for Mistborn, as you said, it is also set in the Cosmere, and though I don’t know as much about it, from what I’ve heard (and by the fact that it’s in the Cosmere), it also has magical and supernatural elements. So disappointing.

@rose-colored-fancy

though I think the actual word choice is less important than whether the actual content resembles magic.

I agree (see my reply to Taylor on this subject), but I don’t think this should change anyone’s view that writing magic in this way is anti-biblical.