Economic and social changes also influenced attitudes towards magic from "summary" of Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
The transformation of economic and social structures during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries had a profound impact on the prevailing attitudes towards magic. The emergence of a capitalist economy and the dissolution of traditional social hierarchies disrupted the medieval worldview that had long accommodated magical beliefs and practices. As financial transactions became more complex and trade expanded both domestically and internationally, people began to place greater emphasis on rational calculation and empirical observation, relegating magical thinking to the realm of superstition and ignorance. Moreover, the rise of Protestantism challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and its monopoly on spiritual matters. Protestant reformers rejected many of the sacraments and rituals that had been central to Catholic worship, including the veneration of saints and relics, which were often associated with magical powers. This rejection of Catholic magical practices contributed to a broader skepticism towards supernatural beliefs and a growing preference for a more individualized, personal relationship w...
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