Education and literacy helped to dispel magical thinking from "summary" of Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
The spread of education and literacy played a crucial role in challenging the prevalence of magical thinking in society. As people became more educated and learned to read, they were exposed to different ideas and ways of thinking that contradicted the superstitious beliefs commonly held in their communities. This exposure to new knowledge and critical thinking skills helped individuals to question and rationalize the ideas and practices associated with magical thinking. Literacy allowed individuals to access a wider range of information, including scientific explanations for natural phenomena that were once attributed to magic. As people gained the ability to read and understand complex texts, they were able to see the world from a more empiric...
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