Enlightenment thinkers criticized magical rituals and beliefs from "summary" of Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
During the Enlightenment period, thinkers began to challenge long-held beliefs and practices, including those related to magic and ritual. These intellectuals sought to promote reason and rationality over superstition and supernatural explanations. They viewed magical rituals and beliefs as primitive and irrational, lacking any scientific basis or empirical evidence. Enlightenment thinkers criticized magical rituals and beliefs because they believed that they hindered the progress of society. They argued that superstitions and magical practices were holding back advancements in fields such as science, medicine, and technology. By promoting irrational beliefs and reliance on supernatural forces, they felt that magical rituals were preventing individuals from seeking logical and evidence-based solutions to problems. Furthermore, Enlightenment thinkers viewed magical rituals and beliefs as a threat to social order and stability. They believed that superstitions and magical practices could lead to fear, paranoia, and irrational behavior among the population. By promoting a reliance on magical thinking, they argued that these beliefs could undermine the rule of law and promote chaos and uncertainty in society. In addition, Enlightenment thinkers criticized magical rituals and beliefs because they saw them as a form of manipulation and control. They argued that those who promoted magical practices were exploiting the fears and vulnerabilities of individuals for personal gain. By perpetuating superstitions and magical beliefs, they believed that certain individuals were able to maintain power and influence over others through deception and manipulation.- Enlightenment thinkers were critical of magical rituals and beliefs because they believed that these practices were irrational, hindering progress, threatening social order, and promoting manipulation and control. They sought to promote reason, logic, and empirical evidence as the foundation for understanding the world and solving problems, rather than relying on superstition and magical thinking.
