Protestant reformers also rejected magical elements within Christianity from "summary" of Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas
During the Reformation, Protestant reformers sought to purify Christianity by removing what they saw as corrupt practices and beliefs. They rejected the idea of magic as a legitimate part of religious practice, viewing it as superstitious and potentially dangerous. This rejection of magical elements within Christianity was part of a broader effort to return to what they believed were the true teachings of the Bible. Protestant reformers argued that magic was a form of idolatry, as it involved seeking power and knowledge from sources other than God. They believed that true faith in God was sufficient for salvation and that attempts to manipulate spiritual forces through magic were unnecessary and sinful. By rejecting magical elements within Christianity, they hoped to focus attention on the core tenets of the Christian faith and to eliminate practices that they believed detracted from true religious devotion. On...
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