Did Mary Magdalene Practice Magic?

[Lenoralana]

It has come to my attention today that the reason why Jesus dealt with so many demons and cast demons out of people was because there was so much dabbling in magical arts back in that day.

This... is just something I have honestly never thought about or wondered before, but... did Mary Magdalene once dabble in magic herself, (just to learn her lesson after Jesus cast the demons out) or was it maybe the result of her being in close proximity to someone dabbling in the occult?

 

[Reformed1689]

It has come to my attention today that the reason why Jesus dealt with so many demons and cast demons out of people was because there was so much dabbling in magical arts back in that day.

This... is just something I have honestly never thought about or wondered before, but... did Mary Magdalene once dabble in magic herself, (just to learn her lesson after Jesus cast the demons out) or was it maybe the result of her being in close proximity to someone dabbling in the occult?

Do you have any scriptural evidences you'd like us to look at or are you just thinking out loud?

 

[Lenoralana]

Anyone who interacts with me on this board might as well know upfront I have never read the Bible much at all.

In a way, yes I'm just thinking out loud... and I am also trying to expand upon some things someone else said in a different thread, and I thought it might be interesting to discuss it in a topic unto itself.

Basically... while I was growing up, I did technically grow up in a Christian household... Mom read the Bible everyday for herself (and she used to read children's Bible stories to me when I was quite young) buuuut for the most part.... I never received any kind of guidance or instruction for reading the Bible, at all... and I just never really did it.

There are... some areas where I have often had a negative or even flippant attitude toward the Bible... perhaps part of it is because there are so many different ways that people have interpreted it or tried to look at scriptures from very, very different meanings... it gets head-spinning after awhile. Plus I have been to almost every kind of church out there at least a couple of times (Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Congregational...) and... they all approach things from different POVs.

In retrospect, I suppose I also took great offense when I was 18 and Dad's entire answer to seeing that I "knew everything that was to know about being a good housewife" when I was starting to show a little interest in one guy (that didn't even last more than a couple weeks) was to simply say, "Here's everything you need to know to be good wife" and handed me a Bible flipped to a certain section as if he'd just cured Cancer and done his entire duty. I took it... and closed it in private without even reading it. Again, he still acted like he had done his duty. He didn't even ask or check to see if I had read it or gotten anything out of it.

I suppose in a lot of ways... it is not fair to have this attitude about the Bible just because I had no real teachers. But... when you're partially damaged by an upbringing that basically seems to consist of, "Here's the bare basics of what the Bible says... now believe it or else and if ANYTHING comes into the house that contradicts this POV, it's gonna get ripped up and thrown away" it can leave you more than a little resistant I guess.

 

[Ahwatukee]

It has come to my attention today that the reason why Jesus dealt with so many demons and cast demons out of people was because there was so much dabbling in magical arts back in that day.

This... is just something I have honestly never thought about or wondered before, but... did Mary Magdalene once dabble in magic herself, (just to learn her lesson after Jesus cast the demons out) or was it maybe the result of her being in close proximity to someone dabbling in the occult?

There is nothing in scripture that would support that Mary Magdalene practiced magic. I was using peoples involvement in practicing magic arts as one of the reasons why there was so much demon possession. However, it is not the only reason that people could be possessed. A person not having faith and living according to the sinful nature leaves a person open to demonic attack.

The word 'pharmakeia' is translated as 'magic arts, sorcery, etc.' It is defined as follows:

Strong's Concordance
pharmakeia: the use of medicine, drugs or spells
Original Word: φαρμακεία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pharmakeia
Phonetic Spelling: (far-mak-i'-ah)
Definition: the use of medicine, drugs or spells
Usage: magic, sorcery, enchantment.

HELPS Word-studies
5331 pharmakeía (from pharmakeuō, "administer drugs") – properly, drug-related sorcery, like the practice of magical-arts, etc.

Below is an example:

"Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft."

Therefore, the reference to sorcery, is referring to all of those who using drugs recreationally which draws them into spiritual realm and also opens them up for demonic attack. And of course there are those who are purposely using drugs when practicing magic, spells and incantations.

 

[Lenoralana]

Come to think of it, I was taught long ago that one of the reasons why it is generally frowned upon to do drugs (or even drinking) is because, not only does it damage the body, but because it makes you lose some, or a lot, of self-control and self-awareness... and that might allow a demon to try something with you... especially if you are using drugs during a magic ritual.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Come to think of it, I was taught long ago that one of the reasons why it is generally frowned upon to do drugs (or even drinking) is because, not only does it damage the body, but because it makes you lose some, or a lot, of self-control and self-awareness... and that might allow a demon to try something with you... especially if you are using drugs during a magic ritual.

Many people today are practicing sorcery by their use of drugs and they are not even aware of it.

 

[Lanolin]

Not that Im aware of, its implied that she was a woman of easy virtue though never explicitly said what her sins were.

Might pay to start reading the Bible to find out for yourself though!

 

[Lanolin]

The Bible isnt a manual on how to be a housewife lol
If you want to be a housewife, you would read a book like The edmonds cookbook or Speed Cleaning or something like that.

Or Readers Digest Handy Home Hints.

 

[Lanolin]

Martha Stewart or Marie Kondo?

If you read the Bible, you will find its Martha having the mother of all meltdowns in the kitchen while Mary is busy listening to Jesus and even studying the word of God. Martha complains that Mary isnt helping her lol

 

[bellemira]

The Bible isnt a manual on how to be a housewife lol
If you want to be a housewife, you would read a book like The edmonds cookbook or Speed Cleaning or something like that.

Or Readers Digest Handy Home Hints.

For some reason I find this funny, in a good way.

 

[p_rehbein]

Anyone who interacts with me on this board might as well know upfront I have never read the Bible much at all.

This pretty much explains things. I suggest you delve into Scripture and seek the answers to your questions there. Coming to an online Forum to seek answers rather than studying Scripture is truly a sign of spiritual laziness. And, I doubt you will find the answers you are seeking.

How does one claim to be a Christian and NOT have "never read the Bible that much?"