Can Christians write magic in Fantasy?

My friend Cap Stewart posed a question of great interest to many of us here, and as the author of a Fantasy / Noir that includes a magical system, I'm going ALL the way down the rabbit hole.
First, there are three related articles that discuss this topic:

1. Is Fictional Magic Just Occultism in Disguise? Discerning the difference between the divine and the demonic
   Cap argues that fictional magic is not automatically occult or evil; its moral weight depends on whether it mirrors God’s truth and order or subverts them. Christians are called to exercise discernment, guided by Scripture, rather than make blanket judgments about supernatural elements in fiction.
2. Discerning the dangers behind fictional magic: Cap interviews author Marian A Jacobs
   Marian A. Jacobs, in her book On Magic and Miracles, provides Christians with a framework for discerning fantasy elements, especially fictional magic, by focusing on biblical principles and context instead of simply terminology. She encourages readers, writers, and parents to look beyond whether magic superficially resembles the occult and consider the deeper source, purpose, and worldview represented in stories.
   
   Jacobs distinguishes between “divine supernaturalism” (supernatural acts aligned with God’s authority, purpose, and glory) and “demonic supernaturalism” (acts that subvert God’s authority, seeking self-aggrandizement or forbidden power). She emphasizes that supernatural events in Scripture, whether called “miracles” or “magic,” must be judged by their source and intent. Context matters more than mere methodology, as similar means (such as supernatural strength in Samson or a possessed man) can serve different spiritual aims.
   
   The book’s audience is broad: readers, writers, gamers, parents, and anyone interested in understanding how to engage with fantasy in a biblically faithful way. Jacobs provides practical discernment tools, such as key questions about the source, goal, heart posture, setting, and methods of supernatural acts in stories, helping Christians recognize when fantasy elements align with biblical principles and when they risk endorsing occult concepts.
   
   Overall, Jacobs frames fantasy as a valuable genre for faith and imagination, when approached with discernment, wisdom, and scriptural grounding.
   
   
3. How Should Christians Evaluate Fictional Magic?
   Fictional magic isn’t automatically good or evil—its moral meaning depends on the heart of the story and the truth it points toward.
   

I'd like to dwell on this section from the middle source.

Stewart: What terminology do you suggest in your book to differentiate the good from the bad?

Jacobs: I suggest the terms divine supernaturalism and demonic supernaturalism. In the book, I provide the following definitions:

1. Divine supernaturalism: a supernatural act mediated by a person, animal, or object in submission to God’s authority over nature, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of God’s glory, the spread of the Gospel, and our eternal joy.
2. Demonic supernaturalism: a supernatural act mediated by a person, animal, or object that subverts God’s authority over nature, through the power of fallen spirits, for the sake of power, secret knowledge, and/or self-aggrandizement.

Stewart: What are some good examples of both divine and demonic supernaturalism in Scripture?

Jacobs: The most obvious example of both is Moses and the Egyptian magicians in Exodus 7 and 8. The demonic supernaturalism mimics divine supernaturalism. Moses turns his staff into a serpent, and Pharaoh’s magicians do the same. (It’s not sleight-of-hand magic; the Bible doesn’t talk about it like that.) But we can also see the limitations of demonic supernaturalism: Moses’ serpent swallows the magicians’ serpents, and the magicians are only able to mimic three of Moses’ miracles. Also, God has ultimate authority over nature and all forms of supernaturalism — including any demons that are empowering it.

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So we finally get to the million dollar question—as a Christian author, can I write magical systems in a Fantasy novel?

Absolutely — yes, you can use magic systems in your fantasy novels as a Christian author.
But the key isn’t whether you use magic — it’s how you use it and what it means in your story’s moral universe.

Let’s unpack this in four parts:
1. Understand what “magic” represents

In Scripture, “magic” is often condemned when it means seeking power or knowledge apart from God (Deut. 18:10–12).
But not all supernatural acts are evil — God Himself performs wonders that defy natural law: parting the Red Sea, raising the dead, or sending angels who perform impossible feats.

In fiction, magic is just a label for supernatural agency. What matters is the source and motive behind it.

Ask yourself:

Is the magic in my world a substitute for God — or a metaphor for His creative power, grace, or order?

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2. Build a moral framework for your world
Christian fantasy works best when its supernatural elements reflect a moral law — even if God isn’t named outright.
For example:

• In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf’s power comes from a higher divine authority (Ilúvatar).
• In The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan’s magic is sacrificial, redemptive, and rooted in divine love.
• In contrast, The Craft glamorizes self-serving witchcraft — power for control’s sake.

When designing your magic system, decide:

• Where does the power come from? (Nature, divine source, corruption, etc.)
• Who can use it — and at what cost?
• Does it align with or rebel against moral truth?

Your readers will feel that ethical gravity — even if they don’t name it.

3. Use “magic” as metaphor
Magic doesn’t have to mean sorcery. It can symbolize:

• Artistic inspiration
• Faith as power unseen
• Temptation of self-worship
• Divine mystery beyond human control

C.S. Lewis’s “Deeper Magic from before the dawn of time” is a perfect example — it’s not about spells, but about grace and redemption woven into the universe.

4. Practice discernment, not fear
As the article said:

“Discernment is essential in a culture where fictional and real-world magic are more and more prominent.”

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You don’t have to sanitize your story world to be faithful. You just need to show — through cause and consequence — that truth, goodness, and humility triumph over pride, deceit, and domination.

In other words:

• You can portray dark magic as evil.
• You can depict light magic as a reflection of divine order.
• You just shouldn’t endorse rebellion against God as enlightenment.

If you handle your magic system like Tolkien did — rooted in a consistent moral and metaphysical logic — then your story won’t lead readers toward the occult.

It will lead them, subtly and powerfully, toward awe, hope, and the transcendent.

tl;dr - I am, and I do.

I was called "satanic" by some Catholic bot on X because one of my characters was a wizard.

I asked if the Roman Catholic Church excommunicated Tolkien because of Gandalf and Radagast.

"GaNdAlF dOeSn'T uSe SpElLs!!!!" came the reply...

The protagonists in my books - people who follow the faith of the Allfather - who use spells do so because power is granted to them, or bestowed upon them by the Allfather himself. The "Allfather" being God in this instance. I purposely used the term "Allfather," which was used by the Norse, to sort of subvert the term. Linguistically, it's as good of a match as any for how we view God within the Abrahamic faiths. The concept of God bestowing power has a loose Biblical basis as God has used leaders and kings, often foreign, for the purposes of imposing his Will upon the world. Part of this was inspired by what Jesus told Pilate: "You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above."

The second part of the mixture that constitutes magic in my world has to do with the use of letters or words, specifically as it exists in two different languages. The first - and this is symbolized by the "wards" Odo frequently uses and the golden letters emblazoned on Halsedric's chest - is partly derived from Jewish belief and mysticism. That the Hebrew language handed down to the Jews - and the Torah - is directly connected to God and has certain spiritual significance.

On the other side - the language of the enemy - also contains the same elements. However, because of their fallen nature, the "magic" is powered by other elements. This is where I start wandering into the realm of cosmic horror and science fiction. I've been toying with the concept of dark matter or dark energy, which are theoretical concepts used to explain the ever-expanding nature of the Universe. Yet, at the same time, I like having magic be mysterious and avoid going into too much depth as to the details and mechanics of how things work.

I, honestly, am not a big believer in the Occult. I don't believe that things like hexes and curses actually exist. I do believe in the invisible spirt world, as this is hinted at in the Bible and that things like ritual magic and speaking with the dead are BAD. I try to keep the concepts based with a fairly sound theological or scientific base. That being said, I write Fantasy stories. They're entertainment. They're not actually real. I think that should go without saying.

Jeff Potts said:

I don't believe that things like hexes and curses actually exist. I do believe in the invisible spirt world, as this is hinted at in the Bible and that things like ritual magic and speaking with the dead are BAD. I try to keep the concepts based with a fairly sound theological or scientific base.

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I appreciate you sharing your experiences and insight, Jeff. Thanks!

Jeff Potts said:

I, honestly, am not a big believer in the Occult. I don't believe that things like hexes and curses actually exist. I do believe in the invisible spirt world, as this is hinted at in the Bible and that things like ritual magic and speaking with the dead are BAD.

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Sadly, the evil side is just as real. There is an evil realm with all the things we joke about and make fun of, and let me tell you, it is no laughing matter. Especially with a certain date coming up the end of this month, it is becoming more obvious. You might think it is funny, but it is very real, and very dangerous. The dark side does have power and danger. While we as Christians should not in anyway mess with it, failing to recognize that it exists can leave you unprepared.

That being said, of course, our One True God is far greater than all the forces of hell as light is greater than darkness. But that doesn't mean the darkness can't cause you to trip on that box you left sitting in the middle of the floor at night because you forgot your flashlight. It is important to be alert and always stay firmly rooted in the Light of the world.



For this reason, I try to keep everything in my fantasy either 1: permitted clearly by the rules of the world, 2: directly ordained by the figure representing God in the story, 3: explained by some kind of 'science' in the story, or some other way that allows to work what needs to work without any kind of 'magic'. It does make some things challenging, but I'm also writing partially for kids, so that limits how heavy I want to make it.

This is a question I probably should give more thought to--but to be honest I don't much worry about it. I struggle with anxiety at times, and in my opinion at its base level is imagination that is running wild and not submitted to God. When I catch myself in anxiety, I say a quick prayer about letting my imagination be honoring to God. If that doesn't do it, I might spend some time a little more time going over scriptures or more in depth prayer about the issue. I don't have significant rules I have necessarily set for myself when it comes to my writing. It's really very simple. 1) I write to honor God. 2) I do not write to glorify evil, fear, or sin. 3) If I feel conviction about something that I am writing, the project stops and will never be published. So far the line for me in reading is do not celebrate fear and clean romance only, anything else is fair play. I imagine writing will be similar though maybe not precisely. I feel much more confident in writing sci fi/fantasy than I do in writing even clean romance. I have reservations about writing a fictional man that women might compare their husbands to. I see fantasy and science fiction as a way to explore truths and moral concepts in a very direct way, though dressing it up in fictional worlds seem to make them more acceptable to others.

I definitely agree that its all about how you use it, but I do believe there are limits. I personally don't feel right about actually having my protagonists do anything "magical", even if it is just a capability given to them by God that they didn't earn or discover. I don't see the point in trying to redeem the notion of casting spells and what not, when I can just have miracles. No need to explain my intentions. It's all clear that way : )

Galadriel's mirror for example, I find to be really on the edge. I know in the book it is more like some sort of speculation device, but it looks so close to fortune telling and water magic that it almost is.

E.A.Cornell said:

I definitely agree that its all about how you use it, but I do believe there are limits. I personally don't feel right about actually having my protagonists do anything "magical", even if it is just a capability given to them by God that they didn't earn or discover. I don't see the point in trying to redeem the notion of casting spells and what not, when I can just have miracles. No need to explain my intentions. It's all clear that way : )

Galadriel's mirror for example, I find to be really on the edge. I know in the book it is more like some sort of speculation device, but it looks so close to fortune telling and water magic that it almost is.

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That's a really good point. Now that you mention Galadriel's mirror, I have had similar questions and remember feeling uncomfortable with that scene originally. In the context of fantasy, I think I view magic systems more like the science of how other imaginary worlds work.

Demurebard said:

That's a really good point. Now that you mention Galadriel's mirror, I have had similar questions and remember feeling uncomfortable with that scene originally. In the context of fantasy, I think I view magic systems more like the science of how other imaginary worlds work.

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Yeah, it's like you have to go meta on it and ask "is this technology or sorcery?" I guess if I were asked to define "bad magic" in a broader sense, I would say it's special abilities characters try to gain from dark forces, or perhaps even more broadly, any force that was not intended by God to give such abilities. To me, technology (or "good magic" if we want to use the term) is just capability God built into the material world. Anyone in the world could discover it and use it. But that also poses the question of whether or not the technology is used for good or evil. It all depends on what you do with it and where you got it from, I guess is where I come back to.

E.A.Cornell said:

Yeah, it's like you have to go meta on it and ask "is this technology or sorcery?" I guess if I were asked to define "bad magic" in a broader sense, I would say it's special abilities characters try to gain from dark forces, or perhaps even more broadly, any force that was not intended by God to give such abilities. To me, technology (or "good magic" if we want to use the term) is just capability God built into the material world. Anyone in the world could discover it and use it. But that also poses the question of whether or not the technology is used for good or evil. It all depends on what you do with it and where you got it from, I guess is where I come back to.

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And even technology can be used for bad and evil. Ultimately, I think it goes back to, if it for God or for the enemy? I've heard it said that the devil owns the fence. That doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with your story as long as it points to God, though. Just look at the Bible! There's some pretty crazy stuff in God's 100% true story!

Even a story built on simple stuff with no fancy tech stuff or magic can still be an evil story too. So all components of the story need to be carefully inline with the things of God if it is to be truly glorifying to Him.

Lynae Fisher said:

And even technology can be used for bad and evil. Ultimately, I think it goes back to, if it for God or for the enemy? I've heard it said that the devil owns the fence. That doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with your story as long as it points to God, though. Just look at the Bible! There's some pretty crazy stuff in God's 100% true story!

Even a story built on simple stuff with no fancy tech stuff or magic can still be an evil story too. So all components of the story need to be carefully inline with the things of God if it is to be truly glorifying to Him.

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Definitely! Even simple stuff can be used wrongly. I am always reminded of the guy in Isaiah who worships a stick. (this part, Isaiah 44:15-18) A stick is just a piece of wood, but it can be used in a Godly or un-Godly way.

When I was a child, I loved the sitcom, "Bewitched". And, when the "Wizard of Oz" introduced us to "The Good Witch Glenda", it gave my very young, impressionable mind cause to believe that there are good witches and bad witches. And, when Disney brought in Fairy God-mothers, Tinkerbell, and all things cute, sparkling, and kind-that made "magic" seem harmless. But, gradually, it somehow, led me to explore it more and more to see if I could utilize it's "power" for my own selfish ambitions. As a poor, disabled child, I was bullied constantly. I had no help from my parents or siblings. It seemed to me that GOD was too far away to help me, so I began to "dabble" in the dark arts at a very young age. I think that I was in the eight grade when I started reading materials on how to "cast spells" and do incantations.
When one seemed to work and one of the bullies got injured, then I found myself rid of their harassment. But, the devil is an exacting master. And, a darkness fell over me that, almost, caused me to end my life at the age of thirteen.
I shared this testimony in hopes that it would remind us that what comes out of our creative imaginations may seem harmless, but not everyone has a good "mental" handle on what the difference is between "fantasy" and "reality".
Nowadays, the lines are becoming more and more "blurred" and people are even using virtual reality and AI to "legally" satisfy some of their most evil and wicked desires in "role-playing."

MIRACLES VERSUS MAGIC
I am convinced that the events in Exodus 7:8 thru 13 was meant to address this very conflict. Casting down their rods, as the LORD had instructed Moses and Aaron to do, resulted in Him using His serpent to swallow up the serpents of the "magicians ". The LORD wanted that example to be the standard for us in all things related to the occult!
MAGIC IS NOT TO BE USED BY THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TO GLORIFY HIM! PERIOD!
So, to write something where "magic" was not only used but celebrated would, somehow, put it on the same level as the God-ordained power to do the miraculous. Is that something that we want to do as Christian Writers? Or, am I being to "fanatical" in urging caution on this subject?

Whendancer64 said:

But, gradually, it somehow, led me to explore it more and more to see if I could utilize it's "power" for my own selfish ambitions.

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I think that is a big key. When it is all about us and using 'power' (whether that be influence, magic, whatever) for our own gain, that becomes a serious problem. But there is also the problem of Jacob's mother who wanted to 'help' God by doing what she thought needed to be done even though it wasn't right. So even if we think we are being helpful or doing right, that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Praying in faith for God to work miracles in our lives or the lives of others for His glory and His purpose, is another matter.

Lynae Fisher said:

I think that is a big key. When it is all about us and using 'power' (whether that be influence, magic, whatever) for our own gain, that becomes a serious problem. But there is also the problem of Jacob's mother who wanted to 'help' God by doing what she thought needed to be done even though it wasn't right. So even if we think we are being helpful or doing right, that doesn't make it the right thing to do.

Praying in faith for God to work miracles in our lives or the lives of others for His glory and His purpose, is another matter.

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This world has long been deceived by Satan's lies and persuaded to put up idols of all kinds to have them bowing and worshipping anything (or anyone) but ALMIGHTY GOD. Of course, it was the devil's intervention that allowed Pharaoh's magicians' staffs to, also, turn into serpents. The LORD allowed it because nothing can happen without Him ordaining it.
Just as the LORD allowed the witch of Endor in 1st Samuel 28:9 thru 19 to summon the spirit of Samuel for Saul, (He has all souls in His hand) - The LORD allowed her incantations to be used so that the spirit of Samuel could relay a message to Saul from the grave. Magic through the practice of the dark arts does exist. But, King Jesus STILL has all power! And, He does all that pleases Him! Amen?

Whendancer64 said:

This world has long been deceived by Satan to put up idols of all kinds in order to have them bowing and worshipping anything (or anyone) but ALMIGHTY GOD. Of course, it was the devil's intervention that allowed Pharoah's magicians staffs to, also, turn into serpents. The LORD allowed it because nothing can happen without Him ordaining it.
Just as the LORD allowed the witch of Endor in 1st Samuel 28:9 thru 19 to summon the spirit of Samuel for Saul, (He has all souls in His hand) - The LORD allowed her incantations to be used so that the spirit of Samuel could relay a message to Saul from the grave. Magic through the practice of the dark arts does exist. But, King Jesus STILL has all power! And, He does all that please Him! Amen?

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People often forget that the Enemy is dead. defeated. Yes, he still has some power in this world, but Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life has all power in heaven and earth.

Lynae Fisher said:

People often forget that the Enemy is dead. defeated. Yes, he still has some power in this world, but Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life has all power in heaven and earth.

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Though our enemy is defeated, he is not dead. He walks around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Or, he has disguised himself as an angel of light to try and deceive as many as possible with one lie after another.

Whendancer64 said:

Though our enemy is defeated, he is not dead. He walks around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Or, he has disguised himself as an angel of light to try and deceive as many as possible with one lie after another.

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Yes. so true. We have to be on guard.

I was raised in a church that believed all magical expression was evil - my mother for the most part did not let us participate in any sort of story world that had magic apart from fairy tales and Disney movies (and not all of them). While as an adult, I came to realize that John's comments above are absolutely right and ti comes down to discernment and how that magic is used, and I now read some fantasy and even write fantasy with magic in it to some extent, I'm not upset that my mother banned it while I was a child. I realize that children do have have the ability to discern, to understand the nuances of good and evil at times or to be able to tell when something crosses a line; children are still learning to follow the Holy Spirit and their consciences as led by Him. And oftentimes, without guidance from their parents on what is right, they can be suspectible to Satan's traps because of this innocent, youthful naivety.

I also recognizes that even as adults, some people are more sensitive to some things than others. I know Christians who read and write horror. They have pointed out that horror can be a unique method of shining the light on the evil of Satan and teh consequences of following his lies but can also show God's light even stronger when it defeats evil. But I myself cannot watch or read it in any form. I know some readers have this same kind of problem when it comes to magic. My husband, for instance, has to be very careful about magic and what magic systems are in a story. And I have learned that Christian freedom includes not judging others in matters that are not strictly spelled out in the Bible as wrong, but also a matter of responsibility for my ownself and what I feel the Holy Spirit has pressed upon me or what I know I am personally weak against.

For instance: I won't read a story with witches as the heroes, even ones with "good witches". And I am very leery of teh type of magic being used: if it looks a whole lot like real world magic or uses actual real world type of spells or incantations (such as from Wicca), I won't read those books or watch those movies. I won't play necromancers in video games at all. And I prefer, if magic is to exist, for the world to be a different universe, not this one. God can create what he wants, and one aspect of speculative fiction is to play with the "what ifs", and for me, its fun to play with the "what if God created a world where He allowed the inhabitants to manipulate creation around them through "magic"." After all, He does at times permit angels to do miracles, so what if He allowed the use of magic by other created beings? And what happens when they misuse that gift?

But i personally don't like to read stories or watch movies with magic set in our world. I have a hard time separating the" what if" of alternate history when it looks so much like our world with our history. Probably because it hits up hard for me against the Bible as it was written for our world. But that's just me and what my conscience allows.

Anyway, all that was to say that yes, John, this was a good article and I do agree with the points made! lol

In my writing, it being fantasy, there is nothing that is being shown as pure magic, as I believe there is no such thing in reality, that has no explanation. I do put in things that might be seen by some, in the writing, as magic, and such things that likely do not exist in reality, but that is how story writing is, who knows if such things exist or not? I have such things as glowing gemstones, that have dangerous eminations. They should be adequately covered with shells that will protect a user from those. But they can be triggered to release supernatural, translational, thermodynamic energy, that will have effects on things that might be understood as magic. But people who know how to use those, sometimes known as wizards, cannot do anything like magic from power of their own. Those items do not last though and the power weakens with time. And also there can still be artifacts with great power. And there is need for good, which would be from God, that people need to adhere to. Threats to that need to be dealt with. That is the case in reality, too.