A retelling of the legendary conflict between ancient magic and the Apostolic Church.
The author considers the relationship between miracles and magic as they played out in this dramatic encounter. The author investigates how ancient magical operations - such as necromancy, transmutation, sex magic and transvection (amongst others) - acted as opposing forces to the sacramental powers of the Primitive Church.
The appearance of Simon Magus in the New Testament is colourful but brief, and more questions are raised than answered. Researchers are compelled to look at the apocryphal legends and writings of the early Christian apologists to discern what they can about Simon. Many of the legends regarding his magic and conduct are fantastical; others are less so. Yet theologians and writers on religion alike tend to disparage these accounts and write off Simon as a type, a legendary figure of anti-pagan polemic. Sometimes, the boot has been put on the other foot, and Simon is identified with St. Paul, as a Gnostic Apostle. What is the truth, and what were Simon's magical operations actually like?
M.R. Osborne studied Theology at the University of Birmingham, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He ultimately qualified as a lawyer, and retained an academic interest in Christian mysticism and ancient esotericism. His approach to the question of Simon Magus has been to set aside the polemical argument and to treat Simon's magic seriously. If, for the sake of argument, we treat the apocryphal and apologetic material as containing (at least 'some') authentic historical fact (even if fragmentary), then we may begin an attempt to reconstruct his life and possible beliefs. This is all set in the context of Simon's battle with Peter as it moves from Samaria to Rome, and a study of both men is required to make sense of what Christians and Jews alike regarded as legitimate or illegitimate magic. Thus, did the Apostles practise magic? Does the Church still do so? What differentiates miracles from magic?
The book contains illustrations from both the early Church period and later Middle Ages, as the manuscript discusses the possible connection of ancient Jewish magic with the medieval grimoires.
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