Comments on The practitioners of the Black Arts

Go to Religion in the Modern WorldAdd a commentGo to The practitioners of the Black Arts

vogue - thank you - I found the topic rather interesting
When I got to the end of your comment, I couldn't help myself, I burst out laughing. You are probably not aware that French was my first language and when I was very young, I did not speak English. Unfortunately I have lost a great deal of it over the years of living in an English speaking region but still understand enough to get by. "Chapeau to you" would mean "Hat to you" which I don't think you were trying to say. I'll take it as "a tip of the hat to you" which would be "un bout du chapeau"  and again . . . thank you.  

posted by gomedome on September 10, 2008 at 10:16 AM | link to this | reply

First of all thank you very much for your long and thoughtful comment on my entry. Second: I'm very proud to still be in your furry collection, and thirdly: I have secretly harbored the same thoughts as in your conclusion to this post, but never dared to say so in public. Chapeau to you!!

posted by vogue on September 10, 2008 at 9:33 AM | link to this | reply

BC-A - I'm not sure I see the connection between the points you make
If in answer to the question I pose in this post; you are saying that you see the difference between the two as that between good and evil, . . . I would call that a traditional view. In other words; benevolent versus malevolent intent. I can agree as to why most people think this way. The fiction you mention etc. are all examples of countless influences that re-enforce this traditional view. . . The problem however with the traditional depiction of the hocus pocus related to religion as being good and that which is related to the black arts as being bad is that fundamentally they are both just as ineffective. 

posted by gomedome on September 9, 2008 at 8:25 PM | link to this | reply

muley12 - Re: No difference at all
Thanx for stopping in.

posted by gomedome on September 9, 2008 at 8:08 PM | link to this | reply

 There exists bad witches and good witches. Fiction depicts them in Hansel and Gretel and The Wizard of Oz. Some people dabble with witchcraft on the level of "O" boards and tarat cards. Fleetwood Mac lead singer Stevie Nicks thinks of herself as a witch. Of course the Christians that executed witches in Salem show history bad Christianity. However the sacrifice of Jesus beats all for love.

posted by BC-A on September 9, 2008 at 3:11 PM | link to this | reply

No difference at all
  Another thoughtful post. good job

posted by muley12 on September 9, 2008 at 1:08 PM | link to this | reply