Module 2

Question 1

Tatian, ca. 120-180 AD.

Christian theologian of the second century

Answer 1

Important works: Oratio ad Graecos.

Rebukes all sorts of magic as being controlled and given by demons. Designed to enslave mankind and turn people away from God.

Question 2

John Chrysostom, ca. 347-407 AD.

Answer 2

Preached against women resorting to magic to save their dying children instead of using Christian means.

Question 3

Tertullian, ca. 160-225 AD.

Answer 3

Claimed women were more inclined to magical practices, and that demons taught them the power of herbs. Herbs have power, but women needed demons to learn about them.

Question 4

Augustine of Hippo, ca. 354-430 AD.

Answer 4

Important works: Civitas Dei, written as response to the idea that the Roman Empire fell because of Christianity. He wrote that Roman religion was to blame because all magic is worked by demons.

Question 5

Synod in Elvira, Spain: 306 AD.

Answer 5

Pronounced that people who had killed others via maleficium could not receive communion, even on their deathbeds.

Question 6

Pre-Christian Roman Empire (thru. ~312 AD)

Answer 6

Only punished harmful magic. Latin was widely used and Greek influence was heavy.

Question 7

Post-Christianity Roman Empire (from ~312 AD)

Answer 7

Punished all types of magic, including natural magic, with death. Greek fell out of use and Latin became the privilege of the clerical elite.

Introduced Theodosian Code in 439 and the code of Justinian in 529.

Question 8

Penitentials (early Christianized Roman Empire)

Answer 8

Sort of manual for confessors; prescribed varying lengths of penance, but denied that magic could affect nature or people’s minds which were the domains of God. Penance was mainly for actions rather than thoughts.

Question 9

Only harmful magic punished

Answer 9

Through 312 AD, ended with conversion to Christianity in Roman Empire

Question 10

All magic punished - thought to be demonic, sentence was penance or death depending on infraction

Answer 10

From ~312 through 12th century: introduction of Christianity through rise of natural magic like alchemy and astrology

Question 11

Isidore of Seville (ca. 560-636)

Answer 11

(Following roman scholar Varro)

Listed paths of magic as geomancy, hydromancy, aeromancy, pyromancy, and divinatorial observation of birds, entrails, stars and planets, enchantments, etc.

Question 12

13th century

Answer 12

Some authors started to differentiate natural magic from demonic magic. William of Auvergne, Albert the Great, &co. New kind of knowledge emerged including scientific astrology and alchemy.

Instituted new secular and ecclesiastical laws against demonic magic but had little effect in the actual decline of magic overall. 1230s established the Inquisition to persecute heretics, which did.

Question 13

William of Auvergne (ca. 1180-1249)

Answer 13

Bishop of Paris. Differentiated between natural and demonic magic.

Question 14

Albert the Great (ca. 1200-1280)

Answer 14

Patron saint of experimental sciences. Differentiated between natural and demonic magic. Supported natural sciences.

Question 15

New scientific & theological knowledge (12th-13th century)

Answer 15

Included natural sciences like astrology and alchemy. Rise of universities, importation of Arabic learning (including Aristotelian philosophy science). Still hella controversial.

Question 16

Thomas Aquinas (ca. 1225-1274)

Important works: Summa Against the Gentiles.

Answer 16

Claimed most types of magic had to do with demons in the end. Very influential. Resulted in all types of magic being heavily punished by the end of the Middle Ages for being related to demons - “superstitio”

Remnants of pagan customs that became seen as natural magic (rituals related to wells and springs, offerings, curses, medicinal herbs) immediately fell under suspicion.

Question 17

Inquisitors

Answer 17

Persecuted heretics: people seen as straying from the Christian path dictated by dogma and the Pope. Ex officio allowed them to act on rumors. No public trials, the accused had no right to appeal, witnesses did not have to be reliable. Some inquisitors argued that all magic was inherently heresy since it was all demonic in nature.

Question 18

Pope Alexander IV (~1260s)

Answer 18

Stated that unless magic was unmistakably related to heresy, the church should leave it to the secular authorities.

Question 19

Pope John XXII (early 14th century)

Answer 19

Instructed Inquisitors to persecute necromancers and other sorcerers.

Question 20

Bernardino of Siena (ca. 1380-1444)

Answer 20

Began the persecution on a bigger scale, laid foundation for the Inquisition, etc.