Page "Magic (paranormal)" Paragraph 33

The distinction Mauss draws between religion and magic is both of sentiment and practice.

He portrays magic as an element of pre-modern societies and in many respects an antithesis of religion.

Magic is secretive and isolated, and rarely performed publicly in order to protect and to preserve occult knowledge.

Religion is predictable and prescribed and is usually performed openly in order to impart knowledge to the community.

While these two phenomena do share many ritual forms, Mauss concludes that " a magical rite is any rite that does not play a part in organized cults.

It is private, secret, mysterious and approaches the limit of prohibited rite.

" In practice, magic differs from religion in desired outcome.

Religion seeks to satisfy moral and metaphysical ends, while magic is a functional art which often seeks to accomplish tangible results.

In this respect magic resembles technology and science.

Belief in each is diffuse, universal, and removed from the origin of the practice.

Yet, the similarity between these social phenomena is limited, as science is based in experimentation and development, while magic is an " a priori belief.

" Mauss concludes that though magical beliefs and rites are most analogous to religion, magic remains a social phenomenon distinct from religion and science with its own characteristic rules, acts and aims.