Richard Rudgley TV - J R R Tolkien & The Lord of the Rings 2001 - Jesus Camp 2006 - The Wizard of Oz 1939 - Leviticus 19:31 - Leviticus 20:6 - Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - I Samuel 28:3 - I Samuel 28:7-9 - II Kings 21:6 - II Kings 23:24 - II Chronicles 33:6 - Isaiah 8:19 -
What was the purpose of this ancient magic? And who were the wizards who dealt in it? To find out I need to probe deep into our pagan past, to a time when magic was everywhere, and the people who controlled that magic were all-powerful. Richard Rudgley, Pagans: Magic Moments, Channel 4 2004
At six hundred years older than Stonehenge, Newgrange in Ireland is a monument that sheds a remarkable shaft of light into a dark and magical past. It give us perhaps the first clue to magic in the pagan world. ibid.
We associate the full moon with everything supernatural ... The moonlight was considered a special source of energy. Our ancestors had a close relationship with the night sky. ibid.
Could it be that the legend of King Arthur’s sword in the stone is inspired by the magical smiths of the Bronze Age? ibid.
In 1999 treasure hunters were scouring the site of a Bronze Age hill fort near the German town of Nebra when they dug down and revealed a three and a half thousand year old bronze disc – the Nebra Star Disk, 1,600 B.C. The Disc was buried with a pair of fine swords and fine tools. This was the first evidence of a new and powerful cast of wizard priests. ibid.
There was no distinction between magic and medicine in the pagan world. ibid.
The Shaman figure has existed for tens of thousands of years. He is as old as magic itself ... He did this with the magic chemistry of the forest. ibid.
The Star Disc is embossed with gold leaf images of the sun, moon and thirty-two stars. ibid.
Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. J R R Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
A wizard is never late. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring 2001 starring Elijah Wood & Ian McKellen & Viggo Mortensen & Liv Tyler & Sean Astin & Cate Blanchett & John Rhys-Davis & Dominic Monaghan & Orlando Bloom & Christopher Lee & Hugo Weaving & Sean Bean & Ian Holm & Andy Serkis et al, director Peter Jackson, Gandolph
Let me say something about Harry Potter – warlocks are enemies of God ... Had it been in the Old Testament Harry Potter would have been put to death. Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady, Jesus Camp, Pastor Becky Fischer 2006
Well your head ain’t made of straw, you know. The Wizard of Oz 1939 starring Judy Garland & Ray Bolger & Frank Morgan & Jack Haley & Bert Lahr & Billie Burke & Margaret Hamilton & Clara Blandick & Charley Grapewin & Terry the dog, director Victor Fleming, farm bloke
Have a little courage that’s all. ibid. second farm bloke
I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more. We must be over the rainbow. ibid. Dorothy
Are you a good witch or a bad witch? ibid.
Only bad witches are ugly. ibid.
Ding dong the wicked witch is dead! ibid. Munchkins’ song
Follow the yellow brick road. ibid. Dorothy et al
I haven’t got a brain, only straw. ibid. Scarecrow
We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz. ibid. song
Put em up. Put em up. Which one of you first? I’ll fight you both together if you want. ibid. Lion
The Wizard says go away. ibid. doorkeeper
I am Oz the great and powerful. Who are you? Who are you? ibid. Wizard
The Great Oz has spoken. ibid.
There’s no other Wizard beside me. ibid.
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:31
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Leviticus 20:6
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. I Samuel 28:3
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? I Samuel 28:7-9
And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. II Kings 21:6
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. II Kings 23:24
And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. II Chronicles 33:6
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead? Isaiah 8:19