Magical Influence Research Articles

Religious Dimensions of Confucius’ Teachings on Ren and Li in the Analects

This essay examines whether Confucius aligns more with humanism or religious thought, asserting that his philosophy defies simple classification. It highlights his use of religious motifs, especially the concept of li 禮, which he broadened beyond mere rituals to include societal behaviors, infusing them with a sacred essence. Additionally, this essay delves into Confucius’s notion of de 德, perceived as having an almost magical influence without coercion, closely tied to his ideas on li and governance. This reflects a belief in a universal moral order, challenging the view of Confucius as purely a humanist. The text also explores his nuanced understanding of tian 天, a central yet complex aspect of his philosophy, suggesting a spiritual dimension. Ultimately, this essay advocates for recognizing Confucius not only as a moral guide but as a thinker embodying significant religious or spiritual insights.

Marriage and Magic in a Transylvanian Village

"In this study I present the possibilities of magical influence on marriages, based on my fieldwork in a Transylvanian village. I investigate how, according to the villagers, the creation and dissolution of marriages can be magically influenced, and how they use magic to interpret the delay of the marriage, conflicts between spouses, broken relationships, and the death of a spouse. The location of the research is a village with an ethnically and religiously mixed population, where Reformed Hungarians, Orthodox Romanians and mainly Orthodox Roma live. The study is divided into three parts. In the first part, I will focus on the recollections of the older generation, in the second part, on cases that happened in the lives of the middle-aged population, and in the third part, I will compare cases preserved in memory with contemporary cases. This comparison reveals that methods of magical intervention have changed, as have the kinds of problems that arise. From contemporary stories, it seems that the marriage prospects of an unmarried youth are no longer influenced by magic. If there is a suspicion that a marriage is being prevented by magical means (binding), people try to break this binding with the help of Romanian Orthodox priests or seers/clairvoyants. Priests and clairvoyants also pray over the clothes of those wishing to marry, and at the same time mothers fast for their unmarried children. Magic has been replaced by methods drawn from Romanian Orthodox religious practice, which are accepted and practised in secret by most of the Hungarians in the village. Reflecting on the images of marriage being hindered by magical binding and of the predestined partner (RO: ursita/ursitul), I examine the relationship between Romanian and Hungarian beliefs and interpretative possibilities, referring to previous Hungarian and Romanian ethnographic research. In addition, I summarize everything that is important in relation to the specialists involved (seers or clairvoyants, Romanian Orthodox priests). According to local perception, the social institution of marriage can be influenced through magic. Marriage, divorce, and the death of one of the parties can also be interpreted magically within the local framework of interpretation."

The Controversy Surrounding the Prophet's Affliction with Magic: An Analytical Exploration of Historical and Contemporary Perspectives Among Islamic Scholars

This article delves into the contentious issue of whether the Prophet, peace be upon him, was afflicted by magic or not, a topic that has engendered extensive debate among Islamic scholars throughout history and into the present. The prevailing belief among the majority of Muslim scholars is that the Prophet, peace be upon him, was indeed affected by magic. They assert that this conviction is grounded in authentic and reliable narrations, leaving no room for doubt. However, they contend that the impact of magic on the Prophet did not compromise the authenticity of divine revelation. Instead, they likened it to the effects of common illnesses on human beings, solely influencing his soul and body. Conversely, a minority of contemporary scholars, who identify as rationalists and modernists, along with some classical scholars, maintain the view that the Prophet, peace be upon him, was not affected by magic. They argue that the narrations concerning this matter lack authenticity and reliability. Furthermore, they posit that accepting the notion of the Prophet's affliction with magic implies a lack of soundness and trustworthiness in the divine revelation he received during that time, attributing any perceived lapses in his senses to the alleged magical influence. For instance, some narratives indicate that the Prophet believed he had undertaken actions that he had not actually performed. This study adopts an analytical approach to investigate and analyze the subject matter. It relies on a comprehensive collection of academic articles, books, and magazine articles authored by Islamic scholars. By drawing from these reputable sources, the research aims to provide a thorough and rigorous examination of the chosen topic. The inclusion of diverse perspectives and scholarly insights contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the subject, enhancing the credibility and reliability of the study's findings. This research concludes that the prophet Mohammad was bewitched by magic but the magic was not powerful enough to have a destructive effect on his intellect. Furthermore, this magic was unable to have impact on the divine revlation that was revealed to him.

The Power of Chaos

The Power of Chaos

Goals, motives and collisions of women's running practices in the light of gender approach

According to the ideas dominating in scientific discourse, female stayers of the twentieth century had to overcome gender stereotypes for a long time and in a tense struggle, according to which long running deprives them of "femininity" and threatens reproductive function. The article shows that the reasons for the long negative attitude of society towards physical culture and sports women's running are much more diverse and historically deepened, they go far beyond the sphere of training and competitive activity and "pure" physiology, having a socio-culturally determined ideological basis. The objectives of the article: to determine the types of women's running practices; to analyze the goals and motives of the running activities of their participants; to identify the causes of social conflicts generated by these practices and ways to overcome them. The main types of women's running practices are ritual competitive and out-of-competition running, festive competitive running, wellness and sports running. Running was used by women to achieve the following goals: marriage, material reward, pleasing the gods, transition to a new social group, magical influence, emancipation, physical development and setting records. The motives of running practices were gaining patronage, ensuring the well-being of the community, confirming their gender and age fullness, acquiring magical abilities, overcoming the scarcity of life, health care, self-realization, achieving equality with men in competitive activities and opportunities provided by society to outstanding athletes. The collisions of women's running practices are mainly associated with the mythological, religious and philosophical misogyny of traditional societies and gender stereotypes of modern times, according to which prolonged running locomotion does not correspond to the gender expecta-tions of society, the norms of decency and causes irreparable harm to women's health. Largely due to the selfless struggle of runners for equality in realizing their athletic potential, women's identity today is associated not only with femininity, and at the last Olympics in Tokyo, gender parity of participants was achieved for the first time.

К проблеме различения и типологии носителей магического знания в культурах восточных славян

The paper discusses the issue of constructing a classification of holders of sacred knowledge in a traditional culture of the Eastern Slavs, in particular, aiming to elucidate the causes of difficulties for researchers (anthropologists) in differentiating the figures of sorcerer and healer. The first methodological setting of the undertaken research is the distinction of the “knowers” as a phenomenon of popular consciousness existing in a vital world of traditional culture, and as the subject of academic research. Since the scientific classification involves an explanation of the differences between types, the second setting was to consider the constructed typologies of “knowers” in terms of the typology of explanations accepted in modern philosophy of science. Basing on the analysis of field materials and research works in which typological attempts were made, the paper considers three types of scientific explanations — causal (by indicating the actual reason), functional (by indicating the function) and intentional (by indicating the goals or intentions of the actor) — used in the systematization of “knowers”. As a rule, none of the typologies relies on just one type of explanation, but combines a causal or intentional explanation with a functional one. Classifications based on causal explanation often consider magical influences as a kind of objective reality and a valid reason that distinguishes the practices of the sorcerer and the healer. Which is fraught with various dangers, in particular, the involvement of pseudoscientific physicalist theories. The typologization adopted in folklore is most often based on a functional explanation that perfectly solves the problems of grouping characters of traditional culture. However, this approach is not sufficient for an integral cultural and anthropological description and understanding of the phenomena of “knowers”. Understanding the existence of this phenomenon in the public consciousness often requires the use of intentional explanations. The authors conclude that building a unique, objective and independent of the characteristics of a particular person and their relations with the society of the typology of “knowers” is hardly possible, if we are not talking about folk characters. In the study of real folk life, the typological affiliation of holders of sacred knowledge will always be situational in nature.

The Ambivalent Alliance of Caesar and Caesarian Forces in Plutarch’s Lives and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar

The Ambivalent Alliance of Caesar and Caesarian Forces in Plutarch’s Lives and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Mufeed Al-Abdullah Abstract This paper is a comparative study that traces the fluctuations of Caesar‟s alliance with the masses in Plutarch‟s Lives and Shakespeare‟s Julius Caesar. Plutarch pays a lot of attention to map the nature and the roots of that bond between Caesar and his supporters. Caesar exploits the plebs to gain power against rival patricians. He heeds the whims of the plebs and their interests, but he humiliates and degrades his fellow senators. His ambition is to transcend his peers and gather full power in Rome. His means for achieving this dream is the alignment with the commons that help him thwart any senatorial decisions against him. Plutarch, however, portrays the Roman commons as clear, judgmental, and aware of Caesar‟s political maneuvers. They re-evaluate their alliance and change in light of their perception of his political activities. Shakespeare starts Julius Caesar with the last war Caesar fought in his life, and thus shows no interest in mapping the roots of his alliance with the plebeians of Rome. He rather depicts them as naïve and gullible to the tricks and manipulations of Caesar. The plebeians show a taste of political awareness that is not accentuated in the play. Furthermore, Shakespeare brings to the fore the power of rhetoric and its magical influence in formulating the perceptions and views of the plebeians. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/ijll.v8n1a4

NONVERBAL CODES OF RITUAL DISCOURSE ON THE MATERIAL OF THE CALENDAR CYCLE OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS OF UKRAINIANS

Artificially created ideology and rites were imposed in Ukraineduring the Soviet Union's existence. The implementation of new rites is one of the main reasons for forgetting and losing of meaning of traditional calendar ceremonial holidays. In the conditions of modern economic, intellectual, scientific integration from each nation, special attention is required to its spiritual origins. The object of this article was the ceremonial discourse (calendar cycle), the subject of non-verbal codes of communication of ancient Ukrainians with the surrounding world, in particular, with supernatural forces, as well as with the spirits of ancestors during the Christmas holidays. Rites and rituals for an archaic man were a kind of form of communication with the outside world and with the afterlife; syncretic means of magical influence on the forces of nature, the dead ancestors, from which depended not only welfare, but also the survival of the clan. Non-verbal codes of the calendar rituals of the winter cycle are concrete actions of symbolic significance aimed at honoring the forces of nature and the spirits of the ancestors. The article describes the following symbolic rituals: making jewelry; bringing to the house Didukh; execution of magical protective actions, preparation of an obligatory dish – kutia, etc. Due to the fact that calendar rites and rituals have almost lost their significance, and first of all it concerns non-verbal codes, we consider the research of such codes as in calendar and family rites promising.

Ghosts or Absence of Light? The Understanding of Shadows

Ethnography and historical disciplines report on different kinds of folk or premodern societies’ ideas and superstitions regarding shadows that are not to find among the collective representations of modern, industrial societies. Shadows were seen as material substances and as doubles of persons and objects, as mystical beings capable to exert all kinds of magical influences. After certain time, however, these ideas were replaced by the rational view that seems so self-evident to every modern adult person. The article shows that developmental psychology has found the same mystical ideas among children. Only older children, due to their psychological development, discover the rational explanation of the origin and nature of shadows. It is argued that the strict parallel of the ontogenetic and historical development of the understanding of shadows is by no means an exception but reflects the same parallel concerning the development of the complete understanding of nature and world, physics and cosmos. Overall, developmental psychology delivers a key to understanding the historical development of humankind, thus forming a basis for ethnology or cultural anthropology specifically, or the human disciplines in general. This in former times widely demonstrated view was replaced by the currently prevailing ideas of “cultural relativism” and “universalism of mankind” especially after 1980. However, the empirical data do not support relativism and universalism but rather the developmental approaches of the previous generations of the human disciplines.

The ways of magic influence in the traditional culture of Slavs: to blow, to spit and to say

The ways of magic influence in the traditional culture of Slavs: to blow, to spit and to say

MOZART EFFECT AND MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE RESEARCH

The field of Music Psychology has grown in the past 20 years, to emerge from being just a minor topic to one of mainstream interest within the brain sciences (Hallam, Cross, & Thaut, 2011). Despite the plethora of research attempts to examine the so-called hotly disputed “Mozart effect” which was first reported by Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky (1993, 1995), we still know little about it. This group of researchers were the first to support experimentally that visuospatial processing was enhanced in participants following exposure to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D major (K.448). Although the first research attempts referred to the Mozart effect as an easy way of improving cognitive performance immediately after passive music listening to Mozart’s sonata K. 448 (Chabris, 1999), after which healthy young adult students could perform with enhanced spatial- temporal abilities in tasks such as the Paper Folding Task (PFT), nowadays there is a number of studies indicating that this specific music excerpt does not necessarily have this magical influence on all cognitive abilities (e.g. on the overall Intelligence Quotient) in humans and on the behavior of animals (for a review see Giannouli, Tsolaki & Kargopoulos, 2010). In addition to that, questions arise whether listening to this ‘magic music excerpt’ does indeed have benefits that generalize across a wide range of cognitive performance, and if it can induce changes that are of importance for medical and therapeutic purposes in patients with neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy) or psychiatric disorders (e.g. dementia, depression) (Verrusio et al., 2015).

Political Islam in Perspective

The paper critically evaluates the notion that political Islam is a threat to world peace. The argument is developed in the light of Islamic history and fundamentals of Islam and the research is based on primary and secondary sources. There was a time when magical influence of Muslims in every field of life (socio-economic, Political scientific) was conspicuous. For instance, Al Farabi's books influenced platonic theories. Similarly influence of Sufism on the works of William James, Goethe, August Comte, Nietzsche, Voltaire and Rousseau also cannot be over looked. Muslims taught geology, geography understanding of mathematics rules of philosophy and Industrial Arts and quality of products. Islamic state and society showed many signs of internal decay by 11th Century. The symptoms of decadence were discernible even earlier, the decline of the power and prestige of the caliphs even in their own capital. So, the problems lay with Muslim rulers and parties in rule but not with political Islam. The result was weak administration which shook the foundations of Islamic Empire. It is very important to have a state in order to preach Islam that is why, Mohammad (SWS) established Madina as a political entity to prevail justice on the lines of Quranic injunctions.

Мастер психолого-педагогического воздействия

The article is devoted to the oratory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s
 speech had not only convincing, but also inspiring character. The
 magical influence of his words due to the fact that he was the finest social
 psychologist.

Penggunaan magic dalam politik lokal di Banten

Village-head elections frequently become unhealthy competitions among the candidate. They employ various ways to win the election, including using magical means. This article aims to explain social phenomena occur in local politics in the use of magic village-head elections in rural Banten; particularly in two sub-districts, Ciomas and Padarincang. It tries to answer several main research questions: (1) why do the candidates make use of magic during the village election process?; (2) what kinds of magic used by the candidates; (3) How does magic influence the winning chance of village head elections? (4) and how is the process of the magic usage during the village election process?. This article is the result of a field research using ethnographical method based on anthropological perspective. To analyze the data, the researcher uses structural-functional approach. Library research, participant-observation, and depth-interview are methods used to collect the data. Based on the result of field research, it can be concluded that almost all of the candidates in these two sub-districts made use of magic in order to win the village head elections. They visit several magicians and made use of their super natural powers for their own purposes. They believed that magical power possessed by these magicians could influence their winning chance in the village-head elections. Various fundamental reasons also become an important consideration why the candidates need to use magic in local politics process.

Penggunaan magic dalam politik lokal di Banten

Village-head elections frequently become unhealthy competitions among the candidate. They employ various ways to win the election, including using magical means. This article aims to explain social phenomena occur in local politics in the use of magic village-head elections in rural Banten; particularly in two sub-districts, Ciomas and Padarincang. It tries to answer several main research questions: (1) why do the candidates make use of magic during the village election process?; (2) what kinds of magic used by the candidates; (3) How does magic influence the winning chance of village head elections? (4) and how is the process of the magic usage during the village election process?. This article is the result of a field research using ethnographical method based on anthropological perspective. To analyze the data, the researcher uses structural-functional approach. Library research, participant-observation, and depth-interview are methods used to collect the data. Based on the result of field research, it can be concluded that almost all of the candidates in these two sub-districts made use of magic in order to win the village head elections. They visit several magicians and made use of their super natural powers for their own purposes. They believed that magical power possessed by these magicians could influence their winning chance in the village-head elections. Various fundamental reasons also become an important consideration why the candidates need to use magic in local politics process.

“Gringsing“ Jalinan Estetika-Mitos Ritus Perang Pandan

Estetic and Mytos of Pandanus War. Gringsing The name of Gringsing is explained in popular etymology asmeaning free from sickness, which is in itself enough to indicate that the cloths are honoured by the people becauseof their magic infl uence. The origin of the gringsing cloths is traced back to Dewa Indra, who created shadowsin the sky so that they could be copied as pattern in the cloths. As was pointed out, the weaving of the gringsing,a sacred activity for the women. The weaving women have to take a number of adat regulations into account.Throughout Bali weavers are srict in following the adat. In he village of Tenganan Pegringsingan itself the use ofcertain gringsings is prescribed for specifi ed ceremonies. Tenganan Pegringsingan community perform religiousrites everyday to maintain the balance of the village. Tenganan Pegringsingan has unique culture, and all refer tothe concept of balance. The most famous ritual activities in Tenganan Pegringsingan is Pandanus War. In PandanusWar, gringsing always used by Truna and Daha. They believe in using gringsing, they will be spared from disease.Gringsing present in Tenganan Pegringsingan bringing myths and aesthetics. Gringsing is a picture of a communitycultural order Tenganan Pegringsingan. All have been recorded in awig-awig Tenganan Pegringsingan.

“Gringsing“ Jalinan Estetika-Mitos Ritus Perang Pandan

Estetic and Mytos of Pandanus War. Gringsing The name of Gringsing is explained in popular etymology asmeaning free from sickness, which is in itself enough to indicate that the cloths are honoured by the people becauseof their magic infl uence. The origin of the gringsing cloths is traced back to Dewa Indra, who created shadowsin the sky so that they could be copied as pattern in the cloths. As was pointed out, the weaving of the gringsing,a sacred activity for the women. The weaving women have to take a number of adat regulations into account.Throughout Bali weavers are srict in following the adat. In he village of Tenganan Pegringsingan itself the use ofcertain gringsings is prescribed for specifi ed ceremonies. Tenganan Pegringsingan community perform religiousrites everyday to maintain the balance of the village. Tenganan Pegringsingan has unique culture, and all refer tothe concept of balance. The most famous ritual activities in Tenganan Pegringsingan is Pandanus War. In PandanusWar, gringsing always used by Truna and Daha. They believe in using gringsing, they will be spared from disease.Gringsing present in Tenganan Pegringsingan bringing myths and aesthetics. Gringsing is a picture of a communitycultural order Tenganan Pegringsingan. All have been recorded in awig-awig Tenganan Pegringsingan.

The Psychology of Bewitchment (Part II): A Psychoanalytic Model for Conceptualising and Working with Bewitchment Experiences

This article extends the phenomenological description of bewitchment experience outlined in Part I, arguing for a viable psychological explanation of what is claimed to be a supernatural phenomenon. Any adequate explanation must satisfactorily account for the four characteristic features of bewitchment experience; that is, a paranoid state of mind, the presence of a precipitating interpersonal context of hostility and envy, a dichotomous moral and religious belief structure, and the subjective experience of having one's body infiltrated by poisonous substances or destructive alien entities. Beginning with Freud's claim that all supernatural belief systems unconsciously express and simultaneously defend adherents against universal instinctual impulses and anxieties, Klein's object relations psychoanalytic model is proposed as a useful interpretive framework to understand the four interrelated aspects of bewitchment. Bewitchment, it is argued, is a culturally sanctioned supernatural belief system used defensively by individuals to protect themselves against acknowledging and experiencing a range of painful and anxiety-provoking feelings, typically involving hostility, envy, and loss. Bewitchment arises when individuals split off and project problematic self aspects elicited by adverse or stressful experiences, locating these in hated or envied others, who are then believed to use witchcraft to magically attack and harm the victims. This theoretical model is supported and illustrated by means of a case study of the psychodynamic treatment of a ‘bewitched’ patient. This case is used to demonstrate some of the psychotherapeutic challenges of treating patients who attribute their psychological difficulties to magical influences.

A journey to the foundations of classical medicine

The author narrates his trips, between 1951 and 2006, to the main historical sites of antique medicine, where physicians of pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Peru, Egypt, Greco Latin culture and Islamic civilizations, lived. The trip ends with a visit to medieval European medicine before Renaissance. A description of the main historical sites and the features of these medical and sanitary cultures is made. In antique civilizations, diseases were considered a punishment of pagan deities. Supernatural and magical influences were decisive in medical practice. The Greco Latin culture of Galen and Hippocrates freed manhood from these causes of diseases and gave a rational basis to the practice of medicine. The Islamic civilization allowed the transmission of Greco Latin culture to medieval Europe. This permitted the renaissance of European creativity and the foundation of modern scientific medicine in the sixteenth century. The author highlights the main virtues of classical Greco Latin medicine, that are the foundations of humanistic thoughts that will restrin the technological revolution of modern medicine.

Peregrinaciones a las fuentes de la medicina clásica

The author narrates his trips, between 1951 and 2006, to the main historical sites of antique medicine, where physicians of pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Peru, Egypt, Greco Latin culture and Islamic civilizations, lived. The trip ends with a visit to medieval European medicine before Renaissance. A description of the main historical sites and the features of these medical and sanitary cultures is made. In antique civilizations, diseases were considered a punishment of pagan deities. Supernatural and magical influences were decisive in medical practice. The Greco Latin culture of Galen and Hippocrates freed manhood from these causes of diseases and gave a rational basis to the practice of medicine. The Islamic civilization allowed the transmission of Greco Latin culture to medieval Europe. This permitted the renaissance of European creativity and the foundation of modern scientific medicine in the sixteenth century. The author highlights the main virtues of classical Greco Latin medicine, that are the foundations of humanistic thoughts that will restrin the technological revolution of modern medicine.