The Symbolic World3 Okt 2025

414 - Dcn. Seraphim Rohlin (Universal History) - American Folk Magic and Christianity: From the Reformation to Mormonism

Enchantment never truly disappeared from the modern world.
In this episode of Universal History Deacon Seraphim Rohlin and I explore the world of magic and folk superstition in American Christianity.

What is magic? Where’s the line between prayer and magic? Why did Protestant reformers ban holy water but keep belief in the devil? How did treasure-hunting rituals lead to the rise of Mormonism?

YouTube version: https://youtu.be/o9rMy6lde0c

Timestamps:
00:00 - Coming up
00:37 - Intro music
01:01 - Introduction
04:54 - What is magic?
08:46 - The modern & Enlightenment ideas of superstition
11:00 - Prayers and psalms
13:30 - The Reformation's perspective
24:27 - Medieval understanding of superstition
26:53 - Example: the French "Dog-saint"
28:11 - Reformation conclusions
33:37 - You have an embarrassing illness
37:21 - Christian magic hacks
46:29 - Manifestation
52:03 - Scapegoating
54:31 - Categories of magic
56:47 - Divination
04:30 - Water witching
07:30 - Saint Porphyrios
08:51 - Finding water
09:57 - Finding other things
11:44 - Money digging
13:33 - How money digging works
17:34 - The symbolism of the New World
20:54 - Joseph Smith and Mormonism
24:18 - The human need for enchantment

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My intro was arranged and recorded by Matthew Wilkinson: https://matthewwilkinson.net/

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