ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a brief historical overview of magic as part of a moral discourse. This contextualizes the study of the internal source of morality in high magic and witchcraft, and demonstrates the close connection with Christianity through an examination of the battle between good and evil, the emphasis on the light and the power of the dark. The chapter argues that for magicians the essence of morality comes not from a cover for pseudo-scientific theory but from contact with otherworldly reality, which provides a form of internal knowledge. It looks at how concepts of magic and witchcraft developed in Europe as part of a moral discourse. Anthropologists used the term 'witch' to refer to indigenous ideas regarding anti-social behaviour. The chapter turns to an examination of contemporary magical practices, noting the difference between Christian and pagan interpretations.
