On Magic & Miracles

A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic

By: Marian A. Jacobs

Narrated by: Marian A. Jacobs

From classic fantasy like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia to modern stories like Harry Potter, Christians have been debating the issue of fictional magic for decades. Some believers read and write fantasy as an expression of their God-given creativity while others feel this is dangerous and ignorant of the growing threat of the occult. Deuteronomy 18 says spells and other forms of magic are an abomination, but how does that apply to fantasy magic? Is there a difference between the “Deep Magic” of Aslan at the Stone Table and the spells in Harry Potter? Is it possible for fictional magic to lead someone into the occult? Adults and children alike have wrestled with these questions as the fantasy genre exploded into one of the most popular book and film genres on the market.

In this guidebook, Marian A. Jacobs explores the theology of magic, gleaning contextual clues surrounding supernatural events in the Bible. These scriptural principles can assist listeners, movie-lovers, gamers, and parents in discerning how fantasy can both edify and honor God.

On Magic and Miracles aims to answer the following questions:

• What is the difference between magic and miracles in the Bible?
• Is magic real? And if so, does it pose a genuine threat?
• Could books like Harry Potter lead someone into the occult?
• What is the importance of fantasy for Christians?
• How can I discern fantasy books, films, and games for myself and my children?

©2025 Marian A. Jacobs (P)2025 B&H Publishing Group

Great Theological Discourse in Terms of Fantasy Fiction

Great narration! The research is presented well and overall it provides great discourse on the topic. Will be rereading!

A must read for authors, readers, parents, and anyone looking for more on how to navigate and discern magic throughout media from a biblical standpoint.

Entertaining, Well-studied, Worshipful

I’ve been massively edified by “On Magic and Miracles” by Marian A Jacobs and would definitely recommend it. She walks through a ton of scripture (and CS Lewis) to examine which fantasy magic is healthy and edifying for believers to read, and the book has helped me examine my heart for pride and discern my motives for the choices I make throughout the day.

The style is conversational and approachable, and the author also does a fantastic job of applying theology principles and exploring the ramifications of those principles. I love that this book dives into scripture most of all, gets to the heart of different meanings and connotations of the word “magic”, and provokes such a devotional response.

Amazing Resource for Christian Parents

What an amazing resource for Christian parents. I would have loved to have had so much of this information as a child and this book really prepared parents to be more confident with their answers to both good and bad magic and the supernatural.

I went into this book thinking it would be very didactic (this not that type of approach) but was met with a theological deep dive into the history of magic in the Bible, a PSA about modern day occult practices, an examination of the reasons Christians have issues with magic in the modern day, and some great resources teaching parents to think critically about all media (not just magically themed media) that is presented to children.

Much needed

Great book! I loved chapters 2&8. I will would definitely recommend this book to anyone searching this topic!