Jesus is magic Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, is often referred to as a magician or a sorcerer by his followers and believers. This notion is derived from the extraordinary and miraculous acts that are attributed to Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is depicted as performing various miraculous feats, such as turning water into wine, feeding thousands of people with limited resources, healing the sick, and even raising the dead. These acts are seen as evidence of Jesus' divine nature and his ability to manipulate and control the natural world. The term "magic" is often used to describe these supernatural abilities that Jesus is believed to possess. However, it is important to note that the term "magic" in this context should be understood as a reference to Jesus' extraordinary power and not in the sense of witchcraft or sorcery.
Filipino witch doctor
7th South and Southeast Asian Association for Culture and Religion (SSEASR) Conference
Publication Date
Abstract
Filipinos are naturally inclined to animism. This inclination leads some of them to depend their health problems to something spiritual and cultural. When the health of a family member is at-risk, the urban poor seek traditional healing (Salenga, 2012). The researchers seek to enumerate the motivational factors that led the urban poor families to avail the services from the traditional healers specifically the albularyos. Likewise, this study identified the significance of these motivational factors in the exercise of their faith. This study employed qualitative method of research and utilized the focused-group discussion. Using purposive sampling method, the researchers convened 10 individuals from the urban poor in Manila particularly in Brgy. 719, Leveriza St., Malate Manila who sought healing and were healed by the so called albularyos. This barangay is situated at the heart of the city near Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the biggest government-owned and controlled hospital in the country. Based from the study conducted, Filipinos believed in the supernatural power of the albularyo. This created Juan’s mindset of a positive outlook in life which led to their wellbeingness and deepened their faith- life. They also consider that the albularyo is a divine instrument whom God sent to make them well.
Recommended Citation
Cabatbat, K. M., Camarines, T. M., Eballo, M. B., & Vicente, N. E. (2017). Filipinos bilib kay albularyo: Its implications on one’s faith-life. 7th South and Southeast Asian Association for Culture and Religion (SSEASR) Conference Retrieved from https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/8668
Disciplines
Medicine and Health | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Keywords
Spiritual healing—Philippines—Manila; Healers—Philippines—Manila; Poor—Health and hygiene—Philippines—Manila; Well-being—Religious aspects
Understanding My Mom’s Unorthodox Healing Practices
However, it is important to note that the term "magic" in this context should be understood as a reference to Jesus' extraordinary power and not in the sense of witchcraft or sorcery. The miracles performed by Jesus are seen as acts of compassion and love, rather than manipulative or evil acts. Jesus is often described as using his powers to help those in need and bring about positive change in the lives of others.
Healing through tawas and hilot
Sheets of newspaper cover a portion of the floor of our house in Manila, and on top of those thin pieces of paper sit a white candle, a box of matches, a metal spoon, and a metal basin filled with water. The doors are locked. We’re huddled around the basin, and the room plunges into silence.
Rest assured, this is not some scene from a B-rated supernatural horror movie. This is just what happens whenever anyone in my family gets sick. We call an albularyo—Tagalog for witch doctor or folk healer—to come and conduct either tawas or hilot depending on the degree of illness (more on those in a bit).
I’ve known our albularyo since I was little, when she was still juggling between working for us and training to become a folk healer. She’s seen me grow up, and I’ve seen her grow older. Now, she always asks us how we’re doing whenever she comes into the house, beaming her wide chipped-tooth smile, always joking, always laughing.
But not during tawas. The air assumes a solemn and still quality as she cuts off a small piece from the candle and waves it in circles around the patient, eyes closed, concentrating, and chanting words under her breath. She then places the candle wax on the spoon, melts it, and drops it into the basin filled with water. As it cools down, the candle wax forms into an image which reveals the engkantos or evil spirits that have bewitched the patient. She does this five times so that by the end, we have five images forming a narrative. Having now identified the cause of disease, she anoints the patient with water from the basin and says a prayer to counteract these engkantos.
But for mild coughs, colds, or fevers, we turn to hilot. Slathering her hands with massage oil, she locates the cold spots in our bodies (those pesky causes of disease!) and massages them away, relaxing the muscles and curing our ailments. I’ve always loved this one because it makes me feel like I’m in a spa.
And if we’re still sick after all these interventions, maybe we’ll finally go to the doctor. The doctor is always the last resort.
Trust me, I know how this all sounds. How can wax images and massages cure something so biologically based, right? I used to scoff at these treatments when I was younger too, priding myself on my scientific outlook and “rational” mind.
All my life, I’ve never really understood nor tried to understand why my mom rarely sends us for check-ups, opting instead for tawas, hilot, and the occasional pharmaceutical drugs we self-medicate ourselves with.
That is, until I took an Introduction to Anthropology course, where I encountered the term “structural violence” and the whole world of medical anthropology.
These miracles serve as a sign of Jesus' divinity and his mission to bring salvation and redemption to humanity. The belief in Jesus' magical abilities is a central aspect of Christian faith and theology. It underscores the idea that Jesus is not simply a human being, but also the Son of God who possesses unique and transcendent powers. This belief in Jesus' magic is a source of inspiration and hope for Christians, as it affirms the power and sovereignty of God and his ability to intervene in the world to bring about miraculous transformations. In conclusion, the concept of Jesus as magic refers to the extraordinary and miraculous powers attributed to him in Christian belief. These acts of magic, as described in the New Testament, serve as evidence of Jesus' divinity and his mission to bring salvation to humanity. The belief in Jesus' magic is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith, providing believers with hope and affirmation of God's power and love for humanity..
Reviews for "Jesus' Magic and the Quest for Spiritual Enlightenment"
1. Jessica - 2/5 - I was really excited to watch "Jesus is Magic" as I had heard good things about Sarah Silverman's comedy. However, I was left disappointed. The humor in this special fell flat for me and I found it to be more offensive than funny. The jokes seemed forced and lacked originality, relying too heavily on shock value. Overall, I felt that "Jesus is Magic" tried too hard to be edgy and provocative without delivering any genuine laughs.
2. Michael - 3/5 - As a fan of Sarah Silverman's stand-up, I had high expectations for "Jesus is Magic". Unfortunately, I found myself quite underwhelmed. While there were some genuinely funny moments, the overall content and pacing of the special felt disjointed. The jokes were hit or miss, and it seemed like Silverman was relying more on shock value rather than clever wit. Additionally, her attempt to blend social commentary with humor often came across as preachy rather than comedic. Although "Jesus is Magic" had its moments, it did not live up to the hype for me.
3. Emily - 1/5 - "Jesus is Magic" left me feeling uncomfortable and thoroughly unamused. Sarah Silverman's attempts to tackle controversial topics fell flat, crossing the line from edgy comedy to offensive and tasteless humor. I found the jokes to be crass and lacking in creativity, relying on shock value rather than genuine wit. The special seemed more focused on pushing boundaries and being provocative rather than actually delivering a clever and genuinely funny performance. Overall, "Jesus is Magic" was a disappointment and not something I would recommend to others.