In Deuteronomy 18:10-11 NIV, it says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” So how do I write fantasy with “magic” in it?
Well, first, I don’t think of my books as having “magic” and definitely don’t think that I have committed a sin by writing my fantasy books with mythical powers. I’m honestly more conservative about my “magic” system than C.S. Lewis, who explicitly called his abilities “Deep Magic” and even had a wizard with a spell book!
Instead, when I came up with the ideas for Etania’s Worth, I thought of how God gives each of us natural talents and abilities. For example, he could make someone a gifted scientist. This scientist could use his or her ability to cure disease or create disease. In other words, each person decides whether he or she will use his or her talents for good or evil.
This is the foundation of my “magic” system. Instead of natural abilities, like my above example, each race is given a specific power:
Leici: Healing
Eritam: Wolf-Taming
Naymatua: Earth
Ningyo: Water
Kinzoku: Metal & Jewels
Draconian: Dragon-Taming
Pyros: Fire
Equus: Unicorn-Taming
Lycan: Wildcat-Taming
Ixite: Wildbird-Taming
Alephari: Light
Hafif: No specific ability; can be multi-talented or have hidden potential
All of these races can use their powers for benevolent or malevolent reasons. If they choose to use their Neuma (my name for “magic”) for evil, they will become what I call Skazic. Skazic are corrupt creatures who usually turn into monsters through witchcraft. I chose to do this to distinguish how spells and sorcery, which are explicitly against the Bible, are evil.
This is how I write my fantasy books and honor the Lord at the same time.