Supernatural in the Catholic religion

François Jeulin

I. The basis : the Bible
 

1. Recurrent human characters
The old wise man
The young man chosen by God
The poor and excluded persons
 
2. Supernatural characters
Good ones : Got and his angels
Evil ones : Satan and demons
 
3. Manifestations of supernatural
Communication
Punition
Help
Use of magic items and formulas
 
4. The power of symbols : words and numbers
Power of words
Use of numbers
 
5. Usual themes from the New Testament

I. Further developments of Catholicism
 

1. Absorption of pagan beliefs
Replacement of former fetes and divinities
Generation of new forms of rituals and belief
 
2. Development of its own “magic” rituals
The mass
Sacraments
 
3. Creation of popular fantastic images
Development of current images
Creation of a “mythology”, and legends
 
4. Perversion of catholic institutions
Satanism and catholic institutions
Creation of exorcism rituals
Strange activities for religious communities
Excessive taste for secrecy

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