I added the numbers to your quote. It's easier to understand threads by separating them by points.
This is my opinion, and maybe you are seeing magic differently than most do? For example, what is outside of coincidence or happenstance? Making a pencil float?
I see magic interwoven with life; so, while one person's event they call coincidence, another person's same event they call magic.
It is
how one relates to the given situation and their
perspective of it not whether "I did a ritual to save my aunt from dying" however, the laws of the magical universe does not bend just because we say it does or should.
Magic* is an interrelationship with life events. It is what we
do rather than what we believe that makes the magic happen. It let's us know that if my aunt had terminal cancer, magic will not save her
and it will help me in ritual (and prayer) to connect with what this event is showing me: the moral of life and death. By acting or doing ritual, I am more close to this understanding. My wellbeing and perspective changes.
That is magic*
1. So, if it is wrong, that is a personal opinion and experience rather than as a whole. Everyone relates, does ritual, and prays differently; and, they see how happenstance (and interpret it) affects us differently. This is my definition, though.
What about magic is wrong to you? What do you define as characteristics behind the practices you listed? What's the
magic behind the magic, in your view?
2. What are your expectations of what you wanted at one point for magic to offer you? Why is happenstance wrong and how do you define magic differently than something happening by coincidence?
What's behind the magic?
3. The natural flow of life cannot be changed just because we joined hands and walk in a circle. It doesn't change the laws of nature just because we lit a candle and said a prayer. All of these things (like floating pencils) are not about the tools and "magic" but interrelation with ourselves, others, our deities, spirits, what/whomever. It's an action not a belief.
Like when
@Quintessence was talking about whether she should video tape herself doing magic. Granted, though I see her point, I feel magic can be explained it doesn't need to be video taped for it to be discussed; however, she proves my point that magic is an action not a belief.
So (my words) if you want people who see magic as a practice to prove you wrong, that doesn't make sense. I mean, we can philosophize about beliefs, philosophy, and anthology of magic. However, if we wanted to explain it--we explain what we
do not what we
believe.
It can only be proved wrong if you challenged the magic practitioner in what he does not what he believes about magic. You'd have to ask what people do; and, most people will say its too personal to say.
That's why its a foregone conclusion. It's personal. It's an action. To prove it wrong, you'd have to know and see what we
do not ask us what we believe. I can believe that unicorns exist. However, if I don't have an interrelationship with life that involves unicorns, it doesn't exist to me regardless of my belief. That is magic.
*Always my opinion