History Main / MagicIsEvil

* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': A few people can and do use a seemingly benign magic to fight against greater threats, and for quite a while they can even stay relatively sane, but HeroicWillpower doesn't last forever, and it's only a matter of time before they fall and [[spoiler:[[AndThenJohnWasAZombie become the very monsters they once fought against]]]].

Usually, in traditional fantasy, magic is a source of wonder and possibility, a tool used by heroic and villainous characters alike to achieve phenomenal results. But works in some genres, notably LowFantasy, UrbanFantasy, certain flavors of HeroicFantasy and SwordAndSorcery and especially supernatural {{Horror}} and {{Cosmic Horror|Story}}, are not quite so enamored of their local AppliedPhlebotinum. They prefer the use of the human intellect and human muscles to the eldritch workings of powerful sorcery or impossible mad science, often resulting in a strangely paradoxical view of their setting. Magic is something inexplicable, impossible, dangerous, and often, [[MadeOfEvil inherently dark or evil]]. This may tie into old, pre-scientific beliefs about the supernatural, which was often seen as frightening, dangerous, and more often than not hostile to humans, and thus, something not to be messed with by any sane soul save the local shaman, wise-woman, priest or other person experienced in its ways -- and because of these people's association with the supernatural, people more often than not didn't trust ''them'' either, especially if they didn't have a tie to religion. As a result, magic is seen not as a source of wonder, but as a force for evil.

* UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} / UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}:
** Supernatural actions and miracles have always been part of both religions, the difference being the entity to whom one is appealing for supernatural aid: if they don't come from God, they come necessarily from Satan, in whose case they are likely to be called magic, sorcery or at least pagan theurgy (only that their pagan "gods" are actually TheLegionsOfHell) as opposed to miracles (unless the user is trying to pass himself as a prophet or messiah). Examples in Abrahamic lore include the magicians of Egypt, the Witch of Endor, Elymas, Simon Magus, Apollonius of Tyana[[note]](Who had this reputation given to him by Eusebius of Caesarea's ''Contra Hieroclem'', since pagans were using Apollonius' name as a kind of anti-Christian mascot who performed miracles like Jesus)[[/note]], Mani[[note]](Who had this reputation because he founded a religion that rivaled Christianity)[[/note]], and Peter the Wolf.

* In ''Literature/TheJeremiahSchool'', Brother Gabriel tells Peter Stone, Wesley Ronell, and Ginger Harmony of the titular school that the Luciferian Academy teaches its students how to dabble in the "unholy arts", which he says the Bible warns God's people against.

* In ''Literature/{{Acacia}}'', humans had copied the song of [[TheCreator Elenet]] which would be the source of all human magic. Unfortunately humans are incapable of properly duplicating it and so magic is innately corruptive. Worse, even seemingly benign minor magicks have a corrosive effect on reality, let alone the truly heinous BlackMagic that's the most common spells found in the tome [[SpellBook The Song of Elenet]].

* In ''Literature/{{Acacia}}'', humans had copied the song of [[TheCreator Elenet]]. Unfortunately humans are incapable of properly duplicating it, so even seemingly benign minor magicks have a corrosive effect on reality, let alone the truly heinous BlackMagic that's the most common spells found in the tome [[SpellBook The Song of Elenet]].

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted ]] in ''{{Manga/Radiant}}'', [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]] isn't inherently evil, with it being naturaly found in the atmosphere, but because it is the power source of the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]] that destroy everything in their path, [[OurMagesAreDifferent sorcerers]] are asociated with them and persecuted. [[TheWitchHunter The]] [[ChurchMilitant Inquisition]] mercilessly opress sorcerers due to ruthless magic users being the rulers hundreds of years ago.

* The trope is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in ''ComicBook/BlackMagick'', where it is ultimately [[AvertedTrope averted]]. Even the witch hunters of Aira do not believe that magic is inherently evil, it is like a tool: Its worth depends on how you use it. However, they do believe that BlackMagic is seductive: Once a good magic user makes the first mistake of black magic, [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil they will inevitably descend into villainy.]]

* Ever read a ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' fan-fic written by a "fundamentalist" Christian? Chances are good that all magic -- not just the kind wielded by Voldemort and his ilk -- will be evil in that fic.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3875254/1/Hero_High_Earth_style Hero High Earth Style]] Gwen was terrified at the idea of her boyfriend finding out she had magic powers, assuming he would believe this trope.
* Subverted in the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries''. Despite what [[spoiler:A KnightTemplar version of Cadence thinks]], magic is not good or evil by itself, but merely a tool. It is the user who makes it good or evil.

** Creator/CSLewis (a friend and correspondent of Creator/JRRTolkien) likewise plays this trope for all it's worth in ''Literature/TheMagiciansNephew''. Sure, some kinds of "magic" (usually divine in origin) are all right for the purposes of the story's narration, but not the occult kind of sorcery from our world the foolish and evil Uncle Andrew is practicing without even understanding very well what he's doing.

** This is a running theme throughout ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''. Even though the world of Narnia is inherently infused with magic, actual '''spellcasting''', the usage of magic to [[RealityWarper warp the natural order of things]], is pretty much invariably evil. The very few users of this sort of magic are pretty much exclusively [[WickedWitch Wicked Witches]], and even when the source of a supernatural phenomenon is not explicitly shown, the more obviously magical it is, the more likely it is to be some kind of dangerous and wicked curse, such as Eustace turning into a dragon in ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader''. The main exception is of course Aslan, who is performing miracles, not magic, and restoring or enforcing the natural order instead of bending or defiling it. Another exception is some of the music that the magical creatures of Narnia make, which is implied to flow along with the natural order. Yet another exception is Prince Caspian's tutor, who uses magic to put some guards to sleep to help Caspian escape and tutored him in magical theory before that.
** Lewis revisited this in ''Literature/TheSpaceTrilogy''. God forbids magic, so no, the heroes can't use it to fight evil. [[SubvertedTrope BUT...]] once upon a time, the rules were a lot more lax. King Arthur's buddy Merlin can use magic and, while a bit eerily "other", he's definitely on the side of good. And fortunately he's still immortal and waiting for someone to wake him up.
* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' has this all OVER the place. Originally, the "True Source" (both ''Saidar'' (the female half) and ''Saidin'' (the male half)) had ambiguous morality and were up to the user's design. Then, in the War of Power, ''Saidin'' was corrupted, and drove male Channelers insane, rotted them while they were still alive, and often caused them to kill truly horrifying numbers of people as they died. However, the Dark One's power, the "True Power", is inherently evil, though the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends didn't know that when they tried to reach it and accidentally released the Dark One - they were trying to find a single power that both male and female Aes Sedai could use. This being the [=WoT=]verse, most commoners (and much of the nobility also) are incredibly superstitious and stubborn and believe that all Channeling is evil, though much of that stems from the male Aes Sedai going insane and the end of the War of Power and devastating the world. The Children of the Light is an organization which firmly believes this that seek to hunt down and kill all magic users.

Usually, in traditional fantasy, magic is a source of wonder and possibility, a tool used by heroic and villainous characters alike to achieve phenomenal results. But works in some genres, notably LowFantasy, UrbanFantasy, certain flavors of HeroicFantasy and SwordAndSorcery and especially supernatural {{Horror}} and {{Cosmic Horror|Story}}, are not quite so enamored of their local phlebotinum. They prefer the use of the human intellect and human muscles to the eldritch workings of powerful sorcery or impossible mad science, often resulting in a strangely paradoxical view of their setting. Magic is something inexplicable, impossible, dangerous, and often, [[MadeOfEvil inherently dark or evil]]. This may tie into old, pre-scientific beliefs about the supernatural, which was often seen as frightening, dangerous, and more often than not hostile to humans, and thus, something not to be messed with by any sane soul save the local shaman, wise-woman, priest or other person experienced in its ways -- and because of these people's association with the supernatural, people more often than not didn't trust ''them'' either, especially if they didn't have a tie to religion. As a result, magic is seen not as a source of wonder, but as a force for evil.

Some settings simply achieve this effect by featuring predominantly [[WickedWitch wicked]] [[EvilSorceror magic-users]] or magical creatures, contrasting it with liberating and safe technology and ordinary human pursuits. Some settings tie the use of their phlebotinum intrinsically to moral corruption or even the gradual destruction of the world; magic is, at best, a decadent and arrogant practice by frail humans who would wield [[ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow power too great for them]]. Some even go so far as to make nearly all magic have hideous moral or physical costs that gradually destroy the sorcerer's humanity and make it impossible for magic to be a common fixture of the setting. After all, if there is just the DevilButNoGod, and if magic is theurgic (coming from a magical being), there's no "good" source.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', magical powers for mortals are apparently obtained only through contact with supernatural beings- in fact, ordinary humans can't even ''perceive'' supernatural beings, most of whom seem monstrous, destructive, and callously indifferent to mortal life, whether demons of Inferno or angels of Paradiso. The titular character and the (sometimes) DarkIsNotEvil sect to which she belonged before it was destroyed have obtained their powers by selling their souls to (usually) malicious demons, and as a result are doomed to spend eternity in Inferno when they die, while their LightIsNotGood counterparts apparently likewise gained ''their'' powers from serving Paradiso.

* [[DealWithTheDevil Magic]] in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' is a bit like [[Franchise/DragonAge Darkspawn taint]] — a few people can and do use a seemingly benign version to fight against greater threats, and for quite a while they can even stay relatively sane, but HeroicWillpower doesn't last forever, and it's only a matter of time before they fall and [[spoiler:[[AndThenJohnWasAZombie become the very monsters they once fought against]]]].
* There is such a thing as a good witch in ''Manga/SoulEater'', but they're pretty rare, and they tend to [[VanHelsingHateCrimes get targeted along with the bad ones]]. There seem to be forms of magic besides witchcraft, though. Eventually subverted in the manga, as even though their magic makes almost all witches predisposed toward being [[OrderVersusChaos chaotic]], that doesn't make them evil. [[spoiler:It's why Kid is able to bring a truce between the Witches and DWMA.]]

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'': All forms of magic (known as Jujutsu) runs on Cursed Energy: a mysterious power generated by [[ThePowerOfHate negative emotions such as hatred and disgust]], which means most Jujutsu Sorcerers tend to end up with [[DysfunctionJunction a few screws loose]]. When left to it's own devices, Cursed Energy naturally accumulates into [[TheHeartless Cursed Spirits]], malevolent {{Tulpa}} that instinctively bring harm to humanity, necessitating the existence of Jujutsu Sorcerers in the first place.

* The ''Day of Vengeance'' tie-in to ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' kicked off with Eclipso convincing ComicBook/TheSpectre of this. It largely worked, too.

* ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange'': The leader of the [[AntiMagicalFaction Empirikul]] is convinced that magic is evil and that he's doing the multiverse a favor by purging it. His FreudianExcuse is that [[spoiler:he came from a world that worshiped Shuma-Gorath. The source of his homeworld's magic was an EldritchAbomination.]]
* Usually, ''ComicBook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' is one of those titles where the trope is fully averted. But newer, DarkerAndEdgier Archieverse comics like ''ComicBook/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'', ''ComicBook/AfterlifeWithArchie'', and ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator'' utilize this trope for dark comedy, portraying Sabrina and her fellow witches as Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic {{Evil Sorcerer}}s.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' makes clear that magic is not evil, but, in the vein of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', it ''is'' dangerous. Not only that, but even with the best of intentions it's very easy to stray down the left hand path if you don't know the rules, because BlackMagic, even if performed in ignorance and with good intentions, corrupts extremely quickly -- as Harry observes in the sequel, it doesn't take long for someone dabbling in dark magic to go from 'done with the best of intentions' to 'Jack the Ripper'".

** The [[WesternAnimation/FrozenII sequel]] explored this even further when it was revealed that King Ruenard, Elsa and Anna's grandfather, expressed contempt towards those who practice magic e.g. the Northuldra, of whom Iduna--Ruenard's daughter-in-law and King Agnarr's wife--and the two sisters are descended from.

* Creator/HPLovecraft's ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'' stories. Those who use Mythos magic tend to be extremely evil (and nearly always insane).

* Creator/ClarkAshtonSmith's ''Literature/{{Averoigne}}'' stories. In Averoigne, magic use is considered evil by the Church and the populace.

* In Creator/ChristopherMarlowe's ''Theatre/DoctorFaustus'', as in the Bible and certain other medieval works, magic is only possible through a DealWithTheDevil or other supernatural beings, often malicious.
* Literature/CiaphasCain has relatively few serious prejudices, but reflecting the general attitude of the TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} universe, he and other protagonists treat all magic or psychic phenomena as a fearful thing.
** Given the setting this is perfectly justified, as anything Chaos related is likely to get you and everything near you (often defining "near" as "inside the same solar system") dragged down to the depths of capital-H Hell.
*** Because of that, believing this trope fervently is a cornerstone tenant in several Imperial organizations, most notably [[ChurchMilitant the Ecclesiarchy]]. Some extremely conservative members of the Inquisition also believe this, and that the Imperium would be better off without psykers. It's debatable how much they mean that in a realistic scenario, since if they could manage to do that, it would destroy their FTL communications and navigation.

* Not outright stated, but heavily implied in ''Literature/TheFarthestAwayMountain''. While good creatures have forms of supernatural influence, the witch is an evil magic-user and an offhand mention about the son of the magician (along with another mention of wizards) implies that being a magician is enough for you to know the father was evil as well. Mentions of a church in her village and the [[spoiler:evil castle resembling a cathedral]] after the evil is banished imply this might be coming from the religious angle on magic.

* In Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy, many magicians are either actively malicious or complicit in an oppressive magocracy, so ordinary people tend to believe magic is evil. Even the way magicians get power leans toward evil, since they have to summon and enslave spirits and pretty much never bother to be benevolent masters. Aversions are so rare, most of the enslaved spirits think they're a pipe dream, and even the few who treat their summons with relative kindness and respect are nevertheless pulling spirits out of their native realm and into one that is harmful and antithetical to their "natural" existence.
* While many characters and cultures in Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium exercise powers we would call "magical," the terms "magic" and "sorcery" usually imply artificially-acquired powers that seek to forcibly bend the world to the user's will and [[BlackMagic draw on Morgoth's lingering evil]]. Benevolent supernatural powers appear to come from divine force or from understanding and love of the world, rather than simple desire to control, and the Elves are frequently confused or annoyed by mortals calling their arts "magic".

** This is a running theme throughout the entire series, which is probably unsurprising coming from a Christian author. Even though the world of Narnia is inherently infused with magic, actual '''spellcasting''', the usage of magic to [[RealityWarper warp the natural order of things]], is pretty much invariably evil. The very few users of this sort of magic are pretty much exclusively [[WickedWitch Wicked Witches]], and even when the source of a supernatural phenomenon is not explicitly shown, the more obviously magical it is, the more likely it is to be some kind of dangerous and wicked curse, such as Eustace turning into a dragon in ''Dawn Treader''. The main exception is of course Aslan, who is performing miracles, not magic, and restoring or enforcing the natural order instead of bending or defiling it. Another exception is some of the music that the magical creatures of Narnia make, which is implied to flow along with the natural order. Yet another exception is Prince Caspian's tutor, who uses magic to put some guards to sleep to help Caspian escape and tutored him in magical theory before that.

* The [[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]] has this all OVER the place. Originally, the "True Source" (both ''Saidar'' (the female half) and ''Saidin'' (the male half)) had ambiguous morality and were up to the user's design. Then, in the War of Power, ''Saidin'' was corrupted, and drove male Channelers insane, rotted them while they were still alive, and often caused them to kill truly horrifying numbers of people as they died. However, the Dark One's power, the "True Power", is inherently evil, though the Aes Sedai in the Age of Legends didn't know that when they tried to reach it and accidentally released the Dark One - they were trying to find a single power that both male and female Aes Sedai could use. This being the [=WoT=]verse, most commoners (and much of the nobility also) are incredibly superstitious and stubborn and believe that all Channeling is evil, though much of that stems from the male Aes Sedai going insane and the end of the War of Power and devastating the world. The Children of the Light is an organization which firmly believes this that seek to hunt down and kill all magic users.

* Occurs in ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'' as a result of IKnowYourTrueName. A wizard can be instantly and permanently severed from his powers by invoking his True Name (this even happens on page at one point). What this means is that the only sorcerers able to rise to significant magical potential without being DePowered by their enemies are those willing to destroy every record of their True Name--including their childhood family and friends.

* Clan Righteous in ''Literature/TheLostYearsOfMerlin'' despises all magic, attempting to kill its users and magical creatures without regard for how they use it.

%% * More or less everything ever written by [[ComicBook/ChickTracts Jack Chick]], which isn't surprising; see Religion and Mythology below.

* Supernatural actions and miracles have always been part of UsefulNotes/{{Judaism}} and UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, the difference being the entity to whom one is appealing for supernatural aid: if they don't come from God, they come necessarily from Satan, in whose case they are likely to be called magic, sorcery or at least pagan theurgy (only that their pagan "gods" are actually TheLegionsOfHell) as opposed to miracles (unless the user is trying to pass himself as a prophet or messiah). Examples in Abrahamic lore include the magicians of Egypt, the Witch of Endor, Elymas, Simon Magus, Apollonius of Tyana[[note]](Who had this reputation given to him by Eusebius of Caesarea's ''Contra Hieroclem'', since pagans were using Apollonius' name as a kind of anti-Christian mascot who preformed miracles like Jesus)[[/note]], Mani[[note]](Who had this reputation because he founded a religion that rivaled Christianity)[[/note]], and Peter the Wolf.
** The infamous [[Literature/BookOfExodus Exodus 22:18]] from the Old Testament in the Bible states "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (KJV) as a law. This has been a contentious subject as the translated term and the original have been confused, and there is debate as to whether or not the original intent was to describe all magic users, harmful magic users, or if the original term more accurately translated as [[PoisonIsEvil "poisoner"]] (though technically there were multiple original terms translated to "sorceror" or "witch" in the Bible, including both the word for "poisoner" and the word "Magus", as in one of the Magi like the three that visited baby Jesus). This verse in its KJV form was used as justification for many a WitchHunt in the medieval, Renaissance and colonial eras.

** Slightly {{subverted}} in the story of Jesus's birth. "Magic" comes from the same Greek word as "Magi", which is the name given to the Three Wise Men who visit Jesus.
* As with Judaism and Christianity, magic (''sihr'') is viewed in a negative light in UsefulNotes/{{Islam}}, which considers it to be the realm of Satan, while the feats performed by prophets such as Moses are called signs (''ayat'') or blessings (''ni'mah''). In Literature/TheQuran, the holy book was repeatedly disparaged by the pagans as "just a magic". Islamic states (as in, states that apply the Islamic jurisprudence in everyday matters, not simply Muslim-majority states) have a law that forbids practicing magic, which carries a death penalty for those who are accused of it.
* In [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek Mythology]], magic is often seen as primal and dangerous. The main magic users, sorceresses like Circe or Medea, are almost always villains. The Greeks had laws against magic that prefigured many of those later revived under Christian kings in the early modern period {{witch hunt}}s -- though they tended to be a lot more relaxed about stuff like protection charms and predictions, with visits to the Oracle of Delphi being a major feature in ancient times.
* While not universal, magic is usually bad in most Native American cultures. Many creatures are actually witches or people resorting to magical powers attained through cannibalism, necrophilia or other such practices, most notably the Navajo skin-walkers.

As a result of magic's wicked nature in such settings, {{Muggles}} often decide to BurnTheWitch.