History Main / MagicIsEvil

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

* This is the opinion of Aleister Crowley in ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex''. As explained in the light novels, he hates magic because it led to the death of his first daughter, and makes it his goal to wipe out magic [[spoiler:as part of his intent to bring her back.]] The actual reality is more complicated. While some magicians have committed atrocities for the sake of power (HumanSacrifice being one example), the science side that Aleister founded is no less guilty of this. Most magicians shown aren't evil, just misguided at best.

* This is the opinion of Aleister Crowley in ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''. As explained in the light novels, he hates magic because it led to the death of his first daughter, and makes it his goal to wipe out magic [[spoiler:as part of his intent to bring her back.]] The actual reality is more complicated. While some magicians have committed atrocities for the sake of power (HumanSacrifice being one example), the science side that Aleister founded is no less guilty of this. Most magicians shown aren't evil, just misguided at best.

* Pretty much the whole point of ''WesternAnimation/ChildrenVSWizards'', much like the equally unsubtly anti-wizard book series it's based on.

* 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.

* ''The Literature/MagisterTrilogy''

* ''Literature/DragonKeeperTrilogy'':Deliberately inverted. Danzi tells Ping that Sorcerers are not bad people, however, necromancers have proven to be total bastards.

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--> '''Talisman of Beasts item description:''' The symbol of God [[UnholyHolySword was nothing more than the image of the Old One]].
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'' has shades of this; magic is linked to [[SpiritWorld The Fade]], whose denizens range from vile [[EmbodimentOfVice demons]] to the still-potentially-dangerous [[EmbodimentOfVirtue spirits of virtue]]. Together with the fact that a corrupt ruling class of mages in the [[TheEmpire Tevinter Imperium]] are supposedly responsible for the creation of the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Dark]][[TheHorde spawn]] and the terrifying MindControl potential of BloodMagic, the world has a pretty valid reason to fear magic, but it often edges into FantasticRacism. [[TheChurch The Chantry]] keeps mages living in tightly-controlled Circles managed by the [[KnightTemplar Templar Order]], with non-Circle mages - or 'apostates' - often hunted and killed on sight. That said, most mage characters throughout the games - including, potentially, the player character - are decent enough people.

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* ''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'".

-->'''Dalla ''': "Sorcery is a sword without a hilt. [[LampshadeHanging There is no safe way to grasp it]]."

-->“Very well. I’ll go. But there’s one thing I jolly well mean to say first. I didn’t believe in Magic till today. I see now it’s real. Well if it is, I suppose all the old fairy tales are more or less true. And you’re simply a wicked, cruel magician like the ones in the stories. Well, I’ve never read a story in which people of that sort weren’t paid out in the end, and I bet you will be. And serves you right.”
-->Of all the things Digory had said this was the first that really went home. Uncle Andrew started and there came over his face a look of such horror that, beast though he was, you could almost feel sorry for him.

* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', [[FanonDiscontinuity not counting the "Torg Potter" wizards]], the only human sorcerers who get more than a cameo are Gwynn (whose powers come from a TomeOfEldritchLore and a DemonicPossession) and Kesandru (whose powers are based on turning ghosts into his slaves). Not exactly examples of IncorruptiblePurePureness.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': PlayedWith. Magic as a concept was deemed evil by Star, who feels that using magic to solve problems only causes more problems, and the ones using it are all idiots who don't deserve the power they have, her own family included, and the cause of all problems by the end of the series. It's seen as a good thing when Star decides to destroy magic because it cannot be used responsibly, and it causes more problems than it solves. However, despite what Star thought, magic was not the main cause of the series' problems, it was the racism between the Mewmans and Monsters and battle over the lands, and her family abusing magic, that was the problem. Even then, magic was not show to corrupt people or cause their bad actions like Moon siding with Mina, it was rather Moon's stupidity, and unfair grudge against Eclipsa that caused her actions. It's implied that Star is just ignoring the complexity of the situation because she wants a quick solution to stop Mina, so she decided to destroy magic. Essentially, its not magic itself that is portrayed as evil, but rather as [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything as a metaphor]] for systemic power/privilege, with its removal being intended to be seen as analogous to things like gun control according to WordOfGod.

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 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.

* 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 practises, most notably the Navajo skin-walkers.

* 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.

* In the ''Literature/LandOfOz'' books, magic is illegal in the Kingdom of Oz unless you have permission from its ruler, Ozma. (typically, only Glinda, the Wizard, and Ozma herself use it). Of course, you can hardly debate such a rule, because nearly every villain encountered in the books is a sadist who uses black magic of some sort; spells used to inflict BalefulPolymorph and [[AndIMustScream even worse curses]] seem rather common. The converse also holds in that the nature of the Oz realm (you can't kill or really hurt natives) makes it almost impossible to be a credible villain ''without'' magic.

* In [[http://wanderers-library.wikidot.com/the-rise-of-the-steam-soul The Rise of the Steam Soul]] from ''Wiki/TheWanderersLibrary'' mages wage war against each other with no regard for its effects on others, killing thousands and destroying most of the land.

* In ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'', ''all'' 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 infamous [[Literature/TheBookOfExodus 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.

** The Old Testament in the Bible states that "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).

** Slightly {{subverted}} in the stoy 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.

* Most of the magic-wielders that [[Literature/ConanTheBarbarian Conan of Cimmeria]] encounters are extraordinarily malevolent, and the magic they practice tends to require truly awful material components and blood sacrifice. Just one example involves magics which need [[spoiler:candles made from the bodies of [[VirginPower virgins]] strangled with their mother's hair and their [[ILoveTheDead virginity taken after their death]] [[ParentalIncest by their father]]]]. [[Creator/RobertEHoward Howard's]] original Conan stories are part of the era's genre of Cthulhu Mythos.

* [[PlayedTrope Played with]] 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.

* In ''{{Manga/Radiant}}'' this is one of the reasons the population is afraid of [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]], with it being just part of nature but because is the power source of the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]] that destroy everything in their path, [[OurMagesAreDifferent sorcerers]] are asociated with them and persecuted. The [[TheWitchHunter Inquisition]] mercilessly opress sorcerers due to ruthless magic users being the rulers hundreds of years ago.

* In {''Manga/Radiant''} this is one of the reasons the population is afraid of [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]], with it being just part of nature but because is the power source of the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]] that destroy everything in their path, [[OurMagesAreDifferent sorcerers]] are asociated with them and persecuted. The [[TheWitchHunter Inquisition]] mercilessly opress sorcerers due to ruthless magic users being the rulers hundreds of years ago.

* In {{''Manga/Radiant''}} this is one of the reasons the population is afraid of [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]], with it being just part of nature but because is the power source of the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]] that destroy everything in their path, [[OurMagesAreDifferent sorcerers]] are asociated with them and persecuted. The [[TheWitchHunter Inquisition]] mercilessly opress sorcerers due to ruthless magic users being the rulers hundreds of years ago.

* Played with in ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}''. Magic is not inherently evil; however, King Uther Pendragon was unready and unwilling to [[EquivalentExchange accept the price]] that was ultimately required for a spell that would grant him [[Myth/KingArthur an heir]] - his wife dying in childbirth - [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge which led to a campaign of extermination]] [[DisproportionateRetribution against all magic-users.]] As a result, Myth/{{Merlin}} must hide his talents or face execution, and [[NiceJobBreakingItHero most of the few remaining magic-users are out for bloody revenge against Camelot and the Pendragon line.]]
* Played with in ''Series/OnceUponATime'' where magic is a mostly neutral force and it's morality depends on the intentions of the user but can be split into Light and Dark magic and Dark magic at least always comes with a price. Magic is treated like drug addiction where if it's abused and used for selfish or malicious ends, the magic will become corrupted along with the user. Light magic in constrast doesn't seem to have a price or at least not as big a price as Dark magic. Light magic also appears to be natural within humans and fairies.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Magic isn't ''evil'', per se, with at least a few unambiguous pieces of light magic (restoring a vampire's soul - though that's CruelMercy - and activating the entire Slayer bloodline simultaneously) demonstrated. However, it's a quick and easy vehicle to power, especially if you're willing to play in the deep end and most dangerously of all, it can be very addictive if you use it repeatedly. Willow used a simple shield charm in season seven when she was recovering from addiction and temporarily snapped to her evil persona. It's telling that the majority of magic users that appeared either were evil or spent time that way. However, Tara and Jenny Calendar (possibly also Dawn, though she only used it once or twice) were notable exceptions, along with the Devon Coven that helped out Giles.

* This is true for the warlocks and witches in ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''. This series has never shown a witch who has used her powers for any kind of good. If they were not evil and killed humans, then the witches were at least selfish jerks. On the other hand, Sam and Dean can occasionally use gris-gris to ward off evil spirits with no problems. Granted, those don't seem to involve summoning or making sacrifices to demons...

* Pops up quite a lot in ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness''.
** In ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'', this can be called the foundation of the Technocracy, who are basically fighting to [[AntiMagicalFaction ensure magic stays an impossibility]]. Gameline development went with a StrawmanHasAPoint direction by noting that many of the "more magical" reality paradigms the Mages are pursuing are a lot more dangerous to any Muggle than the one that the Technocracy established and is enforcing.
*** Spiritual successor ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'', though, keeps the line's built-in MagicIsEvil faction predominantly in the "delusional nutcase" arena by making them be the Banishers; Mages driven insane or scared witless when their magical powers emerged and who want to kill all magic users as a result -- hypocritically using their own magic powers to do so.
** The Long Night and Malleus Malleficarium of ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'' believe this, given their roots in Christian fundamentalists.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' are perhaps the most dramatic examples of this trope, where any and all use of magic has hideous risks and relatively few advantages. In Warhammer Fantasy magic can still be used with a degree of safety and positive result. In 40k, the power of the Warp is so terrible even being ''near'' the psychic backlash of sorcerous workings makes ordinary, virtuous people feel sick.

** In the latter, feeling sick might be a conditioned reaction in some who are trained to hate psychics; but when control over those powers slips, psychic phenomena occur and do have some nasty effects. The reason the trope is played straight, however, is that rogue psychics are prone to the influence of the Warp, and that can include: mutation, insanity, death, opening holes in reality, and summoning daemons (accidentally or otherwise).
*** Not that AntiMagic is any better: Blanks are humans with no Warp presence (depending the source, they might have no ''souls''), with psykers having a freakout on sensing a "hole" in the Warp while normal people feel there's something very off-putting about the Blank, sometimes graduating to irrational "kill the abomination" extremes.

* In ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu'', learning and using Franchise/CthulhuMythos magic causes the user to lose Sanity points and eventually go insane. Most people using such magic are Mythos cultists who are both crazy and evil.
** Some magic is relatively safer, though; unsurprisingly, it's the kind that impedes or protects from Mythos forces (like the Elder Sign or the powder of Ibn-Ghazi).

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': PlayedWith. Magic as a concept was deemed evil by Star, who feels that using magic to solve problems only causes more problems, and the ones using it are all idiots who don't deserve the power they have, her own family included, and the cause of all problems by the end of the series. It's seen as a good thing when Star decides to destroy magic because it cannot be used responsibly, and it causes more problems than it solves. However, despite what Star thought, magic was not the main cause of the series' problems, it was the racism between the Mewmans and Monsters and battle over the lands, and her family abusing magic, that was the problem. Even then, magic was not show to corrupt people or cause their bad actions like Moon siding with Mina, it was rather Moon's stupidity, and unfair grudge against Eclipsa that caused her actions. It's implied that Star is just ignoring the complexity of the situation because she wants a quick solution to stop Mina, so she decided to destroy magic.