什麼是法術

指據說可以動員非人力所能及的神祕外力以影響自然事物的儀式或活動（如符咒或咒語）。法術構成許多宗教系統的核心，在不少無文字文化中扮演着重要的社會角色。法術與宗教的區別在於法術更側重於非人力的、機械性的作用，也更強調技巧。其技巧常常被認爲是達到某種目的的手段（例如使敵軍潰敗、下雨等），也有一種觀點認爲這種活動是超自然現象的一種象徵和表達方式，因此求雨的儀式往往既是一種祈求又是和雨相關的農業活動的象徵。術士和法術儀式基本上是圍繞着禁忌、淨化手續和其他活動進行，吸引參與者進入法術的境界。在西方傳統中一直都有法術，過去是和異教徒、煉金術士、女巫和魔術師有關，而現在則和撒旦崇拜等活動有關。魔術表演（有時稱爲戲法）靠的就是手的細微動作和別的相似方法。亦請參閱shaman、voodoo、witchcraft and sorcery。

magic

Use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces. It constitutes the core of many religious systems and plays a central social role in many nonliterate cultures. Magic is often distinguished from religion as being more impersonal and mechanical and emphasizing technique. Its techniques are usually regarded as means to specific ends (an enemy's defeat, rainfall, etc.), although another view ascribes a more symbolic, expressive character to such activity. Thus, a rainmaking ritual may both elicit rainfall and stress the symbolic importance of rain and the agricultural activities associated with it. Both the magician and the magical rite are typically surrounded by taboos, purification procedures, and other activities that draw the participants into the magical sphere. Strains of magic in Western tradition, formerly associated with heretics, alchemists, witches, and sorcerers, persist in modern times in the activities of satanists and others. The art of entertaining by performing apparently magical feats (sometimes called conjuring) relies on the use of slight of hand and other means. See also ritual, shaman, vodun, witchcraft and sorcery.