Discerning Fantasy Through a Biblical Lens | On Magic & Miracles Book Review
- Amber Thiessen
- Jul 23
- 9 min read
If you’ve ever wrestled with whether Christians should read stories with magic, you’re not alone. From The Chronicles of Narnia to Harry Potter, these conversations can get heated—and confusing. Some warn against any engagement with magic in fiction, while others see no problem at all. So where do we even begin?
That’s why I appreciated Marian Jacobs’s On Magic & Miracles. She doesn’t give simple “yes or no” answers. Instead, she invites us into thoughtful discernment—equipping us to ask better questions about the stories we read and watch. Rather than reacting out of fear or carelessness, she encourages us to engage with culture wisely, grounded in Scripture, and with an eye toward truth, beauty, and the gospel.
Whether you’re a fantasy lover, a cautious reader, or just someone trying to navigate these conversations with your kids, I think you’ll find her insights both challenging and encouraging.
Discerning Fantasy Through a Biblical Lens | On Magic & Miracles Book Review
Content
Summary (I chose to do chapter summaries, so it's a bit long)
Content
Purpose of the Book
From the publisher: (because they’ve said it really clearly)
“In this guidebook, Marian A. Jacobs explores the theology of magic, gleaning contextual clues surrounding supernatural events in the Bible. These scriptural principles can assist readers, movie-lovers, gamers, and parents in discerning how fantasy can both edify and honor God.
On Magic and Miracles aims to answer the following questions:
What is the difference between magic and miracles in the Bible?
Is magic real? And if so, does it pose a genuine threat?
Could books like Harry Potter lead someone into the occult?
What is the importance of fantasy for Christians?
How can I discern fantasy books, films, and games for myself and my children?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part One A Theological Foundation of Magic & Miracles
Chapter 1: Magic or Miracle?
Chapter 2: Visible and Invisible
Chapter 3: Is It All an Illusion?
Chapter 4: The Pagan Occult
Chapter 5: The Source of Mirrored Magic
Chapter 6: Ends and Means
Part Two Discerning Fictional Magic through Scripture
Chapter 7: Why Does the Church Need Fantasy?
Chapter 8: The Dangers of Overcorrection
Chapter 9: Your Parenting Superpower
Chapter 10: Literary Considerations
Chapter 11: Discerning Stories
Chapter 12: What about Harry Potter?
Chapter 13: Final Thoughts
Summary
Here's my chapter summaries:
Magic or Miracle? In the first chapter she distinguishes between the two by assessing the source: whether from God or from Satan and whether the intention of its use is to glorify God or the magic user. Both are supernatural, so we call one divine supernaturalism, the other demonic supernaturalism. As human beings, we have no authority or ability to cause supernatural events. She also introduces her 5 Questions that help us determine whether fantasy magic resembles divine or demonic supernaturalism:
1 What is the source of the magic? Is it demonic or divine?
2 What is the goal of the magic user? Does the user desire the glorification of God (as the source) or of themselves? Do they love others or love themselves?
3 What is the heart posture of the magic user? Is the user humble or proud before God, the source?
4 What is the setting of the magic? Is the relational setting upside-down or right-side up? Are vulnerable people honored or exploited?
5 What magical methodology is used? Is the method dependent on or demanding of the source?"
Visible and Invisible. Next she delves into the unseen realm, discussing how ancient perspectives and the biblical worldview recognized both visible and invisible (spiritual) realities. The modern church, shaped by materialism and post-Enlightenment thinking, often misses out on the vibrant spiritual context in which biblical events unfold.
Is it all an illusion? Here the author takes on the skepticism that often surrounds supernatural events—whether in Scripture or in stories. She points out that many people, even within the church, are quick to explain things away through a purely material or scientific lens. But when we do that, we risk losing our sense of wonder and may even begin to doubt the supernatural truths found in the Bible.
The Pagan Occult: Here she explores the spiritual roots and real dangers of occult practices—both in the ancient world and today. Drawing on stories from people who’ve come out of New Age and occult backgrounds to follow Christ, she highlights what often draws people into these practices in the first place. She also explains how sorcery, divination, and similar rituals were common among Israel’s neighbors in the ancient Near East—and how the Bible clearly portrays these as demonic and spiritually destructive. By helping us see the ongoing influence of occultism and syncretism in modern culture, she calls us to stay alert, grounded in Scripture, and equipped to engage the world with wisdom and truth.
The Source of Mirrored Magic. "Satan can only copy or twist the truth. He can’t make anything new or original." This chapter addresses the first question, of her framework, What is the source of the magic? Exploring how both God and Satan can perform supernatural acts, but with very different purposes. The Bible shows examples—like Moses and Pharaoh’s magicians—where similar miracles happen on both sides. What sets them apart is their source and intention: God’s power brings truth and life, while Satan’s aims to deceive. She also points out that God sets limits on Satan’s power, helping us see more clearly that God’s authority is greater over both nature and the spiritual realm.
Ends and Means. The author unpacks the final 4 questions of her framework by looking at the goals, motives, setting and methods behind supernatural acts. She emphasizes examining the heart behind the action, using biblical examples to guide discernment. While secular fiction may not always point directly to God’s glory, she notes that “often secular fiction won’t explicitly reflect the ultimate telos of glorifying God, but neither are they glorifying the self. When this happens, they’re usually prioritizing a secondary goal of loving others.”
Why Does the Church Need Fantasy? This chapter makes a case for how fantasy stories can help shape Christian faith. By engaging our imagination, we can better understand spiritual truths, grow in empathy and discernment, and even envision parts of Scripture that are hard to picture. As the author writes, “Fantasy is not faith. But when we exercise the muscle of imagining what we can’t see, we’re also strengthening the part of our mind that can perceive God exists and that he can do extraordinary, miraculous things.”
The Dangers of Overcorrection. This chapter cautions against swinging too far in either direction when it comes to fantasy magic—whether by rejecting it legalistically or embracing it carelessly. The author explains that debates around fantasy often fall into extremes of legalism (adding rigid, extra-biblical rules) or license (ignoring moral boundaries). As she puts it, “Debates surrounding fantasy have become a hotbed of overcorrection on both ends of the spectrum—of both legalism and license.” Drawing on R.C. Sproul’s "Legalism Trifecta," she unpacks different kinds of legalism, helping readers think more clearly and graciously about what they consume and why. I found this chapter especially eye-opening—a conversation I hadn’t really considered.
Your Parenting Superpower. Rather than defaulting to media restrictions, this chapter challenges us as parents to focus on discipleship—training our kids to think biblically and critically. Teaching, not just filtering, is key. She notes that 72% of those engaged in the occult had Christian backgrounds—reminding us how essential it is to engage thoughtfully. She offers five simple questions to ask: (I’m thinking of making bookmarks with these questions on it)
What is the story?
What is the moral and imaginary world?
What is good, true, and beautiful in this world (common grace)?
What is false and idolatrous in this world?
How is Jesus the true answer to this story’s hopes?
Literary Considerations. This chapter unpacks how stories work—especially those involving magic and miracles—by looking at their structure and deeper meaning. The author explains classic storytelling frameworks, like the three-act structure, and explores how characters, conflicts, and resolutions are built. She also walks through key literary tools—metaphor, allegory, and typology—showing why understanding them matters. Without this, it’s easy to misread a story’s intentions, especially when it comes to Christ-like figures. Finally, she examines how supernatural and even pagan mythology are used (and sometimes misused) in storytelling, helping readers discern these elements with wisdom.
Discerning Stories. This chapter moves from theory to practice, helping Christians apply the author’s five-question framework to familiar books and movies. It offers tools for evaluating how stories portray God—warning against depictions that drift from biblical truth—and asks whether a narrative points to what is good, true, and beautiful in light of Scripture. Discernment, she reminds us, isn’t just about avoiding “dangerous” content but about training our minds and imaginations to recognize truth, even in symbolic or imaginative storytelling.
What About Harry Potter? I imagine some readers will pick up this book just for this chapter. The author uses her framework to break down the Harry Potter series—its plot, themes, and the way it handles magic—helping us see both the richness of the story and areas that need caution. She challenges us to look deeper than magical elements alone. Instead of a blanket yes or no, she invites us to engage these stories with wisdom, grace, and biblical discernment
My Take
I was an avid reader as a kid, but I didn’t gravitate toward fantasy—it just wasn’t my thing. So when the Harry Potter movies came out, it didn’t mean much to me (I think I was too busy playing sports). But The Lord of the Rings was a whole other story—I found myself drawn in and have since enjoyed reading a variety of fantasy novels.
I grew up in the church, surrounded by Sunday school teachers and youth leaders who mentored me, and by God’s grace, I had a firm foundation of faith. That grounding shaped how I approached matters of the supernatural.
I remember my cousin trying to get me to use a Ouija board. I knew enough about what it was to firmly say no. We also avoided his horror movies, despite his persistence. In junior high, I had a friend whose family was part of a cult, which led to long, frequent discussions with our youth pastor about spiritual warfare and the occult.
These early lessons in discipleship were invaluable, especially as we prepared for and moved to Tanzania as church planters. Though the people group we lived among identified as Muslims, they were animist at heart—deeply entrenched in spirit worship, superstition, curses, witchcraft, and even demon possession. Through study and firsthand experience, we learned more deeply about spiritual realities. I had never doubted they were real, but living there made them undeniably tangible.
In my experience, there are often two common approaches to the supernatural. On one side, the spiritual realm can become almost a fixation, where everything—every temptation, illness, or difficulty—is attributed to Satan. When we go there, we risk focusing more on the evil one than on Christ. It can also be easier to blame the enemy than confront the reality of our own sinful flesh (1 Pet.) or the brokenness caused by sin in the world. When we do this, we miss out on the gospel truths of our hope in Christ.
On the other side, we can dismiss the supernatural altogether, adopting a functional materialism that denies the spiritual realm’s existence—despite Scripture’s clear teaching on it.
We need to regain a biblical understanding of the spiritual realm—not swinging so far as to obsess over it, nor dismissing it entirely, but approaching it wisely and discerningly, especially in what we read and watch. The author reminds us of the growing influence of the New Age movement. While we may not be overt animists here in North America, the occult is still very present in our culture.
That’s why I so appreciated the author’s research and perspective, and the care she took in examining Scripture and theology as we consider how to engage with culture. Her five-question framework was particularly helpful, and I plan to use it both in my own reading and to teach my kids how to engage thoughtfully with the stories they encounter.
My Recommendation
If you or your kids enjoy reading or watching fantasy, this is a must-read!
If you've been fearful of magic or fantasy stories, but aren't sure why, this is an excellent resource that will help you explore spiritual realities from a biblical and theological perspective, equipping you to discern wisely.
Also be sure to visit the Lorehaven site for Christian fantasy recommendations and reviews!
Quick Stats
# of Pages: 322
Level of Difficulty: Easy-Moderate (the author appropriately dives into biblical and theological themes to build our understanding of supernaturalism)
My Rating: 5 stars
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Scriptures About Miracles
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul (Acts 19:11)
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him (John 2:11)
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:40-42)
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces. (Luke 9:16-17)
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*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ecopy of this book and for the opportunity to post an honest review!