Final paper will be a short research paper that may include course materials. The point of the paper is for you to showcase your understanding and engagement of course materials, to demonstrate that you have performed outside research, and finally that you have the ability to compose and execute an academic paper. The paper will be on a topic of one’s own choosing that has been approved by the instructor. Any paper that has not been approved first by the instructor will receive the grade of zero. The papermust pertain to witchcraft or heresy either in the historical period covered in class, in a relevant way to a more contemporary issue, or a student may choose to write on the problematic nature of religious categories such as “religion,” “magic,” “witchcraft,” and “heresy.” The paper will be no less than six full pages (cover page and bibliography not included) and no more than nine pages in length. There must be an introduction paragraph with thesis. Must use five academic sources external to the materials used in the course.

Answer preview

The western culture has various categories within which multiple practices and beliefs are identified. The groups are religion, science, and magic.  Magic is a word that is used to define the practice of using things like charms and spells which are believed to have supernatural power as opposed to other forces. It is believed that the word magic comes from an Old Persian word magu which was used to refer to some religious functions although it was later adopted by the Greek to refer to religious activities that were dangerous, fraudulent and in some cases unconventionall (Ekroll et al., 2016)…

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