Biblical Anthropology – Magic in the Bible

Director: Prof. Dr. Lidice Meyer Pinto Ribeiro
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Lidice Meyer Pinto Ribeiro

Institute of Contemporary Christianity
(CR/FCSEA-ULHT)

HOW TO ENROLL?

Participation in the course requires completion of two steps:

1. Pay the fee of 30 Euros at the link:
2. Complete your enrollment at the link:

NOTE: Use the same email address for both payment and enrollment.
Enrollment grants access to live or recorded classes and a certificate issued by the
Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies (ULHT), upon successful
completion of assessments.

ABOUT THE COURSE:

How can we understand certain texts from the Old and New Testaments in which patriarchs,
matriarchs, prophets, leaders, and even Jesus appear to perform magical acts while
figures like Simon the sorcerer in the book of Acts are condemned? This course
analyzes these biblical texts through the lens of biblical anthropology, shedding new light on their
interpretation by placing them in their original cultural and
psychological context. We will explore the relationship between magic and religion in classical and
modern anthropology to better understand this dichotomy in the biblical context and in
contemporary religion. Based on the anthropological concept of magic,
we will study the relationships between magic and miracles, sacrifices, blessings and curses, and biblical
rituals.

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

The course is open to everyone: curious individuals, general scholars and those interested in the history
of Christianity, students and teachers of religious studies and theology, religious
leaders in general, pastors and laypersons involved in religious/church work,
pastoral agents, educators, and community leaders.

ARE THERE ANY PREREQUISITES?

There are no prerequisites to take the course, only a willingness to learn and openness
to dialogue with other participants.

WHEN DOES IT START?

The course begins on July 19, 2025. It runs for 4 Saturdays, ending on
August 9.

HOW ARE THE CLASSES CONDUCTED?

Classes will be held live on Saturdays at 2 p.m. (Brazil) / 6 p.m. (Portugal) via the
Zoom platform. Each class will consist of a 1-hour lecture followed by 30
minutes for questions and discussion.
Classes will be recorded and made available on the course page for student access.

HOW IS ASSESSMENT DONE?

Assessment is divided into two stages:

• Completion of exercises for each class (4)
• Submission of a brief learning report at the end of the course, 1 to 3
  pages long.

The final grade will be weighted as follows:

• Exercises – 40%
• Final Report – 60%

The course ends on August 9, 2025.
The final report must be submitted in PDF or DOC format by August 23, 2025.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Class 1: Religion, Magic, and Magical Thinking in Anthropology
Summary: Study of the concept of magic in anthropology, its relationship with religion and
the categories of magical thinking.

Class 2: Magic and Magical Thinking in the Formation of Ancient Israel.
Summary: Study of the relationship between religion and magic in cultures neighboring the people of
Israel that influenced its cultural formation; study of the definition of magic
according to the Hebrew Bible.

Class 3: Magic and Magical Thinking in the Old Testament.
Summary: Study of the relationships between prophecy and magic, magical thinking in
everyday life in ancient Israel, and priestly magic (rituals, sacrifices, blessings, and
curses).

Class 4: Magic, Magical Thinking, and Miracles in the New Testament.
Summary: Study of the relationship between magic and miracles, interpretations of the acts of
Jesus and the apostles as magical.

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY:

AUGRAS, Monique. What is Taboo. Col primeiros passos 223. São Paulo: Brasiliense,
1989.

3

CLEMENTS, R.E. The World of Ancient Israel. São Paulo: Paulus, 1995.
COLEMAN, William L. Handbook of Biblical Times and Customs. Venda Nova, MG:
Betânia, 1991.
DOLANSKY, Shawna. Now You See It, Now You Don’t – Biblical Perspectives on the
Relationship Between Magic and Religion. Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2008.
DOUGLAS, Mary. Leviticus as Literature – An Anthropological and Literary Study of Old Testament Rituals. Barcelona: Gedisa, 2006.
DOUGLAS, Mary. Purity and Danger. Lisbon: Edições 70, n.d.
GREENWOOD, Susan. Encyclopedia of Magic and Witchcraft. Lisbon: Estampa,
2002.
LÉVI-STRAUSS, Claude. Structural Anthropology Vol. 1. São Paulo: Cosac & Naif, 2012.
MALINOWSKI, Bronislaw. Magic, Science, and Religion. Petrópolis, RJ: Vozes, 2022.
MAUSS, Marcel. A General Theory of Magic. Lisbon: Edições 70, n.d.
MONTERO, Paula. Magic and Magical Thinking. São Paulo: Ática, 1990.
PIERUCCI, Antônio Flávio. Magic. Folha Explains Collection. São Paulo: Publifolha, 2001.
REIMER, Ivoni Richter. Miracle of the Hands – Healings and Exorcisms of Jesus in His
Historical-Cultural Context. São Leopoldo: Oikos; Goiânia: Pontifical Catholic
University of Goiás – PUC Goiás, 2021.
SACCHI, Paolo. Sacred/Profane – Impure/Pure in the Bible and Its Surroundings. Aparecida,
SP: Editora Santuário, 2011.
WEISER, Alfons. What is a Miracle in the Bible. São Paulo: Paulinas, 1978.

MEET THE PROFESSOR:

Lidice Meyer Pinto Ribeiro holds a postdoctoral degree in Anthropology and History from the University of São
Paulo, Brazil. She earned her PhD in Anthropology from the University of São Paulo and holds a Master’s
degree in Ethnobotany from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro/National Museum, Brazil. She teaches
in the Master’s program in Religious Studies at Lusophone University of Portugal, at the Baptist Theological
Seminary of Portugal, and at the Open University of Psychology and Self-Knowledge in Brazil. She is a
Researcher at the Chair of Global Studies at the Open University of Lisbon (CIPSH). She is also a member
of the Institute of Contemporary Christianity (ICC), the Portuguese Society for the History of Protestantism
(SPHP), a reviewer for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and for various international academic
journals. She worked for over 20 years at Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil, coordinating
Postgraduate programs in Theology, Philosophy, and Pedagogy, and as a professor in the Master’s program in
Religious Studies, in the Theology undergraduate course, and others. She is a commentator and consultant
on religion and anthropology in social media, TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. In Brazil, she has participated
as an interviewee or consultant in several specials on major TV networks: Bandeirantes, Record, Globo, SBT,
Cultura, and TV Brasil. In recent years, she has focused on Biblical Anthropology, especially the study of
women in the Bible and Christianity, offering several courses on this subject.
She has published books and articles in the fields of religion, history, anthropology, and ethnobotany.
She has conducted research in Rome (Vatican Secret Archives, Archivio Storico di Propaganda Fide,
and the Gregorian University), Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, and Brazil. Latest book: *Christianity in the Feminine*, Mundo Cristão Publishing House.
Web-page: www.lidicemeyer.pro

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