From: SL500000@brownvm.brown.edu (Robert Mathiesen)
Subject: Re: Religion and Magick
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1993 21:23:26 EST

Well, I've been working with a terminology for some time now in which
              Science : Technology  ::  Religion : Magic
Here Science and Technology are *marked* (technical term alert) for
empirical testability (or falsifiability, if you like), Religion and
Magic be- ing *unmarked*.  Also, Science and Religion are *marked* for
making claims in the form that logicians call "propositions," which
are true or false in each case, Technology and Magic being
*unmarked*.  In chart form it looks like this:

               Science : Technology  ::  Religion : Magic
Emp. Test.        +         +               -         -
T/F Prop.         _         -               +         -

Magic is thus the residue class, in which one places whatever works
and yet neither Science, Technology nor Religion.  It is also the
ancient matrix from which Science, Technology and Religion were
separated.

From: SL500000@brownvm.brown.edu (Robert Mathiesen)
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1993 21:34:15 EST

My fault, Kethry, for not explaining the *marked* and *unmarked*
terminology better.  Science and Technology are *marked* for empirical
testability, i.e.  it *can't* be science or technology without some
sort of empirical "reality check."  Religion and Magic are *unmarked*
for that same criterion, which doesn't mean that empirical testing is
ruled out, or impossible, or forbidden -- just that it's not
necessary.  Thus, religious and magical claims may be partly testable,
partly not; or wholly not, it doesn't matter.

You're absolutely right, many claims made by many magicians are
empirically testable; indeed, some religions still make some
empirically testable claims, and did so more commonly (or more
recklessly?) in the past.  Thus, a certain Rev. Miller predicted the
end of the world in 1842, and was specific enough that his claim was
empirically testable.  It tested out false.  Other claims on other
matters may test out true, perhaps ...