Magic and Occult Sciences

One of these words is not like the others. One of these words doesn’t belong.

MA in Magic and Occult Sciences

Well, kids, here’s a degree that will surely come in handy in the economy of tomorrow…

This is a flexible degree, which provides you the freedom to design you own course of study. Led by a team of faculty members across departments (see our “members” tab), an essential aspect of this programme is its interdisciplinarity.  Thus, the University of Exeter’s MA in Magic and Occult Science allows you to explore your specific interest within the long and diverse history of esotericism, witchcraft, ritual magic, occult sciences, divination, and related topics.

They keep using the word “science.” I do not think it means what they think it means.

But here’s where it gets spectacular:

By housing this program in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, we place the Arabo-Islamic cultural heritage back where it belongs in the centre of these studies and in the history of the “West.” Decolonisation, the exploration of alternative epistemologies, feminism, and anti-racism are at the core of this programme. 

Oh yeah. I have *got* to see how this plays out. Is there any more entertaining matchup than “Islam” and “witchcraft?” Throw in “feminism,” and this looks to be *hilarious.*

 

2 responses to “Magic and Occult Sciences”

  1. Jeff Wright Avatar
    Jeff Wright

    They are worried about Islamic fundies and Christian fundies joining up against the trans-movement and hoping to drive a wedge between them.

    It wasn’t that long ago in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 when the pro-Bush-war types defended themselves to gay/trans by saying Islam was both of their enemies.

    Now, the Right wants to spend less fighting Russia, and the Left questions their patriotism.

    Positions don’t matter—just the infighting.

  2. Andrew Gorman Avatar
    Andrew Gorman

    Oh, come on… It’s an historical/sociology program, not training people to believe they can cast spells and fly. Witchcraft and magic were as important in the past as mass market religions. And as pseudoscience laid at least some groundwork for the real science that came afterwards. Like any modern academic program there is some gobbeldygook, but moslems have their Djinns, and historically witchcraft, herb doctoring and midwifery have been in the domain of women- “women’s secret business”…