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'Gospel Illusionists' Tricked Out for Jesus

Saving souls with sleight of hand

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2008 5:52 AM CDT

(Newser) – Though the Bible places strictures on the “magic arts,” a group of faithful tricksters are using sleight of hand to convert the wayward, Mother Jones reports. Weslyan University recently hosted the annual convention of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians, where performers were more likely to quote scripture and deliver Bible lessons than jokes.

“A lot of folks want the supernatural—they want something special,” said one magician. “They want to believe in something. You put the right thing in front of them and they will.” Another illusionist simply asked: “Why should the devil have all the good entertainment?”

Though the Bible frowns on magic, faithful practitioners call their art sleight of hand.
Though the Bible frowns on magic, faithful practitioners call their art "sleight of hand."   (Shutterstock)
Gospel magicians use their art to ease audiences into belief.
"Gospel magicians" use their art to ease audiences into belief.   (Shutterstock)
A woman versed in the mystical arts.
A woman versed in the mystical arts.   (Shutterstock)
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If Jesus was a magician, you'd have to visualize Jesus and the disciples walking through the dusty streets of Galilee, with three diesel trucks behind them carrying
their equipment. - Andre Kole, magician

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