Magic may be used for good or ill. White magic is a common term for healing, divination and other benign uses of magic, and black magic is malicious or harmful use of magic.

From the point of view of adherents of Christianity, the terms "magic" and "wizardry" connote practices involving collusion with devils, demon-gods, or Satan himself, and this has inspired persecution of those seen as practicing magic, most notably during the witch trials of early modern Europe. In this sense, the term 'magic' is typically outdated, although in the direct quotation of religious scripture it may have some limited usage in modern times.

Originally referring to the older Zoroastrian Magi (i.e. sages, priests), the term "magic" became a negative term and among the followers of the Judaic religion was recorded into Western history with its denigrating meaning. In times of antiquity, practitioners of other religions were accused of practicing magic (though the adherents of Christianity and Islam were never accused of this on any large scale).

In the Middle Ages, what we now call "science" began to develop, partially through alchemy. Alchemy attempted to codify specific methodology for the mechanical achievement of tasks which most considered to be important, such as the healing of illnesses and the making of wealth (gold etc). Whereas religion advocated a faith-based deference to matters of spirit, alchemy played a significant role in developing human curiosity about the natural world into a systemic structure of beliefs and practices. It is from alchemy that our modern concept of wizardry and magic come from; as a kind of melding of spirituality and methodical and professional investigation into the mysterious or "arcane."