From its earliest history people have been enthralled by magic. The earliest human religions other than the true religion all employed some kind of magic at some level. Shamans claimed to communicate with the gods of nature. Priests and priestesses supposedly entered trances or took hallucinogenic drugs to communicate with the gods. Some performed illusions or used secret knowledge such as astronomy to predict eclipses and convince people that the gods were with them. Deuteronomy 18 recognizes magic and sorcery. The listed practices include making a son or daughter pass through the fire, witchcraft, soothsaying, interpreting omens, sorcery, conjuring spells, mediumship, spiritism, and calling up the dead. These forms of magic are acknowledged as real phenomena because demons possess powers beyond human powers and anything paranormal is viewed as a kind of magic. The lure of magic and witchcraft long persisted among the Israelites and continues today. Mentions of sorcery appear throughout the Old Testament in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nahum, and Malachi. Early in His ministry Jesus Christ cast out demons. Scribes accused Him of using Beelzebub the ruler of the demons to cast out demons thereby charging Him with demonic sorcery. Many in the crowds sought to witness miracles and signs. Herod desired to see a miracle performed by Him. After the church began Simon who had practiced sorcery attempted to buy the Holy Spirit. Paul encountered Elymas the sorcerer on Cyprus. At Ephesus many practitioners of magic repented and burned their magic books valued at fifty thousand pieces of silver. The ancient world was filled with supposed magic sorcery and necromancy. Interest in magic and spiritism has increased significantly. Modern literature television and movies frequently feature magic. Secularized magic appears through advanced science or evolutionary changes granting superhuman abilities. People covet magical abilities because they believe such powers would deliver immediate and effortless results instant gratification and the means to fulfill every desire without paying the price. Magic is presented as human nature's dream solution to solving problems and reaching goals through fiat rather than work.