Relatedly - anyone interested in this topic should check out Keith Thomas&#x27;s <i>Religion and the Decline of Magic</i> (1971), hands down one of my favorite history books ever. Here&#x27;s a recent essay about it by the novelist Hilary Mantel:<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nybooks.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;2012&#x2F;06&#x2F;07&#x2F;magic-keith-thomas&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nybooks.com&#x2F;articles&#x2F;2012&#x2F;06&#x2F;07&#x2F;magic-keith-thoma...</a>