Demonology, LARP and Rituals. A study into if the world has become more disenchanted.

Has our world become more disenchanted, and overall become less weird, as the study and belief in magic becomes more uncommon, is it safe to assume that society as a whole has become more scientific and that the influences, ideas, and practises of magic are something of the past. This research would argue against this, suggesting instead that ideas about magic are still very present and influential in today’s society. Looking at popular cultural and the influences that ideas about magic have had on it. This paper looks into how the practice of demonology has been represented, with specific focus on live action role play (LARP) systems. Looking into how demonology has been represented in these systems, and how similar or different it is. If inspiration for elements of the LARP system have been taken from real elements of demonology. To conduct this research first a content analysis was done, using a variety of sources from both demonology and LARP systems. Such things as interviews, writings, and photos. Allowing the second part of this research, which was to conduct a ritual. As rituals are a key part in both demonology and LARP this felt like the best method to understand them by gaining firsthand experience through conducting a ritual using elements of both ideas. From this it has been seen that gaining firsthand experience through conducting a ritual allowed the expansion of knowledge gathered during the content analysis. The findings of which are that the world still is very much a weird and odd place, elements of magical beliefs and practises are still very much alive and well, and their influences can be seen upon our popular culture. The similarities between demonology and LARP systems demonstrates that magic is something that is very much alive in today’s society.