How can we tell the difference between magic and religion if the end result appears to be the same?This is an important question in Western theology, as magic traditionally carries a negative connotation in religious context.Now You See It, Now You Dont explores the essential problem in delineating the differences between magic and religion , whether from etic, emic, or social/functional perspectives, which has to do with the difficulty of pinning down distinctions that apply readily across cultures and history.