Forbidden Magic, Fantasy Religions, and other Thoughts

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by Arith Winterfell

Yes and Yes. I think. This is assuming said caster has Power Investure in order to cast divine spells.

Power Investure could be granted as part of a ritual entering the priesthood. In turn it could also be taken away by a ritual to punish heretical priests.

It would be the church who judges their actions. So if a priest acts too far out of line (like killing red headed girls) then they'd be arrested, judged by an ecclesiastical court, and probably punished by stripping them of their PI and rank in the church.

But before such punishments, yeah he could use such power, as in reality there is no divine being doing the judging to withhold power. But in society, it could be seen as a priest abusing a divine gift rather than a divine approval or disapproval.

.

There is, though. That's the difference between Magery and PI: Magery is intrinsic to the character, Power Investiture is granted by an external force. If Power Investiture exists, there must be a real deity (or equivalent being) providing it, otherwise it's Magery.