Even in the Bible, Egypt appears as a land of magical arts. Egypt is commonly associated with all who are interested in and practice magic; for example, Pythagoras is credited with the Egyptian magical art of making birds descend from the sky. Many religions dispute and combat magic because they have long lost contact with the soul of the universe. This is why the Egyptians used the verb neter, which doesn't refer to a god but to divine energy in action. For this civilization, magic was a reality present at all levels. Rituals were ceremonial magic, and prayers were magical formulas.