Witches, wizards and the occult

[Goodbook]

im disturbed by the fascination that christians seem to have with the occult on this forum.
I'm sorry but I dont want anything to do with it.

I know the fad for harry potter etc is over, but I do not get why many ppl would want to read or watch or play games associated with the occcult and listen to witches and wizards. Jesus does not want us in bondage and darkness.

He brought me out of that snare.

 

[Elliewaves]

What are you even talking about? Examples?

 

[Miss Spaulding]

Over? Who said the Harry Potter fad was over because it surely is not, my friend.

<SE>

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Over? Who said the Harry Potter fad was over because it surely is not, my friend.

<SE>

I recently attended the wedding of my favorite middle school teacher, and he had butterbeer at the reception as a low key nod to his love of Harry Potter. In addition to being a personal fan of the series, he loved how it nourished the imagination of so many of his students over the years and encouraged them to be readers. If he wasn't like 40 and now married I would have proposed on the spot.

 

[Goodbook]

Why?
Did he cast a spell on you or something?
I wouldn't ask my teacher to marry me lol. That would just be...weird.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I recently attended the wedding of my favorite middle school teacher, and he had butterbeer at the reception as a low key nod to his love of Harry Potter. In addition to being a personal fan of the series, he loved how it nourished the imagination of so many of his students over the years and encouraged them to be readers. If he wasn't like 40 and now married I would have proposed on the spot.

That's absolutely adorable. And I agree about HP nourishing kids' imaginations. I feel like so little stories written today do that and reading altogether is a dying pass time for kids of today. Anyway, the butter beer thing is so cute and such a great idea for at a wedding reception. I totally would do it myself.

 

[Saucy]

I think there is a difference between something being ungodly and being not godly. A movie like Harry Potter isnt ungodly or evil. It's not a big deal unless you take it too far. We all have our thing.

 

[BookofMatt]

Fantasy is a healthy product of imagination, and a life without imagination is hardly a life at all. Focusing on the superficial aspects of a fictional work rather than its actual message or the quality of its writing is quite literally judging a book by its cover, and I think there's more to be said about rash judgment in the Bible than thematic restrictions on our media intake.

Do you happen to have any examples of fiction in which the primary intent is to convert its readers or watchers to [insert objectionable practice here]? And who are the "witches and wizards" which people can apparently "listen to"? So does that mean C.S. Lewis wanted to chain us in Satanic "bondage and darkness" because his fantasy novels included witches? Truly, he must have been a practitioner of the darkest of magic.

 

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)]

You don't have to be into witches, wizards, or the occult to be a non-believer. For instance, you can be a poster who frequents a Christian message board, but have no real relationship with Jesus. Sinners come in every type and sizes.

 

[Saucy]

It reminds me of this joke I heard: You know you were home schooled when the magic in Harry Potter is evil, but the magic in LOTR is okay haha.

 

[Rhamiel]

ok goodbook

you are not comfortable with magic in fantasy fiction

we all have our own likes and dislikes

I do not think that enjoying magic in a fantastic setting (such a book, movie, or video game) is equivalent to a true interest in occultism and bondage to sin

 

[Rhamiel]

It reminds me of this joke I heard: You know you were home schooled when the magic in Harry Potter is evil, but the magic in LOTR is okay haha.

well the argument could be made that the magic described in those two books are very different

for example, in Harry Potter the alchemist Nicholas Flamel extended his life far beyond what is natural with no ill effects
while in Lord of the Rings, characters who extend their life to unnatural means have serious problems with spiritual degradation (the Ring Wraiths, Gollum and even Bilbo Baggins started to feel that effect)

Lord of the Rings has mostly non-human characters wielding magic (the wizards are immortal inhuman creatures, so are the elves)
with very little true magic done by humans

 

[Swan7]

I will touch on this when I'm home. I cannot pass this up

 

[Goodbook]

There isnt much difference, I know because I did dabble in occult. i wasnt homeschooled. Where ppl get that idea I dont know.

 

[Goodbook]

Basically the underlying idea is the same. Rebellion against God, and making oneself into a god. Its idolatry.

The fantasy stuff is just the sugar coated version of it.

I just think its best to leave it alone, and it doesnt have any power over me. i have no interest in it, like, ppl get so excited over stuff like Lord of the Rings, Star wars, game of thrones etc but I think...meh. Jesus is my Lord and Saviour, so why bother with other stuff that ppl have made up out of their own imaginations and follow after other gods?

 

[Swan7]

im disturbed by the fascination that christians seem to have with the occult on this forum.
I'm sorry but I dont want anything to do with it.

I haven't come across those that do have this 'fascination'. Perhaps it's in other threads I don't visit?

I know the fad for harry potter etc is over, but I do not get why many ppl would want to read or watch or play games associated with the occcult and listen to witches and wizards. Jesus does not want us in bondage and darkness.

Let's not forget that Harry Potter is just a book written by someone with a story to tell. <SE> We can even make music and do all kinds of other things that can glorify God.

I think it's also important to note that fantasy is not equal to reality. I know what my reality is, and that's God. Fantasy is just something someone made up - and that's not reality. Magic is just an easy tool to use for stories and nothing more.

 

[BookofMatt]

i have no interest in it, like, ppl get so excited over stuff like Lord of the Rings, Star wars, game of thrones etc but I think...meh. Jesus is my Lord and Saviour, so why bother with other stuff that ppl have made up out of their own imaginations and follow after other gods?

So...wait a minute...unless I'm mistaken - and I apologize if I am - you're saying the existence of Jesus Christ should negate the existence of fiction?

I really, honestly don't want to come off as rude or argumentative, so I'll just quote something someone said earlier: what are you even talking about?

 

[Goodbook]

People just seem intersted in magic and and witches and wizards and dont seem to realise what God says about it. Not everything is godly. Its very subtle, but its there. And very damaging to people, they dont realise because they are deceived about it. Especially children.

When people call evil good and good evil, they arent following the narrow path that leads to life.

For example, the wizard of oz is an absolute occult movie. But since its a fairy tale, people think its harmless, I beg to differ. What happened to Judy Garland who played dorothy in the movie is a case in, point. Another one who played Glinda the 'good witch' actually commited suicide.

 

[BookofMatt]

 

[Goodbook]

They call it fantasy but it opens up to a spiritual realm thats ungodly. Also we are to cast down vain imaginations and make every thought captive to christ.

i dont see the benefit to fantasising or what the appeal of dungeons and dragons is for example. I know one girl that was into it, and she was obssessed to the point that it was distrubing...and her walk with God was shaky and she didnt know why. But if you tried to point out this Dand D gaming was hindering her walk shed get angry. She would put her fantasy life as a priority over God.