harry potter

[Jazzcat]

Also, in the book, Arwen definitely never engaged in magic.

 

[ZACTAK]

Philippians 4:8 says: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 says: "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil."

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 says: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son and daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead."

You may argue that Harry Potter and Yu-Gi-Oh are simply harmless fantasy and not the real thing, but tell me: Is an X-rated book or movie harmless simply because it is not "the real thing", or does it leave an impression on your mind for the enemy to gain a foothold over you?

The first question to ask yourself before plunging blindly into a world of fantasy is: What are the roots of this? Are the origins Christian or satanic?

I think we can all agree that witchcraft and magic arts are evil. There are scriptures everywhere condemning sorcery and all its forms with very strong language and the promise of an eternal lake of fire as the final resting place for all who engage in it. Druids, wizards, witches, warlocks, sorcerers and sorceresses and all other mediums and those that dabble in the occult fall under this category. There is no such thing as a "good" witch or a "good" wizard; when such a character pops up in modern literature, the occult world loves it because it slants the view of the readers to put the wizard/witch/occultist in a more favorable light. That makes those exposed to it, especially the younger generations, more susceptible to occult influences and demonic strongholds.

When a puppy is raised with a squirrel, it will never attack a squirrel when it gets older. If you raise children with symbols of the enemy (after all, the devil IS our enemy), how are they supposed to gain a hatred of evil and war against it with every fiber of their beings? We don't want our kids joining the devil for all eternity. Stay away from it! Don't take that kind of risk with our precious young ones!

Children are not naturally abstract thinkers; they are greatly influenced as to what is "right" and "wrong" by what is permitted into their environments. Who better to trust for such guidance than their own parents? If you do not condemn it, you condone it. Don't be responsible for condoning anything remotely occult with children.

Now unicorns: If you look back in history during the Middle Ages, unicorns were originally a Christian symbol that was used to illustrate many facets of Jesus. Druids and witches never were associated with anything but the devil, because the only reason for their existance was, and is, satan worship.

There is plenty of safe and healthy and wholesome fantasy out there; don't get into something so highly questionable and dangerous as HP and YGO. There are a lot of stories that are coming out about the dangers of HP and other similar influences. Heed the warnings and safeguard your children. Don't let them play with the enemy on his side of the fence.

who defines what evil is? I say reading Harry Potter, a fictional book about wizardry is not evil, but is entertainment. But reading a book on HOW to do wizardry is a different story....the word evil is a very vague word... also, you were mentioning about how wizardry is sinful but you yourself are no less a sinner then someone who might practice wizardry. And I believe there is a difference between fiction and non-fiction...

 

[Jazzcat]

Thanks, Kaylee! I agree that your writing is exceptional. Do keep it up!

As for your other comment, I'd like to thank you for asking questions and pushing us to dig deeper to both discover and back up theological truths.

Unicorns came up earlier in the thread, and I've done research on them before, so I threw in that little bit to contrast these fantasy creatures with satanic creations.

Speaking of books on magic becoming increasingly popular, interest in the occult is at an all-time high. Witchcraft is a big seller because you can "get whatever you want" when you chant these incantations, etc. Tired of listening to your parents? Here's how to manipulate them! Wouldn't you like to impress your friends by picking up objects across the room with your mind? How about casting spells? These are topics that are highly appealing to rebellious teenagers and kids with troubled homelives who would like nothing better than to control their environment.

 

[ZACTAK]

Also, in the book, Arwen definitely never engaged in magic.

But you read a book involving magic?

 

[ZACTAK]

Thanks, Kaylee! I agree that your writing is exceptional. Do keep it up!

As for your other comment, I'd like to thank you for asking questions and pushing us to dig deeper to both discover and back up theological truths.

Unicorns came up earlier in the thread, and I've done research on them before, so I threw in that little bit to contrast these fantasy creatures with satanic creations.

Speaking of books on magic becoming increasingly popular, interest in the occult is at an all-time high. Witchcraft is a big seller because you can "get whatever you want" when you chant these incantations, etc. Tired of listening to your parents? Here's how to manipulate them! Wouldn't you like to impress your friends by picking up objects across the room with your mind? How about casting spells? These are topics that are highly appealing to rebellious teenagers and kids with troubled homelives who would like nothing better than to control their environment.

These are problems facing us regardless of movies people watch or the books that people watch. I also feel it is important that parents speak to their children about the books they are reading, especially so the younger ones can understand fact from fiction.

 

[Jazzcat]

who defines what evil is? I say reading Harry Potter, a fictional book about wizardry is not evil, but is entertainment. But reading a book on HOW to do wizardry is a different story....the word evil is a very vague word... also, you were mentioning about how wizardry is sinful but you yourself are no less a sinner then someone who might practice wizardry. And I believe there is a difference between fiction and non-fiction...

Who defines what evil is? God does. His Word is full of definitions of good and evil. Did you read the three Scriptures I posted at the top of that post?

All are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, but there is a difference between being a sinner and engaging in satan worship and/or using power that belongs to the enemy. Any power that is not from God is not of God, and there is only one source for it.

There is a difference between fiction and non-fiction, but what you immerse yourself in in the fiction world affects you in the real world. All outside influences around you (art, music, literature, video games, etc) help shape your consciousness and what you think about on a minute-to-minute basis. That is why Paul said to dwell on the pure and lovely.

If it was true that TV doesn't affect people, then advertising companies would be wasting billions of dollars every year to take up little slots in between your favorite programs.

I agree that reading a book about wizardry and how to do wizardry are two very different things. But is "less harmful" "not harmful"? By very definition, "less harmful" is still "harmful". Why engage in it at all? Is there not enough stuff out there to read that is not "harmful"?

If not, I'd better get busy writing!

Blessings,
Jazzcat

 

[Jazzcat]

But you read a book involving magic?

There is a difference between magic and witchcraft. Witchcraft is satan worship.

BTW, Tolkien was a Christian and a good friend of CS Lewis.

 

[Jazzcat]

These are problems facing us regardless of movies people watch or the books that people watch. I also feel it is important that parents speak to their children about the books they are reading, especially so the younger ones can understand fact from fiction.

So, that's it then. There is so much junk out there available for consumption that we should simply give up trying to screen it out and go with the flow. That is, in essence, what you are saying, Steelers.

I'll remember to tell the Lord that when I see him face to face.

 

[ZACTAK]

Who defines what evil is? God does. His Word is full of definitions of good and evil. Did you read the three Scriptures I posted at the top of that post?

All are sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, but there is a difference between being a sinner and engaging in satan worship and/or using power that belongs to the enemy. Any power that is not from God is not of God, and there is only one source for it.

There is a difference between fiction and non-fiction, but what you immerse yourself in in the fiction world affects you in the real world. All outside influences around you (art, music, literature, video games, etc) help shape your consciousness and what you think about on a minute-to-minute basis. That is why Paul said to dwell on the pure and lovely.

If it was true that TV doesn't affect people, then advertising companies would be wasting billions of dollars every year to take up little slots in between your favorite programs.

I agree that reading a book about wizardry and how to do wizardry are two very different things. But is "less harmful" "not harmful"? By very definition, "less harmful" is still "harmful". Why engage in it at all? Is there not enough stuff out there to read that is not "harmful"?

If not, I'd better get busy writing!

Blessings,
Jazzcat

If God defines good and evil, where specifically does He say you can't read about witchcraft, you have shown that it says you cannot participate in it, but where does it say you cannot read it? I am curious to know if you can find me statistics to support your claim that this might make children go to witchcraft... or if the sales of witchcraft and other pagan type (non-fictional) things have increased since these books have been released. Because obviously if these books are having these types of influences then it would show.

If Harry Potter is a bad book, then where is the line drawn? Murder is obviously wrong according to the Bible. If I read a book about murder then by what you are saying, I am reading something wrong in God's eyes because it is evil. If I pick up my newspaper and read about the recent attacks in Baghdad, then I am reading evil. These things might persuade me to do these actions then too right? Because that is what you are saying...

How many books do you think you have read or owned that have been written or in some way associated with a non-believer? The Bible speaks against yoking yourself with a non-believer and by reading the book you would be committing a sin....

I recently read a book called A Child Called It. In the book it goes into detail about a young boy's struggle with his mother's abuse towards him. His mother is by far committing sins, and yet I read the book... he doesn't always show respect for his mother in the book, so he too is committing sins, so it is wrong for me to read that book right? What books are allowed, what aren't?

Did you read or watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as a kid, or Cinderella, or Alladin, just to name a few? Those books are classics, and are no different then Harry Potter, Harry Potter is just the new age of fairy tales....

 

[ZACTAK]

So, that's it then. There is so much junk out there available for consumption that we should simply give up trying to screen it out and go with the flow. That is, in essence, what you are saying, Steelers.

I'll remember to tell the Lord that when I see him face to face.

Harry Potter is the least of our worries, it is not causing children to commit crimes or to go against God. The books are doing the exact opposite, it is giving children things to do and getting them off the streets. It is also helping for them to explore their imaginations.... instead of worrying about Harry Potter, why not worry about child abuse, or something that actually matters and will make our society a better place. More and more children are committing crimes each year, and that startles me, it has to stop and we have to develop ways to do it. Worrying about Harry Potter and his magic wand isn't going to stop our generations from going down the tubes.
...and the point I am making here is that even if Harry Potter or any other controversial TV show, movie or book didn't exist, we would still have the problems we have today...

 

[Kaylee4Christ]

In A Child Called It, I do agree it is a bit violent. But the book is about David, is it not? Nowhere in the book does it focus on the mother alone. The cover shows God's hand holding David's face up to Him. And the book tells about David trying to follow God in various places.

All of those fairy tales are stories in which good triumphs over evil. I myself am not allowed to watch Aladin either, it has magic carpets that fly (?!) and in many cases evil wins, which is not how God wants it all to work.

If we first allow Harry Potter to be read by young children (starting at 7 in some cases), where do we draw the line then? Murder mysteries, blood and gore blood and gore?! I think now is the time to get this show on the road. Be witnesses to God, tell everyone the good news. THAT is what we are supposed to do, not lay around all the time reading some book about flying brooms and spells! NOW is the time to act! BEFORE it is too late!

I rest my case.

Kaylee

 

[Jazzcat]

You said it all, Kaylee. Don't swim in shark-infested waters just because the sharks *might* not bite. I'd give you more reputation points if I could.

Blessings,
Jazzcat

 

[Kaylee4Christ]

Thanks.

Kaylee

 

[ZACTAK]

In A Child Called It, I do agree it is a bit violent. But the book is about David, is it not? Nowhere in the book does it focus on the mother alone. The cover shows God's hand holding David's face up to Him. And the book tells about David trying to follow God in various places.

All of those fairy tales are stories in which good triumphs over evil. I myself am not allowed to watch Aladin either, it has magic carpets that fly (?!) and in many cases evil wins, which is not how God wants it all to work.

If we first allow Harry Potter to be read by young children (starting at 7 in some cases), where do we draw the line then? Murder mysteries, blood and gore blood and gore?! I think now is the time to get this show on the road. Be witnesses to God, tell everyone the good news. THAT is what we are supposed to do, not lay around all the time reading some book about flying brooms and spells! NOW is the time to act! BEFORE it is too late!

I rest my case.

Kaylee

In the Ten Commandments it says to Honor thy Mother and thy Father. There are parts where David would disobey his mother, and disrespect her in some respects. You mention in those other fairy tales it was good vs. evil, the same is obvious in Harry Potter. The plots really aren't as much about what he learns at Hogwarts, but about him (good) defeating evil.... it also shows courage and sacrifice. Many good aspects of being a Christian.

And saying we must stop at Harry Potter because it might possess our children, you still have yet to show me anything to support that claim. And that is probably because it does not exist, these books are not causing children to do the things you are claiming it to do, but instead as I said before these books are causing children to do something productive instead of something destructive.

Where do we draw the line? By the standards you all are trying to set by not allowing Harry Potter, those standards have to be applied to every other book as well as the guidelines set out by the Bible, such as not yoking with the non-believer. How many books do you think are out there that have been in the hands of a non-believer? Probably a lot, so you technically can't touch those books....which more than likely is the majority of books out there.

A problem with Christianity is that many people are intolerant of things, particularly things that people find to be different then what we might believe. That is a major turn off to Christianity for the non-believer. I have friends who will not be a Christian because they don't want to be around intolerant people...

 

[Jazzcat]

In the Ten Commandments it says to Honor thy Mother and thy Father. There are parts where David would disobey his mother, and disrespect her in some respects. You mention in those other fairy tales it was good vs. evil, the same is obvious in Harry Potter. The plots really aren't as much about what he learns at Hogwarts, but about him (good) defeating evil.... it also shows courage and sacrifice. Many good aspects of being a Christian.

And saying we must stop at Harry Potter because it might possess our children, you still have yet to show me anything to support that claim. And that is probably because it does not exist, these books are not causing children to do the things you are claiming it to do, but instead as I said before these books are causing children to do something productive instead of something destructive.

Where do we draw the line? By the standards you all are trying to set by not allowing Harry Potter, those standards have to be applied to every other book as well as the guidelines set out by the Bible, such as not yoking with the non-believer. How many books do you think are out there that have been in the hands of a non-believer? Probably a lot, so you technically can't touch those books....which more than likely is the majority of books out there.

A problem with Christianity is that many people are intolerant of things, particularly things that people find to be different then what we might believe. That is a major turn off to Christianity for the non-believer. I have friends who will not be a Christian because they don't want to be around intolerant people...

Greetings again, Steelers.

There are indeed a number of documented reports of perfectly good children suddenly developing rebellious tendancies soon after getting involved with Harry Potter.

When confronted with the violence, rebellion, etc. in the book, Rowling answers that she did not write the book for children!

So it's a struggle against good and evil. But let me bring up a game. A fantasy game called Werewolf: The Apocalypse, a roleplaying game, has this description in the wikipedia.com encyclopedia: A prime example of this outlook can be seen in the role-playing game Werewolf: The Apocalypse in which players roleplay various werewolf characters who work on behalf of Gaia against the destructive supernatural spirit named Wyrm, who represents the forces of destructive industrialization and pollution.

Just because it is a "struggle against Good and Evil" does not canonize it. In this werewolf game, you have to become a werewolf in order to defeat evil, thus making the werewolf the "good" in the war against good and evil. The only origins for werewolves were never Christian, but rather all associated with satan and satanic rituals. For more hair-raising reading on werewolves, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf

Speaking of which, there is one other footnote on that very page about werewolves and Harry Potter, which I will post here:

J.K. Rowling uses a werewolf named Remus Lupin in her Harry Potter series as, ironically enough, the only competent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, despite the obvious mistrust that being a werewolf handicaps him with.

Who isn't going to empathize with the poor big bad werewolf and feel sorry for him? When you feel sorry for something, you never think of it as an enemy. The devil would like nothing more than to play on our sympathies. This opens us up to a vulnerability to him, and the devil will take every little bit he can.

I have also read the book "A Child Called It." That is not fiction, or a book that those who want to escape reality for awhile delve into. That book is heavy and rather a reality check about some horrors that truly take place in this world. Was David's mother cruel and unreasonably mean to her son? Yes she was. Should he have disobeyed her? The answer, in this case, is yes.

But are most parents like Dave's mom? The reason that book is so popular is because it is such a shock; such an outrageous departure from the norm; a terrible crime against humanity. The answer, then, is no. Parents are, generally speaking, completely deserving of respect and honor. Those that aren't are few and far between.

In Harry Potter, the heroes and heroines also champion lying and putting spells on anyone who thwarts them. That is not typical virtuous behavior! All those who gain power are bound to misuse it in some way, and that is what happens to Harry and his schoolmates.

 

[Jazzcat]

Here is one article I found that highlights just how hardcore the witchcraft in Harry Potter really is, and it exposes, beyond any shadow of doubt, Rowling's depiction of evil as being misunderstood good.

BEWITCHED BY HARRY POTTER

"You’re famous, Harry Potter."

It’s true! This prophetic remark in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first in a seven-book series on popular witchcraft, was fulfilled in record time. The first three books hit the world – schools, libraries, and the New York Times best-sellers list – like a spiritual tidal wave, breaking down barriers to the secret and forbidden mysteries of the ages and captivating children around the world. Just look around. You can spot some of the committed Hogwarts fans by the purple thunderbolt stickers on their foreheads. This mark bonds them to Harry, an embattled student wizard with amazing powers and an enticingly scary destiny.

Harry, like other students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry travels back and forth between two worlds: the mystical world of magic and the mundane world of muggles – those boring, blinded, and biased humans who either don’t believe in the world of witches or who despise it as evil. Harry’s cruel aunt and uncle fit the last category. And, from Harry’s point of view, so would you if you see witchcraft as dangerous and demonic.

The skinny, green-eyed kid with glasses and a thunder-bolt scar under a shock of unruly black hair makes a sympathetic hero. Orphaned at age one, Harry mysteriously survived a murderous assault by the wicked wizard Lord Voldemort. This scary villain, whom more timid wizards dare only refer to as "Who Must Not Be Named," killed Harry’s parents. When he tried but failed to kill their one-year-old baby, Voldemort lost much of his power. The thunderbolt scar on Harry’s forehead marks his peculiar psychic strength and triumph over evil.

For the next ten years, Harry lives a miserable muggle life in his uncle’s London home, constantly tormented by his cruel guardians and a spoiled bully of a cousin. But on his eleventh birthday everything changes. He discovers that he is a wizard of great fame, someone who once conquered death and crippled a devilish foe. Even better, he receives an acceptance to Hogwarts – a coveted boarding school for aspiring wizards.

The haunted grounds of Hogwarts may be out-of-this-world, but with its blend of earthly familiarity and practical magic, it has captivated more than seven million minds. Adults and children alike have, in their imagination, followed Harry through that mystical veil between ordinary reality and occult fantasy. Most find it hard to put the book down once they start it, and when finished, many read it again and again. Immersed in this mystical world of spiritual forces, they feel Harry’s struggles and share his fears. They sit with him through his classes on Potions, Spells, Transformation ("turning something into something else") and Divination, and, like him, learn some tricks of the old Craft. They sense the pain of his miserable return visits to London, and they soar with him above the earth on a magical and magnificent broomstick.

Delightfully gruesome images and scary creatures become part of their memory, for the author, Joanne K. Rowling, knows how to make her characters come alive in a reader’s mind. "Oh, but it’s just fantasy," you may argue. "We were raised on scary tales. It can’t hurt."

Actually it’s not that simple. The stories and the times have changed, making the new generation of children far more vulnerable to deception than we were. Consider some of the changes:

1. Different times and culture. Unlike most children today, their parents and grandparents were raised in a culture that was, at least outwardly, based on Biblical values. Whether they were Christian or not, they usually accepted traditional moral and spiritual boundaries. Even the old fairy tales I heard as a child in Norway tended to reinforce this Christian worldview or paradigm. The good hero would win over evil forces without using "good" magic to overcome evil magic. Social activities didn’t include Ouija Boards, Seances, and an assortment of popular occult role-playing games. Nor did friends, schools or Girl Scouts tempt children to alter their consciousness and invoke the presence of an "animal spirit" or "wise person." Occult experimentation was not an option.

Today children learn their values and world view from a variety of sources. The entertainment industry is one of the most persuasive agents of cultural awareness, and it usually teaches global and occult values, since that’s what their global market buys. In fact, children have become so familiar with profanity, occultism, and explicit sex, that they barely notice – just as in Old Testament days: "They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. . . . No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush." (Jeremiah 8:5,12)

*Tactics for Change

2. Different type of fantasy. Books, movies, games, and television all involve the imagination, and the specific fantasy directs the child's imagination. In other words, the imaginary scenes and images in books and movies are not neutral. As with guided imagery, the child's feelings and responses are manipulated by the author's view and values. For example, the stories and books children read in the classroom are usually selected or approved by each state because their message teaches the new global values, and because they provide useful discussion topics for the manipulative consensus process. "Good stories capture the heart, mind, and imagination and are an important way to transmit values," writes Louise Derman-Sparks in the influential Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children, which is full of classsroom strategies for eroding traditional boundaries and teaching the new spirituality.

Books such as the Harry Potters series fit, because they reinforce the global and occult perspective. Page after exciting page brings the reader into the timeless battle between good and evil, then trains them to see the opposing forces from a pagan, not a Biblical perspective. In this mystical realm, "good" occult spirits are naturally pitted against bad occult spirits, just as in pagan cultures where frightened victims would offer sacrifices to "benevolent" spirits who could help ward off evil curses and other threats. Few readers realize that from the Biblical perspective, all occult forces are dangerous. But today, it seems more tolerant and exciting to believe this illusion than to oppose the lies. The words of Old Testament prophet Isaiah ring as true now as they did over 2000 years ago: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…." (Isaiah 5:20)

3. Different purpose. Children don’t read Harry Potter merely to reach the conclusion and resolve the suspense. Many read the books over and over because they delight in identifying with the "good" characters in this newly discovered world. They build memories based on felt experiences in an occult virtual reality, and they are desentitized to the danger. The talent and knowledge of the author makes this seductive world all the more believable. Just ponder these bits of Hogwarts theology:

* Professor Snape who taught Potions: "I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…."

* A Centaur’s views on astrology - "We have sworn not to set ourselves against the heaven. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets? ….Or have the planets not let you in on that secret?"

* "He is with me wherever I go," said Quirrell quietly, referring to Voldmort. "I met him when I traveled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.... Since then, I have served him faithfully."

* Headmaster Dumbledore: "To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."

* Hagrid, the grounds-keeper at Hogwarts, telling Harry about the strange power that saved his life, "Happened when a powerful, evil curse touches you – didn’t work on you, and that’s why yer famous, Harry. No one ever lived after he [Voldemort] decided ter kill ‘em, no one except you…" [Harry seems almost Christ-like, doesn't he, with his wound or mark, his psychic powers, and his victory over death and Voldemort.]

Once introduced to spiritism, astrology, palmistry, shape-shifting, time-travel (the third book) and the latest version of popular occultism, many crave more. They can easily find it. In their neighborhoods and schools, our children are surrounded by peers who are fascinated by occult empowerment and would love to share their fun discoveries. Few children have the Biblical knowledge or discernment needed to evaluate good and evil or to resist such threats to their faith.

4. Different kind of classroom. It’s not surprising that Harry has suddenly soared to the peaks of popularity in schools across the country. His story fits right into the international program for multicultural education. The envisioned global community calls for a common set of values which excludes traditional beliefs as intolerant and narrow – just as the Harry Potter books show. The Biblical God simply doesn’t fit into his world of wizards, witches, and other gods.

Feminist writer Naomi Goldenberg knows that well. In her book, Changing of the Gods, she predicts that "God is going to change…. We, women are going to bring an end to God. We will change the world so much that He won’t fit in anymore." She and other radical feminists must appreciate Ms Rowling’s part in this process.

Of course, God will never change. But people, beliefs, and cultures do. And some changes, such as today’s cultural shift away from loving God to hating His truths, have occurred a multitude of times. The words Jesus spoke to His followers long ago now fit our times: "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . . . because they do not know Him who sent Me." (John 15:20-21)

5. A different education system. UNESCO’s "lifelong learning," now being implemented through Goals 2000, takes education far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Its goal is socialization and preparation for a global workforce. Everyone - in homes, schools, and workplace – must be mentally prepared to participate in the consensus process. In the name of "unity" and "community," people of all ages must help form new values, challenge contrary beliefs, report non-compliant friends and relatives, and oppose all other obstacles to compromise, "common ground" and "mental health."

There are many ways to persuade the masses to reject uncompromising Christianity and embrace a changeable blend of all kinds of religions – including a cross-less and universalist perversion of Christianity. Schools do it through books such as the Harry Potter series, through multicultural and environmental education, and by integrating social issues and politically correct ideology into more mundane subjects such as math and science. The media does it by selective reporting, redefining words like "fundamental," vilifying labels such as extremist, religious right and homeschoolers, and by equating such groups with narrow-minded bigotry and hate.

Harry Potter’s author does it by creating a captivating world where strength, wisdom, love, hope – all the good gifts God promises those who follow Him – are now offered to those who pursue occult thrills. Likewise, her main characters demonstrate all the admirable traits our God commends: kindness, courage, loyalty, etc. But muggles, who are blind to these mystical forces, are pictured as mean, cruel, narrow and self-indulgent. These subtle messages, hidden behind exciting stories, turn Truth upside-down. But fascinated readers rarely notice the deception. This power-filled realm with its charms and spells soon becomes normal as well as addictive to those who immerse their minds with its seductive images.

The Harry Potter books, first introduced in England, are unlikely to fade from public consciousness in the near future. Scholastic, a major provider of popular books for classroom use, bought the rights to publish the books in the United States. Devoted readers who can't wait for the sequel to be distributed in the U.S. are purchasing it on the Internet from Amazon.com's British division [see reviews]. The series has already caused great consternation among those who fear the seven books will eventually crowd out adult fiction on the coveted New York Times best-sellers list. This concern will surely grow, since Warner Brothers (owned by Time Warner) bought rights to the live-action movie.

It's not too soon to prepare your child for the increasing peer pressure to conform to the new social standards.

 

[PaladinValer]

hi! um my mom thinks it is better i dont watch or read harry potter what is ur opinion of harry potter?

Harmless fantasy novels that can teach important moral lessons.

I can speak as a parent and former witch to explain why I will never allow my children to read or watch Harry Potter. It's pretty simple, Harry Potter teaches and promotes magic which is against the Word of God.

You've never then read the books, or at least never got the plot. The plot isn't about "witchcraft;" it is about a boy who is prophecized to destroy an evil wizard who murdered not only his parents but has killed folks, magical or Muggle before and will do so again.

In addition, you've committed the Fallacy of Equivocation. If you were a witch, you'd realize that the "magic" of Harry Potter is nothing like that practiced ever in history.

Still, a kid may start by reading the books. Watches the movie, watches and reads them over and over again. Pretty soon they think its cool to try witchcraft. It's all just honest fun, right? WRONG! Pretty soon they get more serious about it. Now that's bad.

Fallacy of the Slippery Slope. This is not a valid argument.

Anyway, I'll unleash, once again, my famous Harry Potter essay.

"Harry Potter and Biblically-condemned Magic: Is there a Connection?"

The answer is no, but the reasons are complex. First off, we need to take a look at a Biblical passage usually used to condemn Harry Potter as Satanic/evil, Deuteronomy 18:10-13.

This passage, on the surface, seems to do the job quite easily, but it takes a knowledge of linguistics to understand what is really going on. In the following, I have taken out the translations and put in Hebrew transliterations, which are in italics and have put in bold their literal meanings:


"No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, who is a yid'oni (one who contacts spirits that are not of God), who practices sho'el'ov (making forbidden contact with the dead to discover the future), who is a qosem q'samim (someone who predicts the future through unsanctioned devices), who is a m'onen (someone who predicts the future by interpreting signs in nature not atributed to God), who is a m'nachesh (someone who charms snakes without God's will), who practices chover chavar (practicing knot-tying to bind people with manipulative spells), who is a m'khaseph (someone who is an evil sorceress who uses mystics to harm others offensively), or is a dresh 'el hametim (someone who forbiddenly contacts the spirits of the dead)."


Lets go throug these prohibitions one-by-one:

Are Harry or his friends yid'oni? No. I've personally read all five books, and the only spirits communable so far that I remember are the Hogwarts ghosts, and no one needs to use any spell, magic devise, or other sort of mechanism to contact these spirits; one merely needs to wander around to find one (or one might just pop up). In addition, the religious persuation of these ghosts, in their living lives or in their current state of "undeath" is unknown, making it completely illogical to assume. Lastly, since we don't know how God fits into the book (as it is a FANTASY) we cannot simply assume they do.

Do they sho'el'ov? No. This form of contact with the spiritual realm is closely related to the other as a person would still need to contact spirits that are not of God. However, this time, the desire to know the future is a part of the equasion. This does not happen at all. The Prophecy that Trelawny spoke of and of which Harry and co. found at the end of Book 5 has nothing to do with this also, since no contact with spirits were made. In fact, it was already known of by many of the major characters (especially Dumbledore). Lastly, since we don't know how God fits into the book (as it is a FANTASY) we cannot simply assume they do.

Do they qosem q'samim? No. This is tied closely with the above since it also deals with fortune-telling, so much of what I'm saying here can also be said about the above (and visa versa). The books and even its characters state many times how challenging REAL divination is. Hermoine quits the class in Book 3 because she finds it useless (not to mention she finds Prof. Trelawny little more than a fraud...not entirelly an inaccurate observation if I might add). Dumbledore speaks right out against the accuracies of divination several times in the Books. Harry and Ron never master it (Harry in particular is very accomplished in his classes), and Trelawny gets LUCKY all the time. Lastly, Firnez, the new Prof. of Divination, says pointblank on how foolish humans are when it comes to their silly perceptions on what divination is. Now what about the Prophecy or the pensieve? Again, they don't qualify. The Prophecy doesn't in itself predict anything; it is merely a physical reminder of a prophecy made. The pensieve has been used to show the past, but never the future. In addition, since Harry's world is a sort of "other-dimentional world," we don't know how God fits into this alternate world (as it is a FANTASY).

Do they m'onen? No. Again, this relates heavily to the others above. Since Trelawny's form of divination is given a negative light, we can throw away this accusation completely (except, of course, when she spoke the Prophecy). But what about Firnez? His form isn't applicable either. True, he's a stargazer, but he is very cautious and informs the students not to "just trust" the signs; they could be wrong (which I believe is stated when we first meet him and the other centaurs in Book 1). So even this isn't in any way fortune-telling through nature. Lastly, since we don't know how God fits into the book (as it is a FANTASY) we cannot simply assume they do.

Is HARRY a m'nachesh? Yes, but a resounding NO as well. Harry has the ability to speak parseltongue; the language of snakes. However, lets look at the details. 1. It isn't Harry's fault he has this ability. When Voldemort failed to kill Harry, part of his essense and power was transferred unwillingly to Harry. 2. The Books outright say that it is a power some wizards and witches are BORN with; they don't learn it (yet in this world, we would need to learn how to charm snakes, and those who do [like modern Indian snakecharmers in India] don't use anything magical). 3. The Books express that the last wizard or witch who DID have this ability was Voldemort himself, and it is said that only evil and dark witches and wizards are usually born with this ability. 4. Harry, upon learning about his ability, wishes he never had it; this doesn't sound very "withcrafty" or demonic to me. 5. The first time Harry used it (Book 1; the trip to the Zoo), he didn't even realize what he was doing; the power was involuntary. However, on other occasions, it is important to know that he used the ability to STOP the snake from attacking his fellow student and to STOP Tom Riddle by invading the Chamber of Secrets. He never uses it to harm; much like how Gandalf never uses his powers to harm (unless necessary). Therefore, the argument against Harry is off-base and illogical.

Do they chover chavar? Not that I've seen.

Is HERMOINE (or any of the other female students) a m'khaseph? Not at all. In nearly every time she used her magic, it was either a class activity (neutral), to practice (neutral), aid (good), or protect (good). Granted, she used it to stop Neville in Book 1 (bad). But lets remember one thing: Hermoine wasn't too happy with herself for paralyzing poor Neville and in fact apologized (although the apology did happen first, knowing her character, he would definitely have done it again after he recovered). This last point paints a powerful portrait about NOT HARMING PEOPLE, a VERY moral ideal.

Do they doresh'el hametim? No. The ghosts wander the halls No contact is required. In addition, its rare that the characters go out to find the ghosts (the only time I can remember on the top of my head is at the end of Book 5 when Harry seeks Nearly Headless Nick about the possibility of his Godfather becoming a ghost after loosing him in the battle against Voldemort earlier).

So that ends this list. Everything in Harry Potter is benign of these stumbling blocks.

Yet what about passages like Galations 5:20? The Greek word used is actually the same root word that we get the words "pharmecy" and "phamaceuticals" from. It deals with potions and philters to harm people (ie: poison) or to charm (enthrall, literally enslave to another's will).

Professor Snape is the Potions Master at Hogwarts and although in reality on the anti-Voldemort side, doesn't always have the best of dispositions. He does threaten to poison Neville's toad, but he himself didn't create the potion; Neville did (and screwed up because Potions is arguably his worst subject). In addition, opponents of the books often point to the famous Veritaserus potion Snape sometimes threatens Harry with and is actually used often in the books. The problem is, we today use similar drugs to coerce information out of enemies of the State or as an alternative to torture to get information from captured forces. In fact, "veritaserus" is Latin for what the potion is also named; a "truth potion." It does not harm anyone it is used against unless that person is then abused, and there was only one occurrance of this: it was by the allies of Voldemort in order to keep someone from snitching on their plans to "resurrect" the Dark Lord himself.

The potions therefore used in Harry Potter are benign used used to abuse or harm, just like any current drug today: asperin can bring down fevers and quell pain but it can also be used to poison someone all the same. The Bible is telling people not to harm people via magical or poisonous potions, and Harry Potter books don't protray any of the heroes doing that at all, only the villains.

I must therefore conclude that there is nothing in the Bible than condemns the "magic," "witchcraft" or "spells" contained in the "magical" Harry Potter books. The only "spell" it has cast is one of a renewed love of reading in children, teenagers, and adults of all ages, keeping their eyes glewed to reading instead of the boobtube.

And that is one spell that I'm glad Rowling conjured.

 

[Jazzcat]

Paladin: On the "Fallacy of the Slippery Slope" theory, I have a quote from a little girl to post:

I was eager to get to Hogwarts first because I like what they learned there and I want to be a witch.-Gioia, age 10

 

[Jazzcat]

I also have a question for you, Paladin: How much do you know about the real life occult?

 

[Kaylee4Christ]

*claps* *snaps* *waves arms around* Did ya'll read what she just said?! All I can say is

Kaylee