Harry Potter

[Motherof3]

So if people were more open minded they would see as you do?

I agree w/you tulc. Some people won't stop until they actually force people to see as they do. That's the wonderful thing about God. He gave us our own minds & our own thoughts. If everyone thought the same, we would be robots, don't you think? There is such a thing as seeing things differently. Doesn't mean that you're wrong, simply means you just don't agree.

Even the apostles disagreed on certain aspects of life. Why are we any different?

 

[woobadooba]

So if people were more open minded they would see as you do?
tulc(did I understand that's what you are saying here?)

It's not about seeing things just like me, but about subjecting ourselves to those things that are approved by God, and aligning our lives to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

HP is obviously not something that Christians should be promoting for the obvious reasons that I've shared with you already.

Unfortunately, you choose to ignore these factors. But one day you will be held accountable by God for what you have inculcated.

Matt. 7:21

 

[woobadooba]

Even the apostles disagreed on certain aspects of life. Why are we any different?

But they did agree on what it means to live a sanctified life.

In fact, they encouraged people to be of the same mind in this sense.

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1Cor. 1:10

It really is amazing how so many people contradict what the Bible says, while professing to believe it!

People, let's get back to the Bible.

 

[OnTheWay]

Frankly, the HP books are not all the different from Tolkien's work of that of Lewis. Rowling isn't nearly the author either of those gentlemen were, but the books as far as containing magic and fanatsy aren't all that different.
There is a lot of entertainment out there that contains objectionable elements, and for some children might be harmful. You, as a parent, need to know whether something would be a difficulty for your child and adjust their reading, viewing, and listening media accordingly.
Given the highly fictionalized nature of HP magic I tend to find it much less objectionable than the moral elements contained within the books. For example, that Harry Potter and his friends continually disobey adults and are put in dangerious situations while always managing to come out on top in the end. I think teaching a child that is much more dangerious than any of the pig Latin magic "spells."

 

[tulc]

It's not about seeing things just like me, but about subjecting ourselves to those things that are approved by God, and aligning our lives to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

again, (and I'm not trying to attacking you) if we would line ourselves up with God, then we'd think like you?

Unfortunately, you choose to ignore these factors. But one day you will be held accountable by God for what you have inculcated.

...and how do you know if I've ignored those factors? Because I don't agree with you?
tulc(still trying to get an answer)

 

[Motherof3]

But they did agree on what it means to live a sanctified life.

In fact, they encouraged people to be of the same mind in this sense.

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." 1Cor. 1:10

It really is amazing how so many people contradict what the Bible says, while professing to believe it!

People, let's get back to the Bible.

Okay, woobadooba. What would you suggest? That all Christians read only Christian based books & read their Bibles only? What do you think the solution should be?

We all have choices. And Jesus says that we WILL be tempted. We HAVE TO live in this world. We don't have to follow what we're influenced by. We are going to be influenced. What we CHOOSE to do w/it is up to us.

I read your post #26 that you keep talking about & I think I would agree w/you if the books were PROMOTING witchcraft. They are not. They PROMOTE the concepts of love, trust & friendship. When we read something, we have to discern what the theme of the material is. I do not see the books as PROMOTING witchcraft, saying that THIS is the way that we should live. Throughout all of the books, the THEME is good vs evil. To CHOOSE a good path. To CHOOSE an honorable path. All things that Jesus says is a narrow path. When HP & the gang first arrive at their school, they are sorted into houses that become their family the duration of their stay there. When it's HP's turn, he has the ability to go to a house that will help him become larger than life, Slytherin. He learns from a fellow classmate that all wizards who go through Slytherin house usually end up turning evil. So HP pleads with the sorting hat that he doesn't want to go there. That he would rather go to another house that promotes GOODNESS. The sorting hat goes w/HP's decision & places him in the Gryffindor house.

At the end of the first book, Harry asks why did the sorting hat place him in Gryffindor? The Professor answers him that it was b/c Harry CHOSE it. We all have choices. Whether to follow the good path or the evil path. Harry breaks the rules a few times. Yes, that's true. But I ask you -- what teenager DOESN'T break rules at some point in their teenagehood? And, he is punished for breaking those rules at times.

I think you're getting confused on the SETTING vs the THEME of the books. When reading a book, we have to think of what we're TAKING AWAY from the book after we're done reading it. Are these kids taking away the how-to's of witchraft so they can practice it or are they taking away goodness, loyalty, love, friendship? I know my son has taken away the latter. It has re-emphasized his beliefs in what he already knows. It hasn't turned him AWAY from Jesus. Quite the opposite.

Every child copies what they see usually. That's why they are starting to put warnings on these TV programs that have like stunts & such. You know -- "Don't try this at home" type of thing. I remember when children were imitating cowboys b/c they thought they were "cool", playing good cowboy vs bad cowboy. The goal here is for parents to TEACH their children who Jesus is, instill good values in them, & that Jesus is their source of strength, of virtue, & that the path to goodness is very narrow. Should the Bible be read to children that can't read for themselves? Of course. Should teenagers ALSO be reading their Bibles besides other books? Of course.

 

[Jipsah]

the devilish world views that HP promotes are either being ignored, or favored just as much as the story itself.

Probably because the "world" in which HP exists doesn't exist.

Some folks believe that HP will tempt kids to do the things that the HP characters do. It won't, the things that HP characters do are impossible in the real world. You can't sin by doing what you can't do at all.

It really is a shame that people could be so closed minded as to only see the surface of the issue, but not the root of the problem.

It really is a shame that folks some folks are so superstitious that they can't discern between a fictional fantasy and the ghoulies, ghosties, and long-leggity beasties that populate their imaginations.

 

[Jipsah]

Gone

 

[AutumnAnne]

Frank perretti writes books that entertain in the same way- but have strong Christian messages. He isn't the only one either. What are we holding onto in this day and age, when we can find a Christian version of it?

 

[Jipsah]

But they did agree on what it means to live a sanctified life.

No Harry Potter for them, no sir! And the teevee was left on TBN.

It really is amazing how so many people contradict what the Bible says, while professing to believe it!

It's also fairly remarkable how many people elevate their own ill-founded opinions to be the equivalent of Scripture.

 

[Celticflower]

For example, that Harry Potter and his friends continually disobey adults and are put in dangerious situations while always managing to come out on top in the end.

And this differs from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys how?

I guess my point is that some people will always find something wrong when something becomes popular. Was my life ruined by reading Nancy Drew or Trixie Beldon? Did I constantly get myself into jams by disobeying my parents? Hardly. I was a "goodie two shoes" if you ask my friends.

So my daughter reads Harry Potter. She does not walk around in wizard robes shaking a stick at her brother and shouting some mangled Latin phrase. She does get good marks in school, plays the flute, goes to church and youth group(twice) every week and generally does as she is told. She understands that Harry doesn't exist outside the pages of the books, and neither does his magic. Since she never showed any magical talent before reading the books, she was not born magic and therefore will never be a wizard/witch. (a major point that anti-Potterites overlook - In Harry's world you have to be born with the magic and learn to control it. It is not a skill you can learn like playing the flute or riding a bike).

It should be up to the parental units of each home to decide whether or not their offspring are mature enough to read books like Harry Potter. To paint every child with the same brush and denigrate parents who find nothing wrong with allowing their child to read a work of fiction is a very unChristian attitude. If you feel Harry is not good for your child, fine. Ban the book from your home if you wish. I have no problem with that. but do not try to guilt me into banning it from mine.

And Woobadoo--do you think if you throw enough Bible verses at us we will suddenly change our opinions due to the deluge? Single verses pulled out of context do not impress me.

 

[woobadooba]

I tried to open your eyes to something that is obscure to you, but you mocked me.

Your blood is on your own hands now.

 

[MBElijah]

I read your post #26 that you keep talking about & I think I would agree w/you if the books were PROMOTING witchcraft. They are not. They PROMOTE the concepts of love, trust & friendship. When we read something, we have to discern what the theme of the material is. I do not see the books as PROMOTING witchcraft, saying that THIS is the way that we should live. Throughout all of the books, the THEME is good vs evil. To CHOOSE a good path. To CHOOSE an honorable path. All things that Jesus says is a narrow path. When HP & the gang first arrive at their school, they are sorted into houses that become their family the duration of their stay there. When it's HP's turn, he has the ability to go to a house that will help him become larger than life, Slytherin. He learns from a fellow classmate that all wizards who go through Slytherin house usually end up turning evil. So HP pleads with the sorting hat that he doesn't want to go there. That he would rather go to another house that promotes GOODNESS. The sorting hat goes w/HP's decision & places him in the Gryffindor house.

At the end of the first book, Harry asks why did the sorting hat place him in Gryffindor? The Professor answers him that it was b/c Harry CHOSE it. We all have choices. Whether to follow the good path or the evil path. Harry breaks the rules a few times. Yes, that's true. But I ask you -- what teenager DOESN'T break rules at some point in their teenagehood? And, he is punished for breaking those rules at times.

Good vs. Evil, what is good! In Witchcraft there is no difference between Good and Evil, all Witchcraft gets it's power from Satan. When Good witchcraft wins over Evil witchcraft who won, witchcraft!

The Sorting Hat, is a Divination tool. Which would have had a familiar spirit.

 

[Melethiel]

The story behind HP, and the central to the plot of all the books is Alchemy.

Alchemy is the transformation of the soul. Without Christ. It is a good study, but one can not save their own soul, and live with immortality without Christ.

Where'd that come from? Alchemy is the medieval practice of attempting to transform lead into gold. It's also not the central plot of the books.

- Maria, who has read all the books, and has no inclination to go start casting spells.

 

[kiwimac]

Cobblers!

The Harry Potter books are FICTION. Can you say "Fiction"?.... sure you can. It has as much reference to reality as a Zane Gray or Louis L'Amour novel.

You know if Christians spent as much time worrying over the poor, the oppressed, the imprisoned and the ill as they do over fictional characters in fictional books set in non-existent schools then the world would be a much better place.

 

[PearlOfGreatPrice]

You know if Christians spent as much time worrying over the poor, the oppressed, the imprisoned and the ill as they do over fictional characters in fictional books set in non-existent schools then the world would be a much better place.

Blessings!

 

[tulc]

I tried to open your eyes to something that is obscure to you, but you mocked me.

Your blood is on your own hands now.

I'm sorry you feel we are in such error. Also I truly didn't mean to come across like I was making fun of you at any time, and if it seemed like I was I apologize.
tulc(doesn't do rude on line if he can help it)

 

[Daughter of His]

All I can say is, to those of you who defend HP, I hope YOU are correct and I am not. I feel strongly that it is trouble down the road. I'd gladly have you say to me in heaven "told you so" I'd be laughing with you.

 

[tulc]

I'd gladly have you say to me in heaven "told you so" I'd be laughing with you.

If it makes you feel any better I don't even say "I told you so!" here on Earth!
tulc(thinks it's unspiritual)

 

[Daughter of His]

Oh, didn't mean any individual, it's just such a point of contention.

tulc you are thanks