Harry Potter

[staveoffzombies]

Rod Liddle, writing in the London Sunday Times, comes at Rowling from another angle:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rod_liddle/article2116237.ece

Someone reading wayyy too much into the book and then insulting those of us who read them. Big deal.

 

[talitha]

for me, stave, it's not so much about what is written as it is about the spiritual effect that is going on.

 

[Lisa0315]

for me, stave, it's not so much about what is written as it is about the spiritual effect that is going on.

Stave was talking about the article not the HP books.

Lisa

 

[talitha]

I know that, Lisa. He was saying that people are reading too much into the books and he was using that article as an example.

I think my comment to him is valid.

 

[CyberPaladin]

Personaly I believe people reading way more into these Harry Potter books than what there is. Keep in mind to I'm not in any way shape or form a fan but I'm very skepitcal of these claims about it being evil. Guys let's not forgot back in the 1950's there were claims that comic books were evil.

 

[Lisa0315]

Personaly I believe people reading way more into these Harry Potter books than what there is. Keep in mind to I'm not in any way shape or form a fan but I'm very skepitcal of these claims about it being evil. Guys let's not forgot back in the 1950's there were claims that comic books were evil.

Agreed! If the Holy Spirit convicts someone of these books, then, let that be that person's guide. However, we have liberty in Christ and if we are not convicted about HP, then, let us not condemn one another...either way.

Lisa

 

[christianmomof3]

Anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that is representing life apart from God seems to be inherently evil.

I even consider something as benign as Spongebob as suspicious.

If things are not of Christ then they are of the World.
Spongebob is very suspicious.
I like Harry Potter though.

Agreed! If the Holy Spirit convicts someone of these books, then, let that be that person's guide. However, we have liberty in Christ and if we are not convicted about HP, then, let us not condemn one another...either way.
Lisa

I just finished reading the last Harry Potter book and the author does turn him into a Christ figure.
But, she uses some foul language in the book and I do not like that.
I used to teach reading in middle school.
I like children's literature.
HP is ok, but I did not allow my oldest daughter to read it until she was around 10 or 11 and I don't recommend it for younger children. I like the first book and they get darker from there. I think book 4 is the darkest.
I wonder if the author went with the Christ imagery due to the negative press she was getting about the darkness of the other books?
Anyway, I think the HP books are ok.
I do NOT like the Fear Street and Goosebumps series nor do I like the Series of Unfortunate Events books.
But, I like fantasy books better anyway.

 

[dinkime]

{{just a note, i have not read the entire thread}}

i love the books...they are FICTION (i.e. PRETEND)...

they have deeply Christian themes (as LOTR, Narnia, etc)...

their author is a Christian who believes in the death & resurrection of Jesus...

people who claim it makes kids into witches are sorely missing the reality of the books

 

[dinkime]

Did you know that JKR has published a book of "spells" as an accompaniment to the series?

and what is this book called? she has published 7 HP novels in the series and 2 special books for comic relief -- one about quidditch & one about the pretend creatures of the books...nothing else

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Rod Liddle, writing in the London Sunday Times, comes at Rowling from another angle:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rod_liddle/article2116237.ece

Good one, V!

From the linked article:

It is hard to think of a more right-wing convocation than Roald Dahl, Richard Adams, Henry Williamson, Captain W E Johns, J R R Tolkien and the blessed Enid Blyton. Strength of character, elitism, common sense conservatism and a healthy dollop of sentimentality appeal to young boys - which is one reason why the ludicrous eco-leftie Woodland Folk never came close to supplanting Baden-Powell’s Scouting for Boys. And why Rowling herself is such a phenomenal success.

Hmm, pretty distinguished company, but it's not only boys they appeal to. Those kinds of moral lessons are what I think kids will internalize from HP, and that will last long after they've forgotten the fantasy trappings. That's why I think HP is not only harmless, but commendable.

 

[Voegelin]

Those kinds of moral lessons are what I think kids will internalize from HP, and that will last long after they've forgotten the fantasy trappings. That's why I think HP is not only harmless, but commendable.

I have not read the books so I don't know but Orrin Judd, who I sometimes suspect reads everything written, said yesterday the "most moving and memorable" sections and the last chapters of the final book "read like creative narrative commentaries on 1 Corinthians 13."

Wouldn't surprise me. Literature of any length which gains a mass audience and isn't a passing fad always plays off Christian themes.

 

[sn315on]

The Harry Potter books/movies are not dangerous for me personally and I enjoy good entertainment. The books are well-written with well-thought out characters and storylines. The author did a lot of research and I find a lot of what she has woven into the storylines to be quite impressive.

I can properly distinguish between fiction and truth. I know that Harry Potter and his world is just make-believe. I don't see it as causing me to stray from the truth of Jesus Christ and Him-crucified for our sins.

Now, there might be a lot of weak Christians who cannot handle fantasy and for them, it's probably best that they avoid such literature. It's for them to make that decision though and I don't think anyone should be looked down upon if he/she enjoys reading a make believe book or not.

I totally agree with everything you wrote!

I think that parents need to know what their kids are reading. So I read the book before my youngest read it. She was 8. I didn't see anything wrong with it at all.

Not all children are able to separate fantasy and reality, some adults cannot either!

 

[Nova Scotian Boy]

I thought this might be worth posting here.
Yale Divinity course examines theology in Harry Potter | Christian News on Christian Today

 

[A New Dawn]

It is extremely difficult for me to consider fantasy as "evil". I do understand the concerns. However, even C.S. Lewis SciFi triology could be considered quite occultish depending on the reader. Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind (is that is name, I forget.) is definitely very, very adult in content and quite occultish as well.

Yet, I enjoy these books. I have since I was a kid. The Narnia Chronicles, LOTR, they are no different really with witches, and other creatures, but at the heart of every book I mentioned is the struggle between good and evil.

I would not condemn a Christian for not reading these books or for not allowing their kids to read them, but I do not want to be condemned by enjoying them myself and for allowing my kids to. Admittedly, my kids are now almost 20 and almost 17.

Lisa

This is about how I feel on the subject. I do not view the HP books any differently than the Wizard of Oz books, or the Chronicles of Narnia or the Star Wars books/movies. They all have a good vs. evil theme and the good side wins. I and my older daughter have read them all, and all of us, even my youngest daughter (now 12) have seen all the movies, and none of us are remotely interested in the occult.

I have to point out that, intrinsic to the book is the fact that they are Christians.

The article is interesting, and what they have done is no different from what they have done with other popular series in the past, including Star Wars and the LoTR. (The Chronicles of Narnia was written as a religious allegory to the Bible.)

 

[Octorock]

I've often heard people talk about how worried they are that a particular book or other work of art would "get them interested in the occult," but how often does that really happen? Has anyone ever even met somebody that became an occultist because they read Harry Potter?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I've often heard people talk about how worried they are that a particular book or other work of art would "get them interested in the occult," but how often does that really happen? Has anyone ever even met somebody that became an occultist because they read Harry Potter?

I think it's more that it gets a kid interested and that can open up the mind to evil influences. I read a book once, a fiction book, that had some girls using a Ouija board. I didn't know what it was, but it looked fun. Of course my parents said no when I asked for one. My pastor told me that even if we use something like that in jest, we open ourselves up to evil.

Now, I'm a HUGE fan of Harry Potter. But like LilLamb, I can discern. Those who can't or those who are weak probably should stay away from things like HP.

We don't want to cause anyone to stumble.

 

[Octorock]

I think it's more that it gets a kid interested and that can open up the mind to evil influences. I read a book once, a fiction book, that had some girls using a Ouija board. I didn't know what it was, but it looked fun. Of course my parents said no when I asked for one. My pastor told me that even if we use something like that in jest, we open ourselves up to evil.

Now, I'm a HUGE fan of Harry Potter. But like LilLamb, I can discern. Those who can't or those who are weak probably should stay away from things like HP.

We don't want to cause anyone to stumble.

Do you have any real-world examples where someone brought harm into their life through reading a fantasy novel?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Do you have any real-world examples where someone brought harm into their life through reading a fantasy novel?

Yes, I do, but it's family and it's a bit private.

Suffice to say, the family member no longer believes in Christianity and is a practicing witch.

 

[Octorock]

Yes, I do, but it's family and it's a bit private.

Suffice to say, the family member no longer believes in Christianity and is a practicing witch.

I'd be interested in hearing the whole story, but I won't press you about it if it's a private matter.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I'd be interested in hearing the whole story, but I won't press you about it if it's a private matter.

Thank you. I can say that it started out with her using a Ouija board, just like I thought I could do. It really manifested into a great number of things over time.

But please note that I'm not saying that everyone who does something like this will suffer this effect, thankfully. It's just that I wouldn't want to be the person to put that stumbling block in front of someone.

I love Harry Potter, I watched Angel and Buffy...because I knew my faith wasn't going to be interrupted by them.