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You may keep with your superstition it's makes no difference to me. Just don't shove your silliness down our throatsWords do have meaning. God detests astrology and the performances of seances to contact the dead, and such spells as sorcerers do within any tradition of enchantment, etc. God detests homosexual acts and fornication -- people pursue these things in pornography and say it's ok because it's just fantasy -- but they are corrupting their hearts.
I'm not interested in entering into false realities where 'homosexuality isn't a sin but is consistent with Christianity" (i.e., the Anglican Communion), just as I am not interested in fiction about alternate realities where 'humans can engage in spiritism, pursue interpretation of omens, do astrology, and enchant others, and it isn't a sin but is Christian" (i.e., Harry Potter)
At least in Narnia the major human heroes aren't sorcerers or magicians doing enchantments, etc, and the 'deep magic from before time' is distinguished from occultism or demonology but instead refers either to miracles or to the hidden ways of Aslan or the underlying powers that Aslan has given created things and the way such powers worked. There is some filtering required with Narnia, but at least it isn't quite like Harry Potter. The major human hero characters who do anything mysterious or amazing are either A) directly guided by Aslan, or B) disobedient to Aslan and doing something for bad motives that is to be discouraged.
That said, Narnia, like Beowulf and Faerie Queen, is just a bit more edifying for a Christian than Grimm Fairy Tales. And I would NOT call C.S. Lewis a Christian theologian. He speaks on Christianity and he has philosophical and literary interest and training, but he really gives no sense of what Salvation is, and reading him doesn't seem to me to have much to do with specifically understanding Jesus better a more personal level.
Words do have meaning. God detests astrology and the performances of seances to contact the dead, and such spells as sorcerers do within any tradition of enchantment, etc. God detests homosexual acts and fornication -- people pursue these things in pornography and say it's ok because it's just fantasy -- but they are corrupting their hearts.
I'm not interested in about entering into false realities where 'homosexuality isn't a sin but is consistent with Christianity" (i.e., the Anglican Communion), just as I am not interested in fiction about alternate realities where 'humans can engage in spiritism, pursue interpretation of omens, do astrology, and enchant others, and it isn't a sin but is Christian" (i.e., Harry Potter)
At least in Narnia the major human heroes aren't sorcerers or magicians doing enchantments, etc, and the 'deep magic from before time' is distinguished from occultism or demonology but instead refers either to miracles or to the hidden ways of Aslan or the underlying powers that Aslan has given created things and the way such powers worked. There is some filtering required with Narnia, but at least it isn't quite like Harry Potter. The major human hero characters who do anything mysterious or amazing are either A) directly guided by Aslan, or B) disobedient to Aslan and doing something for bad motives that is to be discouraged.
That said, Narnia, like Beowulf and Faerie Queen, is just a bit more edifying for a Christian than Grimm Fairy Tales. And I would NOT call C.S. Lewis a Christian theologian. He speaks on Christianity and he has philosophical and literary interest and training, but he really gives no sense of what Salvation is, and reading him doesn't seem to me to have much to do with specifically understanding Jesus better a more personal level.
ToBeInChrist said:It isn't superstition to not find sin or moral-revisionism entertaining. I understand alternate realities interest some. Well why, and in what way, would that be something a Christian should find edifying or to be encouraged, and just how much do we want our hearts to enjoy such alternative realities?
Some people think the Bible portrays an alternative reality, a fantasy, something false, with stories about miracles that never happened, stories about non-existent demons being cast out of people and con-artists doing sleight of hand to mimic the Miracles performed by Moses. I believe the Bible presents reality: sorcerers duplicated some of Moses' wonders but God was working through Moses so Moses defeated them, Saul consulted a medium and the medium called up some sort of spirit, demons were cast out of people by Jesus, a demonized man broke chains and another beat up 7 exorcists by demonic power, and a deminized slave had some sort of clairvoyant spirit in her until Paul cast it out of her.
So when sci-fi/fantasy 'entertainment' is around, I put on a filter, and some things I just don't find entertaining because my heart hates what God hates, or I want to have my heart be more the way God wants it to be so I avoid 'entertainment' that encourages what God hates.
Some sci-fi/fantasy offends more than others. I want to guard my heart.
Proverbs 4:23
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
I don't think some are bright enough to figure that out
To my knowledge, this is the first time that you've addressed your question to me. I did see your brief conversation with "frankleespeaking", but, knowing a little bit about your background (you don't seem to like to get into quarrels...I'm not mocking...that's a good thing), I figured that I'd stay out of it unless you specifically addressed me or said something totally outlandish (which I wasn't expecting you to do, btw) that demanded a response. Anyhow, I'll gladly answer it, to the extent that I can. The reason that I say "to the extent that I can" is because I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "folk stories". In any case, as I've already explained throughout this thread, according to the testimony of J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, she did her research and about 1/3 of the magic that is used in the Potter books is actual magic that others have practiced in the past. Now, you can argue as to whether or not any genuine results came from/come from such magic, if you'd like to...I'm merely giving you this fact, straight from the horse's mouth, as it were. On top of this, as I've also mentioned, in the Potter books there are REAL NAMES of REAL PEOPLE given who have been involved with the occult in REAL LIFE. Now, why would Rowling have to include such, if it's all just "fantasy"? For example:
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A little later on, in the same article, we read:
Why did he have to be included in the books? He's just one of a few who I could mention, but, then again, I'm just a "muggle", so what do I know? Once again, according to Rowling, the number one thing that she hears from the children who read her books is that they think that people in the books ARE REAL. In fact, some of them ARE REAL, as in REAL OCCULTISTS. Do you HONESTLY think that none of the children who read the books are going to research some of these REAL OCCULTISTS on their own? Again, according to Rowling's own testimony, she receives numerous letters in which children are begging her to let them into Hogwarts. Why do you think that they want to enroll? To learn about JESUS?
Also, as I've already documented, there is one group which reports that they get 100 inquiries per month from children/teenagers who want to learn more about witchcraft as a direct result of the Potter books and such shows as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch". Does this concern you? Once again, it matters not whether or not the "magic" or whatever in such shows is real or not. What matters is that children are being drawn into the world of the occult. Does this concern you?
FINALLY, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE, NAY, WHOLEHEARTEDLY KNOW, THAT THERE IS REAL MAGIC, WHICH IS DEMONIC IN NATURE, IN THIS WORLD.
Pssstttt...I'm married to a woman who was studying to be a witch before we got married. I could tell you some firsthand, eye-witness accounts of deliverances (plural) from DEMONS that would make some of you soil your undies.
I hope that this answers your questions. By the way, if you missed any of the documentation that I alluded to in this post, then I'll be happy to provide you links to such. Thanks. Also, I hope you don't find my "tone" to be too strong in this response. Quite frankly, I'm stunned to see how many professing Christians are defending this type of stuff. Then again, on the other hand, I'm really not stunned at all.
A question for those who like the Harry Potter books and movies, and recommend them as good entertainment, do you agree with ancient Jews and Christians that consulting the stars or getting a reading from a fortune-teller/astrologer is sinful?
sbvd said:No worries, I just wanted to know if I was wasting my time, as usual
I burned (or rather trashed) my star magazines and gossipy books. That was when things changed and the word of God prevailed in my life, not minding all that superficial, gossipy.( meddling into the affairs of others) backbiting stuff. Must admit that did help
But I am guilty of Harry Potter < staff edit >
Picks up stones.
sees Mirror.
Looks in mirror.
throws stone at mirror.
Now where was fireinfolding....
Well, if your hope/intention is to sway me from anything that I've already stated, then, yes, you are wasting your time. Beyond that, read as much "fantasy" as you'd like to. This isn't a public book burning...it's a debate. Quite frankly, as I've said before, with all of the need in the world, I simply can't imagine how God would be leading anybody to be reading "fanstasy" books.
Tis commonly referred to here on CF as the "closed mind/wounded duck" syndrome...Well, if your hope/intention is to sway me from anything that I've already stated, then, yes, you are wasting your time. Beyond that, read as much "fantasy" as you'd like to. This isn't a public book burning...it's a debate. Quite frankly, as I've said before, with all of the need in the world, I simply can't imagine how God would be leading anybody to be reading "fanstasy" books.
Tis commonly referred to here on CF as the "closed mind/wounded duck" syndrome...
http://www.christianforums.com/t1572784/
Does anyone ever change their beliefs on this forum?
I am just wondering if there is a purpose for discussing much of the things that are discussed here on these forums. I am wondering if everyone here has already come to these forums with a closed mind, ready to convince everyone else they are right without even thinking upon the other point of view.
So, has anyone ever got on this forum one day with a certain position, and after someone here pointed out the other view point, changed their mind on their position? If so, what position was it? What was said to change your mind?
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