potter fever?

[katherinethegreat]

now that the third movie is coming out, i just wanted to see how many people thing, how many people think that reading and watching harry potter is morally wrong? i do not think it is, because i d o not believe in the kind of wichcraft it teaches..and if you have read my other posts, you know i have no problem with Wiccans...so what does everybody think?

 

[msjones21]

Hey there Katherine. I appreciate your tolerance towards us silly Wiccans. I am super stoked about going to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. That is my favorite HP book, thus far, and my sister and I plan on wearing our Harry Potter glasses and our Hogwart's scarves (she's in Gryffindor and I'm in Ravenclaw LOL). On the moral issue, I see nothing wrong with reading or watching Harry Potter. It's harmless, make believe magic portrayed in these movies. It's not any different than the children in the 60's watching Bewitched or Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The magic spells are pretend. Why parents these days get their undies in a bunch over Harry Potter is beyond me. If your parenting skills are on par then you should have no problem explaining to your children that the magic in these movies and books is pretend. Who cares if you catch them in the yard pointing a stick at a cat and chanting Wingardium Leviosa? I highly doubt it will make them grow up to sacrifice babies and dabble in black magic.

When I was a little girl I used to play pretend that I was a doctor. I didn't grow up to become one. Not to mention, Wicca is a harmless sect of faith. We don't use Magick to harm people. We don't drink blood or sacrifice kittens. Sometimes I dance naked beneath the full moon, but that's another story. The "Magick" used in the Wiccan faith is more of a form of self meditation, a way to improve one's self. Channeling the positive energy. Becoming a better person. All sects of faith could benefit from that. Wicca is in no way, shape, or form black magic. We don't worship the devil because we don't believe in an evil entity. Of course, I've had plenty of Christians tell me if I'm not worshipping their god then I'm worhsipping satan, but oh well. Let them believe that. I just go on about my business and love my choice in faith as I hope they love theirs.

Oh, I got off on a tangent. Anyway, isn't the new HP movie opening everywhere June 3rd?

 

[Archivist]

I am really looking forwrad to the next movie! And, like katherinethe great and msjones21, I have no problem with the books or the movies.

 

[transientlife]

It's CHILDRENS FICTION and I find it hard to believe there might be some hidden agenda attached to it. I say be glad it got kids reading! (I may not be head over heals for Harry Potter, but one of my favorite classic tv shows is Bewitched...does that throw my Christianity into limbo? )
I read the first book a few years ago becuase I worked in a toy store, figured it would be good to know what the kids were talkin' about --- it was ok, very creative, I enjoyed it but wasn't motivated to go out and read the rest. Haven't seen any of the movies either.

I think there is a time for vigilance, and a time for entertainment. Harry Potter falls in the latter. Some people just get ridiculous.

 

[Mr. Fields]

My wife and I struggled with this for a while until I did a bit o' reading and we watched the movies. The books actually have a relatively simple plot, but are worded carefully to capture the readers imagination. The movies are well done and very fascinating.

I write childrens books. 'twould sure be nice to be able to write something as popular as Ms. Rowling's books.

One of the things that held me back as a writer was my [formerly] very fundamentalist religious beliefs. I am currently working on a book in which the main character, a teenage girl, is able to live another life through the last painting her grandmother completed before she died. It's pretty mystical and I had a hard time going forward with it until recently. So far the manuscript gets an A+ from my 12 year old daughter, so we'll see what happens.

 

[LazyFatJoo]

I have a morral problem with it. the hype. They have gone way over board with all of the products it is no longer a morral question as to whether the witchcraft is bad, it is a morral question of isn't this takeing advantage of this world's children

 

[Mr. Fields]

I have a morral problem with it. the hype. They have gone way over board with all of the products it is no longer a morral question as to whether the witchcraft is bad, it is a morral question of isn't this takeing advantage of this world's children

Please...

People have the right to buy or not to buy what they want. If someone is persuaded to buy something based on peer pressure or marketing, it's still their choice. There is nothing immoral about marketing or "hype".

 

[katherinethegreat]

your book sounds interesting mr. fields..must tell us when it comes out! GOOO POTTER!

 

[Lifesaver]

It's only fiction. Of a questionable quality, maybe, but only fiction. A person can read it or watch it without any problem.

However, considering the time they were released, I must say I oppose them. We live in an age when many are taking witchcraft and Pagan religions seriously; actually believing them. I go to a newspaper stand and already see Wiccan magazines, aimed at pre-teen girls, there.
While not problematic in itself, Harry Potter books, given the cultural context they've been released in, may make children more inclined to accept and even believe in serious witchcraft.
What's worse, JK Rowling, the series' author, doesn't seem to think there is anything wrong in that at all.

 

[Caylin]

It's only fiction. Of a questionable quality, maybe, but only fiction. A person can read it or watch it without any problem.

However, considering the time they were released, I must say I oppose them. We live in an age when many are taking witchcraft and Pagan religions seriously; actually believing them. I go to a newspaper stand and already see Wiccan magazines, aimed at pre-teen girls, there.
While not problematic in itself, Harry Potter books, given the cultural context they've been released in, may make children more inclined to accept and even believe in serious witchcraft.
What's worse, JK Rowling, the series' author, doesn't seem to think there is anything wrong in that at all.

People have belivied in Pagan religons for longer than Christianity has been around. We have ALWAYS lived in an age where people have taken them seriously.

 

[Jethro Tull]

I go to a newspaper stand and already see Wiccan magazines, aimed at pre-teen girls, there.

Is that a bad thing? Are you telling me that Christianity doesn't target children and try to interest them in Christianity?

 

[PaladinValer]

No problem whatsoever with the movies either. I'm sure it will be just as good as the first two films and I'm looking forward in seeing it.

 

[jingwei]

I do believe that this book is not of good origin. If you read a lot of books like this you will be desensitized to witchcraft.
I don't understand why you can't just not read this book. Is it that addicting?

 

[jingwei]

Jethro, that IS a bad thing. Evil even. Preaching to poeple to accept good is better than preaching evil.

 

[Havoc]

We live in an age when many are taking witchcraft and Pagan religions seriously; actually believing them.

Yes, and our religion is growing at a phenominal rate, while yours is in decline. Maybe we have the better message?

I go to a newspaper stand and already see Wiccan magazines, aimed at pre-teen girls, there.

What's even worse, you can often find Christian tracts lying around... AIMED AT CHILDREN!!! AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!

Wiccans have just as much right to publish religious material as Christians do. This has nothing to do with HP and everything to do with the fact that your religion just doesn't seem to be relevant to a large and growing segment of the population, while ours appears to satisfy the need for people to have an intimate and personal relationship with the Divine.

 

[Havoc]

Jethro, that IS a bad thing. Evil even. Preaching to poeple to accept good is better than preaching evil.

And just how... exactly... do Wiccans preach evil. Don't bother with the "wrong religion" fallacy either, what actual, substantive evil do we preach?

 

[jingwei]

Of course from the view of a non Christian/Hebrew/Muslim etc. Wiccan is perfectly normal. The bible commands us not to practice Satanism.

 

[Havoc]

Of course from the view of a non Christian/Hebrew/Muslim etc. Wiccan is perfectly normal. The bible commands us not to practice Satanism.

Well that should no be a problem, since Wicca and Witchcraft is not Satanism, or anything that could reasonably be called Satanism.

But back to the question... What actual evil acts do we Wiccans perform or advocate. I'd be very interested in knowing.

 

[jingwei]

Wicca utilizes the traditional spell casting of European witches practicing Satanism and cannibalism. It also utilizes the symbols for evil and Ha-Satan. It is a mere toned down version often mixed with new age spiritism and naturalism. It offers personal control of "natural" forces. It pays tribute to multiple false gods.

 

[tulc]

Wicca utilizes the traditional spell casting of European witches practicing Satanism and cannibalism. It also utilizes the symbols for evil and Ha-Satan. It is a mere toned down version often mixed with new age spiritism and naturalism. It offers personal control of "natural" forces. It pays tribute to multiple false gods

Gee Havoc, have you been holding out on us?!! Since jingwei has now shown you to be a cannibal (since Havoc is a Wiccan) maybe you can answer a question I've always had: do we really taste like chicken?
tulc(who thinks jingwei should talk to wiccans instead of read anti-wiccan web sites)