potter fever?

[Havoc]

Really, I hope you realize the falsity of your beliefs and stop paying respect and worshipping the horned god.

I hope you realize the falsity of your beliefs and stop paying respect and worshipping the blood stained god, who delights in the slaughter of children.

 

[Archivist]

Aren't we rather far off topic here? If you want to discuss the practice of Wicca there is an active thread currently discussing the subject.

 

[PastorFreud]

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.

That really sounds fun! You need a fantasy backdrop sometimes to do some "what if" scenarios. It's a literary convention. If kids read your book and start jumping through paintings, the problem lies with stupid children who can't separate fantasy from reality.

 

[Skellybones]

But Katherine, any religion which turns people away from the truth has evil in it. That's not to say it is completely evil, but the more it deviates from Christ's Church, the less good it is. And Wicca is in fact very far from the Church.

You may have a point in that the Harry Potter books have many Christian symbols and themes. I have not read them; I don't know. However, the religious effect of these books on people in general, as highlighted by the media, is a growing acceptance towards witchcraft and magic.

As I believe these practices to be condemned by God, and all cases of them either non-existant or result of demonic intervention, I think this growing acceptance is quite an evil thing.

I'm going to explode. I've counted to ten, held my breath, but it ain't working! I have to say this.

How do you know your god is right for everyone? He's right for you, but that doesn't mean he's right for the world! Simply because another spiritual path does not completely align with your doctrines does not mean that it is false or evil. Christianity had its go, now another religion will probably take its place--what a horrible thought

And what's with the focus on horns? Satan didn't even get his horns until medival artists started colouring them in. The Horned God is focused around Nature/Life...he does not "test god's followers" like the aforementioned literary figure.

Why do so many christians (not all) believe their religion is superior to all others? I mean, is god the only member of some cosmic country club that I have yet to hear about? What's the reason for this need to "save" others when they are not even in danger to begin with...ah, I've said enough...

 

[Skellybones]

That really sounds fun! You need a fantasy backdrop sometimes to do some "what if" scenarios. It's a literary convention. If kids read your book and start jumping through paintings, the problem lies with stupid children who can't separate fantasy from reality.

Thank you, first intelligent thing I've heard all night.

 

[Nathan David]

Lifesaver, you have explained why you, a Christian, are concerned about kids turning to Wicca and that Harry Potter may be one factor making them more likely to do so. But earlier you said JK Rowling didn't even see it as a problem. Why should she? She's not a Christian. Why would a non-Christian care if people are turning away from Christianity.

As far as I'm concerned children rejecting Christianity in favor of Wicca is a good thing, as Wiccans don't hassle me the way some Christians do.

 

[katherinethegreat]

my chruch and this site has lead me farther from the "christian religion" then harry potter...

 

[katherinethegreat]

And what's with the focus on horns? Satan didn't even get his horns until medival artists started colouring them in. The Horned God is focused around Nature/Life...he does not "test god's followers" like the aforementioned literary figure.

thank you for bringing that up!

 

[Kelly]

I think they're fine. I enjoyed the books, especially the 3rd one. Fiction can have an influence on the young and impressionable, the film "The Craft" sparked a wave of young girls getting involved in witchcraft, for example.

 

[Havoc]

And once they realised that Wicca wasn't anything like the movie, most of them went on to worship Brittney Spears instead (or whomever lol).

The ones that found what they were looking for in Wicca, and stayed, probably would have found their way there eventually with or without the movie. They are now happy and fulfilled and revelling in the Love of the Divine (if my experience is any indication, and it probably is). How exactly is that bad?

 

[Kelly]

How exactly is that bad?

In my belief they are seperating themselves from God and following a false religion.

 

[Havoc]

Ok then I can accept that you believe that. I respectfully disagree, based on my beliefs.

 

[Kelly]

Cool..whew..that was civil...

 

[Havoc]

No reason it shouldn't be. You made a statement of belief. You weren't trying to ram it down my throat. You weren't trying to tell me I'm an evil baby killer. You didn't try to tell me my beliefs were false.

You gave me your perspective based on your beliefs. From your perspective I can see how, even if we don't commit heinous crimes, being other than Christian is a bad thing. I don't agree with your premise but that doesn't prevent me from seeing your perspective.

I have my beliefs, you have yours. So long as both are respected (not necessarily agreed with, but respected) there's no reason we can't have meaningful dialogue.

 

[transientlife]

No reason it shouldn't be. You made a statement of belief. You weren't trying to ram it down my throat. You weren't trying to tell me I'm an evil baby killer. You didn't try to tell me my beliefs were false.

You gave me your perspective based on your beliefs. From your perspective I can see how, even if we don't commit heinous crimes, being other than Christian is a bad thing. I don't agree with your premise but that doesn't prevent me from seeing your perspective.

I have my beliefs, you have yours. So long as both are respected (not necessarily agreed with, but respected) there's no reason we can't have meaningful dialogue.

It would be great to see most boards on here debate with that much civility!

 

[Lifesaver]

Lifesaver, you have explained why you, a Christian, are concerned about kids turning to Wicca and that Harry Potter may be one factor making them more likely to do so. But earlier you said JK Rowling didn't even see it as a problem. Why should she? She's not a Christian. Why would a non-Christian care if people are turning away from Christianity.

As far as I know, she's also not into witchcraft herself. I admit that I haven't kept up with her reaction to the books success very closely, but from what I got she encourages children to play with witchcraft and occultic things like horoscopes.
Even someone who is not a Christian should at least realize the waste of time that these practices are, and the potential danger of there having grown men still believing in them.
As much as you and her may not think of it as evil, it is certainly not a good thing to encourage the belief in false things, is it? (yes, I am aware you probably think the same of Christianity, but that is beside the point)

As far as I'm concerned children rejecting Christianity in favor of Wicca is a good thing, as Wiccans don't hassle me the way some Christians do.

So, in spite of not believing in either one, you'll defend that belief which "produces" more people who act in the way that is more pleasing (or less annoying) to you?

 

[PastorFreud]

Rowling is reportedly an Anglican. Last I checked, they were considered Christians.

 

[Nathan David]

Rowling is reportedly an Anglican. Last I checked, they were considered Christians.

For some reason I thought she wasn't a believer but I could be a wrong. Many English people are Anglicans on paper because it's the state religion but don't actually practice. I don't know if that applies to Rowling though.

 

[Nathan David]

As far as I know, she's also not into witchcraft herself. I admit that I haven't kept up with her reaction to the books success very closely, but from what I got she encourages children to play with witchcraft and occultic things like horoscopes.

I'm not aware of anything that would suggest that. Anyway, kids play with a lot of things. When I was a kid, after I read "Robin Hood", I played with a piece of wood that looked sort of like a sword. Seems like the same thing to me.

Even someone who is not a Christian should at least realize the waste of time that these practices are, and the potential danger of there having grown men still believing in them.

Rowling's books are written for children, not grown men, and they are works of fiction. You could say the same about any kind of imaginitive fiction. I think there's a potential danger of having grown men believe pigs can talk to spiders but that doesn't mean kids shouldn't read "Charlotte's Web".

As much as you and her may not think of it as evil, it is certainly not a good thing to encourage the belief in false things, is it?

Certainly not. But I don't think those books encourage the belief of false things.

So, in spite of not believing in either one, you'll defend that belief which "produces" more people who act in the way that is more pleasing (or less annoying) to you?

I don't defend any belief. I do defend people's right to believe any crazy thing they want, including yours. Your concern was children leaving their Christian heritage for Wicca. Obviously I think they (and the world) would be better off if they left their Christian heritage for atheism. But in lieu of that, I prefer them going to Wicca because, historically, Wicca is far less harmful to its practitioners and society than Christianity.

 

[katherinethegreat]

three cheers for that nathan david