Harry Potter: for those of you who are interested...

[olde_fashioned]

For the record, I am utterly opposed to Harry Potter and other books involving and glorifying witchcraft. THIS is a link to Doug Phillips' blog, that explains the dangers of Harry Potter much better than I ever could.

Comments

[musesong.livejournal.com]

I guess I am a voice of dissent. Still I respect your position even if I cannot support it.

Although I am not a Christian I do know that the Church of England quite supports the series. Rowling herself is a Christian though may take a more liberal stand than you or Mr. Phillips.

There certainly have been Christians who have practiced magic. I am sure many wise women and cunning men who practiced folk magic in times past considered themselves Christian.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

We are each entitled to our own opinions, and thank you for not bashing.

Many Christians unfortunately support that which the Bible condemns. Thousands of churches have openly gay bishops and pastors, yet God is clearly against that kind of behaviour. Proverbs 14:12 warns us "There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end of it are the ways of death" and not to lean on our own understanding. We are imperfect beings with imperfect minds, and to even think that we know better than God is ridiculous, not to mention dangerous.

If Rowling is a Christian then she is clearly a misguided one. The Bible says it would better for one who leads little ones astray to be drowned with a millstone around their neck, and Heaven only knows how many children have been forever ensnared by Rowling's books.

Christians practicing magic is mutually exclusive. You might as well say you're a Muslim Catholic. The two don't mix. Each condemns the other, and God doesn't allow straddling both sides of the fence. We are either for Him, or against Him. There is no middle ground.

[marvo.livejournal.com]

I really don't want to have a flame up or anything, just adding to the conversation, and truly interested in your opinion.

But,
Proverbs 14:12 warns us "There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end of it are the ways of death"

Could that not be talking about War?

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I agree -- I'm not trying to bash anyone's opinion or get into any heated arguments.

About Proverbs 14:12. Yes, I suppose it could be taken to refer to war, but it also can be used in the context I'm using it. Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death". So if sinning is equated to death in this verse, it can also be used in Prov. 14:12. Perhaps the NIV version would help clarify it for you? "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

The fact that we are all sinners is the reason Jesus Christ had to come to earth and die for us in the first place. The cost of sin is death, and instead of us, He took our place. I think the meaning behind Prov. 14:12 is that even something we as humans think is perfectly acceptable, can really be a hidden danger that in actuality is sinful. Like the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, Satan is very clever and can fool everyone if we choose to rely upon our own understanding rather than that of God. :-)

[marvo.livejournal.com]

Thank you for a very well written reply.

I see exactly what you mean by the way the words can be interpreted in different ways. I have always thought that a true Christian would follow the word of Jesus (or God) rather than follow the words of the bible word for word. I see the bible as a human interpretation of the Word of the Lord, but free will allows people to decide, not only if they wish to believe in God, but also how they wish to believe.
Satan as the great tempter twists the meaning of words and confuses the mind.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

You're welcome for the reply, and thank you for thinking it was well-written!

May I ask why you think the word of Jesus is different than the Bible? Why is the "Word of God" seperate from the word of Christ?

[marvo.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the delay. I had a migraine.

My point was that the bible as we see it now, in it's many forms, is a translation from the original. And sometimes an inaccurate one.

What I mean is that their are Christians who will follow the word of the bible over anything else. Without realising they are actually following the words of a translator (And example would be the St. James edition saying 'Thou shall not suffer a witch to live', whereas the original text was 'Thou shall not suffer a poisoner to live'

[crazyventures.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but the Catholic Church does not "condemn" mainstream Islam. As a practicing Christian, who just happens to be Catholic, I find this comment highly offensive.


In fact, both Islam and Christianity share the same roots as Judaism. In fact, The Koran contains many of the same people found in the Bible, such as Joseph, Jesus, and John the Baptist, as well as many Old Testament figureheads.

In addition, I would like to say that J.K. Rowling herself does not practice magic or witchcraft. She is a writer, just as Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and Ernest Hemingway were writers before her. Her characters are completely fictional.

As a person who has actually read the series, I can say that the heroes and protagonists within the series are remarkable role models. The Harry Potter series is a story of good triumphing over evil.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Hi!

Thanks for the comment.

So does the Catholic approve of Islam and condone it? I think at least we can agree the church expects its commandments/edicts to be obeyed, and Muslims don't do this. Also, I'm not sure why what I said was offensive to you. Could you please explain this?

I don't think Jews could be considered as Catholics, any more than Muslims can be considered as Christians. The Koran contradicts the Bible, but this is getting away from the original discussion of witchcraft and sorcery.

What does JK Rowling's not practicing witchcraft have to do with the content of her books? If she were writing crime novels about murders and serial killers, I don't think that would make her one. It is the subject matter of her books that is the issue.

As I understand it Harry frequently disobeys authority figures and gets into trouble. If this is indeed correct, would you regard this as a model of good behaviour?

[crazyventures.livejournal.com]

Catholicism strives to teach people to be tolerant of other religions. Christians, Muslims, and Jews need to learn to co-exist. The world we live in is not the isolationist world of centuries past.

I never said Jews are Catholics; I was saying that we all share the same historical roots, as well as the same God. It does not matter whether we call him God, Yahweh, or Allah.

I think that if you actually took the time to read portions of the Koran, you would find that it has a lot in common with the Bible. They are by no means the same, but there are similarities.

As for J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter series, I don't think anyone can pass judgment on it without even reading or thoroughly acquainting themselves with the book.

You say that Harry Potter is not a good role model because he defies authority figures and gets into trouble. If defying people who misuse their authority is a bad thing, civilization would have gotten nowhere. Our world has been built by people who are courageous enough to fight back against oppression. If you had actually read the books, you would know that the people who the main character defies are those who abuse their power.

The Laura Mallory-types of this country continue to pass judgment on things they haven't the faintest idea about, and who have the gall to deem something that brings joy into the lives of so many children "immoral" solely based on their own archaic beliefs.

I don't believe God tolerates ignorance.

[iane-grey.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try and keep my temper whilst writing this, though I must admit I almost fit to burst. I find your aggressive attitude towards this open forum, not to mention your willingness to pigeon-hole a person you've never met quite astoundingly offensive. Additionally, I must write that your foolish attempt at a cutting close ("I don't believe God tolerates ignorance") to be the most ridiculous part of your comment; we are all ignorant in some way or another, or do you perhaps claim to know all and everything? I am an informed judge, being a Christian monotheist and having read Harry Potter, and I say there are legitimate grounds for decrying the book. You - with your absurdist comment - have proven yourself worse then ignorant, for ignorance may be remedied. You lack common sense, and that's a burden you're going to have to carry all your life.

[crazyventures.livejournal.com]

I wasn't directing my comments toward you.

I do realize that there are some themes in the books that conservative Christians might find offensive. However, I think that you have the right idea about actually having read the books, for there are some out there who judge without first acquainting themselves with what they are judging.

I don't believe I am worse than ignorant. I gave clear reasons, with clear proof for what I believe. I believe the ignorance stems from people here who blatantly decry all forms of Islam and creative thinking.

God isn't going to punish someone for being with a person of the same sex, or reading a book about witchcraft. I do know, however, that the majority of intelligent people look down upon those who are more likely to follow the teachings of Bob Jones than Jesus Christ.

The level of idiocy and militant Christianity on this journal is absolutely disgusting, and I am removing myself promptly before I see anymore of the Fundamentalist mentality that the rest of the world so despises.