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

[prima-donna87.livejournal.com]

I am not into the Harry Potter thing either,glad to see I am not the only one.:)

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

You aren't, by far the only one. ;)

Didn't read the article...but, you know...even disregarding the magic, there's some major moral problems. Harry, as all these kids' role-model, is a very, very bad boy. And gets *away* with it all the time. I just think it's beyond frustrating that people like him so much.

It's sort of like all the girls that say they'd love to marry Erik, the Phantom of the Opera.

Why don't we just go out and TRY to get ourselves in oodles of trouble!

[anodiel.livejournal.com]

Something I've tried to make a point of is that by reading those books, one opens themselves up to being spirtually attacked. I've actually had a Christian say that wouldn't happen to them because they were being protected by God. I told them in return that being a Christian makes you first target for being attacked because those kind of forces want to harm Christians more than a non-believer.

[oldfashioned84.livejournal.com]

I just read that article and thought it was great. I couldn't have said it better myself either. It worries me when I think about what kids are growing up on these days -- everything from tv shows to rap music to Harry Potter. Parents today just don't realize how influential this stuff can be on a kid's mind which is very impressionable, and then they wonder why their kids turn out the way they do when they grow up.

[charmed-hour.livejournal.com]

I think that was well stated!

[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.

[belovedrose85.livejournal.com]

I don't like Harry Potter, either. It gives me the creeps, to be honest. It really bothers me to see people who call themselves Christians get into this kind of stuff, completely ignorant of what God has to say on the subject of witchcraft and wizardry!
Although, it almost bothers me more when people who condemn Harry Potter fully support things like LOTR and Chronicles of Narnia, things that seem to have just as much wizardry and magic in them. I guess it makes me all the more thankful for those Christians who choose to keep themselves "unspotted from the world". :)

[musesong.livejournal.com]

Yet Tolkien was a solid Catholic and consider his creation a fundamentally religious and in accord with Catholic theology even though his works were not allegorical in the way the Chronicles of Narnia were. Aslan being Christ in that world.

C.S. Lewis is considered one of the great writers on Christianity (at least in England) and the Inklings, the group were originally called the 'Oxford Christians'.

You may wish to distance yourself from all references in art and literature to magic but my local quite conservative Christian bookshop has no problems selling these books. Not sure if they are so keen on Harry Potter.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Again, you aren't the only one, at all! :-)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

The article is really worth a read, if you have the time.

I don't know anything about Harry other than the fact that he's a wizard, but that just makes it even worse.

Oi. Erik the murderer...

I think it's expected of us anymore. So then everyone wonders when we oblige them? *shakes head*

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

Just just get cooler by the second. A girl who DOESN'T try to come after me with a sledge hammer when I grumble about Erik's fanclub.


I have to admit, out of most portrayed gentlemen, Raoul is a favorite.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL!! I'm certainly not a fan of Erik's, but I will confess I don't get what the deal is about Raoul........sorry!!! :-)

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

lol, I've never ever found anyone who likes Raoul either. I look past his appearance (ick?) but really enjoy his personality/actions.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

You are exactly right -- and that's something I should have mentioned in my actual post. And I've had people say they're protected by God as well. But I believe we also have to protect ourselves. If we willingly, negligently, expose ourselves to such blatant dangers then I think we're asking for trouble. God warns us so that we can be alert and avoid those dangers, not walk head-long into them because we think they're "fun" or a good read. We're supposed to put on the armour of God, not leave it behind because we're confident God's going to do all the work for us.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you read it, Jen! Does this influence your thinking in anyway?

And you're exactly right.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

My brother thought he should have killed the Phantom when he had the chance. ;-) I'd like to know why he wasn't with Christine all those years -- why did he suddenly come back?

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

The thing is..and what I really like about the article, because it hints to it... Is that Harry Potter was only inevitable. We allowed it to come in by not taking a stand against the other popular science fiction of the day. And I'm not talking about all the usual things that come to mind either. I'm talking about the fact that, even before HP, ALL that was available for adventure-seeking readers ARE magic-related books.

And when the obvious comes, we act all surprised about it.


People are very bad about not watching for spiritual attacks. And the demons are being maddeningly good right now about making all the world fight about this issue and ignore the things that really come in and wedge problems.

It's amazing how it works.

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

Did you ever read the book? It explains a lot more than that movie (which I have such a wonderfully high opinion of../endsarcasm).

I don't remember the specifics though. It's actually been a lot of number of years since I've been infatuated with it all. By the time the movie came out, I was already getting disinterested. :)

[elainastone.livejournal.com]

Trust in God but wear your seatbelt?

[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.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the comment!

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! Yes! Don't tempt Providence. ;-)

[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. :-)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I think unfortunately that sometimes people allow fond memories and pleasure to cloud their judgement.

I'd like to know why witchcraft packaged behind a "Christian allegory" label makes it okay. There is no difference IMVHO.