As you all probably know, Harry Potter #7 is coming out. I've discovered a Polish magazine written about the same time as book #4. It contained an interesting article about the boy wizard. I'll translate a few points in the article.
"Harry is supposedly fighting with evil, but he fights only with Lord Voldemort, who doesn't pose a threat to the world. He doesn't fight for good, but to get revenge."
"Harry has no intention of saving anyone but himself."
"Harry, who is a role model for millions of readers, NEVER gives his friends presents, although he gets them a lot."
"The students at Hogwarts get the best of their teachers, but instead of feeling ashamed, are proud of this."
"Because of these books, many young minds turn to the occult."
Do you agree or disagree with these points? Why or why not? Do you have any comments to make about this article?
2007-02-16 12:24:46 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ah, yes.... Excellent points there, eh? Someone said that "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars have magic references throughout their pages". This is true, I cannot disagree with that. However, in all of C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" books, black magic was used by the witches and Uncle Andrew (The Lion the Witch andthe Wardrobe, The Silver Chair, The Magician's Nephew), who could all be called antagonists (bad guys).
In "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", Lucy flipped through a magic book. She used a spell she shouldn't have, and she was about to cast a spell to make her "beautiful beyond the lot of mortals", before she saw Aslan and thought better of it.
What the article means by "young minds are drawn to the occult" is that the references to black magic make youngminds more and more curious about black magic. (Hint: Black is symbolically associated with evil.) black magic is part of the occult.
2007-02-16 12:59:36 · update #1
By the way, "r u randy", the Bible is not fiction! Archeology has proven that the Bible is authentic. Yes, I read that in anotehr Polish magazine.
2007-02-18 10:32:08 · update #2
By the way. I've read the first 3 books a LONG time ago. My mom did not allow me to read any more after SHE read one. Als, keep in mind that the article was written before book #4.
2007-02-19 11:17:50 · update #3
******also
2007-02-19 11:18:18 · update #4
My oldest daughter is a big HP fan, so I have paid attention to it. Harry has many good qualities like self-confidence and drive to excel. But as mentioned there are some darker sides to him. I make it a point to explain that the books are fiction and reinforce the values I wish to install in her.
2007-02-16 12:34:43 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Who wouldn't disagree? I mean it's obvious that the people who wrote the article never read the HP books and all the arguments above can be easily dismissed by all HP readers. I particularly liked the one stating that Harry never gives presents although he receives a lot of presents. really smart.
Let's disagree.
lord Voldemort is a threat to the world as he wants to impose a dominion of terror. He doesn't fight for revenge. Lord Voldermort is always trying to kill Harry, not the other way around.
Harry buys his friends presents, but I cannot remember right now what or when.
I didn't understand the one about getting the best of their teachers.
No young minds turn to the occult. look at snow white. The evil step mother poisons snow white with different magic items. This story has been around for so lo9ng.
And really now, it's only a book
2007-02-16 12:37:15 · answer #2 · answered by Ana 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Harry Potter is a cartoon character. Folks who think HP is evil and seditious because it's about witchcraft are entitled to their opinion. However, I would respectfully point out that real people who practice what they call witchcraft do not fly on broomsticks or travel through fireplaces, they cannot turn their enemies into ferrets and they cannot kill people with an unforgivable curse. They can't even wave their magic wand and conjure up a nice dinner.
The point is that you will not learn witchcraft from Harry Potter any more than you will learn seamanship from Popeye the Sailor.
Harry Potter is not the only fantasy character with occult powers. "The Chronicles of Narnia" is full of witches and magic. It was written by a famous and respected Christian theologian named C.S. Lewis. I've never heard anybody complain that Narnia turns young minds to the occult.
"The Lord of the Rings" has good and evil wizards and magic and evil and murder. The author, JRR Tolkien, was a profound Christian. I've never heard anybody complain that these books were inappropriate for young Christians.
Nobody seemed very upset that the Jedi and the Sith in Star Wars practiced sorcery.
If Harry Potter is bad why is Narnia and Lord of the Rings and Star Wars good?
2007-02-16 13:10:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a big Harry Potter fan and all of this is quite inaccurate. He fights with Lord Voldemort who is attempting to regain power that he once used to torture, enslave and murder people with. There may be a feeling of revenge but learning about these complex feelings in a fairy tale helps young people understand the complexities of human interaction. Harry spends a lot of time saving a lot of people at his own risk. He is even accused of "plaing the hero" on more than one occasion. Harry has spent his life very poor and until the fifth book, has little way to get presents for his friends yet he does get them presents, for birthdays and Christmas. The story is from his point of view and the presents are made into a big deal. It was a big deal the first year because he had never had any presents. Very rarely do the students get the better of the teachers. They are students like we all were and most kids feel a kinship with the students when they do pull a fast one, we all remember being kids and spending way too much time doing that to parents and teachers. There is nothing of modern paganism or the occult in the Harry Potter books. They are fiction and nothing else. Stories about kids with magic powers touch us all because we have all wanted someone to show up and tell us that we are magical and powerful and save us from an unfair punishment or hard chores. This story touches that part of us all that has felt put down and pushed around. It is a children's fairy tale and is not only harmless but is really good for kids. Like all fairy tales, this one gives kids a chance to deal with good, evil, complex emotions and emotions that are hard to deal with like jealousy, hatred, love, fear, pride, anger from the safety of their bedrooms or their parents' laps.
2007-02-16 12:39:29 · answer #4 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
-Harry IS fighting with evil. In book 6, he is thinking about why he's fighting Voldemort, and he is fighting him because Voldemort has killed too many innocents. Also, God never wanted men to be immortal. Life is supposed to be fleeting. Harry could be there with God's protection to save Voldemort by making him mortal.
-As of book #4, Harry has grown. In 1, 2,and 3, he was 11, 12, and 13, and he was only fighting Voldemort in self-defense because it was always just him and Voldemort. But he now fights with the DA and the OTP, and he's protecting his friends. Also, in book 4 he saves a girl from drowning and in book 2 he saves another little girl from being taken over by Voldemort. (Metaphorically, he has saved her from posession by evil.
-Harry gives presents to his friends! He bought them both omnioculars in 4. He buys Ron quidditch stuff... The only reason he doesn't give the Weasleys all his gold is they are poor and he doesn't want to embarass them.
-The students of Hogwarts don't get the best of their teachers. At least, most of them don't. Usually, when Harry sneaks out, it is so he can make one more step against evil. But Dumbledore knows everything about where Harry is, and I trust that he never let Harry "get the best of him." As for people like Fred and George, God loves all His children, even the ones who sneak around the school.
-Nope. If this represents anything holy, it's the battle of good and evil, which is a part of nature. We cannot pretend evil doesn't exist, because without acknowledging it, we can't be saved.
As you can tell, I disagree. If you want to inject religious meaning into this, why don't you see both sides of it. This is the story of a boy who is fighting for the lives of everyone on earth. He is humble, brave, trustworthy, and pure. With the help of Dumbledore, a wise old man, he learns how to drive away evil. He is always civil to his friends, and generous where it's appropriate. If you agree with the article, READING THE BOOK would be a good idea. Did you ever hear about the John Scopes' monkey trial? The court didn't allow the book being critisized into the courtroom. That is wrong. You can't critisize something you've never read. If you've only heard peoples' opinions, you're basing your opinions on other peoples' opinions.
READ IT.
2007-02-19 06:56:31 · answer #5 · answered by DoodleGirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Harry is supposedly fighting with evil, but he fights only with Lord Voldemort, who doesn't pose a threat to the world. He doesn't fight for good, but to get revenge."
Actually, in all Harry Potter books, Harry doesn't pick a fight with anyone- he just defends himself from the "evil" lurking around everywhere. He mostly just defends himself and his mates. In respect to Voldermort not posing a threat to the world, you'll find that when he was in charge of the Magical communitythey reigned havoc on their kind and 'muggles' alike- that's why not many like him. Him and his deatheaters were like a military regime- torturing and killing all who opposed. When the reigns were returned to the "good" folk a whitch hunt ensued to imprison all the wrong doers- not kill them off!
"Harry has no intention of saving anyone but himself."
Actually, in book one he saves Ron's little sister from a troll, in book 3 saves the French girl from the Merpeople, and he's always saving someone from Voldermrt's evil grip!
"Harry, who is a role model for millions of readers, NEVER gives his friends presents, although he gets them a lot."
When he gets money from Gringotts he buys everyone lollies on the train, and at x-mas he is always giving Ron something.
"The students at Hogwarts get the best of their teachers, but instead of feeling ashamed, are proud of this."
Don't know what you mean by this one.
"Because of these books, many young minds turn to the occult."
Occult- as in a superstition, like any religion? Let's hope one of them finds out how to do real magic so he/she can rid the world of evildoers, too. I don't think a little imagination hurt anyone! The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars have magic references throughout their pages- yet they are considered classics!
2007-02-16 12:45:24 · answer #6 · answered by canguroargentino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All points are incorrect. For anyone who has read the series, he is not a self-centered boy, he's always thinking of others, he does gift people with things and favors, etc.
Voldemort can be compared to any evil ruler in the world today. Given enough time and followers, they could rule the world. So yes, he is fighting him to protect the greater good.
No intention of saving anyone but himself? Not true - he is always putting himself on the line for his friends and others.
Students getting the best of their teachers? What students in the history of mankind DON'T enjoy proving themselves better than their teachers. Part of growing up is testing your mettle and intelligence against those supposedly "better" than you.
As for young minds turning to the occult, that's a load of bull crap and not even worth discussion.
All points are incorrect.
2007-02-16 12:41:12 · answer #7 · answered by C D 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The "Potter" novels are a wonderful addition to children's literature and they are a delight for adults as well.
Any claims that see them as lending a damaging anti-god or anti-moral message for children are woefully misplaced. The entire series is reflective of every-day moral values that are more than firmly widespread and publicly common while the books messages neither adds to nor subtracts from those established standards.
It is my opinion that religiously lead negative-ism for the book series is simply a case of ignorance. Those who are quick to criticize the stories are too often those who haven't even read them - (In my real-live experience it has been eight out of ten - just imagine! How ridiculous is that?) In my home state of Arkansas, a township school board had to be sued for banning the "Potter" books and removing them from the school library stacks. Shame on them; they would have been just as wrong in banning the Bible - a less interesting but equally controversial book of pure fantasy.
When it comes to the "Potter" books, it is obvious that insecurity and small mindedness have once again found a home among the god-believers.
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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POST SCRIPT to martiismy...: I hope you are correct about Christians becoming a virtual scarcity in society. Do you need any help in finding a suitable isolated area - I have maps.
Post Script: LOL... patrone07 thinks sorcery is "condoned" by the Bible.... LOL LOL LOL.
2007-02-16 12:59:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The writer of that article certainly had an agenda to push, didn't they? Unless it's a case of the translation English to Polish being very odd, I don't know where the author got those points from. Apart form the one about teachers, but to try to get the better of your teachers and parents is part of growing up. And I would have to say that reading fantasy doesn't turn your mind to the occult: it opens your mind.
2007-02-16 12:35:35 · answer #9 · answered by snarky 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Harry is supposedly fighting with evil, but he fights only with Lord Voldemort, who doesn't pose a threat to the world. He doesn't fight for good, but to get revenge."
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Is Voldemort's goal not to take over the world and to kill every living thing that does not share his view? his knights are even called "death eaters". Harry is happy to be left alone, Voldemort keeps trying to kill him. would you say that David should have refused to fight Goliath?
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"Harry has no intention of saving anyone but himself."
then why did he risk his placement in the tri-wizard tournament by saving not only Ron from the merfolk but the sister of one of his rivals? i can point to several other times when harry puts himself in danger when he does not need to, but he does it to save a friend.
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"Harry, who is a role model for millions of readers, NEVER gives his friends presents, although he gets them a lot."
actually Harry did buy many presents for Ron Weasley in the first book, an entire cart of sweets and candy for ron and Harry to share if i remember right.
plus the goal of the books is not to show materialism. the people that give Harry gifts do so because they feel that they have an unpaid debt or because they realy have a need to show their love for him. his friends never give him gifts, usually the gift comes from a mysterious bennifactor. friendship is it's own gift and they all have that in abbundance.
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"The students at Hogwarts get the best of their teachers, but instead of feeling ashamed, are proud of this."
"Because of these books, many young minds turn to the occult."
Adults never listen to children. these books show that. Harry and his friends only go against school rule, when they must do so for the saftey and well being of everyone involved.
and if a fiction book will turn the mind of a child to the occult then you need to strengthen your family values and religious teachings. because you are weak and your teachings are weak.
you seek to ban fanciful books because you cannot teach your own kids right from wrong in your own eyes. you seek to take away from everyone because you have failed as a parent and as a person that is dedicated to your religion because you cannot teach your child the differance between Harry Potter and your Holy Books. If your god is so powerful than why fear a childs book?
Do you agree or disagree with these points? Why or why not? Do you have any comments to make about this article?
well i disagree,,, and i think that i made that clear with my comments.
2007-02-16 12:51:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋