...Christianity? Kindness, forgiveness, compassion, fighting for what you believe in. Good should win over evil. Both say killing is wrong...etc. Both even make the snakes bad! The only thing that Christians can say is that Witchcraft--which is NOTHING like what real Wicca is--is bad and is 'encouraging the readers into witchcraft'. Why do Christians seem to hate this particular book series but not others with magic and fantasy elements, such as Lord of the Rings and Eragon?
Please no flamers. No answers like "because Christianity is stupid." I would like someone who actually knows why Christians react this way.
2007-03-04 04:53:45 · 21 answers · asked by Nameless 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
OK, you guys aren't really answering my question. Why do they hate this book on principle but not other books?
2007-03-04 04:58:49 · update #1
Also, I don't mean all Christians! But when I went to church, almost everybody there told me I was wrong for reading the books.
2007-03-04 05:00:49 · update #2
Idealized xenophobia.
As far as the Religious Right is concerned, anything that hints at magic without mentioning God in the same sentence is "Satanic". Does anyone here remember the religious hysteria when "Star Wars" first came out? People were protesting the movie with exactly the same accusations. "Aliens not having a religion like ours! EEEK!"
It may be that part of the bigotry comes from the fact that the young characters in the stories are actually learning magic. Their Bible rants on and on about the horrors (mostly made-up) of any mysticism that isn't their own. Then there's the long history of Christian treatment of "heathen" faiths like Animism and Shamanism...all justified by exactly the same mentality.
As for how LOTR gets a pass: You'll notice that only two forces utilize magic: The villain (naturally), and the wizards (Gandalf and Saruman)...and the wizards are less like humans and more like near-angelic beings. And it helps that Gandalf actually performs an old Christian favorite: Exorcism. Then there's Aragorn in a rather muscualr Christ-like role. When he finally wins his throne, all of a sudden a NEW AGE is born and the world starts to get magically better.
2007-03-04 05:06:42 · answer #1 · answered by Scott M 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I know many fundamental christians that have never had a problem with Harry Potter. Likewise I also know a few atheists that won't let their children see Harry Potter because they found it morally wrong. Everyone has an excuse to support their complaints. Personally I love the Harry Potter books, and can't wait till the last movie comes out. J.K Rowling, stated that her books never promoted witchcraft and neither does she. Cdn-Gal
2016-03-28 23:20:51 · answer #2 · answered by Beth 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the reason is simple. they dont read the books/watch the movies & therefore know nothing of what they talk about when they say its full of witchcraft & stuff. they just go by what others say & not really look into it for themselves. (which is strange in a way cuz one of the main things in christians is the "study & see for y'self" rule) anyway, take this idiot gal, larua mallory (sp?) she only read the first couple of pages of the first book & went all against it cuz its supposedly similar to some other story that has blood sacraficing in it & she therefore assumed that harry potter has that stuff as well & no one can reason with her otherwise.
i think the main idea is most of these types of "christains" dont want to try & look into these books to see what they're really about.
another thing is, since its fiction story, lots of people think its a worthless read & are appalled that some novel has the same sort of good vs. evil story as the precious bible....assuming the bible is a true story.
hope that helps...
2007-03-04 17:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by swordofmystique 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know Christians who like the books and films very much. They don't believe in them any more than they believe in The Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia or Batman. They are confident that their children see them as nothing but fantasy and are also aware that there is real witchcraft, but not like portrayed in the Potter saga.
Some Christians feel that we should not glorify philosophies that don't specifically or implicitly acknowledge the risen Christ and obedience to His gospel. Some of them are probably fanatical, while others are just being cautious. Some might just not like the series. There are many legalistic believers in the church who still think Christianity is about a never ending list of dos and don'ts. There is not one answer to your question. There are many. But most probably assume that anything that makes witchcraft seem anything less than an abomination is necessarily evil and should be rejected by all who call Jesus Lord. I don't see any harm in them taking that view, but I don't think they have the right to preach it as a commandment from God.
As far as glorifying "the same attributes as Christianity," the distinction is that Christianity is about a Person, not attributes. There is no righteousness apart from God and no goodness that is not His work. Christianity isn't about moral reform or "being good." Those are the results of God's influence, not the means of atonement. The Christian message is that all have sinned and fall short of God's standard and are already condemned. Christ came to pay the bill for us because we could not pay it on our own. By faith in Him we receive the gift of eternal life because of what He has done, not what we do. To separate the goodness of God, His moral standard and His love from the name of Jesus is the same deception that the serpent beguiled Adam and Eve with in the garden. The very best scenario would be to call it spiritual plagiarism, but the intent is to deny our accountability to God and to take His glory for our own.
2007-03-04 05:15:26 · answer #4 · answered by celebduath 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because it is the latest thing to get upset about. People think a new threat is of more importance than an old threat, plus there is plenty of hype over it. At my school one teacher was going to teach Harry Potter, but a parent complained for the same reasons you mentioned. So the teacher taught the lord of the rings, which still has magic and sorcery and death and mythical creatures looking like demons; the parent didn't complain.
Some people don't think critically, they just tow the latest party line.
2007-03-04 05:03:53 · answer #5 · answered by scrabblemaven 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am Christian and i LOVE Harry Potter.... and so do my kids! I think what you are asking is why do they feel the stories are such a threat? In the Bible it says witchcraft is a sin and is part of Satan.... therefore... Harry Potter fits into that. It is a story to me with great imagination and fun. I see no harm in it. I think the reason that more kids look up to the Harry Potter character is why it seems for easy to not like..... then kids act out and pretend they are harry Potter and it probably freaks some Christian parents out.
2007-03-04 04:59:41 · answer #6 · answered by pink9364 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Simple. Some Christians hate what they don't understand.
As a Christian, I used to have a problem with Harry Potter. I SWORE up and down that I was NEVER going to watch the movies, and I was NEVER going to read the books, and I was NEVER going to allow that stuff in my house.
Then I met my husband, and he made me watch the first Harry Potter movie. To date, I've now read ALL of the Harry Potter books that are out now, and we have not only watched all four of the current Harry Potter movies, but we also own them. AND I can't WAIT until the fifth movie comes out!
But seriously, some Christians just hate what they don't understand. I think that's why I had a problem with Harry Potter. I'm sure glad I don't now!
2007-03-04 05:09:46 · answer #7 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Because the main character uses magic.
Remember chronicles of Narnia? It's re-packaged christian beleifs, and none of the protagonists ever use magic to fight magic. That's because magic, spells, witchcraft is evil in the eyes of christianity, no matter how or for what it's used for. Harry Potter breaks this "rule" of theirs. It's encouraging children to be more interested in witchcraft apparently.
2007-03-04 04:59:06 · answer #8 · answered by jleslie4585 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
christians have bought the book and seen the movies in droves. There's some Amish people still floating around and the occassioanal Jehova's Witness who's still scared of witches but 99% or christians don't care about anything more than Budweiser, thier kids soccer game, and the price of gas.
2007-03-04 05:01:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Seems to me your stereotyping Christians. I know a lot of Christians that have read Harry Potter with the understanding that the books are FICTION.
2007-03-04 04:59:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋