Can any Christians explain to me why your religion is spiritually abusive?

Question

My daughter went to a mainstream christian church where it was explained to her that if she did not stop reading Harry Potter, she would allow demons into her life and she will eventually go to hell. Should I get her into therapy now or wait until she's older?

Answer 1

When I was 15 I had decided to start going to church on my own since my parents weren't very spiritual. After two weeks they had basically gotten me to give up atleast half of the things I owned. Books, movies, cd's, magazines, and LOTS of other stuff. If I didn't I was suposedly going to hell just as you say. My paretns swore it was a cult and hated me going, but wouldn't stop me since it was church. It was a nondenominational church by the way. After about 2 years I seen that things were not suposed to really be this way. I'm basically scared to go to church now. I tried going to a baptist church after that and got hit with the same things. I stay home and study the bible on my own. I love God and I believe I am going to heaven weather or not I listen to non christian music, read harry potter, watch movies where people actual kiss. My personal opinion is get her ut of there or start the therapy now.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Shawn I was taught that anyone that runs with thieves will become a thief. I don't care if you were raised by a righteous Baptist Pastor who taught you well and good.
If you run with thieves then you will become a thief. On the flip side of the coin if you run with the succesfull you will become successful. Run with the wise and wisdom will find you.
Association is everything.
So having said that what about Harry Potter's majic? Does it counter the teachings of the Christ. Does it honour God Almighty?
The resoning behind this is to make sure that the mind is not distracted from the truth. Harry Potter is a good ficiton story but too many people lack the ability to sift through the fiction to maintain the reality. Look at Dan Brown's " The Da Vinci Code"! The fool book is so full of holes and sounds so realistic and forthright that millions have come to believe that the fiction is truth.
Books like these can open the doors of one's mind to thoughts and actions contrary to God's principals, counterproductive to the teaching of the Christ. Every mind is a fertile ground no matter how old your are. If the enemy can gain a sliver of a hold on our thoughts, and actions then the weak could very well be in deep trouble. One ounce is not much I admit. But sixteen ounces makes a pound. Two or three pounds of ounces can weigh heavy on a mind if he/she keeps adding to it.
It is a small thing I agree, but small things added up can turn into a thousand pounds of feathers. Can you lug that around with you all the time without it having any detrimental effects on your life?
The point here is not to bother with an ounce of it. Harry Potter's stories can be a few ounces here. Then another story a few more ounces. Then why not another writer's works, for a few more ounces? It all adds up so the idea is nip it in the bud.
I hope you understand. I hope this answer helps.

Answer 3

Hi Shawn

Firstly, as many people have said, you are confusing "Christianity" the religion with the way "Christians" live out their religious beliefs.

Secondly, at a guess I'd suppose that whoever told your daughter this did so with positive intent. You may think their ideas are weird, but many people think it's weird to call someone "abusive" just because their beliefs don't match your own.

I've read all of the Harry Potter books to date, and I'm looking forward to reading the last one when it comes out in July (?), but I can also see how some people regard them as potential dangerous. There has, after all, been a massive upsurge in the number of young people getting involved with "magick" and "witchcraft" (not necessarily the real thing) since the first book in the series appeared.

Perhaps it would help you to get a more balanced view if you thought about how you might feel if you discovered that your daughter had got mixed up with some kind of occult group because the books had convinced her that it was totally safe?

Thirdly, I'm not sure why you think your daughter would need a therapist at all.
Surely you can sit down with her and talk the whole thing through, can't you? Seems like that's one of the pleasures and privileges of fatherhood - helping your kids to make sense of whatever is going on in their lives, isn't it?

Answer 4

Theres a difference between Christians who are religious and Christians who are free and might I say noncontrolling and safe. The problem is that too many Christians, pastors, churches fall right back into the addictive tendencies that they had before when they weren't Christians. Jesus confronted people like this and was very harsh toward them because they too were unforgiving, harsh, demanding, and contolling of people (ie. the woman at the well). Let me assure you that there are some safe churches and Christians. I used to be a little rigid myself but am learning that God wants me to know Him and walk with him in life not know rules and live by rules. It's up to each person to learn and grow as to what God wants them to do and not do. NO pastor or christian should be telling anyone Christian or nonChristian what they should do or not do at any point in their life unless the person asked for their opinion. I'm reading a great book that talks about our hearts and what God wants you might want to pick up a copy and read it or give it to your daughter. It's The Sacred Romance by John Eldredge. Sorry your daught had this experience. I've had some of these myself. She's very fortunate to have a parent who cares about her heart and how the arrows of others can hurt and damage the heart.

Answer 5

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry that they said that to you. I am a
Christian, and I don't normally attend church because of things like this. The church is not what it's supposed to be anymore, that is, God designed it totally different than what it has become. I'm afraid to say that humans have a hard time not elevating themselves above others to make themselves feel better. That is not what Jesus said to do. He said we are to love one another. He didn't give any conditions to which we should go about loving each other, only that we should love one another. I am sorry your daughter had to go through this, but you should know, and let her know, that not all christians feel that way about Harry Potter. Just guard your heart and your mind against demons daily in the world and you will be fine.

Answer 6

I think she needs a new church, this one is crazy.
If they have brainwashed her, then therapy now would be a good idea. Any church that believes someones imagination is evil is crazy. Don't they know that Harry Potter books aren't real? Only a person weak of mind and spirit will let in the demons. These types of churches pray on these people who beleive them.

Answer 7

I believe in Christ, however I'm not a Christian. But I live in the USA also where allot are Christians. If you look up Hell/Hades that Christians teach about you will find that most are confused about the meaning. They think it's eternal torcher, but they teach that their god is a god of love and that he loves all his children. And all mankind, no matter color or religion are gods children. Research the meaning, you will find that the root of the word is in the common grave of the dead.

It teaches us in the bible that there will be a resurrection and a day of judgement for all. If the bad are already in Hell being torchered then why is there going to be a resurrection and a day of judgement? And if we're all going to heaven (the good) then why did god make the earth? God doesn't make mistakes, he made Adam & Eve and commanded them to multiple and become many to fill the earth. So if all the bad are going to hell to burn for all eternity and the good are going to heaven to live with god, that would mean that god made a mistake in creating the earth. If that is the correct teaching, is it? Then why in the lords prayer are we taught to pray for gods will to done here on earth as in heaven? I would think that gods leadership and divine guidance is the reason to restore earth to gods original purpose to be a place for us to live in peace without sickness, death, or suffering.

Now demons, it does teach of demon possession in the bible as well as other religions and it states that bad association spoils useful habits. So we must guard our thought process and the things that we let affect us. Most of the possessions that take place are due to the person searching for these possessions, through someone would have to be susceptible to demons, through the believing in them and looking for them. But you can look at even Scooby Doo in the same respect. It's just to which extent the person viewing the movie takes it.

Now a cross is bowing down to an idol and doesn't it state in the 10 commandments not to bow down to idols? Just some food for thought.

Hope that helps. Remember there are extremes in everything and many many different thoughts in this world then just the mainstream and those claiming to have the answer. Teach your daughter to use her free will that god gave her and think for herself and use common sense. And pray to the almighty for strength to follow the correct course.

Answer 8

LOL yea there are alot of crazies in any religion.. Thats not the norm for mainstream christians.. sounds more southern baptist..

not all southern baptist are crazy but they are the most hell fire and brimstone about normal activities being demonic and you will burn forever if you go to your high school dance..

Answer 9

Just teach her the truth and she will be fine. There is abuse in all religious organizations due to having fallable people. It is called following the heard not the truth. Truth is more important than religion. Actually Religion is supposed to be truth but man messes it up. You sound like a good parent, Check out Krishna Consciousness it is universal and nonsectarian. They also accept Christ as the Son of God. But stay away from organizations. Just follow the path. Find like minded persons to worship with. We do our worship at home and invite others.

Answer 10

Christians burned women in bon fires because they thought they were witches.Romans killed christians now christians are killing pagans.It just goes around with 2000 year cycles Two thousand years ago pagans ruled the world until cristians made a big mess.