To Christians who feel threatened by the Harry Potter books and the Da Vinci Code:?

Question

Why do you speak out against books like Harry Potter and the Da Vinci Code, but completely ignore books like the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Frankenstein?

The Lord of the Rings is just as in-depth about magic as Harry Potter.

The Chronicles of Narnia makes several direct references to the Bible: calling the children the "Sons of Adam" and "Daughters of Eve", the Tree that bears the fruit in Paradise, the lion (named Aslan) who brings forth life just by his will.

And Frankenstein is a direct reference to bringing life from where there is none.

If you're going to oppress, at least do so fairly please.

Answer 1

I am Christian and I LOVE the Harry Potter books. I am bright enough to know that it is all imagination of the writer, and so are my children. They know what is real and what is not. These books will not tell my children to get into witchcraft. The Da Vinchi Code was someones opinion.. not mine. Lord of the Rings.. loved those movies too.

Have you ever seen Young Frankenstein with Gene Wilder... Hilarious!

Answer 2

I am a christain that has always found it ridiculous when other christains get all upset over books like Harry Potter and other magical fantasy stories. The reasons those christains are ignoring books like Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia is because Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and C.S. Lewis (Chronicles) are both christains who wrote those books as a fantasy metaphor to how one might live the christain life. But you're right, that shouldn't make a difference. The bottom line is those books talk about magic, wizards and witches just as much. It's christain parents that are so scared there kids are gonna be demon posessed or somethin by reading a stupid book(actually I rather enjoyed what Harry Potter books that i did read). They want to shelter their kids drom the real world which in the end is gonna screw them up way more then it helps them. And that's not what being a christain is about anyways. It's not suppose to be a life of hiding away from the rest of the "evil world" until you die. It's about going out among the world and showing what Jesus has to offer it.

Answer 3

I don't speak out against the Harry Potter books. I consider them children's literature, and frankly, people are way too upset about someone using her freedom of speech to write novels. They don't say anything about Christianity, so if Christians don't think they should read that sort of thing, then shouldn't they just not buy it? That's what I do with books I don't like.

The books you listed really aren't all that different in a lot of fundamentalist minds (not all); they just aren't the ones in the headlines. It really drives me batty, because it shows how shallow their reasoning can be and therefore how shallow their objections to Harry Potter are.

The Chronicles of Narnia is a thinly veiled allegory for Christianity. The LotR is a lot more veiled, but if you know what to look for, it's there also. Frankenstein portrays men making life as monstrous and evil.

The books have different purposes and are a notch above the Harry Potter books. I, for one though, don't get along with the fundies on this point, even the ones who want to censor them all. I would much rather they vote with their wallet rather than their mouth.

I've spoken against the ideas of the Da Vinci Code. It's really not all that threatening. The history is a joke, and it takes only a smattering of information to shatter the illusion.

However, it has become part and parcel to common attacks on Christianity that I started looking at it. I had several people bring it up to me as proof against Christianity. In about twenty minutes' time, though, they considered it just a novel. I won't go out of my way to attack it, but I will say that it's a load of bunk on any occasion that the subject comes up. Again, I wouldn't allow censorship, and if they did censor it, I'd be tempted to buy it at that point.

Answer 4

1. Harry Potter is a controvery rod in Christians circles. You'll find just as many people defending it as those hating it. And I think that once one reads it, they begin to understand that it houses more biblical themes (love, heroism, etc.) than nonbiblical. Personally, I worry more about the language and attitudes of the kids in the recent movies than I do about the magic.

2. Lord of the Rings was written, in part, as a Christian allegory. Who was Tolkien? A committed Catholic. The Chronicles of Narnia are an incredibly direct Christian allegory and should be understood in such a way. Its strengthening to faith, not against it.

3. Its quite easy to see why we are upset at The Da Vinci Code - it claims things untrue that we hold true in our hearts. And it leads people to think that these unsubstantiated ideas with little or no historical backing are the real truth. It helps to lead people astray.

4. This applies to Frankenstein as with all other books: the Bible says that we should be focusing on the things above. This is so that we do not get caught up in sinful things below. I read Frankenstein as a freshman in college, I believe, and it didn't lead me into sinful thought or action at all. Each person needs to understand their level of faith and what they should consume.

For one, Harry Potter is fine. For another, they should avoid it. The same could be said of lots of books.

Answer 5

Even though this is directed only at Christians who are threatened by such books, I feel the need to state that they should not be.

I agree with you that there are many similarities between the Harry Potter books and the Rings and Narnia books.

I'm surprised by the number of people who don't know Rings is also a Christian series. Written by a bible translator (the original Jerusalem Bible) who took many of the names for places from his work. Mount Moriah in Lord of the Rings comes to us Mount Moriah near Jerusalem in the bible. Where Abraham took Isaac. Gandalf is the name of the pope's vacation home. Yadda yadda.

Since both Rings and Narnia are written by Christians they are (supposedly) acceptable to Christians. While Harry Potter is written by a woman who loves the myth of witches and as such makes it objectionable to christians (supposedly) - it's still about a hero. Someone willing to sacrifice all for the greater good.

How can that be bad?

There is a long history of people turning to paganism because they loved the Narnia and Rings books. Since the Potter books are relatively new, compared, they don't have that history.

In fact, all three can be taken as common ground between Christians and non-Christians. Even Christians and Pagans.

The problem with DaVinci code is that a similar kind of book, purely fiction, was used to start they hysteria against Jews that allowed Hitler to slaughter millions. With the rise of Christian persecution across the globe, the timing of DaVinci code couldn't have been any worse.

The second problem with DaVinci code being the general aversion many Christians have with reading outside their particular faith. Christians should be well versed in gnostic gospels so that they can explain to non-Christians why this or that "gospel" is so wrong.

For instance the movie Stigmata made mention of the Gospel of Thomas. It launched a popularity of the Gospel of Thomas. In this false gospel Jesus says women do not go to heaven. All Christians should know this. It's the easiest way to change the mind of anyone who thinks that Thomas is closer to the "real" words of Jesus than Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

There was a play written back in the 800s that people today believe is true. It was a complete work of fiction that showed "Lilith" as Adams first wife. Lilith is cast out of paradise because she refuses to be subserviant to Adam. Many people believe this to be biblical when it is nothing of the sort. The name Lilith refers to a demon in Hebrew legend. One of the earliest forms of a succubus.

Frankenstein is an excellent example of why people should not try to create life. Why would Christians object to that?

Edit: Ryan, well said. A Christian parent should trust that they've taught their child right from wrong. The world is a big scary place. If we can't trust a child with a book, how can we trust them out in the world? Bravo my friend.

Answer 6

The Harry Potter books make witchcraft seem a classic thank you to stay. interior the Bible, it quite is a sin. The Da Vinci Code claims to be fiction, besides the undeniable fact that it quite is presented so as that it sounds as regardless of if it quite is fact. the two this e book sequence and e book are risky to vulnerable minds. i understand not something relating to the final e book.

Answer 7

I think they dislike stories that oppose their ideas being so wildly popular, and also popular with kids.

The Chronicles of Narnia are actually very Christian in story and morality. Harry Potter, on the other hand, value self-reliance (rather than god-reliance), breaking the rules, and that it's your choices that define you, not your inheritence. Oh yeah, and magic.

I'm not sure why they aren't up in arms about LOTR, maybe because it's a classic.

Answer 8

I think there are SMALL groups of christians that think that every book should be destroyed other that the bible. They refuse to think for themselves....remember I said small groups. A majority of Christians don't feel that way.

As far as the Da Vinci Code goes...the author of that book is making millions off of people who want to dispute his work of FICTION. I wish I would have though of that. I'll bet He laughs his a** off every time he sees someone making a big deal about it.

Answer 9

I understand your thoughts, part of me agrees. However, as for Narnia it was written on purpose that way to make references to the Bible. CS Lewis did it on purpose to help readers understand more about the Bible and such. I think we don't mentioned much about Lord of the Rings because it is the fight between good and evil. as for Frankenstein...don't have a clue

Answer 10

You really like to dig and dig and dig in the same hole everyday man... is this an obsession to you the "christian" topic.

Christianity is related to miracles and witchery in a way you will never, ever imaging, and...no, Da Vinci code???, is very Pro Christian, a prove that Jesus is the exact opposite of Mohamed.

I think that is a best seller and one of the best movies from Argentina to Canada...these countries are all over 85 % Christianity,,,uhm, I think that hey doesn't feel threatened at all.

Maybe you feel threatened by Christians, or you are racist... which one? or both?