I've heard it from fundies and can't understand what part is so offensive. Can you shed some light here?
2007-05-30 05:36:17 · 40 answers · asked by moondogy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
yes I find it offensive because it is dealing with wizardry and sorcery. I find it offensive but I will not go out and protest against it or anything. its a free country right. i just wont watch the movies or read the books
2007-05-30 05:41:43 · answer #1 · answered by bluecube05 3 · 2⤊ 5⤋
That is like saying that Grimm's Fairy Tales and Hans Christian Anderson and the Wizard of Oz is offensive. Those stories that we all grew up with had witches, magic, evil vs good, children in desperate situations and we all grew up just fine.
The fundies are just over the top when it comes their
their brand of Christiantity to force faith through fear and to have fits over anything that isn't perfectly in line with their way of thinking.
Their movement is fairly recent(it had fits and starts in 1920s but got going again in the 70s) and though it looks good from the outside they have undercurrent that is not respectful towards others which causes many hard feelings. Though they occasionally have a good idea or two.. most of the time they are totally off the mark.
This Harry Potter 'crisis' is one of many.
2007-05-30 05:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No I don't. I really like reading those books. The people who find it offensive have often not read the books and are just ignorant people in general --who probably can't read themselves. Harry Potter is a great children's series and there is a lot of values in the books that Christians/Jews/any religion can really relate to. Its all fantasy. And if you read the Bible, you'd know that is is way more violent than Harry Potter books.
2007-05-30 05:43:07 · answer #3 · answered by chrisamethyst 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They hear that it contains "witchcraft" and immediately begin insisting that it 'teaches our children evil sorcery' and 'indoctrinates people into the occult!'
The truth is, as the OP knows, there is nothing in the Harry Potter books that is remotely realistic.
Even Wiccans, neo-Pagans and the like can tell you that every pseudo-Latin incantation, every potion, every instance of divination is pure fantasy. None of that sort of thing is practiced by anyone, although I'm sure there are some mentally-disturbed people (and the occasional "Silver RavenWolf" fluffbunny) that have tried it at least once.
And to the poster from CARM: perhaps you should do a little research into what constitutes fantasy occultism, and what 'occult religions' do in reality.
2007-05-30 05:49:20 · answer #4 · answered by Johnny Sane 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't find them offensive i find them enjoyable. Some people just to have something to fight about it. Funny thing is they slam Harry Potter but then they watch Star Wars. Now isn't the force kind of like witchcraft because if you want to be technical they shouldn't watch Star Wars either. That's my thoughts on the subject anyway. Personally i don't find either one offensive. They teach about right and wrong how to be a better person.
2007-05-30 05:43:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I personally don't find it offensive. I think that people are concerned with kids becoming interested in witchcraft because of the books(they see it as a portal to satanism, and paganism).
I think that ultimately it's about having a conversation with your kids about how the Harry Potter books are fun and do teach you some life lessons that do contain Judeo-Christian values, but we believe that we serve only God and love and trust him.
I think that their is room for other ideas that differ from my own, and I have a deep enough faith that I am not rattled by other viewpoints or lifestyles, as long as they are respectful of mine.
2007-05-30 06:13:56 · answer #6 · answered by joseygirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never read Harry Potter books or watched the movies, from what I understand it is a fantasy type book, but I dont find any book offensive. If it gets kids to read instead of playing video games Iam all for it. Reading is my favorite thing to do. Iam strongly against books be banned.
A Catholic Christian
2007-05-30 05:43:28 · answer #7 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
We don't approve of anything occult, however my kids know the difference between what is real and what is imagined.
However, I do think the series is way too hyped up. So many say that the books are a good way to get kids into reading, but they are not as good as many other books which are based on true stories, nature or heroic acts.
2007-05-30 05:44:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a youth pastor at a baptist church, and i personally do not find the books offensive but merely see them as fantasy, i do however frown upon the idea of them bieng called childrens books, i think that they are a little to dark and i dont think i would allow my kids to read them until they were in there teen years or later, I do think they glorify witchcraft and sorcery which the bible clearly teaches against so if you are going to let your kids read them and you are a christian you should guide them to the bible verses that tell them about such things. But it is a fantasy novel just like any other fantasy book it is just as dangerous if not more so to let your kids watch some of the pg13 movies that are out there
2007-05-30 05:41:14 · answer #9 · answered by ImWearingAHelmet 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No but then I'm a Celtic Pagan not a Christian.
I can't understand why it offends Christians either.I mean the spells in the books don't work,reading them won't make your kids worship Satan.
And seriously how many kids stories contain magic-LOTR,the Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and the Narnia books etc!Are they all evil too?
2007-05-30 13:39:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't find it offensive. It's simply fantasy fiction, and no different from the Oz Books, Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins and other fantasy novels that I read as a small child. Children need to read more, and anything that gets them reading can only be positive.
2007-05-30 05:42:15 · answer #11 · answered by Julia Sugarbaker 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋