Is Christianity really threatened by these books?
Grimm's fairy tales had witches and magic.
Shakespere had witches and ghosts.
Poe had a talking bird.
Christians, is your religion really so fragile?
2007-07-19 18:42:24 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I do not think there is anything wrong with the Harry Potter books, and movies- they are fiction, and NO my faith is that fragile at all.- thanks for asking
2007-07-19 19:01:41 · answer #1 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is not threatened by these books. But the spirituality of a few of (not all) children may be.
Many children these days are growing up without a religious or moral base, and too much well written wizardry or sorcery at too young an age can lead these children in the wrong spiritual direction.
Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, wrote to the author of another book "Harry Potter - Good or Evil?" saying, "It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly."
http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=38383
This is a caution for parents and readers, not a ban.
I personally like the books.
With love in Christ.
2007-07-20 17:22:04 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
C.S. Lewis, a Christian apologist and children's author (Narnia) featured witches, Baccus, talking animals, world-destruction, an incubus or two, a narrowly averted human sacrifice, and Father Christmas (aka Santa) in his books.
Tolkien, a Catholic, also had his share of dark creatures (LoTR).
It is only a sort of Christianity that is threatened by things that go bump in the dark. Obviously this sort draws attention to itself by being extremist, while other sorts, being less fire-and-brimstone, do not attract media ire.
Much of the fear is a fear of the unknown, as are most fears. Religion is fragile if you shy away from the questions and difficulties of life. That's a choice.
The other alternative is to enjoy, interact with, and critique culture more subtly. No group approves of everything, but it is possible fore something to have positive and less-positive characteristics. It just is easier not to deal with nuance and throw it all away.
I see it from both secular and religious sectors that each would rather not be bothered with subtlety. It can enrich life, and I think it's to many people's detriment that they don't bother to try.
2007-07-19 18:59:51 · answer #3 · answered by himmelsgrau 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No kidding. Well the Pope was the head of the office of inquisition (yes it still exists) for many years, so maybe he'd like to put Harry on the rack for a while too, just for grins and giggles.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4445279.stm
And he IS intent on taking the Catholic Church back to a level of Fundamentalism that hasn't been seen since before Vatican II. And he intends to do it as soon as possible. This is not going to be good.
2007-07-19 18:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anything that is popular is denounced by one church or another.Who cares what they say or think.I do know one thing though,when they start to interfere with my harmless enjoyment is the time that I will start to retaliate against their morally bankrupt religion.It is an adventure book for children and there is RC Collins saying that it is too far fetched.Not as far fetched as someone raising the dead?Walking on water?Feeding thousands with a loaf of bread and a couple of goldfish?Turning water into wine?What complete and utter sh*t.
2007-07-19 19:01:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, witches don't match up to Christianity.
Because it has to do with witches, I find the movies and Harry Potter Books too far fetched.
2007-07-19 18:48:36 · answer #6 · answered by RC Collns 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Pope and the fundies are being equally silly. Potter is a work of fiction. Lighten up!
2007-07-19 18:45:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have to wonder how threatened they can really be when it is a story of good versus evil. You'd think they'd love Harry Potter.
2007-07-19 18:46:48 · answer #8 · answered by Flop Mucket 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Does it threaten Christianity? No, certainly not.
Do we chose to avoid witchcraft as the enemy of the God we worship? Yes.
Not out of fear or intimidation, but out of choosing what we believe is right over what we believe is wrong.
Grimm, Shakespeare and Poe weren't Christians either. I'm not sure what your point is.
2007-07-19 18:49:29 · answer #9 · answered by JesusFirst2Day 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Fundies are some of the most intolerant creatures on the planet. But when they turn fascist and start banning books of fiction ... they expose themselves as barbarians.
A star for your question.
.
2007-07-19 18:52:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋