2007-07-19 18:48:33 · 31 answers · asked by princesskam1 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
ok, this is actually my friend and i lent her my harry potter book and she is one of those people who never break their parents rules cuz they always find out or she tells them cuz she feels really guilty so just sneaking it is not an option.
2007-07-19 18:53:22 · update #1
thank you for all the advice she used it and she's allowed to read it!
2007-07-20 07:43:53 · update #2
I am a born-again Christian who has read all the Harry Potter novels. Many Christians believe it is wrong to read any type of fantasy; other Christians read some fantasy but object to this series because of the author's beliefs. Other Christians, like myself, have read and enjoyed them. What God thinks of them, I couldn't say for sure; but I know this much: censorship incites rebellion.
I used to work in a bookstore and I know for a fact that books become greatly desired the moment some one censors them. Books that sat on the shelf collecting dust suddenly fly out the door once a local organization, such as a library, refuses to have them. It is part of our fallen human nature that we don't like being told what to do.
Since your friend is still a child under the authority of her parents, part of their job is to supervise her life and try to guide her in what they believe is right. However, I believe that sheltering a child too much only provokes their curiousity and rebelliousness.
Someday she'll be 18 and free to do as she wishes. What will her parents have taught her that will enable her as an adult to navigate through a culture rife with beliefs that do not line up with the Word of God? Tempations to doubt are sure to come; after all, how true can something be if it cannot stand up to scrutiny? Granting permission to explore questions usually leads to a strengthening of one's beliefs, when you see that what you stand on is indeed Rock. Also, God allows us freedom to grow. If her parents merely demand that she believe as they do, they are not strengthening her faith or teaching her how to explore life's questions.
I believe a better way of handling the Harry Potter books would be to read them with her and talk about them with her, allowing for honest discussion of pros and cons about the books. If her parents are willing to listen to their daughter, share their beliefs with her and still be willing to show they respect her as a unique individual with her own opinions and perspective, this will strengthen their relationship and also deal with the issue openly.
If they simply forbid her to read the books, how do they know she won't satisfy her curiousity behind their backs? Better to share the reading of it as a family and use it as a springboard for discussion of issues, such as "being in the world but not of it" versus engaging the popular culture to impact others instead of isolating oneself in a Christian sub-culture.
There are many books about Christianity and Harry Potter, some making the case for reading the books and some against. The family could utilize both kinds of books as companion books for studying the issues surrounding Harry Potter, and discussing which opinions they agree or disagree with and why. This is a much stronger way of dealing with the Harry Potter issue than saying, "Don't eat that apple; it's bad for you." That has never worked very well, has it?
Some books the parents might check out for use in discussing HP are: "What's a Christian to Do With Harry Potter?" by Connie Neal; "Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands : a Christian Dialogue with Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the Lord of the Rings" by Russell W. Dalton, "Fantasy and Your Family : Exploring The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Modern Magick" by Richard Abanes; "God, the Devil, and Harry Potter : a Christian Minister's Defense of the Beloved Novels" by John Killinger; "The Gospel According to Harry Potter : spirituality in the stories of the world's most famous seeker" by Connie Neal; and "Frodo & Harry : understanding visual media and its impact on our lives" by Theodore/Ted Baehr and Tom Snyder. These are examples, and I have not personally read all of these. I'm sure there are others that could be found through a keyword search at a local library or bookstore (or ask a reference librarian for suggestions).
If her parents bring their faith to a family evaluation of the Harry Potter books, not only will it satisfy her curiosity (and thus thwart temptation to be sneaky), it will strengthen the parent-child relationship and better equip her to learn how to evaluate popular culture through the lens of the Word and Christian thought.
2007-07-19 19:54:37 · answer #1 · answered by Rella 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My parents wouldn't let me read the Harry Potter books at first, either. It was partially because of the witchcraft/sorcery aspect, but it was also the fact that I tended to lose reality really easily at that age. The books (or whatever I was obsessed with) became reality, and whether they are good or not does not mean they are better than reality. When I passed that stage, my parents previewed the books, and then let me read them if I wanted to.
My point is, they may have more than one reason why he doesn't want you to read those books. Sit down with him, ask him what their concerns are and why he doesn't want you reading them. One of the arguments that was particularly helpful to me was "how can we fight against the wrongness of Harry Potter if we don't know firsthand what is wrong?" Ask them if they would be willing to read at least the first book before they were ready to categorize it as evil. That's what my parents did, and they realized that people were making a big deal out of nothing, really. The magic in Harry Potter is still with the view that it is innate. Things happen whether or not they do spells, because that is how the "wizarding community" is. It isn't like Wicca, or other stuff out there your parents don't want you getting into. It's not real, it's fiction, llike every other fantasy book out there, like the Chronicles of Narnia, which were written by a Christian, same with LOTR. And, if you approach them calmly, and not sulking, they will be more willing to listen to your views. Good luck.
2007-07-19 22:19:57 · answer #2 · answered by Angeliss 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the age old battle of good verses evil. Harry Potter is an abused and neglected orphan growing up in a home where he is unwanted, unloved and resented.
He doesn't even feel there is anything special about himself.
In real life a child like this that isn't rescued will often commit suicide or end up ruining his life.
In this case help came to Harry in a most unusual and unexpected way.
Strange things occassionally happened around Harry and he always was blamed for it. He didn't know or understand why this happened. Even when it seemed funny to him at the time. He was always punished!
When the owls began delivering the letters and his Aunt and Uncle tried to hide them and destroy them it made him suspicious and curious!
He managed to get a hold of one but didn't have a chance to really read and understand what it meant. His Uncle took it away from him.
Finally Hagrid, the half giant, came to collect Harry and take him away to school.
It was a special school, a school of magic, where he would be taught when to use it and when not to use it and to learn that with magic ability comes great responsibility.
There he would learn why he was scarred. He would learn how his parents died. They were murdered by Lord Voldemort, an evil, wicked man that is dangerous to anyone and everyone as he has made himself like an immortal!
There is only one person, who has the ability to end this evil.
That person is just a boy, who doesn't know who or what he really is or what his destiny is.
In many ways the Harry Potter stories reflect the return of Jesus and his battle against Satan. The battle of Good verses Evil.
An ordinary person cannot battle true evil by themselves. An ordinary person often doesn't recognize the difference between good and bad.
Often what they perceive is bad may actually be good and that which they perceive as good can actually be bad.
God has the ability to destroy evil and yet God didn't destroy the Devil aka Satan aka Beelzebub etc, etc, etc.
In the Harry Potter stories Harry is the only one capable of destroying Lord Voldemort and putting an end to his tyrrany over others once and for all. But Harry is just a boy with an untrained ability.
Perhaps your father should take the time to really read them first and without a jaundiced eye.
I am a grandmother, and I have read them and I love the books, JK Rowling is a truly gifted author!
I believe in God and in Jesus. Reading the Harry Potter books has not diminished my faith. If anything it has helped strengthen it.
2007-07-19 19:34:18 · answer #3 · answered by Positive-Pixie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ask your father why you shouldn't be allowed to read the books. As a strongly acting/believing Christian as well a huge fan of the books, there is absolutally nothing wrong with it.
It has been my experiance that most people or protest the books as 'evil' have never actually sat down and read them and have no right to judge something on hear-say. That's almost the same as deciding whether a person is good or evil just by what someone else says about them and having never actually so much as spoken with them yourself.
Pick up book one, start reading it. If it makes you uncomfortable and you feel wrong, then put it down and stop. However, if you enjoy then read it.
Inform your father politely that it's no so different from other things you are allowed to see/read. Have you ever seen the movie Pirates of the Caribbean? There are ancient curses, goddesses and forms of magic in them. Have you ever watched Xena or Hercules? Have you ever been allowed to watch the Disney cartoon movirs? Again, magic and gods/goddesses.
As Christians we cannot pic and chose on what fits and doesn't for them same exact rules.
My favorite is the chronicals of Narnia. Most people praise it that condemn Harry Potter. Look at the title of book 1: "The Lion, the WITCH and the Wardrobe." See something similar there to Harry Potter? And there is a magic wardrobe in it that trasports you to a MAGICAL world.
Besides, when you get down to it Harry Potter isn't about magic, it's about a boy growing up into the world and learning that there is more then goodness in life, an important lesson we all face in the real world eventually.
My point is, before I get into a little rant, you can't judge it before you know what is going on and neither can he. Perhaps suggest he read the book with you and tell you what is actually wrong in it. Otherwise, without reading it, he has no right to tell you it's evil or wrong.
Or ask him to trust your judgement and pray to God for guidence. If you feel it is fine then, push forward. If you feel it is wrong, put it down.
You are going to be making decisions like that all of your life. Know what you are talking about and don't become a 'So-and-so said" person where you decide something based on what everyone else says. Look into it yourself?
No offence meant, but a lot of times those are the worst kind of Christians.
I mean, would you take someone's word if they read a verse from teh bible that whatever they said was exactly what it said and meant? No, you are going to go read the verse and see for yourself.
I hope that helped!
2007-07-19 19:13:01 · answer #4 · answered by Paris T 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your friend isn't going to be able to read the book no matter what. Some parents are so uptight and forget that the book is just fantasy and not real life. I take it that that family never read any Disney books, Doctor Seuss or fairy tale books like Hans Christian Anderson because all of those are just make believe. Pretty much the only thing I can think of is to talk to your friend about the different things in the books like as if you were discussing boys or whatever so that it will be as though she read the book, but not disobey her dad. I've had times where I am reading a book and someone feels he/she has to tell me everything in the story.
2007-07-19 19:11:37 · answer #5 · answered by Hagatha 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make comparisons.
Harry is very much a symbol of what Jesus believed and stood for; he fights evil and is willing to lay down his life to do it. There are also strong messages about prejudice, the power of love, standing by beliefs, loyalty, goodness prevailing over injustice and evilness--all things that the Bible teaches about. There's lots of sites that go into detail about this, check 'em out.
Guilt trips are good, too. Ask your father if he really has that little faith in you? Tell him you have good judgement, and the reasons you want to read HP. Tell him that you are not interested in fake spells that hold no meaning, but you ARE interested in the plot and the messages about friendship, trust, whatever your reasons, etc.
People hate things they don't understand...so explain it to him. Explain that the main characters fight against Dark Arts, and believe the most powerful magic of all is universal love (as demonstrated when Harry's mother dies to protect him). Tell him that THESE are the messages, not witchcraft.
It may be easier to write a letter to voice your opinions, so you don't get emotional and can better work out your case. Worse comes to worse, he can't control what you read in college :D
Above all, remain a calm, respectful manner. When talking to adults, if you seem in control and adult about the situation, they're less likely to be childish and flat out refuse.
Good luck!
2007-07-19 19:08:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Tell him it's only fictional and you want to read it for enjoyment not because you'd actually believe that there are wizards and witches etc. in the world. Try to sound like you don't care about wizards, but since everybody reads Harry Potter u wanna see whats so good about the book. Hope it Helps = )
2007-07-19 18:53:01 · answer #7 · answered by nya_09 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest telling them that it is fiction, and while it may be fun to read that doesn't mean that it takes precedence over her bible. That is still the most important book to her. But she wants to read the Harry Potter series to see what all the hype is about. Chances are they will stay firm in their decisions, but that means it will be something she can enjoy when she turns 18 and moves out.
2007-07-19 18:57:57 · answer #8 · answered by queen462606 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20.
2007-07-19 18:53:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Find someone to tell him that the themes of these books (some anyway) are actually very Christian ones (love, sacrifice, some more), that the characters are very fictional witches/wizards with no resemblance to real ones (in ability or actions), and that books have no power unless given some by the reader.
2007-07-19 19:06:46 · answer #10 · answered by istillcandream 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tell him once you are done with the book you will write a report of why some might consider this book to be sacreligious. Tell him you are grounded in your faith but would like to be able to witness to others as to the danger or no danger of this book. Tell him you cannot take a stand for or against this book without reading it. Let him know that you are mature enough to read it and will not be influenced by it.
2007-07-19 18:54:52 · answer #11 · answered by rcpaden 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋