Good? Bad? Indifferent? Do you think it's o.k. for Christians to read the books or allow their kids to read them? Why or Why not?
2007-07-23 08:32:24 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm a Christian, and I have enough sense to realize that the Harry Potter books are works of fiction. I'm all for anything that interests young people in reading. I don't think that any kid, anywhere, has read a Harry Potter book and suddenly morphed into a demon, nor do these kids run out to join their nearest occult group. It's fantasy, and the only reason that kids might think it's anything more than that is because a handful of shrill, fanatical adults keep insistently telling them so.
2007-07-23 08:37:55 · answer #1 · answered by solarius 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
The Harry Potter world view is different than
Lord of the Rings. In Lord of the Rings, magic was
not used light heartedly - even considered dangerous -
there was more respect for it's use.
Harry Potter uses more real incantations
and deeper elements of real occult practices compared
with The Lord of the Rings.
I have bad spiritual "vibes" watching
the trailers for Harry Potter. Something is
not right about it!
I am not scared of it, I just have the sense that
it is unclean spiritually compared to Lord of the Rings,
that I should not support it and don't need to be influenced
by it.
I think people may have convictions to
not watch Lord of the Rings too, but it's an
area that depends on the person -
it's more of a gray area to not be too
dogmatic about.
I don't beleive that fantasy is just pretend - fantasy
comes from real life things - nothing is
totally made up!
Some fantasy is spiritually "cleaner" than others.
Example: Dark Crystal has too many new age philosophies.
I used to like it, but I don't watch it anymore because I
have a different understanding about it, yet I watch Labyrinth - I don't like all of Labyrinth, but it has more truth and light than Dark Crystal. I appreciate the talent in both movies!
I like fantasy and sci fi when it is done well and it's
philosophies are not too far from light - I can live with
minor defects. Evil villians in themselves don't frighten
or turn me away, it's the overall philosophy that I guage
to be good or bad influence on children and on myself!
2007-07-23 16:09:59 · answer #2 · answered by Nickel-for-your-thoughts 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well to go against popularity, I think it is a bad thing that Christians are reading them, I have a series of books that are fiction that I read, and these are recreational, and some can say that is what these are as well, yet they delve into the realm of the necromancer, casting spells, making potions, etc. having powers, and to galmorize it and make it look good and fun and pleasing to the eyes of children, leads them astray into the arena of the occult. Yet this has been going on for quite some time. It is appaulling to me, how we can find time to read 200 pages in a book in one sitting yet cant read 10 pages in the Word of God! There is something wrong here. Yet, there is even more to this, that we casually fill our minds with such activity and thinking, and what happens when it gets to that stage of dwelling and thinking that hmmmm.... so of this just might be possible, could it, maybe, might, and then it seems so casual that we dab in it, not realizing the hidden dangers and traps, and even if we dont, and never believe in the books themselves, they are directly opposing the Word of God.
2007-07-23 15:49:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely GREAT!!!
"Priest says Christian perspective can be found in Harry Potter series
WESTFIELD, Mass. (CNS) -- July will be a big month for Harry Potter fans and Father Michael Bernier, parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Westfield, proudly counts himself among the myriad of Potter devotees. In fact, he described himself as a "Pottermaniac" at a talk he gave in May about God and Harry Potter. And he, like millions more, is looking forward to July 21 when the seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," is released and July 13 when the fifth movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," premieres. Father Bernier told those gathered for his talk at St. Mary High School that Christians should not fear this devotion to stories about a boy wizard. "On the surface level it does sound suspect and does raise red flags," he said. However, he said the magic in Harry Potter is not sorcery. "I happen to be one of the people who believes that there's a great deal of Christian imagery and symbolism in the books. And I think it answers, at least in parts, a longing that we have for Christ," he said." (1)
~~~~~
(2001 Editorial) "So what's the fuss? As the Potter books grew in popularity, concern grew among fundamentalist Christians that our children are being indoctrinated in witchcraft and Satanism.
To this we say, rubbish! ... ... ... ... No, God isn't mentioned in this story. One doesn't look for explicit theology in every story. But goodness and love themes are there. Harry discovering the mystery of his mother's self-sacrifice is one. Call it a type of "pre-evangelization" if you must. "
2007-07-23 15:49:22 · answer #4 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a christian, but somebody's faith would have to be really, extremely weak in order to be affected by a work of child's fiction!
What's next, you suggest not watching Disney movies because they have magic as well? Or not reading Lord of the Rings because it has a widely different mythology than your own beliefs?
I think people need to loosen up. It's just a fantasy story, it's not out to influence people's beliefs or promote any evils. Unless of course you think tolerance, loyalty, friendship, doing good for good's sake, standing up against tyranny, etc. are evils?
EDIT:
"Curious georgette" is a prime example of someone not to follow or even listen to. She spouts misinformation while acknowledging that she doesn't know for sure but is too lazy to look it up (incidentally she doesn't want to look it up, she must assume anything magical is bad) and prohibits her kids from reading them... Rowling is not into witchcraft and none of those spells are real. But this fact would probably not phase curiousgeorgette. Harry Potter isn't harmful, but people like this are.
2007-07-23 15:39:26 · answer #5 · answered by Mike K 5 · 6⤊ 1⤋
I havent read or seen any of the books or movies regarding Harry Potter, just not my thing. But I see nothing wrong with other Christians reading them or watching the movies.
2007-07-23 15:36:16 · answer #6 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Harry Potter is a story- a make believe world than kids enjoy and read about. These stories encourage kids to read.
This whole nonsense about Harry Potter being the anti-christ makes me sick.
Within these stories are many archetypes and symbols of good vs. evil, friendship, love and representations of each and every one of us.
I for one think they are excellent examples for teaching children about how the choices they make will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Peace.
2007-07-23 15:41:56 · answer #7 · answered by Kaybee 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I applaud Mike K's answer, he get's my vote. JK does not practice witchcraft, the books do not teach kids to make blood sacrifices, they're enjoyable works of fiction about love, friendship and classic good versus evil. What's evil about getting kids to read?
2007-07-23 16:03:53 · answer #8 · answered by Caity S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"As a cult researcher for many years, I have seen contemporary witchcraft packaged in many seductive forms, and Harry Potter is the best. Potter makes spiritualism and witchcraft look wonderful. Just as the popular movie The Sixth Sense communicated with the dead, so does Potter. Witches (Wiccans) have found an effective social tool for children to accept witchcraft as a normal non-evil religion. The invited witch who comes to an elementary school to talk to kids has a literary spring board into a child’s heart. Over time the child can become adapted to the dark world of witchcraft and not even know that it is dangerous. What if the Potter fan is dropped off at a Barnes & Noble Bookstore to check out the latest Potter display? Will the child then run over to the witchcraft section among other books to see what Potter is really talking about? Potter repeatedly discusses various witchcraft and magical books in his series such as the History of Magic. The magic we are discussing here is not sleight of hand but occult magic.
Deut. 18:10-14
There shall not be found among you anyone who …practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you."
I do not believe in letting kids read Harry Potter because it is everything that the Bible is against. I do not want my children to partake in reading of witchcraft, paganism, and sorcery. I do not believe in getting involved in those things and to read stories of a child using the occult to be the things I want my child to find for entertainment. The bible says to stray away from such things because they are evil and they bring about dangers. I believe this and I will hand my children a Bible before they touch the cover of Harry Potter. I want my children to recieve a biblical education of right and wrong, so they can a have a relationship with God and steer away from corruption and death that occultic things can bring upon them.
2007-07-23 15:51:02 · answer #9 · answered by busyliz 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
What I've seen of the movies hasn't been bad. If the books are as good, they might be worth a read (I haven't read any of them). I wouldn't allow my son to read them until he's at least in his teens and mature enough to handle it though.
I'm a huge fantasy novel fan. I don't have a problem with the genre.
2007-07-23 15:43:38 · answer #10 · answered by Machaira 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋