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Harry Potter - Saint or Sinner?
- Thread starter Ulsterman
- Start date
Heres what God says,
Micah 5:12
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
Galatians 5:19-21
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Deuteronomy 18:10
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft
2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
Micah 5:12
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
Galatians 5:19-21
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Deuteronomy 18:10
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft
2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
I have read all the previous Harry Potter novels.
They are fantasy, set in a fantasy world that parallels modern England.
The witchcraft portrayed is fairytale stuff.
The people with powers have them inherently and learn to use them mechanically, not because of demonic powers. The teacher at Hogwarts who practices divination is presented as a fraud.
The spells are Latin puns and jokes.
The books are basically English boarding school stories with a lot of kid jokes and adventure in which kids rely on each other. They sell because they are well-written.
There are a number of clones of HP out there that I do not read and wish they would go away. They have gone far beyond HP.
At least most of the bad quotes attributed to J.K. Rowling that keep getting passed around on the internet are from the Onion, a satirical journal. All fictional quotes, yet people believe them.
This will sound odd, but I have more trouble with Star Wars and its overt Buddhism and New Age ideas. I have lots more trouble with Indiana Jones movies. The whole concept of Raiders of the Lost Ark and how they find it and what happens, I find deeply troubling. I will not allow my kids to watch Bruce Almighty. Nor do we.
Karen
They are fantasy, set in a fantasy world that parallels modern England.
The witchcraft portrayed is fairytale stuff.
The people with powers have them inherently and learn to use them mechanically, not because of demonic powers. The teacher at Hogwarts who practices divination is presented as a fraud.
The spells are Latin puns and jokes.
The books are basically English boarding school stories with a lot of kid jokes and adventure in which kids rely on each other. They sell because they are well-written.
There are a number of clones of HP out there that I do not read and wish they would go away. They have gone far beyond HP.
At least most of the bad quotes attributed to J.K. Rowling that keep getting passed around on the internet are from the Onion, a satirical journal. All fictional quotes, yet people believe them.
This will sound odd, but I have more trouble with Star Wars and its overt Buddhism and New Age ideas. I have lots more trouble with Indiana Jones movies. The whole concept of Raiders of the Lost Ark and how they find it and what happens, I find deeply troubling. I will not allow my kids to watch Bruce Almighty. Nor do we.
Karen
Bro. James Reed
New Member
Haven't read any of the books, but I have seen all of the movies, and I love them!
Of course, many claim that the Wizard of Oz is Satanic as well.
It's all about good being triumphant over evil. If it was Satanic, then the bad guys would win.
Of course, many claim that the Wizard of Oz is Satanic as well.
It's all about good being triumphant over evil. If it was Satanic, then the bad guys would win.
Jeff Weaver
New Member
I agree with Karen's comments.
As manager of a Public Library, I can tell you we have kids lined up to check the next one out. I also see everyday the reading level which is common out there, and it ain't good.
The books are well written. They keep children's attention, which in the video game world is difficult to do.
I know it probably isn't a problem for most of you in BB land, but in the general population, mom and dad are apt to put the kids in front of the TV as take any time to read with kids. With this attitude it is a wonder kids read as well as they do.
Read to your kids, make something with your kids, go somewhere with your kids, turn off the TV, have some family time together, its good for kids and for you too.
As manager of a Public Library, I can tell you we have kids lined up to check the next one out. I also see everyday the reading level which is common out there, and it ain't good.
The books are well written. They keep children's attention, which in the video game world is difficult to do.
I know it probably isn't a problem for most of you in BB land, but in the general population, mom and dad are apt to put the kids in front of the TV as take any time to read with kids. With this attitude it is a wonder kids read as well as they do.
Read to your kids, make something with your kids, go somewhere with your kids, turn off the TV, have some family time together, its good for kids and for you too.
T
TexasSky
Guest
Karen said it well.
I would only add, that the appeal of the books, as far as I can tell, is not the magic in them, but rather the fact that children can relate to the characters. A super-smart-girl who is the oddball for being overly intelligent. An orphaned boy who wants nothing more than a loving family. A very close-knit family torn apart when one of the sons decides that "power" and "authority" matter more than family. A villain who started out as any other child, but became ashamed of his own heritage and so decided to destroy anyone similar to his mother. The school bullies, the search for "where you belong," the heart aches of longing to be liked and not knowing how to be, and then discovering that you need to like yourself. Learning that a lot of things matter more than "you". A teacher with a shady past that he can't seem to get over. The contest between three halls; a group that is gentle hearted, a group that is brave, a group that seeks power. The power seekers always losing in the end.
The magic is "trappings".
I would only add, that the appeal of the books, as far as I can tell, is not the magic in them, but rather the fact that children can relate to the characters. A super-smart-girl who is the oddball for being overly intelligent. An orphaned boy who wants nothing more than a loving family. A very close-knit family torn apart when one of the sons decides that "power" and "authority" matter more than family. A villain who started out as any other child, but became ashamed of his own heritage and so decided to destroy anyone similar to his mother. The school bullies, the search for "where you belong," the heart aches of longing to be liked and not knowing how to be, and then discovering that you need to like yourself. Learning that a lot of things matter more than "you". A teacher with a shady past that he can't seem to get over. The contest between three halls; a group that is gentle hearted, a group that is brave, a group that seeks power. The power seekers always losing in the end.
The magic is "trappings".
Bro. James Reed
New Member
Because "ruby slippers" are lighter than "silver shoes".
Because, when introducing the world to color theater, you want bright red, not bland grey.
Plus, it's what the script called for.
Because, when introducing the world to color theater, you want bright red, not bland grey.
Plus, it's what the script called for.
To get back to the subject, the present Pope believes the Harry Potter books are pure Hogwash and "distort Christianity in the soul", according to two letters published online.
The comments were made to a German author who wrote Harry Potter - Good or Evil? which criticises JK Rowling's popular tales.
Gabriele Kuby sent the German pontiff a copy of the book in 2003, when he was still a cardinal, and his replies have now been published.
He said, "Harry Potter,[contains] subtle seductions which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly."
You can read more, here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=355751&in_page_id=1773
The comments were made to a German author who wrote Harry Potter - Good or Evil? which criticises JK Rowling's popular tales.
Gabriele Kuby sent the German pontiff a copy of the book in 2003, when he was still a cardinal, and his replies have now been published.
He said, "Harry Potter,[contains] subtle seductions which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly."
You can read more, here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=355751&in_page_id=1773
Discernment Ministry John Ankerberg and John Weldon have a number of interesting articles on this subject.
http://www.johnankerberg.org/hp-articles/hp-articles.htm
http://www.johnankerberg.org/hp-articles/hp-articles.htm
T
TexasSky
Guest
Considering my opinion of the present Pope, I would call that a high endorsement FOR the Harry Potter books.
That happens. It also happens that two Christians come to very different opinions when they both have Scripture as the standard.
Sincere Christians sincerely disagree with me on Star Wars and Indiana Jones. But I don't think it is always because their standards = the world's standard.
The John Ankerberg links usefully present one side. See www.connieneal.com for a different Christian perspective on HP.
Karen
As long as you are equally against The Wizard of Oz, the Narnia chronicles, and The Lord of the Rings, then I can understand that reasoning, even if I disagree with it. Those who find fault with Harry Potter while accepting some of these others will need to find reasons that don't paint with so broad a brush.
Thank you, donnA, but I think the average Christian knows witchcraft is condemned by the Bible. That is not the issue. The issue is, do HP novels contain it? Yes or no?
See how as a saint is a person saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, do we see evidence of the gospel being preached in these books, of HP being savied?
So thats where we get the answer to this question, scripturre. </font>[/QUOTE]Why lecture us on the obvious? The term "saint or sinner" in the proposition line is not used as a theological definition, but as a literary adjective. Do you always split hairs over words? Is it not possible within the laws of English to use the word 'saint' loosely? Do you only read books where the main characters profess to be saved?
I have no love for the RC system of religion, or the Papal office, but the Pope isn't wrong about everything. He believes in the Trinity doesn't he?
Once again I think you are missing the point of the poll and the thread. Withcraft is wrong - end of story. Satanism is without excuse - no argument, but does Rowling's works stray into Satanism or are they pure fantasy? I have never read one. It is interesting that of those who have most do not identify any Satanism within the text. Is that because they lack spiritual discernment or because it isn't there?
Incidentally, Ben W, thanks for the link to Ankerberg's site - that was interesting and helpful.
As long as you are equally against The Wizard of Oz, the Narnia chronicles, and The Lord of the Rings, then I can understand that reasoning, even if I disagree with it. Those who find fault with Harry Potter while accepting some of these others will need to find reasons that don't paint with so broad a brush. </font>[/QUOTE]I am. I agree.