Is Harry Potter and Narnia good for the church?

Is there really? And I mean really.

The books promote cheating, as long as you're the "good" guys. They are fool of moral ambiguity and moral relevance.

The books promote evil, satanic practices, such as necromancy, as long as you're the "good" guy.

The books promote many evils as being an outstanding way to do things, as long as you're the "good" guy.

So, if the book is written from the perspective of the 12 year old, and the older man is presented as a "good" guy, then I guess the book about pedophilia just gets better and better, doesn't it?

 

Your question is not applicable to this example. My response, however, is.

My answer is that, in a general sense, no, I would not allow my children to be subjected to material I as a parent feel is immoral. However, I have let my children read Lord of the Rings (which exemplifies wizardry), the Grimm's Fairy Tales (which exemplifies all sorts of immoral behavior), and the Lion the Witch and the Wordrobe (which exemplifies gluttony, alcohol consumption among minors, and New Age beliefs), so the simple inclusion of immorality, or noncondemnation of the same, is not a litmus test for what I permit them to read. Each situation needs to be considered in and of itself, and in each situation, the parent must be allowed to be convinced in his own mind.

Nope. But again, the issue is not one of "does God approve". The issue is "is reading of fiction that contains witchcraft, sorcery or divintaion as a plot tool permissible". The answer is invariably "yes", but that, in the case of children, parents have the liberty to decide to what extent the material is permissible.

That's true. But again, it's already been demonstrated that Christians do permit fiction that exemplify witchcraft, sorcery or divintaion as a plot tool without condemning them, such as Lord of the Rings, and they also permit fiction that exemplies gluttony, New Age beliefs, and alcohol consumption of minors, such as the Loin the Witch and the Wardrobe. So when one uses the argument to condemn, it becomes clear that the argument is used selectively, while being promoted as a generality.

 

would it then be OK to write a book in which a 12 year old girl had an affair with a 30 year old married man from her perspective of love and how great it was? We could dress it up in play acting and costumes and child-like fantasies. It would then be a "children's" book. Would that make it OK? If not, why not?

First of all, I will clarify, by "children's book", I was referring to "Young adult". Secondly, you are comparing apples and oranges. HP has an underlying good v. evil theme, and the magic is fantasy that does not correlate to real witchcraft, IMO. I would not allow my child to read a book that contained illicit sexual relations between a child and an adult, even if I were to read it with my child. However, when my children are old enough I will introduce them to the works of Shakespeare, which contains many "immoral" themes. Once again, there is a difference. I agree with Johnv, let each parent be convinced in his own mind. My convictions may be different from yours, but that does not mean either of us are right or wrong.

 

Isn't 12 "young adult"?

In HP, the underlying "good v evil" theme is completely relative to the author's perceptions of "good" and "evil" (after all, God calls necromancy evil, but Rowling says it's all A-OK), so in the case of the pedophelia, the author could call it "good" vs the "evil" of those trying to stop the love of the "young adult" in question.

There is right and there is wrong. Praising and glorifying evil is wrong, no matter what spin you put on it. However, as an American and an adult it is your right to do as you wish with your children.

 

Nope. But again, the issue is not one of "does God approve" . The issue is "is reading of fiction that contains witchcraft, sorcery or divintaion as a plot tool permissible". The answer is invariably "yes", but that, in the case of children, parents have the liberty to decide to what extent the material is permissible.

Well JohnV I believed you have summed it up for all of the HP and Lord of the rings approvers when you with your own words said that " It is not one of does God approve" . You like many others have left out God's opinion of the whole subject and have inserted your own human reasoning for why we should encourage HP reading.

I guess I will rephrase my question since I see there are loop holes in them.

Does God approve of witchcraft, sorcery or divination in any form fantasy or not?

Here is a better one.

Do you think God would ever recommend the HP series to you or sit you on His lap and read the fantasy stories to you? Do you think He would ever wrap any of these books or movies and set them under the christmas tree for you to open on Christmas?

WWJD?

I think if I were waiting to get the HP DVD's for christmas from God I would probably revise my list real fast after this christmas.

 

So, fatbacker, do you condemn the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings?

 

JohnV I already answered your question before, I said that I have never read the Narnia series but I do condemn the HP and Lord of the rings series and the wizard of oz and so on and so on. I find that the older I get and the more I desire to know God the less I find myself even wanting to step foot in a movie theater because you can rarely find a movie that does not have some theme that is completely against what we should be letting our eyes and ears hear and see.

I have not seen the Narnia series or read the books so I have no comment on them. So yes to the ones that I have read or seen yes I do condemn them.

I repeated my answer since I had answered you in an earlier post which again you did not read what I wrote properly. I if you want to ask me again I will answer again.

 

BOANERGES: Ok...so I want to ask a few questions. Isn't Disney the maker of the Narnia movie?

This live-action film is being produced by Walden Media and distributed and co-financed by Walt Disney Studios. The production company is Frozen Lake Productions. Computer graphics are being handled by Rhythm & Hues and Sony Pictures Imageworks. Weta Workshops built much of the set and most of the props. KNB EFX Group handled all the design, creation and execution of the Narnians in the film.

BOANERGES: Is Disney a Christian company that promotes family values?

Typically... no.

BOANERGES: Did God create animals that talk?

God didn't create animals that speak the King's English. But animals do communicate. Ever have a dog that needed to go outside try to get your attention?

BOANERGES: Did God create half man-half beast type of beings?

No, but God did create us with imagination, and I believe these "creations" can be used to teach much larger themes.

BOANERGES: Is there a prophecy about the daughters of eve as portrayed in the movie?

There is a prophecy in the story that 2 "sons of Adam" and 2 "daughters of Eve" can break the spell that the White Witch has cast over Narnia. They'll do this by sitting on the 4 thrones and reigning as kings and queens at Cair Paravel in Narnia.

BOANERGES: What does scripture say about following fables?

The Chronicles of Narnia are not fables. They are fiction which provide good fantasy entertainment for some. There are decidedly Christian themes that are present, and I for one don't have a problem seeing the books and the film for what they are, and gleaning what I can from it. Does this make Lewis' books Scripture? By no means! But if it presents a picture that through it some may see the love of God, than let it go with my blessing. I pray that it will be faithful to the memory of the stories I have while growing up.

In His Grip,
joshua

 

I haven't followed this thread, so I apologize if I'm repeating someone else's post.

I do not plan to take Brent to the movies to see The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

However, we will rent the DVD when it comes out. It has no swearing or nudity, and very little violence. In my opinion, that's a BIG plus!

This book was required reading when my children attended the Christian school.

Comment from IMBD:

LINK

 

I've never read the Lord of the Rings or the Narnia books, but I am acquainted with the Harry Potter stuff. So, I have a question: Do the Lord of the Rings and Narnia books present necromancy, charms, spell casting, moral relevance, and moral ambiguity as good things?

 

Yes. Good or evil depending on the use or user.

 

This is not intended as a debate, as I have not read the two other than HP. But for the clarifaction for me and for others who haven't read it, I have been told that the "magic" in both Narnia and Lord of the Rings was in fact items that simply had specific properties. (A sufficiently advanced technology looks like magic, etc.) This would be different from spell-casting, necromancy, etc.

Do you know, off hand, examples of necromancy, moral relevance, etc., in the other two and how they are portrayed?

(I may end up having to buy them to read them just for this reason, but if they are evil, I don't want to line the pockets of the owners.)

 

I have not read the books in many years - as I recall the parallel to Christ is VERY strong. Our church bought several hundred tickets - sold them to members and is offering to give tickets to unsaved folks. We are having a discussion at the church after the movie - with a big emphysis on explaining the evangelistic message of the movie. I am really looking forward to the movie and the discussion afterwards.
It is another door that we can use to bring the unsaved to life with Christ.

 

I believe it was an altar.

 

I have met many who were and have met many, many more who were backslidden and came BACK to Christ after viewing the movie.

OK. Let's get back on the topic of this thread now.

 

I have yet to meet anyone that was saved from watching an episode of Get Smart.