I'm coming to believe that children know and can discern a lot more than what we can. I see the child like faith that Jesus was talking about. Most of the time, when I'm teaching a biblical concept or principal and I'm really trying to hammer it home so to say, the kids are all like "yeah, we know that already, we get it."
I believe that there's something else that comes along and leads them astray when they grow up. And I believe many times it has to do with family issues, dealing with things like abuse, bullying, alcoholic parents, etc. Some of them probably turn to things like the occult or drugs, etc. as a way to deal with the pain of their past. Some of them that used to be able to separate fantasy from reality now use fantasy as more than just relaxing entertainment, but it's a way for them to cope and escape from the pains they have. But notice the root problem here isn't the fatasy stuff. And this is why I think attacking fantasy entertainment is just over exagerating.
Say you have a hurting teenager that is using Lord of the Rings books/games as a way to cope with the pains of their life. You preach to them that LotR is evil and of the occult and they should drop it. What you're telling them is to drop the one thing they have that helps them deal with what they're going through. What you're not doing is showing them (not just telling them but showing them) that there is an alternative. What you're not doing is dealing with the root issue of their problems, you're only dealing with the surface. At best, you might get the kid to replace LotR with some other thing that is still only a temporary fix, and not a permanent change in their lives like they need.
Everyone runs to what best reduces the hurt and pain, or something that fills up the voids or makes us forget that there is pain or hurt or disappointment.
but we all know those kids needs JESUS not Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings.
What parents do or did with their kids they will be held accountable for in Judgement day, but what Those KIDS can not or do not get from their parents should not be an excuse to have participate into another form of evil.
Yes HP is evil.
The Word OF GOD is full of adventures, and the LORD can have us teach it a THOUSAND WAYS that when the KIDS listen they be like WOW, is this what you got from that, I NEVER THOUGHT IT in that way.
You think God is not capable of keeping Kids busy with HIM, or is not capable of having them shun all worldly things, and have the rest IN HIM?
ohh HE IS MORE than capable. but if you compromise, you are destroying those kids
These things can make kids rebellious towards their parents, i know when i was younger that when my parents told me not to do something when i am watching cartoons, or playing video games i would be rebellious, and disappointed at them instead of jumping up at the idea of being called by my parents. and being made responsible for what i must do.
abusive or not abusive, hateful or not hateful, painful or non painful experience, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings is never THE ANSWER but the LORD is for those kids.!!..
There are fun, holy Christian games.
and with children i guess it is getting that FUN to it and having them realize how much THEY NEED GOD while they are young.!!.