Is it sinful to watch Harry Potter?

So my mom is super religious. Nothing wrong with that. Thats not the reason for this post. However some of the things she believes , i think is alittle extreme and would like to know your thoughts on this. Admit it, you guys have imitated Harry Potter spells as a kid. You may have watched the movies. According to my mom thats sinful. Only reason why i watched it was because of my dad. He dose not think its sinful to watch Harry Potter. Anyway back to my mom. She thinks its based of of real spells and its about talking to demons. What are your guys thoughts on this? Also feel free to ask as many questions as you want on this post. I'll be happy to answer them all.

I think she has a valid point.

I won't absolutely say watching it is sinful; it depends on why you're watching. I think too often Christians resort to "this or that is sinful"; but it doesn't address the real issue.

The bigger question is: Why would a true Christian want to imitate all the things done by the people of this world? A Christian has been called out this world. We're called to be different.

I've studied real spells and what is in Harry Potter is not what would be considered real witchcraft or sorcery. Harry Potter doesn't teach people how to cast real spells nor does it reference real rituals or procedures. That's a good thing!

That being said, I can see how Harry Potter could be like a gateway into magic. I can see how it could lead people astray and rouse their curiosity and interest into things forbidden by God.

I think the intention matters here. Why is someone watching Harry Potter? If they are watching it because it's entertaining then I think it's safe. If they are watching it with the intention of becoming a witch or sorcerer then it's not safe. If possible, people need some Christian guidance on this subject so they are not led astray; maybe it's safer to shelter less mature Christians sometimes.

My thoughts on completely avoiding Harry Potter because of what it suggests is extreme, but extreme is not always bad. There's no harm in totally avoiding everything Harry Potter. I just think it's better to accurately understand what we're avoiding and why.

Admit it? I'll admit I never watched a single movie or read a single book. So, no, I never imitated Harry Potter. And it wasn't for religious reasons. I simply didn't think it looked interesting.

Magic use is considered demonic in nature. This is made clear in the Bible.
In terms of its use in entertainment value, someone once suggested that if the magic is a key or central element to the story its better to avoid. If magic is just an element in a story, but not the focus, it can be watched.
This would be the difference between, say Harry Potter, whose story revolves entirely around magic and spells, versus Lord of the Rings which uses magic, but the magic is not the focus.
And some might say both are wrong to watch.

If I may add to Sub's post, (to the original poster,) I have never tried to imitate Harry Potter spells either, so that's something that just can't be assumed of all of your readers. I've seen movies with magic in them but had no interest in "trying it out," as magic has very frightening (and forbidden) connotations in the Bible.

One thing to take into consideration, along with Harry Potter and, as Sub mentioned, Lord of the Rings, pretty much anything seen as fantasy or science fiction involves magic and/or forces of power that are apart from God: any superhero franchise, Star Wars, Star Trek, the entire horror genre, etc., so what criteria are you using when watching these and other movies in general?

This would be a starting point as to how you would personally evaluate what you should or shouldn't watch.

Something that has always bothered me is that while I neither condemn nor condone things like Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia are always hailed as praiseworthy (with churches arranging group outings to see them in theaters) because it is touted as a "Christian allegory."

And yet, this series has witches, fanciful creatures outside the realm or reality, and the presence of magic galore, just like Harry Potter.

But since it's slapped with a "Christian" label, suddenly that makes it ok? Things that make you go hmm...

I'm not saying that Narnia or C.S. Lewis's works are in any way bad (I'm just not a fan,) but what I do question is the practice of "Christian-washing" things that are condemned in "secular" settings -- but slap a Christian meaning behind the Winter Witch, a talking lion, and all that magic, and suddenly this makes it ok.

I'm not criticizing either side.

I'm just saying, I don't agree with condemning people for watching Harry Potter while taking others in carpools to go see The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Add my name to the growing list of people who never "imitated Harry Potter spells as a kid."

In fact, when the first book was published (Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone, 1997) I was already into my forties!

Nor have I attempted any such imitations since

I have to give the Original Poster credit though -- the poor guy probably just wasn't counting on all of us old people answering his thread!

I think if you are under 18 it could be a sin if you didnt read the books first ....I mean watching the movies is rather lazy and sloth is a sin....

Watched all the movies , nothing wrong with it just good entertainment if you're a geek like me. Yeah and all that jazz about the spells being real is utter horse manure...

Just curious, how would you know that?

Do this real quick : get your favorite coffee mug and wave your hands at it while saying wingardium leviosa. When absolutely nothing happens you have your answer 😂 oh and that's supposed to be a levitation spell ...

That, you have to decide for yourself. Perhaps as long as it does not reach the stage of "Endless Fables"? 1 Tim. 1:4 By the same logic, Twilight, and so many of the movies can be a unholy distraction. How much time does one devote to God and the study of his word? You have to decide. PS.119: 89-96

Are there real levitation spells, as opposed to the fake ones in the movies? Or is all magic just nonsense?

I'm no wizard so I wouldn't know about any real spells. Things like voodoo and other things like demon possession are real though. Most magic that's commercial if you will is just nonsense

It is not whether it is real or not, or if you can actually DO magic. The sin possibly lies in pulling one away from adoration of God.

I wouldn't recommend it. I've never watched it, but it's not my thing, either.

To me, it just looks stupid and a little geeky. But there are some people out there that could be tempted with the evil of magic and things like that. It could be harmless for some, but not for others.

So yeah, I don't think I would recommend it.

Admit what. Who is Harry Potter? Never watched a movie or read the books.

No.
But it is boring.

Harry Porter is all about magic and there is a verse close to the end of Revelation that States that all who practise magic will be locked out in lake of fire. I don't know if there are special types of magic but God was clear here, magicians like Simon the Magician, who tried to compete with the healing power of the Holy Ghost by using demons to make a living was cast blind. This happened when Peter was preaching and healing. So be it fantasy magic(Harry Porter) or real magic, I think conceiving the idea of achieving realities using unnatural ways or mythical ways is a sin.