Harry Potter -- Reality Or Just Fantasy? Or Both?!

[Grace-Like-Rain]

Some people ARE nerds and can relate.

 

[my_adonai_]

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.!!.

 

[my_adonai_]

When we think about the standards that GOD wants from us, we would drop everything and just run to HIM

 

[Praus]

FANTASY FANTASY FANTASY!!!

I cannot understand why this topic keeps coming up. It is about imagination, good and evil and fun. As I said on another thread, my daughter has read the books over and over. She could win any trivia contest about Harry Potter books.

At the core, this is an issue about the discernment of children so insights from parents like yourself are very educational for the rest of us. Thanks Angela.

 

[reawakeningmemories]

I completely agree with you. Wiccans claim Harry Potter was the best thing for them as their numbers swelled after the books and movies came out. I don't understand why a Christian would say it is OK to read those nice cute books about casting spells. Can there be any concord between us and the enemy?

I actually STUDY religion in school (all types) and I can tell you with the utmost certinity that the magic "spells" in Harry Potter is horribly bastardized Latin and English mixed with a few made up words from JK Rowling. The witches in HP are a species, they're BORN with powers, like people born with blue eyes or black skin. It's no more "fantastic" than anything genetic to them. It's comparable to (and an allegory) for race, and being "pure" of race (like Hitler wanted.) Magic in the real world has nothing to do with magic in the HP world (or the Cinderella world, or the Narnia world, or the Lord of the Rings world.) Fantasy is fantasy. Kids wanting to be Harry Potter wizards is on the same level as them wanting to be Power Rangers. It's make-believe. All little girls want to be fairy princess, but parents don't sit there and tell them that fairies are evil and magic is of the devil when it's a Cinderella or Tinkerbelle costume. But put "Hogwarts" on the tag and instantly it's gonna possess your child.

It's rather silly, really. It's the same debate that was had over Pokemon. You get what you take out of it. If you REALLY think you can use the kind of magic that's used in Harry Potter, try locking your front door, throwing your keys away, and using the unlocking charm from the book, and see how long it takes 'til the Devil comes and unlocks your door for you... lol

 

[kayem77]

Fantasy. I loved the books, read the entire series. This book is not Christian, so as with everything, deciding wether to read it or not is up to the believer. Just because someone has a weakness for witchcraft doesn't mean that someone else who reads it will start practicing it because of the books . I think that as long as one can discern reality from fantasy, it's okay to read it.

Personally, I enjoyed them very much. It's not about magic, magic is just the context in which the story develops...the real story is about love,sacrifice,friendship, and once again...love. Again, this is not a Christian book, but there are Christian elements in the story which really add to the beauty of it .

 

[Careen]

Some people ARE nerds and can relate.

actually,christian can't watch or read some books about witchcraft ,magic,....
it's all belong to devil and from devil
If we know we are belong to Christ,we can't touch somethings not belong to Christ
anyway,If someone want to watch this things, this is their decision
The movie about witchcraft or magic will affect us even though we can't feel any affect
Devil will affect us,if we not careful

 

[Brother_Don]

in my opinion, if you read the books, watch the movies, buy the toys, you are supporting what its about, i don't think its wise to give evil a strong hold in your life. i myself wouldn't give this stuff, any of my mind, or time, it took 17 years ridding that stuff from my life, i grew up in a family of witches, so from one that has been there, planting this stuff in childrens mind is not harmless fun. Watch a child about 4 when they watch the movies after movie they will be waving wands and trying to cast spells, they don't know any better.

 

[danschance]

I actually STUDY religion in school (all types) and I can tell you with the utmost certinity that the magic "spells" in Harry Potter is horribly bastardized Latin and English mixed with a few made up words from JK Rowling. The witches in HP are a species, they're BORN with powers, like people born with blue eyes or black skin. It's no more "fantastic" than anything genetic to them. It's comparable to (and an allegory) for race, and being "pure" of race (like Hitler wanted.) Magic in the real world has nothing to do with magic in the HP world (or the Cinderella world, or the Narnia world, or the Lord of the Rings world.) Fantasy is fantasy. Kids wanting to be Harry Potter wizards is on the same level as them wanting to be Power Rangers. It's make-believe. All little girls want to be fairy princess, but parents don't sit there and tell them that fairies are evil and magic is of the devil when it's a Cinderella or Tinkerbelle costume. But put "Hogwarts" on the tag and instantly it's gonna possess your child.

It's rather silly, really. It's the same debate that was had over Pokemon. You get what you take out of it. If you REALLY think you can use the kind of magic that's used in Harry Potter, try locking your front door, throwing your keys away, and using the unlocking charm from the book, and see how long it takes 'til the Devil comes and unlocks your door for you... lol

OK, I assume you are a Christian. So let me ask you a question: How far down a slippery can you go and still be OK?

You claim it is all in fun, it is fiction just like he power rangers, it is just make believe. It is well written, very entertaining and the books can help children to learn how to read. Let's even pretend the spells in the movie are pure fantasy and are not inspired by real spells. So what is the harm?

As soon as you slide your morals down a slippery slope you are compromising. As I said earlier Many kids can watch this and it will have no lasting negative effects on them. However, there are troubled teens who do gravitate towards the occult. These teens can be drawn into Wicca and worse. I know this because I was one of them. Up until 5 years ago, I was a psychic--the real kind. I know that witchcraft is real and it has some power in it.

So do you want to be the kind of Christian that supports those types of movies or not? How far are you willing to blur that line? How far is too far for you? Will you be of the world or for Christ in the world?

 

[danschance]

in my opinion, if you read the books, watch the movies, buy the toys, you are supporting what its about, i don't think its wise to give evil a strong hold in your life. i myself wouldn't give this stuff, any of my mind, or time, it took 17 years ridding that stuff from my life, i grew up in a family of witches, so from one that has been there, planting this stuff in childrens mind is not harmless fun. Watch a child about 4 when they watch the movies after movie they will be waving wands and trying to cast spells, they don't know any better.

I could not of said it better.

 

[Praus]

I actually STUDY religion in school (all types) and I can tell you with the utmost certinity that the magic "spells" in Harry Potter is horribly bastardized Latin and English mixed with a few made up words from JK Rowling.

Did J.K. Rowling write the books or were there one or more spirits involved?

1 Cor 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The witches in HP are a species, they're BORN with powers, like people born with blue eyes or black skin. It's no more "fantastic" than anything genetic to them. It's comparable to (and an allegory) for race, and being "pure" of race (like Hitler wanted.)

Such allusions to the Nietzschean Übermensch point to some quite evil spirits, don't you think?

Magic in the real world has nothing to do with magic in the HP world (or the Cinderella world, or the Narnia world, or the Lord of the Rings world.) Fantasy is fantasy. Kids wanting to be Harry Potter wizards is on the same level as them wanting to be Power Rangers. It's make-believe. All little girls want to be fairy princess, but parents don't sit there and tell them that fairies are evil and magic is of the devil when it's a Cinderella or Tinkerbelle costume.

I am writing an essay about the corruption of the Cinderella story by Disney and some french guy. I'll post it later but not in the Bible Discussion Forum

But put "Hogwarts" on the tag and instantly it's gonna possess your child.

It's rather silly, really. It's the same debate that was had over Pokemon. You get what you take out of it. If you REALLY think you can use the kind of magic that's used in Harry Potter, try locking your front door, throwing your keys away, and using the unlocking charm from the book, and see how long it takes 'til the Devil comes and unlocks your door for you...

You recommend that I should invite the devil to unlock my door?

lol

Laughing about the devil is the topic of your post?

 

[reawakeningmemories]

Did J.K. Rowling write the books or were there one or more spirits involved?

1 Cor 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.



Such allusions to the Nietzschean Übermensch point to some quite evil spirits, don't you think?



I am writing an essay about the corruption of the Cinderella story by Disney and some french guy. I'll post it later but not in the Bible Discussion Forum



You recommend that I should invite the devil to unlock my door?



Laughing about the devil is the topic of your post?

I guess sarcasm isn't a thing where you're from...?
I'm laughing at the blatant insanity of the concept. It's FANTASY. You don't see me trying to throw balls and have little Pokemon fly out, or yell a random dinosaur's name and become a Power Ranger.

Just because they say "magic" in the storyline doesn't mean it's at all based on real magic. It's all fake, from the imagination of a British woman (a CHRISTIAN British woman, at that.)

As far as the allegory of race, the characters that are comparable to Hitler (the ones that think "pure blooded" witches are better) are the ones viewed in a 100% negative light. It's an anti-racism and anti-genocide moral. She even makes a thinly veiled reference to the Holocaust in a backstory in the last book.

The story's morals are great to teach our kids (being yourself, standing up for what's right, being friendly to everyone, and even being a hard-working student.) I don't know how we've accepted that Narnia and Lord of the Rings has magic in them, and we make NO mention of them being evil. JK Rowling is a Christian woman and she doesn't even get why people claim she's Wiccan, as, logically, if she wanted a story to attract wiccans, it would've been based on ACTUAL religious practices, not the modern version of "bibbidy-bobbidy-boo"

Side not, JK Rowling is a good Christian, in my opinion. Like I said, her stories have GREAT morals for children and adults, alike. She's also the only person to lose her billionaire status because she gave so much of her money to the poor and sick. Throwing vicious lies about her writing Satanic propaganda is, hey, a sin.

 

[Cycel]

all that from watching harry potter? well i guess it would be easier to blame a film than lack of self control

Let's hope she doesn't watch one of those movies in the so-called slasher genre. Could get dicey.

 

[Cycel]

Qui = Yes in French
Ja = Yes in German.

Ouija is how they spell it...,

Thank you! I've always had problems with that word. Now I think I will be able to remember.

 

[Praus]

As far as the allegory of race, the characters that are comparable to Hitler (the ones that think "pure blooded" witches are better) are the ones viewed in a 100% negative light. It's an anti-racism and anti-genocide moral.

I didn't think of that angle! I have one friend who is a Harry Potter fanatic, so I will ask her about that tomorrow. The fact that she's a public school teacher in the radical leftist LAUSD and also an Anglican is just part of that same Harry Potter worldview, I'm sure.


In the meantime, is Harry Potter himself a "pure blooded" witch?

She even makes a thinly veiled reference to the Holocaust in a backstory in the last book.

"A thinly veiled reference"? You write exactly like someone's press agent for some reason...

 

[Cycel]

I'm curious what you have to say about the fact that the Bible is the #1 selling book of all time in the world, since you say if it was approved by God it would be hated and not got a sell out as Harry Potter did.

Myself, I own five Bibles, and I'm an atheist. I purchased four of them and was given the fifth, an NIV, by a Christian friend. It and my NEB are my favourites. One of my sons who is also an atheist owns two, but there is a third he is wanting to get. Maybe the Bible is the best selling book because all the atheists are buying them? Oh, we have only one copy of Origin of Species.

 

[Gary]

actually,christian can't watch or read some books about witchcraft ,magic,....
it's all belong to devil and from devil
If we know we are belong to Christ,we can't touch somethings not belong to Christ
anyway,If someone want to watch this things, this is their decision
The movie about witchcraft or magic will affect us even though we can't feel any affect
Devil will affect us,if we not careful

Did you watch Snow White and Cinderella?

 

[Praus]

Did you watch Snow White and Cinderella?

If you did you've been lied to. -> Disney Vs. The Grimms Brothers

Disney Vs. The Grimms Brothers: Snow White
In the original - the Queen requests the lungs and liver (as well as the heart) of Snow White to eat for dinner that night.
In the original - Snow White is not awakened by a kiss from the prince (like the Disney version) - she is awakened when she is jostled by the horse on which her coffin is being carried by the prince.

 

[Nautilus]

actually,christian can't watch or read some books about witchcraft ,magic,....
it's all belong to devil and from devil
If we know we are belong to Christ,we can't touch somethings not belong to Christ
anyway,If someone want to watch this things, this is their decision
The movie about witchcraft or magic will affect us even though we can't feel any affect
Devil will affect us,if we not careful

typical frightened extremist evangelist views. I read Harry Potter...finished it, put the books down, and went on with my life never once paying any more attention to witchcraft or anything occult. It was like I somehow separated reality and fantasy in my head and was fine. Perhaps thats a gift of the Spirit that just misses most people on this forum?

 

[Praus]

typical frightened extremist evangelist views. I read Harry Potter...finished it, put the books down, and went on with my life never once paying any more attention to witchcraft or anything occult.

You're paying attention enough to write about it on CC.

It was like I somehow separated reality and fantasy in my head and was fine.

Isn't "fantasy" what atheists say about His resurrection?

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Perhaps thats a gift of the Spirit that just misses most people on this forum?

Perhaps.