Benedict XVI-New Pope Hits Out at Harry Potter Books

Contact Music News ^ | 4/24/05

[gopwinsin04]

NEW POPE HITS OUT AT HARRY POTTER BOOKS

The new pope Benedict XVI has blasted JK Rowlings Harry Potter books for 'undermining the soul of Chirstianity.'

His predecessor, John Paul II, had praised the mutilmillionairness for her Christian lifestyle in the past.

The former Cardinal Joeseph Ratizinger is grateful to 'Good or Bad' author Gabrielle Kuby for revealing the hidden agendas behind the popular childrens books.

He said, 'it is good that you explain the facts of Harry Potter, because this is subtle seduction, which is deeply unnoticed and has direct effects in undermining the soul of Christianity before it can really grow porperly.'

[Miykayl]

I think I know what you are trying to say, but in case I am mistaken, and for the edification of others participating in this thread, would you please clarify? There is much you are not saying but are inferring.

Please say more and infer less. :-)

I am interested.

[ninenot]

I think Uta Reinke Herrmann was one of those who attempted to become "ordained."

She has been on my "bozo" list for quite some time.

[LIConFem]

"The protagonist is a warlock and engages in occult practices."

He's a wizzard, actually (but don't ask me to explain the difference ;)). And from what I could tell from the one movie I saw, "evil" was portrayed as petty and stupid, while "good" always triumphed. Certainly not a particularly anti-Christian message.

As for pushing children toward the occult, I don't think it's unusual (or necessarily harmful) for kids to fantasize about things such as wizzards and magic. I'd be hard-pressed to believe that those fantasies carried over into adulthood and solidified into beliefs.

In any case, it's obviously up to parents as to what their children read, watch or listen to. But with all the real evil in this world, it seems silly to go looking for more where it doesn't exist.

[I still care]

"Harry, if you pardon the expression, is kind of an ass. Because the story is from his viewpoint, we can see that the character the Rolling has created is self-absorbed, often selfish, but generally comes back to himself, does the right thing, and then feels a fool for his previous failures of understanding."


That's one of the best synopsises of the HP books I seen. And isn't it that paragraph the life of the Christian believer?

[discostu]

No, the protagonist has a genetic combination that allows him to control forces that are outside the realms of current science and explained in that universe as magical. He does not engage in occult practices.

[ninenot]

Well, Tolkien and HarryPotter are quite distinct.

Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story.

Potter is entertainment. There are good values in the stories, but they certainly don't compare to Tolkien.

[SAMS]

So, is she was a classmate of Pope Benedict's, that would also have made HER a member of the Hitler Youth program. Anybody done any interviews on her lately & her views on Hitler??

[Not A Snowbird]

Of course.

[Mark in the Old South]

The topic is the "Pope says HP is bad for children". By all means mention if you like the books but at some point it might be useful to relate it to the topic. which is not the "Pope says HP is bad for adults"

We Americans (myself included) too often put ourselves at the center of EVERYTHING. We like it so it must be okay for everyone, right. Well ummm...NO We never look past the end of our own noses to see the effect of something on someone else. Does this harm others? I don't like smoking so I want to make smoking difficult for everyone (even in their own homes) I don't like SUV's so no one can have one. I don't want to be bothered by a brat so kill the little bugger and while we are at it grandma is getting to be a pain as well, her house is paid for and I want to go to Fiji for vacation this year so I hope you don't mind if I stand on her feeding tube. Come to think of it that will be an inconvenience so I'll just have the hospice do it. We look down on Nazi Germany and yet this country has killed as many people. We even have more people involved in the killing, relatively few Germans were involved in their crimes yet we think we are the best d@## country in the whole wide world. We assume we are smugly superior to the Slave holding South yet the South never systemically murdered millions. I could go on and on but I am feeling better now. :-)

I thank you for affording me the chance to get that off my chest. Nothing personal towards you, you just provided a small example of a problem too many of us (myself included) are guilty. Self absorption. I just want to point out the need to look beyond ourselves and think of others and the effect we are having when our pleasures take center stage and override everything. Chuck the TV, chuck the porn, chuck the Viagra, chuck birth control pills and go feed the homeless or plant flowers, read a serious book anything other than just the self gratification that overwhelms us every day.

[ninenot]

There is a witch who lives in my apartment complex. She hates God, casts spells and wears a pentagram

You live in the same building as Uta Reinke-Herrmann?

[gopwinsin04]

The Build-a-Burger is right next to the Bohemian Grove pottery store and the Tri Lat cafe in the NWO mall.

[Mark in the Old South]

That at least is the debate.

You are wrong but at least you know what the debate is about.

[Not A Snowbird]

Given that context, you are correct, I was off topic.

[retrokitten]

LOL! They have the best Old Navy there. ;-)

[Bigh4u2]

Ok. I'll try to sumarize it.

You stated that you were not brought up a christian, and had 'dabbled' in the occult.
But a searing in your heart, because of your continued belief in God, made you come to the realization that what you were doing was wrong.

Am I right so far?

My response, to this point was, unlike you, there are many children who where raised under the same circumstances that may have never known God, and therefore there was no 'conflict' to confront them.

As per your line that many non-christians laughed at your faith, is a testament to that fact.

[ELS]

In 1987, the church declared Uta ineligible to teach, after she declared the virgin birth to be a theological belief and not a biological fact.

She doesn't have an axe to grind against Benedict XVI. </sarcasm>

[Mark in the Old South]

Thanks for being a sport. I was in desperate need for a rant. I thank you for helping me with that, it was very kind of you.

[MeanWestTexan]

Well, I think the answer is that the Pope didn't say this.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story."

I think reasonable minds could disagree on that one --- I guess depending on what one called "magic." Certainly both are "fantasy" and involve wizards. Superficial similarity, perhaps.

That said, I agree. HP series is no LOTR.

But, hey, she wrote the books for kids. They just happen to be good enough for adults.

[Miykayl]

Tokien, were he here, would argue with you on those points.

Tokien, were he here, would argue with you on those points.

“Tolkien's Ring cycle does not include 'magic,' and is actually a parable of the fall/redemption story.

Potter is entertainment. There are good values in the stories, but they certainly don't compare to Tolkien.”

I agree that there are important distinctions.

However, Tolkien has clearly stated that his trilogy is not an analogy, or parallel… At least, there was no intention of him to make it so. There are great many who argue the tree ring represents the atomic bomb, or atomic power, when that long story was well underway before WWII.

Christian themes are present because Tolkien was a Catholic. He did not intend for the story to be directly a fall/redemption story. Tolkien did intend for his story to be enjoyed as entertainment. I find them very entertaining.

Gandalf definitely uses “magic” in the sense that he uses powers unavailable to the common man, and that are supernatural. The ring is most certainly magic, and possessed.

The previous post makes an attempt to explain away the “magic” as a natural ability afforded Gandalf by his non-human race. (He is a “Maia”, not a human)… Those who practice “magic” or attempt to, here on Earth… might argue that what appears to be “magic” is really just the natural order of things and we are simply to simple or stupid to recognize their “magic” as a natural thing rather than as a supernatural thing.

Gandalf uses magic…

Please denote a key element in LOTR that illustrates an important connection to the fall/redemption story. The most Christ-like character is Gandalf. He is killed and resurrected in The Two Towers, after defeating the Balrog, a rather demon-like creature if there ever was one. Is there a stronger connection you can find?