"and I have yet to doubt my Christianity in favor of becoming a wiccan or something silly like that."
But what of 'young heads full of mush'?
You probably made your decision to be Christian based on the teachings of your parents and church.
But what of the young impressionable minds out there that might find being a 'wizard' or 'witch' exciting?
Considering the lack of control by many parents nowadays, I can see a real problem with them being influenced by these books and movies.
Of course. Without parental involvement, everything out there in the world can be dangerous for the young skulls. Even with parental involvement, it's a minefield.
Given a choice between my daughter reading Harry Potter and watching MTV, I'll take Harry Potter.
I played D & D and read fantasy while I was growing up, in a mostly non-religious household.
My parents never went to church… taught me very little about God. I do remember going to Sunday school a few times when I was very very young, but my parents did not go.
I spent some time in early adulthood exploring occultism, I knew some wiccans (dated a witch, briefly), was myself very new-age... Oddly enough… studied the Illuminati briefly, too. People who recognize these references are likely also to be familiar with Bob. Like many folks, I went through a period in my life where drugs were a staple of everyday life.
But, there is something about THE TRUTH that obliterates these flights of fancy of youth, and sets you free. I always believed in God, but departed for some time as I was coming of age.
That being said, I think parents should take a very active role in defining and developing their children’s worldviews and theology. I certainly have no intention of having any cultural phenomenon have free-reign over my children. I must meet my responsibilities to my children and my God, and “Bring up my children in the way they should go.”
You said, “You probably made your decision to be Christian based on the teachings of your parents and church.”
That does not apply to me, clearly. Non-Christians sometimes take this tack with me as they try to explain that I have been “brainwashed” by my church and family… when in fact God came to me where I was, as an adult… in the midst of depravity and filth, and He delivered me.