and Robin Tunney, who being blond in the movie is probably not the one you're thinking about . . .
and Neve Campbell from that lame-ass show . . .
and Rachel True.
Posted on 06/03/2004 9:38:49 AM PDT by BobbyBeeper
FIRST-PERSON: Is Harry Potter merely entertainment? Jun 2, 2004 By Phil Boatwright
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" Photo courtesy of harrypotter.com
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (BP)--"I love Harry Potter. I think it would be so cool to be a witch," Sharon, age 11, says.
That's my answer to anyone who says J.K. Rowling's adventure series is harmless fantasy.
While the Harry Potter book and film series has held a hypnotic fascination for youngsters, its thematic foundation is troubling. Arguably, perceptive children can view such material without succumbing to the snare of the occult, but it would be naive to think that movies and TV programs containing witchcraft are not aiding the rise of Wicca in our culture.
In a television special titled "Hollywood Spirituality" which aired several years back on E! Entertainment, Raven Mounauni, a professing witch and owner of an occult paraphernalia store, credited the 1996 movie "The Craft" with inspiring young women to explore the world of witches. "I get a lot of teenage girls in here. You can always tell when 'The Craft' has been on TV, 'cause we get a big influx of girls looking for supplies."
Occult practices shouldn't be considered just diverting amusement. Ouija boards, psychic readers and other forms of misleading supernatural entertainment should not be taken lightly. In Leviticus 19:26 we are instructed, "Do not practice divination or sorcery." There are several warnings in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, making it clear that we are to avoid witchcraft or anything associated with the occult. So if God is instructing us to avoid occult practices, how can we justify using it to entertain ourselves?
This may not be a popular view right now. The first Harry Potter film installment earned $969 million worldwide. J.K. Rowlings' five books on the young wizard have become a phenomenon, allowing the author to become the richest woman in England, with assets beyond $1 billion. That would indicate that many parents find nothing wrong with these children's adventures.
There are even a couple of books out right now exclaiming parallels between the Potter books and the Gospel. One author suggests the books help relate Christian themes and truths, opening the door for talking about things such as right and wrong, the nature of faith, loyalty, bravery and trust. Honestly, I think that's a bit thin. Yes, Rowlings’ themes deal with honor, friendship and self-sacrifice, but the kids in Harry Potter gravitate to sorcery in order to accomplish these attributes. And even if there are positive elements associated with the series, you simply can't ignore the witchcraft equation.
Members of Wicca teach a philosophy that embraces no absolute truth or sin and replaces the patriarchal male creator God of the Bible with a belief in both male and female gods. Its credo instructs members to embrace spirits and conjure spells in order to control their lives and the lives of others. There are millions of practicing witches worldwide. Indeed, Wicca has become one of the fastest-growing religions in the world today.
OK, it's good that children are reading. But what is it they're reading? Shouldn't that be considered? When an author makes $1 billion on five books that have sorcery as a main theme, and renowned secular critics hail the films as incredible filmmaking without examining their occult roots, I question what's really behind this phenom.
Is it merely entertainment? Or is there a dark spiritual source feeding and supporting it? I realize that may sound like a stretch, but often Satan is most deceiving with a glossed-over package. Wouldn't it be a shame if kids got pulled into witchcraft, while their folks thought of the books and films as merely children's fantasy? --30-- Phil Boatwright is a film reviewer and editor of The Movie Reporter, on the Web at www.moviereporter.com. (BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKAB
Speaking of sinful things, what was the name of the smokin brunette in The Craft?
Some moms tend to know everything....maybe there is a big conspiracy, maybe moms do have magical powers, such as being able to see what was going on across town, or behind her back, or behind closed doors.
Any moms care to comment?
I didn't think any of the girls were that great looking (although I only watched the movie in dribs & drabs.)
Right, and in this case it resulted in gross inaccuracy. Sounds like your beef is that the book is fantasy or something. Must mean you don't like Sci-Fi also.
There is a reason why such fantasy is written by childless middle aged British men.
You keep harping on this but don't say what you really mean for some reason. Are you saying Tolkein and C.S. Lewis are gay?
"One of my ancestors was hung in Salem as a witch.
She wasn't of course, but that didn't matter to the 1700 era religion of peace."
What gets me is that none of the 17th century witch hunters ever thought, "If these chicks are witches, why don't they use their powers to escape"
That no-good warlock Santa Claus must be punished! Go get the noose and I'll find a tree, or we could burn him. It's up to you.
I'm an evangelical Christian (that tagline is a Reformation-era slogan meaning "grace alone"). I have some (solid) Christian friends who play D&D occasionally, and quite frankly, I can't see anything evil about it, since its largely the Middle-Earth world of J.R.R. Tolkien. Actually, it seems to me to be an excuse to gather and eat pizza.
"There is a reason why such fantasy is written by childless middle aged British men."
Maybe they write such fantasy because they don't have wives telling them "You'll never make any money on that garbage."
Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm ... Agents of Satan.
Well, there's a fine how-do-you-do ...
Didn't you know that Gary Gygax was the Anti-Christ?
Besides, "Chivalry and Sorcery" is a much better set of rules.
Or, even betterest [8')], "T.H.E. Fighter" and "T.H.E. Mage".
Why did you hate Freebird? Just curious...
I have got to see that movie.
I joyously put my boss on "permahold" on the phone. Is that bad enough?
If my ancestor had been a real witch she'd have turned them into the most
despicable creatures imaginable, a MA demoncRAT.
I agree with you!
I thought it was warlocks what were hung...
Pffft....mere parlour tricks.
Petrificus totalis is my newest to try.
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