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
Great! THings are good(see post#378). We really need to get together. Maybe we can get SCGOP to wear his Gimli costume.
Yeah... It needs water.
We were invited to do registration for JB this weekend too, and from the sound of Rauhagee's, it ROCKS.
But work, alas, keeps me busy 'round here. But sign 'em up in droves!
You are exactly correct. That's a more subtle point than what I thought you were saying.
What I was responding to was that some folks don't believe magic to be fictional. If it isn't fictional, I will pay handsomely for winning Texas Lottery numbers - say up to 95%.
I'm surprised so many people here are can't seem to focus on the bigger, historical picture.
You know the old saying about boiling a frog. You start him out in cold water. Then slowly turn up the heat. By the time he realizes what is happening, the water is too hot for him to get out of. No one can deny the general public's accepetance of occult activity as "normal" has grown exponentially in the last 40 years.
- One guy has a TV show where he talks to the dead.
- Fortune tellers have become mainstream (call up madame whoever and have your fortune told anytime of the day.)
- Followers of Gaia have big roles in both the womens' and environmental movements.
- Wicca is now widespread enough that it is recognized by the military and allowed to hold religious cermonies on bases.
How did this all come about? Sure there are lots of reasons, but the softpedaling of the occult by Hollywood over the years has had some influence. "Bewitched" (along with numerous other Hollywood creations) certainly didn't cause people to all of a sudden turn to witchcraft on a wholesale basis, but it did plant the seed in people's minds that witches are not that different from everyone else, and that witchcraft is perhaps not that bad after all.
Drip, drip, drip. It is the small, slow, subtle influences over the years that have built up over time till we are where we are today. A time when witchcraft (Wicca) is considered by many to be "just another religion", and nothing to worry about.
A far cry from just 40 years ago.
dungeons and dragons game set on the table..
And what in the world is wrong with Dungeons and Dragons?
IF that was true, I think it would have to be Ron.
"I'M BEING REPRESSED!!!" : )
Film Reviews From A Christian Perspective
by Phil Boatwright
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, Maggie Smith. Warner Bros. Kids fantasy/adventure. W-Steve Kloves. D-Alfonso Cuaron.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," like the previous two
installments from J. K. Rowling's hugely successful supernaturalism book series, is simply a masterpiece of technical craftsmanship and a brilliant example of rudimentary storytelling. That said, there is a problem. And that problem rests with its thematic foundation - witchcraft.
A dangerous and enigmatic wizard, Sirius Black, has escaped Azkaban prison and is believed to be searching for Harry. Legend has it that Black was responsible for leading Lord Voldemort to Harry's parents and ultimately to their subsequent deaths; it is also believed that he is determined to kill Harry too.
To make matters worse, Hogwarts is playing host to the Dementors, the terrifying Azkaban guards (ghost-like ghouls) who are stationed at the school in an attempt to protect the students from Sirius Black. The Dementors suck the souls from their victims and, unfortunately for Harry, they seem to have more of an effect on him than the rest of his classmates. Their ominous presence chills the young wizard to the bone, rendering him virtually helpless, until Professor Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, trains Harry in how to use the Patronus Charm to shield himself from the Dementors' paralyzing effects.
Meanwhile, Harry's third year at Hogwarts resonates with eerie encounters, adventures, mysteries and spell casting.
Action/adventures such as the film "The Craft" or the TV show "Charmed" ultimately deal with self-empowerment. Unhappy at home, unpopular at school, frustrated with the trials of life, many adolescents seek such validation and solace in things supernatural. But since Christianity and Judaism often seem a fanatical part of their parents' established world, they sometimes rebel by delving into the occult. Then, once ensconced in that dark culture, they find it coloring all aspects of life, ultimately destroying their souls.
I wouldn't suggest that viewing Harry Potter will lead to spiritual destruction. But it's a mistake to underestimate the impact of the occult, even in children's entertainment. Make no mistake, the real purpose of the occult is to lead people from the truth.
Both the Old and New Testaments warn against an involvement with these dark practices. In Revelation 22:15, NIV, Jesus states clearly that those who practice magic arts will suffer the same disastrous fate as murderers, idolaters, and the sexually immoral.
http://www.saworship.com/article-page.php?ID=1257&Page=family.php
Disney leading kids to hell?
New book series W.I.T.C.H. pushes witchcraft, astrology
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com
A new Disney book series for adolescent girls aptly named W.I.T.C.H. promotes witchcraft and magic, a development that adds to the arsenal of those who criticize the company for being anti-family.
"Mickey Mouse leading children to Hell" is the headline on one website alerting readers to the new books.
"[The books are] about five teenage girls (ages 13-14) who practice witchcraft. Disney is not only selling witchcraft, they are selling lust and astrology – to children! Look at the way they have them dressed!" shouts the site.
According to a statement from Disney Publishing Worldwide, the book series was introduced in the U.S. last month after years of success in other nations.
"Since W.I.T.C.H. was first introduced in Italy in 2001, we have experienced an unprecedented global response to the characters and the concept," said Robert Iger, president and COO of The Walt Disney Company. "W.I.T.C.H. is a great example of Disney's ability to create and launch exciting properties in different parts of the world and by the many talented people at Disney's different divisions. Its expansion into the world's largest market through multiple business units of the company should ensure duplicating the success it has seen around the world."
The nine-book series is patterned after "the fastest growing girls' comic magazine in the world, published monthly in over 64 markets and in 27 languages," Disney says.
The name W.I.T.C.H. is comprised of the first initials of the five girls who are "ordinary friends with an extraordinary secret – they each have the power to control a natural element."
Said the Disney statement: "Will controls energy, Irma commands water, Taranee has power over fire, Cornelia controls earth, and Hay Lin dominates air. The girls use their powers to guard against evil and to uncover the truth behind mysterious portals leading to other worlds."
The critical site, ac18.org, claims the books "no doubt will begin a gradual progression toward the occult practice for some young people. Satan wants nothing more than for a person's life to be filled with things that appear to have meaning, but in the end have none and keep a person from tasting the truth. He tries to use a world filled with illusions and fantasies … to fill our lives with things that only deceive and bear no fruit."
On the W.I.T.C.H. website, each of the five girls has a page with a bulletin board that provides information about them. Among other things, each board contains a sign announcing that person's astrological sign.
Disney claims 50 fan websites have begun in response to the "W.I.T.C.H. phenomenon," and that a major consumer-products campaign is under way to respond to "tweens … clamoring for more W.I.T.C.H."
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38688
You are having fun, aren't you? : )
How does the rolling of dice and acting (D&D) Invite one to play with evil powers?
Well, then....I TRIPLE DOG DARE you to wear your elf costume....
They didn't pitch in much to defeat Sauron, now did they?? I kept expecting an army of dwarves to show up SOMEWHERE.
The guy with the TV show where he supposedly talks to the dead is nothing more than a cold reader, and a bad one at that. He just plays the odds and makes junk up.
The telephone psychics use the same shtick, they tend to be better at it, of course they also get your credit card number and can run a quick check on you so they get a nice leg up (see a charge at a hospital recently "some one close to you is having health problems"... easiest game in the world, I can teach a 6 year-old how to do it in half an hour, no magic involved).
Of course Gaia yahoos have big numbers in the womens and enviro movements, Gaia yahoos tend to be tree hugging lesbians, nothing but demographics there.
Lots of wierd religions and psuedo religions get "recognized" these days. Lawyers have more to do with that than Harry Potter, I declare I'm a Movementarian and supply my ocmpany with my holy days and if they don't give me those days off with pay just like the Christians get Christmas I sue. Doesn't take a lot of these guys to get things to a point where everybody's claimed religion gets equal treatment.
Not much different than 40 years ago really. LOTR was really popular then, hippies were getting into the whole earth mother thing, and stupid people were doing stupid things for stupid reasons. To quote David Byrne "same as it ever was".
Is there ANYTHING I like that won't send me straight to Hell in your eyes? ;->
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR :D
Do what you want. Just remember to send Robert Tilton or Oral Roberts $1000.00 to cover your ass later.
The $100 prayer cloth should be adequate coverage.
"How does the rolling of dice and acting (D&D) Invite one to play with evil powers?"
How does the drinking of beer or wine invite one to try whiskey? How does the smoking of marijuana invite one to try harder drugs?
Does everyone that drinks a beer or smokes marijuana go onto harder drugs? No, but how many people do you know that started out with the hard stuff. Drinking whiskey or using heroin? Few (if any).
Playing with the soft stuff doesn't gurantee you will move on to the hard stuff, but it does open the door. What is going on with the Potter movies (amoung other things) is the normalizing of witchcraft and occult activity. People can get their feet wet by becomming involved in a book or move that promotes the occult. Like beer and wine, not everyone will move on to the hard stuff, but some will take the next step once they get their feet wet.
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