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
That's what my brother and sister say about the military, too. I was just trying to point out to Aquinasfan that nearly every American institution has rituals and traditions, hell nearly everybody has their own rituals and routines. It's not necessarily satanic to have rituals.
You of course then would not object to anyone making sweeping generalizations about residents of FLorida, correct?
They totally brought that on themselves,
...certainly attracted to it by its very illegality.
What adolescent isn't attracted to things that are illegal or forbidden? Heaven knows I was.
Great post, Aquinasfan, but I'm afraid it won't convince the Potter groupies here who don't have spiritual discernment.
Who are you to say that we don't have spiritual discernment simply because we don't believe a a book about a kid fighting an evil wizard is neither satanic nor a way to brainwash children into joining covens?
I cried after book 5...
That's nothing to be ashamed of, JenB. I cried, my mom cried, my aunt and uncle cried, five of my adult cousins, all my kid family members, and my elderly grandmother. I corrupted my entire family from the ages of four to eighty-two. The great accomplishment of my life, thus far.
Yup, because we all don't pray like you do, or follow your brand of religion, it's hell time for us.
Don't you love people who claim to be Christian, God fearing folk, and then condemn others for not fully agreeing with them?
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."
Remember the cartoon Captain Planet(early 90s)? It had the same basis, kids controlling a natural element, and nobody nutted up over that.
Is there ANYTHING I like that won't send me straight to Hell in your eyes? ;->
Doubtful :)
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).
For the hard stuff comment: My first time drinking it was off of whiskey, and to this day I do drink occasionally. It's not about what you try- it's about how careful and responsible you are when you try it, in my opinion.
I should be banished for that.
You are OUT OF HERE, wench. You are so out of here, you're into next week already.
After all, if they are not spiritually aware enough to see the evil in the Potter series, how can anyone expect them to tell the difference between a Spirit-filled preacher and a False Prophet?
It's so amusing to see "Christians" condemn others for not agreeing with them. I believe you could easily be called a hypocrite, sir, for who are you to judge our spiritual awareness? Certainly not God, and it's His judgement that matters, isn't it?
Xenalyte (They call me Tater Salad.)
Just wanted to say I love your tagline- I like anyone that knows about Ron White.
<--------Hangs head in shame.
Can i come back if I see it before the weekend is out? :-P
I drink wine and beer and hard liquor on occasion...
You horrible sinner, you! I must speak to Xenalyte about banishing you for your evil ways :)
Ron White is hilarious. Just thinking about him is making me laugh right now. He and Larry would be the comedy show mecca for me.
After careful consideration lasting approximately three seconds, I have decided that if you see the movie by sundown on Sunday, you will be allowed back in.
the robotic Richard Simmons.
Anything but that, master! I will steal, cheat, lie, (anything but vote for Kerry) as long as thou doth not banish thee!
PS: How'd I do on the thees and thous? Does that sentence even make sense?
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