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
And there once again you prove the unending ignorance and close minded stupidity of the crowd that habitually declares things tools of Satan. You haven't even read ONE yet you condemn the entire series as evil, you speak about something you don't have even the slightest knowledge of, and in so doing you tell the fans that they can either chose to follow your ignorance or their own mind, and this ignorant constant condemnation is the only thing most of them know about Christianity and God. And this is how people like you have driven the fans of roleplaying and fantasy fiction away from God for decades, thus making YOU the only real threat to God in these discussions.
Then perhaps you should READ one, instead of skimming it. Your critique is the equivalent of my only watching James Bond previews and claiming to know the genre.
True. Or warlock, right?
If you need to warn people about children's lit, why don't you take on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy? That's popular, too, and he comes right out and attacks Christianity.
I do. Not as many people are familiar with his books though. But this is typical of the entire young adult fantasy genre. If anyone doubts it, take a walk through the fantasy/sci-fi section at Barnes and Noble and read the back covers of the books. It's nothing but witchcraft. Harry Potter is just the tip of the iceberg.
At our previous church, my mother was verbally attacked on several occasions by a woman she'd considered a friend, because she allowed her children to read Harry Potter. The 'friend' had never read Potter, but she was sure it would result in some of us becoming devil worshippers. It's five years later, and none of us are sacrificing cats yet.
Am I arguing that HP will turn every child into a devil worshipper? No. Will every high school drunk become an alcoholic? No. But should we encourage teenage drinking?
However, Potter may be a gateway drug...
It has for many children. Look through the reviews on Amazon.com. I did when the first book came out and there were plenty of kids saying, "Harry Potter is da bomb! I want to become a witch!" Go and see for yourself.
I skimmed the entire first book. That was plenty for me. Frankly, I don't see the attraction, even from the standpoint of entertainment.
Regardless, my objection to the series is that the protagonist practices witchcraft, and that's inarguable.
So? Kids are morons. Always have been, always will be. The actual wiccans I've know hate Harry Potter, or think it's stupid. Any kid who's going to get lured into witchraft by Potter books had issues anyway; blaming Potter for that is like blaming video games for Columbine-style massacres. I've known dozens and dozens of kids who are into Potter over the last five years. Not one of them wanted to become a witch. You'd think if it were a problem, I'd have heard of one. Instead, all we get are "Onion" quotes.
Also, Pullman's books are really fantastically popular, though they've been upstaged by the "Series of Unfortunate Events" books. And when a kid takes seriously a book that says things about how Christianity is evil and stupid, I think that's worsee than reading about struggles between good and evil.
Try reading the books. You may find that they're rooted in a better worldview than you think. I guess you can't accept fantasy? That in this world, if magic were real it would be forbidden, but in make-believe, there can be good magic? Harry Potter isn't a Christian allegory like Narnia, but they have the same sense of good versus evil.
Anything can happen in a story. In reality, there is no such thing.
Some suggested truly horrific reading:
So if someone tells you they skimmed Genesis and decided Christianity just wasn't a good fit for them then that's good enough for you?! The HP books are popcorn fiction, they read in no time. You should be able to finish actually READING not merely skimming the first book in an afternoon.
It's not a matter of if you like it, you're spouting off at length about the evils of a series of books you have only the most shallow and worthless knowledge of.
Actually it IS arguable that the protagonist practices witchcraft. As you've been told by multiple people multiple times in the HP threads the magic of HP bears ZERO resemblance to real world occult. By insisting that anybody in the books performs "witchcraft" as it would be classicaly defined in the Bible you demonstrate a perfect ignorance of the books. Nobody in the book, not even the bad guys, perform witchcraft that bears any resemblance to the stuff the Bible warns against.
I hope, for your sake, you meant that as a joke.
I've done plenty of reading of the nasty things the real occult does. Which is one of the reasons that I know with absolute certainty that anyone that thinks HP or D&D or heavy metal leads to the occult is a complete fool that knows nothing about which they speak. There's no relationship, not even slight, between the world of HP and the real dangers of the occult. None, and anybody that thinks otherwise has either never read HP or doesn't know a damn thing about the occult, probably both.
And so they go on spouting their nonsense, telling an entire generation of children that they can't enjoy Harry Potter and be Christian, and since they already enjoy Harry Potter the choice is already made for them, and you push them further and further from the light of God, and do more of Satans work than any of the things you warn against. The alienation people like you create in the fandom communities is real and drives them away from God in droves. Thanks to people like you Christianity appears to them to be the religion of ignorant killjoys that fear everything, and since no one wants to be an ignorant killjoy they don't want to be Christians.
Stop driving fandom away from the faith. You do nothing but harm with this foolish crusade.
See #627.
Also, check out these kids' reviews of the Ouija board game on Amazon:
Scary yet satisfing, May 22, 2004
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer while this toy is scary and a little creepy its prfectly safe. But I advise that only childeren 10 and up use it for if any kid is younger they might get nightmares. But you should buy it . for exsample I used it once and asked it if i was going to moveto a different state then my hand was guided to yes. I was deffietley freaked out as anybody would be but my friend and I shrugged it off. But a few months later I moved to a different state freaky huh?
Spooky, May 16, 2004
Reviewer: I am a believer from Fredericksburg, VA. United States OK some people say that it dosent work, but it does. I have talked to a ghost( I cant give away her name because she trusts me with her secrets). She is really nice to us. If you think that its fake you are so wrong its not even funny. it dosent work every once in a while but 9 and 1/2 out of 10 times it does. How can you say that its fake when you ask whats on a players hat and they get it right when no one says it or when you ask a name that your neighbors call you and they get right. I asked what my moms last name was and they gave her maiden name. If you believe then you should get this.
ouija great but bad....????, March 29, 2004
Reviewer: mindgames420 from yakima washington usa hey all i am a wiccan and have use the board for over 2 years now and yes im only 16 but a great channeler anywho i bought my frist board without promisstion from toy r us and use it for a while getting great answer most where true but some where just way off so the board can be unreliable so dont put your trust into it but aprouch it with an open mind (...) it is possable for you to get in contact with truthful spirits on the ouija it is just a mtter of time and consentration...and wither you are giveing off bad energy....also IF A SPIRIT FEELS BAD TO YOU PUT THE BOARD AWAY FOR THE NIGHT cuz it wont leave till then then next time you come to the board make sure not to think of the passed times on the board cuz thats whats going to come trough.....so yewa thank you for reading hopes this helps(...)
Yes its the real thing, January 5, 2004
Reviewer: nadia from new york Ight check it i got a ouija bored for christmas 2003 i wanted it way before then .well at least i acted like to my family and friends well any way when i first got it i was a lil scared but the more i played the more i got into it .it not my place to judge wheather the ouija bored is evil or sent from the angels above but 1 thing i do no is that it is real and no joke you cant come on the bored with negetivity on your mind because u bring evil around you always keep an open mind .If u have positive thoughts on your mind then positive will come from the bored another thing if u think u comeing to the bored for greed and lottery numers u have another thing coming.the last time i played i got kinda freak out though it was telling me some crazy stuff like how he was a bad sprit and stuff but i didnt jump and get all scared i stayed calm i talk to him and i been nice and he gave me a offical good bye so sometimes dont get too freaked out about things and always say goodbye nicely regardless of wat was said.another thing is dont take there answers to the heart because sometimes they lie to you either for the better or the worst.SO REMEBER DONT BE GREEDY BECAUSE GREED ISNT A GOOD AND ONLY BRING THE WORST OF LIKE . YO THANKS FOR READEN THIS AND I HOPE I ENLIGHTENED YOU.
Reviewer: A toy enthusiast from usa
at first when i bought this game i was like should i buy it yes or no so i decided yes , that was a good idea because you ask questions and it answers back!! i was scared at first then i got used to it !@ people always write some storys in the internet but ignore them there fake i play my quija board almost everyday and it still hasnt done anything bad! you should get one but beware dont be scared while your playing it!!
Reviewer: Dylan from Dumont,Nj Usa
I have heard of this Ouija board, and it sounds awesome. You can contact the spirits, but is it a satanic device? Are you really talking to your great Aunt Elenore you were trying to "contact"? Well,I can answer that. Some spirits are not ready to cross over, so they answer to your contacts. Sometimes,{this goes out to Caitlin!} you can possibly talking to a demon. So this device can be santanic at times. A reason it can be educational because you can contact colonial people and get information. Well, I hope my information was useful.It's a great thing to use at parties, or just by yourself.
Is the ouija board worth it?, November 23, 2003
Reviewer: A toy enthusiast from Bolingbrook, Il USA If you don't know whether to get the ouija board or not listen up. The ouija board is the best game That I and my childern have ever played. It's a great way to talk to something you can't see. But when you play it don't ask so many questions at once. Take your time. The best thing about it is that you can ask it anything you want. PLEASE NOTE: be sure not to take the board to seriuly b/c sometimes it cam be wronge.
Reviewer: Jonathon Beavers from USA
The first time I played with this game I thought it was really stupid and was never going to work but after I used it for a little bit and started beileving in it it started working! My friends were there and one of then was useing it with me and the other was playnig pool. We called her name and she looked at us and she dropped the pool balls and just about screamed. The Quija board was working and moveing very fast. After that we asked if there is a spirit in the room and the curser went directly to good bye.Quija Board, just a myth, right?No one will ever know.
Reviewer: william from ashland ohio
ok you guy's want to here something ok this is not a toy guy's i had one for year's an bad stuff sometime's happan to people if you look all around you there are some people that has these thing's but not all but ouija board's are sometime's good an bad it's the way you play the thing i see thing's that people will not beleave i had this board the other night an i swear on this too people i beleave in god too an ghost me an my friend was down stair's playing this ouija board we see weird thing's we got real cold an or hand's sometime's got real hot the candles even blow out just when you buy this board just don't use it the wrong way ok people trust me it's not a game sometime thing's can happan to other people an make thing's happan to you just don't play by yourself alway's have 2 people with you all the time thank's from bill
Its more than a game,It's OUIJA respect, November 7, 2003
Reviewer: jody cantarint from Carlsbad ,ca Hi, I dont know how people can consider this a game. I just recently learned how to play With their help. It it so amazing. I first ask if they are from the light? But they switch all the time. When I first started I couldnt even read the board. Now I play alone, the board upside down and i only use one finger,on the tip. They say people say OUIJA is bad because they are afraid of the unknowen. If you are also afraid of what could be the truth (only u know)then maybe u shouldnt play. There is good and bad in everything.With OUIJA you have to b able to know when they switch. I feel sorry for some they,they r stuck in a place of nothing. I helped a old friend to the light,(he said I did)I didnt do anything i thought maybe it was when i told him I luved him,I dont know. Have your own mind,the unknowen isnt bad,its life,all in what you make of it.
It is just for entertainment!, November 5, 2003
Reviewer: pr_kiss78 from Chicago,IL I want to agree with a prior reviwee when they stated that that I am not going to judge any other religions. I personally felt a bit skeptical about playing this game but it is what it is a game! Why else would it be sold in Toys R Us for goodness sakes under the toys section? Also if you read the box it is for ages 8 and up. My experience with the board was not a negative experience because I went into the experience with a peace of mind that God is the only person that controls my destiny. This was a fun game to play it even said some funny stuff such as that my brother would be gay and he is the manliest of men. I guess it stated that just to tease him because later after a while of inactivity it stated that he was going to be married with 2 kids. So dont fret people go in there knowing that you have control and also as stated by another person allow yourself to be open to playing the game a little because it does go on energy. This is fun if used for the right reasons and that is for entertainment purposed only.
The Ouija Board is Real!, October 24, 2003
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer I got this toy as a Halloween present right when I got it me and my friend tried it out. When we frist used it we talked to this 5 year old girl who couldn't spell her name. Im going to use it every night.
Where's the harm-it's just a toy, October 10, 2003
Reviewer: A toy enthusiast from Salisbury Mills, New York United States I'm not going to question people's religious views, but to say that using the Ouija board is a sin seems a little bit of an exaggeration. I've played with a Ouija board before in my life (growing up, at a slumber party) and nothing happened. We just thought it was funny. I would move the message indicator to freak out my friends and they did the same thing back (I know because we eventually admitted it to each other). I don't know if we really expected some supernatural response, but we never got one. Maybe it is frowned upon by religion, but I honestly don't see why. In my experience, it hasn't worked, and if it did, then how is that a sin? I think the fear is that it will work and then people would have to question their beliefs. I think some people need to relax, it's just a toy that people play for fun or to scare themselves. Unless you're sitting around dressed in black and doing some really weird things (like sacrifice or something equally odd), where's the harm. A bunch of girls at a slumber party doesn't constitute satan worshippers in my book.
not a game, practical use., September 16, 2003
Reviewer: amelia (see more about me) from ma just so you know, this is not a game or a toy. it was not meant as something to "amuse" you when you are bored. it is not evil, but can have bad results if you don't know what you're doing. i suggest you do your homework and mature a little before you use any kind of ouiji or witch board.
This can't be repeated enough. I've felt, over the last few years, a conviction that I can, well, connect with the fen. I talk their lingo, because I'm a geek too, and I seem to find ways of eventually bringing the topic around to Christianity.
All I know is, if I were called to Africa, I'd probably wear the kind of clothes they wear, right? So if I'm witnessing to fans, shouldn't I start off by connecting with them?
Why would I joke about something as serious as James Bond?
What would constitute "real proof"?
I dunno. But I was hopin' it was a joke 'cause it made you sound even sillier than usual.
Empirical evidence, not anecdotal accounts.
Am I supposed to take your word over the Chief Vatican Exorcist?
ROME'S CHIEF EXCORCIST WARNS PARENTS AGAINST HARRY POTTER
North American Coverage Downplays Priest's WarningsNEW YORK, January 2, 2002 (LSN.ca) - In early December, Rome's official exorcist, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, warned parents against the Harry Potter book series. The priest, who is also the president of the International Association of Exorcists, said Satan is behind the works. In an interview with the Italian ANSA news agency, Rev. Amorth said "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."
The exorcist, with his decades of experience in directly combating evil, explained that J.K. Rowling's books contain innumerable positive references to magic, "the satanic art". He noted that the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact, the distinction "does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil."
In the interview which was published in papers across Europe, Rev. Amorth also criticized the disordered morality presented in Rowling's works, noting that they suggest that rules can be contravened and lying is justified when they work to one's benefit.
Of note, the North American coverage of Rev. Amorth's warnings about Potter significantly downplayed the warnings. The New York Times coverage by Melinda Henneberger which was carried in Canada's National Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and on Yahoo Daily News left out most of the information in the European coverage which is quoted above. It only quoted Rev. Amorth as saying that "If children can see the movie with their parents, it's not all bad." The Times report also fails to mention that the movie version has significantly cleaned up Harry's image, making it less troublesome than the books.
and it's an uphill battle you're climbing. I know the general attitude in fen to Christianity, and I can't say as I blame them. The condemning attitude so many Christians have to the acoutrement of fandom drove me away from the faith for a long time. It wasn't until I befriended a person like yourself, an avid D&D player and fantasy fiction fan who was also a devout evangelical, and he took the time to explain to me the errors of the condemners ways that I even entertained the idea of coming back to faith. And the worst part of it is that by picking on fantasy fiction and all it's step children (RPGs, heavy metal) they're picking on the one subgroup of readers most capable of making communities. Like minded readers getting together to enjoy their like mindedness was a creation of the scifi/fantasy/ horror crowd (dating all the way back to Stoker and Shelley and that group). Of all the people to attack the ones that actually have a community (so they can share horror stories of abuse by the ignorant) was the worst one to go after, by condemning their books they're also condemning their family and friends. Just not a good move if you want to strengthen Christianity in the Western world.
I've read 2 or 3 of the Potter books, to see what they were about, and also because I have a long range plan to write some kids' books in a similar genre.
I was amazed at how poorly written they were. Non-existent character development, grey in tone, no visual imagery; the characters were shallow and two dimensional. They were like dull comic books in words, and the interests of the characters were materialistic to the nth degree.
The Narnia books are lightyears ahead. The Potter books are rather nasty in subject, style and purpose.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.