Posted on 07/15/2005 10:25:17 PM PDT by Williams
Well the new Harry Potter book has arrived and I can report the first page of the first chapter contains an obvious jab at our president. The book begins with the British Prime Minister awaiting a phone call from the "President" of an unnamed distant country, and wondering when the "wretched man" would call.
As a fan of the books and for that matter of Rowling's personal story and success, I'm saddened that liberal madness had to invade this children's classic. The first chapter was otherwise perfectly enjoyable.
I'm not saying anything else in the chapter was intentionally connected to current events, but I had to draw the comparison with what has ended up in British headlines at the same time as the book release. In the book, the Prime Minister is dealing with unexplained events, at least some of which could be terrorist like. Indeed, they are the work of sinister forces. Whereas I'm sure in this book series, ultimate help will come from the wizarding world, in reality Britain needs the support of the leader J.K. Rowling refers to as that "wretched man." How sadly misguided.
If you're looking for references, you might consider starting with James R. Lewis' "Satanism Today", which includes a 1992 FBI study on ritual abuse (satanic-based), and if you want more numbers, statistics and patterns you might consult Tony Kail's "Cop's Guide to Occult Investigations: Understanding Satanism, Santeria, Wicca, and Other Alternative Religions".
There may be lots of urban legends out there, but the increase in occult-based crimes is not one of them.
Hope those references help you out there Junior.
How do you feel about transmuting one substance to another?
I am not sure about the Pope's IQ. I hope it is quite high. More concerned about the Pope's connection with the Holy Spirit and His guiding of the Pope.
That the Pope has come out against these books is a distortion, refuted on several FR threads. I don't have the time to link them, but they should be easy to search for.
I think you need to lighten up. Stories of wizards and witches have been with us from the beginning of the written word (sent to us by Satan, I'm sure you will say). Some will take up the dark side, but most will not. I doubt a book can change them. I guess we agree to disagree.
I just feel sorry that you cannot find the joy in these books or any number of others. Really, try the Oz books. I am rereading them with my third son now, so it's about my fifth time through them. What great little stories with really witty puns (a la Alice in Wonderland). I love a children's book with 4 syallable words!
Oh, let's say changing one chemical element into another, for starters.
No he didn't. He wrote a letter to a fuss-budget politely saying "You might have a point, I shall waste no time in reading your book"
Yup..those evil kids READING sooo much.
True, it has got a lot of kids reading.
Hmmmmmmm, "Harry Potter." Sounds like the name of a portable toilet company.
I put a wig on a golf club at Halloween with a little cloak and glasses and called it Hairy Putter.
I thought it was Cousin Itt doing ceramics.
My favorite was when they mistook a story from the Onion as truth rather than satire about kids forming covens after reading Harry Potter books.
You can print almost anything today and someone will believe it, especially if it fits their political agenda.
My wife still has co-workers showing her that article as proof that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft and the occult.
1992 predates Harry Potter. Nice try, though. Thanks for playing.
Nope. Changing one element into another is not a chemical process. No matter how much chemistry you do you can't change lead into gold.
I'm talking specifically about changing one element into another.
"The wogs start at Calais"
Oh you are so yesterday with that link to gabby's self-promoting interview
We've moved on http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1443480/posts
In connection with the July 16 release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the letter to Kuby received new attention.Transcript of the Vatican Radio program 105live on Thursday, July 14, 2005.
In the letter, Cardinal Ratzinger suggested Kuby send a copy of her book to Msgr. Peter Fleetwood, then an official at the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Msgr. Fleetwood told Catholic News Service July 14 that he received a copy of the book in 2003 and wrote Kuby a four-page letter explaining where he thought she may have misunderstood or read too much into the books. He said he never heard back from her.
Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, an expert on New Age and former official at the Pontifical Council for Culture:
"[N]o offense, the lady who complained to the then cardinal Joseph Ratzinger about Joanna Rowling's popular series back in 2003, may not have quite understood a very British sense of humour". * * * * *
I was sent a letter from a lady in Germany who claimed to have written to the then cardinal Ratzinger, saying that she thought Harry Potter was a bad thing. And the letter back, which I suspect was written by an assistent of the then cardinal Ratzinger in his office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, suggested that there was a subtle seduction in the books. What that subtle seduction was, was not specified, which makes me think it was a generic answer. And she had written a book on these subjects and so the Cardinal's signature was at the bottom of the letter, suggesting she should send me the book.
"I suspect the letter back was written by an assistant of the then cardinal Ratzinger."
She sent me the book, and I found it a very unsatisfactory book
My wife still has co-workers showing her that article as proof that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft and the occult.
A friend sent me a DVD by some nutjob claiming that the US government was the entity who DID the 911 attacks.
My wife, oldest son, and I are all "stupid enough" to think they are worth reading. We have read them all and received the new one today. The books are the classic story of good vs. evil. The Wall Street Journal "Weekend Journal" section from yesterday had a great article on the books.
Last night I was at Wal-Mart getting school supplies when I heard the intercom announcement for the Harry Potter books coming in at midnight. The announcement went, "At midnight the new Harry Potty book -- uh -- *giggle* POTTER books will be released at midnight." I swear I am not making this up.
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