A Time for Harry Potter

National Review ^ | 10/27/01 | Thomas Hibbs

[ASA Vet]

God does not lie!

This is a fact, with which I'm sure OWK will not argue. No god has ever lied.

[Texas2step]

"They're intended to get Bible-believing Christians to let down their guard and permit -- if not encourage -- their children to read Harry Potter."

I don't think it's the Christians that will have a problem separating fantasy from reality. I believe it's those who don't have the Christian background, don't have the Mom or Dad to read to them. It's the one who are without God who need the escape that fantasy can bring them and cause them to begin to blur the line between fantasy and reality.

[OWK]

;^]

[Texas2step]

It's real, no doubt about it. Just as God is real. Although we won't get into that discussion here. ;-)

[Aquinasfan]

I honestly didn't think there were adults who believed in that stuff literally.

Well, we have the testimony of a reliable priest who was there. Since you weren't there, how do you know that these things didn't happen? Fr. LeBar does about 20 exorcisms per year. Do you have a reason to believe that he's lying?

[OWK]

It's real, no doubt about it.

Magic potions?

Astral projection?

Magic spells?

These things are REAL?

Real, like in... they actually DO MAGIC?

You can't possibly be serious.

[OWK]

Well, we have the testimony of a reliable priest who was there.

And the "very relibale" priests of other faiths have seen everything from six-armed blue elephant-headed guys, to flying hippos.

What reason do we have to doubt them?

[Aquinasfan]

I have an idea. You can write to Fr. LeBar c/o the archdiocese of NY. I'm sure he'd be willing to talk to you. In fact, since you're a skeptic, you could even ask him if he'd be willing to take you along so you could see for yourself. If you're a big guy you could even help him restrain the possessed folks when they start levitating. I'm sure you two would really hit it off.

[Texas2step]

I wouldn't call it "magic", that's too clean of a word. Think magic and you're thinking of a magician at the fair.

Like most "leftist" and most "liberals" and most "wiccans", Satan dresses up evil in pretty clothes to pray on the unsuspecting.

It's not pro-abortion, it's pro-choice. It's not discrimination, it's affirmative action. It's not a baby, it's a fetus (sorry, same example twice). It's not an abomination before God, it's an alternative lifestyle. It's not sex, it's oral stimulation. It takes a village to raise a child. It's for the children. Should I continue. It's not occult, it's magic. And it's GOOD magic.

But, I digress, to answer your question, yes. There are people who have contracted with Satan who have powers that are not their own.

[OWK]

If you're a big guy you could even help him restrain the possessed folks when they start levitating.

Levitating?

You believe that people actually levitate?

[Belial]

If spells work, it should be very easy to prove. Just make a potion under scientific observation. Repeat.

Wow. That would change our whole framework.

It isn't happening for some reason.

[OWK]

But, I digress, to answer your question, yes. There are people who have contracted with Satan who have powers that are not their own.

Needless to say I find that a bit questionable.

[OWK]

It isn't happening for some reason.

Can't imagine why.

[atlaw]

"He also repeated a story told to him by a bishop who witnessed a person moving around his hospital room ceiling like a fly."

With solid, unimpeachable hearsay like this, how can you not believe in magic?

[Right_Wing_Mole_In_Seattle]

Also, I wish that Tolkien had given Gandalf a different title, other than "wizard"...

How about Istar (Wise One)?

[Belial]

It's funny but it makes me sad at the same time. For a modern species we're still engulfed in the most primitive shamanistic beliefs.

[Cogadh na Sith]

There are no spooks, goblins, spell-casting witches

"but she turned me into a newt!"