Posted on 11/27/2001 9:28:58 AM PST by John O
The release of the first Harry Potter movie is pouring gasoline onto a controversy that already has many parents burning. Parents everywhere are grappling with the presence of Harry Potter in their child’s book bag, toy box and even their classroom.
Last spring, the children’s series reached a milestone, hitting the 100 million worldwide sales mark in only three years.
The J.K. Rowling series continues to top sales charts internationally. Four of seven titles have been published so far—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Each has been translated into 42 different languages, including Zulu and Albanian.
“This is an unprecedented publishing achievement anywhere in the world—either for adult or children’s books,” said Rowling’s agent Christopher Little. “Every time we publish a new Harry Potter book, the first one goes back up to the top of the bestseller list.”
Warner Brothers has spent about $150 million on the movie version of the first book, directed by Chris Columbus of Home Alone fame. A sequel is planned for release next year. And when anything is this captivating for children, there is marketing.
Harry Potter-themed school supplies, bed linens and toys are on store shelves waiting for the pandemonium expected from the movie’s release. Sears, Target and J.C. Penney are heavily marketing Harry Potter toys, bedding and even clothing. Mattel is marketing Harry Potter action figures. Hasbro is producing a trading card game, and video games are also available. Potter will appear in McDonald’s Happy Meals this fall, and the boy wizard will also become a new Coca-Cola spokesman.
Even before “Pottermania” reached this level, parents found keeping children away from the book’s occult themes an uphill battle.
“Beginning last school year, my 6- year-old grandson Jesse was ostracized from the reading class that his teacher conducted everyday,” said Verda Unrau of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Her daughter, Jesse’s mom, went to the teacher when she learned that the first Harry Potter book was to be read in class.
“She was told that Jesse could either sit in with the other kids or go to the office and sit. We assumed this would only be for a week or so, but it turned out to be the whole school year that this teacher dwelt on this book,” Unrau added. “Jesse and another little boy missed the reading time for their whole first year of school.”
That has been the essence of the two-year-old Potter-in-the-classroom debate. Parents who have been told that Christianity must be kept out of schools due to the “separation of church and state” are now trying to protect their children from classroom discussions about paganism and the occult.
Now, publications by Scholastic and Beacham’s SourceBooks have upped the ante. Not only are the Potter books featured on school shelves and read aloud in class, some teachers are also incorporating them into lessons. This means the Harry Potter phenomenon requires parents to deal directly with the topic of witchcraft, whether or not they allow their children to read the series or see the movie.
“That’s the way with all cultural change,” Rev. Robert McGee, co-host of the video Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged, Making Evil Look Innocent told Family Voice. “Cultural engineers establish change one small step at a time. Now that Harry Potter is seen as acceptable children’s literature, it’s not surprising that this series, and other occult themes, are being pushed deeper into the classroom.”
‘Shape Shifting’ and Druids
Beecham Publishing’s Exploring Harry Potter is written by Elizabeth Schafer, Ph.D.,* an expert on children’s literature. This immense volume directs teachers and parents on how to incorporate Potter into history, geography, science and English lessons. Ideas include sports played at the mythical Hogwarts school, the foods Harry and his classmates eat, spelling lessons on Potterisms, and the books’ symbolism.
The Beecham Sourcebook manual goes so far as to undermine Biblical faith by referencing theologians and mystics who deny the inerrancy of Scripture and the deity of Christ. Further, it covers mythology, witchcraft, and Wicca—a natureworshipping pagan religion. The book’s suggestions include:
“Make a collage of the habitat and food for an animal you would like to shapeshift into.”
(“Shape shifting” is a psychic phenomenon in which a person voluntarily and temporarily thinks he is taking on the form of an animal. In Harry Potter, Harry’s dead father appears to him in the form of a stag. Many pagans—those who follow occult religions—believe that meditation and concentration can change their form into that of an animal.)
“Write a paper about how efforts to ban the Harry Potter novels because of their themes of evil, sorcery and witchcraft, and to forbid children from wearing witch and devil costumes, resemble historic witch hunts.”
“Learn about the role of witchcraft in different cultures. Either make a costume for yourself or a doll, or use paint, crayons, or construction paper to design the attire of witches in a specific geographic area.”
The book also provides a bibliography of 28 books on magic, witchcraft and other occult variations that highlight the making of potions, casting spells and communing with the dead. Titles include:
Miranda J. Green’s The World of the Druids, which “describes the history, mythology and literature associated with Druids in addition to discussing modern witchcraft and sorcery practices that are Druid-inspired.” (Druidism is a pagan religion that attempts to recreate the practices of ancient Celtic peoples, which historically included human sacrifice.)
Margot Adler’s Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today, which “describes modern witchcraft practices in the United States.”
Further, Exploring Harry Potter includes a large reference list of Web sites, including links to active pagan, Wiccan and Druid groups.
Enter Scholastic Publishing
Scholastic, the American distributors of the Harry Potter series, also offers online teacher discussion guides written by Kylene Beers, assistant professor of reading at the University of Houston, Texas.
“The following discussion guide … features summaries of the plot, theme, conflict, setting and characterization, as well as a number of questions designed to encourage conversation,” writes Beers on the Scholastic Web site.
Discussion questions include comparing various Potter characters to those in ancient mythology. Another asks about similarities between the masked wizards that torment “muggles” (normal humans) and real group members who have worn hoods when tormenting others.
Still other questions ask students to ponder moral themes, like self-sacrifice, choosing what is right over what is easy, and free will versus preordination—themes better left to parents, since they will likely lose their value under the morally relativistic constraints of today’s public school system.
Christian anti-cult expert Caryl Matrisciana finds this intrusion into classrooms disturbing.
“This is a complete indoctrination program in the schools,” Matrisciana says in the Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged video. “First they interest children in the occult with delightful fantasy literature, then they bring the books into the schools, along with teacher’s guides to fuel the interest in exploration of the occult. Now with this Beecham’s Sourcebook, any computer-literate child can access genuine witchcraft training classes right in his home or classroom.”
A Dangerous Trend
Many applaud the Potter series as harmless fantasy literature and credit the long tomes for getting children to read. But those familiar with the reality of the occult world aren’t taking them lightly.
Matrisciana says witchcraft is real, and she adds that elements of the books symbolize pagan deities. “J.K. Rowling majored in Mythology at Exeter University in England. She researched the occult in order to present an accurate representation in her books.”
Harry Potter is part of a larger trend to bring occult themes to younger children. Just as the seemingly innocent Sabrina the Teenage Witch is followed by darker, teen-themed Buffy the Vampire Slayer, so Potter is followed by darker and more ominous books like the Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman.
But Rev. McGee points out that the Potter craze has a particular danger.
“With Harry Potter children are for the first time seeing other children, step by step, learning to access demonic power to get what they want,” he said.
Marcia Montenegro, occult expert and founder of the ministry Christian Answers for the New Age, disputes claims that the books center on the theme of good versus evil.
“There is no moral center in Harry Potter,” said Montenegro. “Good and evil are depicted as being two sides of the same coin, which is an occult worldview.
“Why is Harry considered good? He breaks the rules, gets away with it, and is even rewarded for it. As one of Harry’s professors says in book three, ‘Harry is a law unto himself.’ From a Christian perspective, this cannot be.”
A former astrology professional and occult practitioner, Montenegro now serves as a missionary with Fellowship International Mission of Allentown, Pennsylvania. She is also working on her master’s degree in apologetics.
This seeming “training ground” for occult beliefs comes at a critical time in our culture. The Pagan Federation International claims its numbers have grown tenfold in the past decade. Online pagan networks estimate there are anywhere from 150,000 to 600,000 practicing pagans in the United States alone—and the Internet has provided an easily accessible resource for those seeking deeper occult involvement.
“The Internet is fabulous for learning about it,” 19-year-old Kes Davidson told the Evening Times of Glasgow, Scotland, where occult practices are flourishing. “There are millions of Web sites out there.”
Occult influences are also growing rapidly in the United States.
“When I first began speaking on the occult in 1995, it was mostly older teens who were experimenting with it. Now you see children as young as 11, 12 and 13 involved,” Montenegro said.
“The occult … is very attractive to kids who are seeking power, affirmation and acceptance, especially those from dysfunctional homes,” Montenegro added. “Harry Potter—targeted at children in the critical ages of 9 through 13—feeds that thirst with practices prohibited by the Bible. I can’t understand why Christian parents wouldn’t be concerned about it.”
Rev. McGee, who founded Rapha, a Christian counseling ministry, agrees with Montenegro about the power of occult influences.
“I counseled many with backgrounds in witchcraft and the occult,” said McGee. “Breaking an addiction to drugs or alcohol is easier than leaving demonic spiritual forces behind. Several of my patients confirmed that many of today’s witches, pagans and other occult practitioners continue the practices of the ancients including drug use and ritual sex.” he added.
Yet, the American Library Association (ALA) and other liberal groups label parents who oppose the trend of occult fantasy literature as “book banners.” Last September, the ALA issued its annual report on challenged or “banned” books. The ALA’s Judith Krug, head of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, told The Tennessean that the Potter books now top that list, becoming one of the 100 most frequently challenged books of the decade.
“The challenges we have had [to Harry Potter] have been in schools, which means the children are going to be deprived of what appears to be the biggest phenomenon children’s publishing has ever known,” Krug said.
Despite the heavy-handed influence on schools of liberal organizations like the ALA—and the book industry’s attempt to exploit the Harry Potter phenomenon in the classroom—Rev. McGee says parents can’t give up the battle for the hearts and minds of their children.
“Parents have to be prepared to look ‘foolish’ if they plan to stand their ground,” said McGee. “The media have been feeding us a candy-coated version of what the occult is really like, and kids today have lost the sense that witchcraft is dangerous.
“The challenge is also on churches to once again educate parents and children to the realities and dangers of the occult and spiritual warfare,” he said.
If a child is mentally and spiritually mature enough, Montenegro says parents don’t necessarily have to be seen as strict disciplinarians. She has spoken with many Christian children who have decided to stop reading the Potter series on their own.
“Explain to them why you are concerned. Show your child the Biblical passages condemning the casting of spells and contact with demons,” Montenegro said.
“Parents needn’t be alarmed or fearful. The Holy Spirit is on their side.”
Despite the impact her family’s opposition to Harry Potter had on her grandson, Verda Unrau says they will hold firm to their convictions.
“We are prepared to make the same stand this year,” she said. “If I have to go wear a placard and picket the school, I will!”
Martha Kleder is a writer and policy analyst for CWA’s Culture and Family Institute.
How would i go about obtaining the needed Unicorns Horn for some of the "Spells?"
Somehow I think there is much more to your not become a submarine captain than just that. Being a submarine captain takes brains, discipline and courage. From your feeble attempt to attach the anthrax attacks to the right wing on your other post, I would say you are lacking in those categories.
Hmm....more labels for those who don't conform. Those who don't follow the official Potter line seem to endure a lot of this behavior from the Potterphiles. I rather doubt this is healthy for our kids.
Why?
If they did, would they move the date to a secular holiday, a pagan holiday, or a religous holiday?
After all Christmass was set as near to the Winter Solstice/Yule as it could be for a reason, would the Potter holiday do something similar?
Oh Wait! did I just mention the fact that Christmass was made up to cover up a pagan holiday? Oh no... I must be a heritic! What of the christmass tree's? (Pagan, told not to do that in the Bible!)
Thank God the Inquistion and Reformations are over done for, even knowing about that could have gotten me killed.
What would constitute proof for you? A signed affidavit?
The following was a letter that was sent to me by a friend. I cannot express it any better than it is written here. Please read this:
I am writing this urgent message because I was once a witch. I lived by the stars as an astrologer and numerologist casting horoscopes and spells. I lived in the mysterious and shadowy realm of the occult. By means of spells and magic, I was able to invoke the powers of the "controlling unknown" and fly upon the night winds transcending the astral plane. Halloween was my favorite time of the year and I was intrigued and absorbed in the realm of Wiccan witchcraft. All of this was happening in the decade of the 1960's when witchcraft was just starting to come out of the broom closet.
It was during that decade of the 1960's, in the year 1966, that a woman named J.K. Rowling was born. This is the woman who has captivated the world in this year of 2000 with four books known as the "Harry Potter Series." These books are orientational and instructional manuals of witchcraft woven into the format of entertainment. These four books by J.K. Rowling teach witchcraft! I know this because I was once very much a part of that world. Witchcraft was very different in the 1960's. There were a lot fewer witches, and the craft was far more secretive. At the end of that spiritually troubled decade, I was miraculously saved by the power of Jesus Christ and His saving blood. I was also delivered from every evil spirit that lived in me and was set free. However, as I began to attend fundamental Christian churches, I realized that even there witchcraft had left its mark. Pagan holidays and sabats were celebrated as "Christian holidays."
As time went on, I watched the so-called "Christian" churches compromising and unifying. I also watched with amazement as teachings from Eastern religions and "New Age" doctrine began to captivate congregations. It was a satanic set-up, and I saw it coming. Illuministic conspirators were bringing forth a one-world religion with a cleverly concealed element of occultism interwoven in its teachings. In order to succeed in bringing witchcraft to the world and thus complete satanic control, an entire generation would have to be induced and taught to think like witches, talk like witches, dress like witches, and act like witches. The occult songs of the 1960'ss launched the Luciferian project of capturing the minds of an entire generation. In the song "Sound Of Silence" by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, we were told of seeds that were left while an entire generation was sleeping, and that the "vision that was planted in my brain still remains." Now it is the year 2000. All of the foundations for occultism and witchcraft are in place. The Illuminists have to move quickly, because time is running out.
It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who said, "Give me one generation of youth, and I will transform the entire world." Now an entire generation of youth has been given to a woman named J.K. Rowling and her four books on witchcraft, known as the Harry Potter Series. As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that I have examined the works of Rowling and that the Harry Potter books are training manuals for the occult. Untold millions of young people are being taught to think, speak, dress and act like witches by filling their heads with the contents of these books. Children are obsessed with the Harry Potter books that they have left television and video games to read these witchcraft manuals.
The first book of the series, entitled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," finds the orphan, Harry Potter, embarking into a new realm when he is taken to "Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." At this occult school, Harry Potter learns how to obtain and use witchcraft equipment. Harry also learns a new vocabulary, including words such as "Azkaban," "Circe," "Draco," "Erised," "Hermes," and "Slytherin"; all of which are names of real devils or demons. These are not characters of fiction!
How serious is this? By reading these materials, many millions of young people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know them by name. Vast numbers of children professing to be Christians are also filling their hearts and minds, while willingly ignorant parents look the other way.
The titles of the books should be warning enough to make us realize how satanic and anti-christ these books are. The afore mentioned title of the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," was a real give away. The second book was called "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," while the third book was entitled "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Sadly enough, this blatant witchcraft has been endorsed by well-known and respected "Christian" leaders. Nothing could be more obvious than that Harry Potter books are pure witchcraft and of the devil. The "Christian" leaders, however, defend them by saying that good magic always wins and overcomes evil magic. This is the oldest con game ever hatched out of hell. As a real witch, I learned about the two sides of "the force." Apparently, so do many "Christian" leaders. When real witches have sabats and esbats and meet as a coven, they greet each other by saying "Blessed be," and when they part, they say "The Force be with you." Both sides of this "Force" are Satan. It is not a good side of the force that overcomes the bad side of the force, but rather it's the blood of Jesus Christ that destroys both supposed sides of the satanic "Force."
High level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the seventh, which is assigned to Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he is called "the nameless one." In the Harry Potter books, there is a character called "Voldemort." The pronunciation guide says of this being "He who must not be named."
On July 8 at midnight, bookstores everywhere were stormed by millions of children to obtain the latest and fourth book of the series known as "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." These books were taken into homes everywhere with a real evil spirit following each copy to curse those homes. July 8th was also the 18th day (three sixes in numerology) from the witches' sabat of midsummer. July 8th was also the 13th day from the signing of the United Religions Charter in San Francisco. Now we have learned that the public school system is planning to use the magic of Harry Potter in the classrooms making the public schools centers of witchcraft training.
What does God have to say about such books as the Harry Potter series? In the Bible in the book of Acts, we read the following in the 19th chapter, verses 18- 20: "And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed."
As parents, we will answer to God if we allow our children to read witchcraft books. The Word of God will prevail mightily in your life only if such things of Satan are destroyed. This tract has been prayed over, and I hope it has helped you. If we may be of further assistance, please contact us.
Pastor D. J. Meyer
*********
I would like to add that the above jives with my experience, what I know about the occult and witches, as well. I have heard a pastor from the Wiccan church speak about how they try to lure our youth into their grasp. This is very serious business.
Huh, I always thought that was because the government didn't want any competition for Social Security.
Oh, that is a hoot. YOU, TELLING ME, TO NOT MAKE AN AD HOMINEM ATTACK - when you tried to slime the right with your previous post. Typical lib - you can dish it out but you whine like a baby when you get it back.
My biggest difficulty in becoming a submarine captain, of course, was claustrophobia and a tendency to sleep with the windows open. And if you had read my previous post carefully you would notice I am not suggesting the comnnection between domestic terrorists and anthrax; the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is. Also the Manchester Guardian and London Times, but I have not posted these articles. You think I have the time to do my own investigative reporting?
My, how quickly you forget what you posted. YOU CHANGED THE HEADLINE - from anthrax threat to saying the activist claimed credit for anthrax - a truly reprehensible post. And then you added your own little screed at the end. You're a pathetic liar.
And anyways, you miss the point--there is the real world that we inhabit and many imaginary worlds which exist only in words printed on wood pulp and computer screens. Most rational people understand the difference.
Yeah, so I guess Mein Kampf must not have been that big a deal by your definition...
Oops, there she goes. I can't proooove she was there, but I saw the Witches of Eastwick on VHS, so they clearly exist.
My favorite is the author of a book on spells named "Vlabatsky" in the book. An obvious anagram of H. P. Blavatsky
How do you think D&D came into existence? Adults were wargaming ancient battles using miniature figure armies and some of them modified the rules to wargame fantasy battles. Eventually, out of this experimentation comes successive versions of D&D, initially aimed at 13 to adult and later attempts are made to market to children.
Way back in the early 1980s D&D games could have people ranging from junior high to some with gray in their hair with advanced degrees. Too bad it seems to be just a kids thing now.
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