Harry Potter: Seduction of the Occult

Concerned Women of America ^ | November/December 2001 | Martha Kleder

[KSCITYBOY]

I'll bet the Rev. Jane got kicked out of divinity school too. Liberals are so desperate to hang something, anything on the right it's funny. They are a sad pathetic lot.

[Texas Gal]

Do you know where anyone might find information on the game "magic, the gathering" (card game). A young person I know well loves to play it.

[Ward Smythe]

All of this was happening in the decade of the 1960's when witchcraft was just starting to come out of the broom closet.

You actually read this sentence and thought it was serious?

[EternalVigilance]

In looking at the profiles of children who committed acts of violence in schools over the last few years, there is one common denominator---occult involvement.

The perpetrators of the Columbine massacre were thoroughly steeped in withcraft and the occult.

Coincidence? I think not.

There is a very real spiritual world out there---one which we don't really understand too well. (Of course, those of us who believe the Bible don't want to understand it...we are commanded to stay far away from it.)

It shouldn't surprise my fellow Christians though, that unbelievers, even our fellow FReepers, aren't going to understand, much less agree with, our stand against demonism and the occult.

But they have at least been warned about the consequences of dabbling with this seemingly 'harmless' stuff...when they or their kids are in bondage to the spirits behind this stuff, maybe they will remember that Christians cared enough to endure the ridicule...shoot, they may even remember that if they call on the Name of Jesus, they can find deliverance from Satan's 'angels of light'.

[PurVirgo]

Try either Wizards of The Coast or TSR's website.... I can't remember who bought out who.... Magic's a cool game BTW... I think your friend will find in interesting

[Aquinasfan]

uh... is it better to read Goosebumps or play video games?

There is nothing intrinsically good or evil about reading or playing video games. The merits of a book or game are determined by its content.

[ikanakattara]

When you get down to the very rock bottom of all the objections to Harry Potter, what you're left with is a fundamental hatred and despising of the *novel* as an art form. From its very beginning, the English-language novel was criticized roundly by Puritans as being intrinsically evil, time-wasting, bad because it was "made-up," or actually immoral because early English novels dealt with realistic problems and situations. (One of the early ones, "Pamela," was about a young girl who gets "seduced and abandoned" by a wicked aristocrat.) Even *depicting* these things was considered wicked, even if the writer ultimately didn't condone them.

Similarly, every time a new round of fantasy stories comes out, we go through the same thing. The Wizard of Oz, CS Lewis' Narnia stories, even Lord of the Rings have at times been criticized mostly by Christian fundamentalists who simply cannot stand the genre.

What, then, are children and young adults supposed to read? I have read *many* homeschooling magazines and websites (google them out yourselves) which warn of dire consequences to students who read anything but Bible stories, realistic historical fiction (although NOT "modern realistic fiction,") saint stories (if Catholic), and biographies, preferably of an inspirational nature. *Anything* else is considered - as it was in late 18th century England - time wasting, immoral, etc. Even today, among many more "conservative" Christians novels are only "acceptable" if they fulfill an explicit evangelical purpose.

[codder too]

They are dangerous because they don't work and lure people away from things that do...

EXACTLY!! When it comes to SALVATION through CHRIST, he is the ONLY way.

That is what we are concerned about isn't it. Satan can mimic God and provide that LURE.

[Ward Smythe]

And the inarticulae and ignorant sheeple, adults and kids alike love it!

Depends on who you would call "inarticulate."

Rowling majored in French at Exeter. See my post #66.

[Aquinasfan]

You would think kids couldn't learn to read without HP.

Sad. I hope the folks drawn to these threads don't represent the majority of conservatives.

[ThinkPlease]

My daughter (2nd grade) chose to skip the Harry Potter reading at Halloween at her school. Maybe the school will let us have a Veggie Tales reading.

Veggie Tales? Huh? Harry Potter is the spawn of Satan, while the Veggie Tales aren't? I personally think that the Veggie Tales are just as horribly evil. Think about it, someone had to animate those vegetables and give them sentience (or lack there of, in some cases). Think of the disgusting mind that would create such disgusting Golems! The very act usurping God's role as giver of life leads me to believe that those who watch Veggie Tales will be living their afterlives in a lake of fire. It doesn't matter what the message is, if the messengers are evil. Down with Veggie Tales!

[Aquinasfan]

Does anyone have even a halfway credible claim? Somebody besides "harrypotteristhedevil.com"?

Glad you asked. Here's the true story about a boy who played with a ouija board.

[Brett66]

I appreciate your posts. This is an instance where a lot of Christian parents are simply being parents in not allowing their kids to partake in Wicca acceptance courses in school. There are probably a lot of parents that would not allow their kids to read fun, exciting stories about militant Islam or Nazis. They all represent a set of non-Christian beliefs. Of course these beliefs aren't being foisted on kids at school like Harry Potter. I have experienced,first hand, what happens to kids that are raised in a "withcraft is fun" environment. They can end up dabbling in the occult. My best friends step-daughter did this. Her mother did the best job she could raising her but completely ignored the effects of being taught about the effects that recreational withcraft would have on her.
My friend discovered her writing spells in her room one day. He now has to deal with a daughter that's dabbling in the occult and a wife that doesn't take it's danger seriously. Parents have to take the potential threat to their kid's souls seriously. Show me a parent that dismisses it as "harmless fantasy" and I'll show you a parent who's kids are at the greatest potential risk of being indoctrinated. Parents have to take this seriously enough to explain what this is about to their children.
Maybe the best thing a parent could do is to go to see Harry Potter with your children and take notes during the movie. After the movie is over, go over it, point by point and explain exactly what the movie was trying to push in terms of Wicca to the child. Make your children understand so they won't be decieved.

[ThinkPlease]

I did. Its when adults D&D that we should be scared.

I guess you best not hang out at my place on Tuesday nights, then. Though, if the cats make it from week to week, you should have nothing to fear.

[Phantom Lord]

Watch yourself or I will cast a spell on you!

[Aquinasfan]

You might want to listen to any of the audio programs with Fr. LeBar, the exorcist for the Archdiocese of New York, regarding the occult and exorcisms.

[Wm Bach]

Actually, Buffy preceded Sabrina by many many years.

Not Sabrina the Hanna Barbara cartoon witch. She has always been with us...from the beginning of time, if not in this dimension, then in the other two TRUE DIMENTIANS.

[Outlaw76]

I think its obvious those kids were grasping for something, anything that would accept them. I would bet that is the true common denomonator.
The kids in Westside Jonesborro, AR were not involved in witchcraft and did not read 'Harry Potter' either. They were just ignored and neglected.
Kids turn to 'evil' organizations when the 'good' ones fail them. Churches are rife with hypocrosy and favoritism, so much so that it turns kids off. I was one of the 'golden boys' in church. As favorite of clergy. I assure you I saw it, and church left me feeling guilty more often than not.
I am not saying that church is bad, it isn't. I will not say that the bible is bad, it isn't. I can say that worshiping the devil is stupid, and bad, because you are betting on a proven looser if nothing else.
But calling a book that children love an evil device will harm the cause of good more than it will hurt the causes of bad. It is also quite stupid to do so. You excite the children and create secrets where none need exist.
I know those of you who are whipped up into a zelous frenzy won't listen, I should probably just leave you to your delusions of godlike understanding. Someone amongst you will eventualy figure out that your arguments are the kind of arguments that leave folks thinking 'christians' are dangerous.
Letting people know that fiction of that sort might be opening doors for a child to learn about exploring witchcraft is one thing. Letting them know they should explain what they read is smart. Telling people not let kids read it because it is evil is stupid. You grant power to inanimate objects and fear them as if they are real. In a sick perverse way you have created an idol that is worshiped by your fear.

[PurVirgo]

This is true. However, video games and television are passive forms of entertainment (generally speaking of course) A book captivates your mind, allows for expansion of creativity and imagination. But of course, that's probably a little too liberal for your blood, all that artsy-fartsy stuff. Note that I am not speaking solely of Harry Potter. There are thousands upon thousands of literary works of much greater calibre out there. But you have to start small to become truly well read.

[Outlaw76]

Not 'Magic Missile'!