Posted on 03/10/2005 9:55:31 PM PST by Coleus
It's not worth trying to refute this crap -- I will merely point out that the devil is extremely happy to be found wherever we care to look for him. And that includes within the pages of a Harry Potter book.
As it happens, these books have an excellent message that has a whole lot in common Christian practice and theology. And, if one really feel like predicting what happens next, I would suggest that one take a look at the Book of Revelations.....
Interesting. You're one of the ones I had in mind when I wrote this.
How 'bout we burn some books, or some movies?
Or, maybe even some people?
Wow a 4 year-old article. Good thing you didn't put this in breaking news. Sure is wordy and dull too. And, like so many of these articles wrong. Can't even get basics facts correct. Mandrake roots aren't baby's, they look like babys but they're plants; mandrake roots have a long tradition in both fable and fantasy of having all kinds of interesting magical powers largely because they do look so disturbingly like people. Find me an article on this where the author doesn't feel the need to outright lie about stuff in HP and then you'll find an author that's worth reading. Of course anybody that doesn't lie about HP won't think it's "luring" to the occult, because it's not, the only way to draw that conclusion is with misrespresentation and misinterpretation, most are probably accidental but some a suredly deliberate.
Non sequitur
Rather, why don't we just reject those things that may cause harm to our souls, books that romanticize that which is opposed to our Catholic faith, instead of denying the possibility that our souls can be harmed by such things.
Well, that's the rub, isn't it? The problem are the church ladies who see evil where none exists, such as the Harry Potter stories or Disney movies.
Very often, critics like O'Brien are simply suffering from professional jealousy.
My best friend, who I met due to Harry Potter, moved from atheism to Christianity - your Catholicism, to be precise. It wasn't necessarily as a result of reading HP, but I think the long conversations we had over moral issues brought up by HP helped. I don't know anyone who went the other way.
I know lots of young Christians who enjoy the Harry Potter books as books. Apparently, unlike you and other people attacking the books, they are able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality.
I do deny that our souls can be harmed just by reading Harry Potter. If reading HP causes you to turn to Wicca, you weren't a Christian in the first place.
"Now you've got me worried. I talk to the family dog."
You really don't think that 80 years of talking animal cartoons had anything to do with the emergence of this whacko animal rights crap? With the emergence of a movement that values animals over people?
That's nice. Next!
TS
The animal rights' movement is miniscule and fringe. In any case, anything that helps stem the tide of animal cruelty is, to me, a good thing.
But, I'm not at all surprised that you see something nefarious behind Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
Buffy is paganizing a lot more people, but I still love the series.
The problem is those that seek to persuade others that evil, the occult, and demons do not exist and that they are the stuff of harmless fantasy, especially when those individuals claim to represent The Church.
When it comes to protecting one's soul, or that of one's child you had best be sure that what you expose it to is not harmful. If there is the smallest doubt that it is not good and pleasing to the Lord, it should be rejected. There is little room for error, for the stakes are eternal.
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." - CS Lewis
Such as, seeing devils where no devils exist.
There is not a boogeyman under every bed.
So, you're just posting this 2001 essay now? What the heck?
The Harry Potter series of books is FICTION. I repeat: FICTION.
We certainly wouldn't want anyone to teach children that demons are fantasy. What would be next, the Easter Bunny?
I do think it plays a factor, but human beings have been dehumanized. Our present views on animals stem from an emotional response to cute little furballs, who aren't endowed with our reasoning skills or physical abilities. The presence of cartoons alone has nothing to do with that. IMHO, the prolbem lies with the parents, who don't take the time to raise Junior like they are supposed to, because it interferes with their desires and pursuits. Instead, they sit him down in front of the electric babysitter and ignore him for all intents and purposes. With no direction, Junior probably will turn out to value animals more than people, but that's not the fault of the cartoons; IT'S THE FAULT OF HIS PARENTS. Blaming the cartoons (or Harry Potter) for corrupting our children is akin to the argument of the gun control people. (You know the one: Guns kill people. Therefore, guns are bad and should be outlawed.) I call that foolishness. People kill people. The responsbility in the first instance lies with Junior's parents. In the second, with the killer.
Ridiculous, all of it. I don't deny that evil can be attractive to us, but if you use that as a yardstick on everything in the world, you're bound to see evil where none abides.
This is children's literature. As an avid reader myself, I am pleased to see something out there that gets the video game controllers replaced in children's hands with a series of good books. IMHO, I see nothing evil or subversive about them...I think they're simply a good yarn that kids and adults alike enjoy. This is just so much hysteria. There are other things to worry about when it comes to being a corrupting influence on our kids. The Harry Potter series isn't one of them.
No, that's not what he meant at all, he meant and embracing them and their works, like those who pursue interest in the occult.
But, since you mentioned it Sinkspur do you believe that demons exist, do you believe that roam the world seeking the ruin of souls? Since you stated that you believe hell may be empty I can understand why you reject the notion that reading books that romanticize the occult are harmless.
Thank you sinkspur, I agree. Animal cruelty is a problem and does require a lobby from somewhere. It's unfortunate, though, that it has to come from these groups.
As far as the conspiracy of the cartoonists' unions and the movie people, I'm certain that its impact on the children is much greater than that of a parent who actually takes time and puts forth the effort to be a parent. (I hope my sarcasm is noted.)
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