Posted on 07/13/2005 12:49:13 AM PDT by dsc
"It also has no need of attacking the wonder and joy of children's books, and the imagination that went into them. Those things themselves are also of God"
No, children's books that lead children astray are of Satan, no matter how much fun they may be.
Hey, practically everything Satan wants us to do is fun. Or looks like fun.
"They can emulate Harry Potter to their hearts' content but their spells still won't work."
Not like they want them to work, but they can still open their hearts to evil, which will definitely enter.
"They can emulate Harry Potter to their hearts' content but their spells still won't work."
Not like they want them to work, but they can still open their hearts to evil, which will definitely enter.
You keep saying they lead kids astray. I say none of the kids I know who've read it have gone bad. So where's your actual proof?
"How sad that you have been led to believe that."
I think it's sad you believe a children's book is the root of all evil.
And I have been led to believe that by reading all the posts on this thread condemning a book of pure fiction.
I've read the first book. I enjoyed it. I thought it was a bit juvenile, but I also noticed from reading parts of the other books in the series, that the author intended the books to grow with the children reading them.
Both my nieces have either read the books or have had them read to them. My brother and his wife send them both to private Christian schools. They are both active in their church along with the girls. There is NOTHING in their behavior indicative of being negatively influenced by the HP books. In fact, they are bright, well-mannered and generous to a fault. There home is littered with arts and crafts of a religious nature (toothpick crosses and whatnot). My br. and his wife are BOTH HIGHLY EDUCATED people who would NEVER subject their children to anything that might confuse them.
If children are rotten these days, blame the fact that two parents are usually never around, because they're too busy working so they can afford the new SUV with the headrest DVD players. It is materialism and the love of "stuff" that is harming our children and our culture. I see THAT everyday. What I DON'T see are children boiling eye of newt and tongue of liberals to concoct a new potion with which to turn old Atari games into Grand Theft Auto.
Becoming a wizard or sorceror is not something kids can do, no matter how hard they try.
But here you hit upon something that is very key. Those of us who adhere to Scripture KNOW that the supernatural is real, that demons do exist and do give people corrupting powers. It is certainly possible for "kids" to get wrapped up in the supernatural, twisted and perverted by it, through witchcraft and divination. It has happened before, it happens now, it will happen in the future. It is just as real as drug use, sexual immorality, etc. And like homosexuality, this kind of "personal magic" is being promoted on a massive scale in the form of Harry Potter tales. Sin is sin, but this sin is being promoted to children in a major way.
In addition to the occult problems, the Harry Potter stories also encourage children to be disrespectful. To trust in themselves and their own powers, as opposed to trusting in higher authority (for example, Almighty God). What isn't being taught is the fact that we have no powers of our own, including the power to reason. We get it from God or we get it from the Devil. Humans cannot decide right or wrong for themselves, that's the sin Adam and Eve committed. Humans cannot positively influence the world around them with "magic" on their own power, it comes from a supernatural source, God or Satan.
I don't agree that the Harry Potter Books are such books at all, but you already know that. I think there are not even many children's books along those lines (of Satan). If there are though, they'd be mostly things like manuals for Hitler Youth, or some commie thing, or "Heather Has 2 Mommies" kinds of books. Perhaps there are some sorts of Satanic Bibles that would qualify. IMO, most kids, if not adults, can tell the difference between those kinds of books and Harry Potter.
"Hey, practically everything Satan wants us to do is fun. Or looks like fun."
That comes pretty close to the Puritan view, I guess. Some things are fun because God made some things in life beautiful and wants them to be fun. I think there is very likely an equal, probably greater danger, that the things that make us feel self righteous are the real traps set for us by Satan. Like condemning Harry Potter books as satanic.
I can empathize with you. I loved reading fantasy and sci-fi as a child. I too learned the lessons you learned. They were hard lessons to learn.
***Becoming a wizard or sorceror is not something kids can do, no matter how hard they try.***
Wrong.
Kids can and do get involved in occultism and witchcraft.
As I understand it, the "magic powers" in Harry Potter are really the result of a genetic mutation.
So, it isn't really the occult, in the traditional sense. More like the superpowers that the X-Men have.
Not Harry Potter magic, though. If your invitation doesn't come by the time you're eleven, you're not going to Hogwarts so you can't be a wizard.
Not the type involving the Harry Potter kids, which is genetic.
Kids can no more engage in Harry Potter "occultism" than they can get Superman's powers.
Thanks for your reply post #78. It's very well-written and you did a great job of making and supporting your point. I'm still on the other side of the argument, but it's refreshing to see such a well-reasoned, intelligent, non-insulting response and I thank you for it!
"Oh, come on. This is a polite, two-sentence note Ratzinger dashed off two years ago to a lady who sent him a book."
Good point - I missed that part (the timeline of the response) when I first responded.
"And that's not just wacko priests, but wacko Boy Scout leaders, wacko guidance counselors and wacko athletic coaches. OK? "
Don't forget WHACKO JACKO!!
"Let us pray."
Amen!
"You're not that bright, are you?"
This, coming from someone who's apparently still afraid of witches and ghosts and the boogeyman?
That's the best you got?
"Christians aren't allowed to think. They're supposed to blindly follow wherever they're led."
Thus all the 'sheep' references in the Bible? Hmmm...
Remember - unless you're the lead sheep, the view is always the same.
Kids should only be playing San Andres and watching MTV. Down with Harry Potter.
Oh yeah- how does he feel about Narnia?
And yet, crime rates keep dropping.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.