Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels - Signed Letters from Cardinal Ratzinger Now Online

I first read LOTR when I was 12. I found it so entrancing that I re-read them many times.

HP writing is on a scale with Nancy Drew, maybe. Nesbit was a better writer, IMO.

I doubt that Rowling knows any more about this than I do. She's apparently steeped in English literature (with footnotes).

If you wish to pursue the Dark Arts, of course, that's up to you.

That's good. I think I'd rather have my children reading LOTR than Harry Potter, just for the reading practice alone.

And I read them when I was eleven, and at least yearly since then, so if you're trying to impress me with your precociousness... most kids aren't read for that level of prose, or ideas, that early.

Nancy Drew was crap, as were the Hardy Boys (at least they had decent mysteries) and to equate the two writing levels is just stupid.

Look, one doesn't have to write Dickensian prose to create a decent story. Certainly not if you want it to sell. I love Nesbit's books but found some of them just too stuffy as a kid - and I read everything, I mean, I even read the worst of Lousia May Alcott or L.M. Montgomery's books.

No dark arts for me, thanks.

Children are influenced by what they read, see and hear. They immerse themselves in the worlds created in books. Parents need to discern what influences they want their children to have. They should carefully read what their children are going to read, see what movies or TV their kids are watching.

If they don't, they shouldn't be surprised when their kids grow up with beliefs or behaviors they didn't expect or hope for.

I am determined to be TRUTHFUL. How you see them is not the truth, in fact in this case it is quite the opposite. There is no real world occultism in the books.

I have no problem with parents monitoring their children's reading. And they don't even need a good reason, keep your kids from reading whatever books you want for whatever reason you want. What I have a problem with is people saying there's stuff in books that isn't there, and what I have a bigger problem with is the people that say a good Christian wouldn't read these books (or any books, or movies, or music) because of stuff they claim is in them that isn't. That is bad for the faith.

Doesn't matter who does or doesn't have the children's best interest in mind. HP doesn't have real occult in it, HP doesn't entice to occult, HP just plain isn't a problem, best interests or not.

The Pullman series may be worse, but we don't have people committing suicide for hearing about the ending to his books prematurely

LOL! too funny. You just made this a good day.

Folklore of course being one of the cornerstones of fantasy fiction. Said folklore is probably the reason why occult people are into mandrake roots, but none of that was explained in HP. The roots acted like folklore (which isn't how they are in reality) and they did no ritual.

I am not trying to impress you with my precocity (is that a word?) - you certainly either have a thin skin or are ready to take offense. I just meant that that LOTR are a good read for older children, since you said they weren't children's books.

Sheesh!

The Theosophical Society of America -- "Harry Potter and the Ancient Wisdom"

Thanks for the link. This shouldn't be surprising.

Rowling’s wide-ranging familiarity with myth, legend, magic, and odd bits of recondite and esoteric information is the web-stuff from which she spins her magical tale. The books create their own world, whose integrity is an essential for good fantasy. Yet they are also interpretable in or, to use J. R. R. Tolkien’s term, “applicable” to other contexts, such as Theosophy, with which Rowling has some familiarity, as is clear from her reference in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to the fictitious author “Cassandra Vablatsky” and her equally fictitious book Unfogging the Future. “Vablatsky” is a metathesis of “Blavatsky,”

Although this was probably a conscious reference to Madame Blavatsky, the founder of the Theosophical Society, I suspect that the inspiration for Rowling's writing has come through "channeling."

Hey, Jen. Do you think I should rush upstairs and check to see if my children are transfiguring their baby sister into something nasty?? : ) (I can't BELIEVE this stuff.)

I beg to differ, and that's it. Gotta run, been an interesting debate.

Theosophy, with which Rowling has some familiarity, as is clear from her reference in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to the fictitious author “Cassandra Vablatsky”

Either that or she's familiar with T.S. Eliot and classical mythology.

Although this was probably a conscious reference to Madame Blavatsky, the founder of the Theosophical Society, I suspect that the inspiration for Rowling's writing has come through "channeling."

Good heavens, Mrs. Meade. Remember yourself.

How does the Pope feel about the Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown?

Harry Potter Books 1, 2 & 3	The Occult Parallel
Book 1, page 51: Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where: Harry is an initiate Harry is learning witchcraft Harry is learning to conquer fear.	A person is INVITED to join an occult order The story line aligns with real occult books written by Gavin and Yvonne Frost, who, themselves, run the foremost school of witchcraft in the British Isles. The Training Work of the Initiate, by William Gray
The first book is called, “Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone.”	Occultists use sorcerers’ stones to transmute substances from one to another.
Book 1, page 66. Harry is informed about how much work goes into becoming a wizard and about how much there is to study. The book tittles listed, while not actual books, are significant.	The content Harry has to study includes: Astrology, Herbology, Astronomy (book 1, p. 133), Channeling power, how to use magick wands and practicing rituals. The titles of the books listed closely align to actual occult book.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Book 1, page 90-94 to get to the school, people have to go through a portal and get on a train. Book 1, p. 131-133. The rooms shift places until the students can lock them down through visualization.	The entire school of Wizardry and Witchcraft is a creative visualization and exists on the astral plane- not on the physical plane. You can't get to it unless you go through the portal at the train station. This is why the rooms in the school move around. See Role-Playing Games & Popular Occultism
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is organized: Dumbledore (a man) (#1)) Supreme Mugwump Snape (a man) (#2) Professor Minerva McGonagall (a woman) (#2) Deputy Headmistress (book 1, p. 51)	Parallels any occult order: Imperitor (a man) (#1) Temple Master (a man) (#2) Cancellareous (a woman) (#2) No one confronts the power of an Imperator. No one is more powerful than he. He rules the order.
Harry learns how to cast spells.	Occultists manipulate elemental spirits, demonic entities, servitors, etc., as well as circumstances and people through spells, acts of will, creative visualizations, and ritual spells for their own benefit. (destruction spells, death spells)
Book 1, p. 114: There are four houses within the Hogwarts School: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.	Each one probably represents an element. Air. Earth. Water. Fire. Since Hogwarts exists on the astral plane, that takes care of the fifth element - ethers. We do not know this yet by the end of book three.
Book 1, 66. Harry has a spell book	Grimore -- and occultist's personal book of incantations.
Voldemort wants the sorcerer's stone so he can "create" a new body for himself.	There really is a sorcerer's stone -- no comment on what it does or how it's used -- just know that it IS!
In Harry Potter, the "will in action" is a strong theme that runs throughout the story line.	The will in action is a direct reference tot he laws of Thelma, more specifically, the first law upon which all other laws hinge: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Nothing supersedes the will. The supreme will rules."
Voldemort wants the sorcerer's stone so he can "create" a new body for himself.	There really is a sorcerer's stone - no comment on what it does or how it's used -- just know that it IS!
In Harry Potter, the "will in action" is a strong theme that runs throughout the story line.	The will in action is a direct reference to the laws of Thelema, more specifically, the first law upon which all other laws hinge: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Nothing supersedes the will. the supreme will rules."
Book 1, p. 53. Harry was told that his parents died in a car crass. Actually they were psychically murdered.	In the occult world, people "die" by "accident" or "natural causes."
Book 1, p.164. Hedwig- Harry's pet owl. All the students at Hogwarts get and send their messages by owl.	Actually, Hedwig and all the other owls are familiar spirits. In the occult -- familiar spirits are used to convey messages from one occultist to others.
Book 1, p.130-133. Harry returns to his dormitory room through a "portrait hole." The portrait asks for a password. Book 2, p. 300. The sink - another example of a portal and how to open it up.	Portrait hole = portal - the opening between the physical plane and the astral plane through which entities move back and forth. Portals open with the correct words.
Book 1, p. 138 and Book 3, p. 2. Harry uses a quill pen, ink and parchment paper to document his magical spells.	Standard occult practice -- all occultists learn to document their spells in the initial stages of their training.
Book 1, p. The author gives a description of what is referred to as Quirrell's master. Harry could see a face on the back of Quirrell's head. Quirrell is strengthened by unicorn blood, the Elixir of Life (book 1, p. 293). He drinks blood.	This is a description of a real psychic vampire. The face says, "See what I have become, mere shadow and vapor. I have form only when I can share another's body. But there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds." (Book 1, p. 293) Psychic vampires are real. Drinking blood is strictly forbidden in the Scriptures.
Book 1, p. 291. "There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it."	Power is the greatest central them in the occult world. There is no god and no devil in the occult world. There is ONLY POWER.
Book 1, p. "Always use the proper name for things -- fear of a name of anything increases fear of the thing itself."	Harry is being instructed in how to purge fear. All emotion, in the occult world is purged out of a person. Fear could mean death.
Book 2, p. 20-21. Harry broke the decree for the restriction of underage wizardry because he had just done serious magick. He gets a reprimand. He does it again in book 3 when he attacks Aunt Marge. (p. 28-30)	AKA - he broke the rules of discretion that every occultists is well aware of. Occultist NEVER break the rules of discretion.
End of book 2 (p. 317, 322) A young girl gets possessed; you see a conjurative being that threatens to kill. Harry kills a certain conjured spirit (a snake) with a special sword.	These passages are an indirect reference to Kaballah, the Tree of Life, the Kundalini (snake) and the Sword of Kerubum. "SELF" is the source of power.
Book 2, p. 52 mentions a "Hand of Glory." Book 3, p. 208. Hit Wizards.	These are references to items used in VERY NEGATIVE magick.
Book 2 explains why Voldemort is the way he was (a psychic vampire) in book one. Harry doesn't understand Voldemort until Dumbledore explains him. In trying to protect Harry from a psychic attack on his life by Voldemort, Harry's mother took the attack on herself and she died. When she took on the full brunt to the attack, she absorbed most of the energy. Harry absorbed some to the knowledge of Voldemort, but when the energy returned to Voldemort, it destroyed his body. That is why, in book 1, we see him as a psychic vampire -- he needs to have a host body.	Rowling gives a perfect description of the difference between demons and fallen angels on the physical plane in this example of Voldemort. She writes that Voldemort once had a body, then he didn't now he does when he attaches himself to other people. This is the way demonic entities exist in the physical world. They need a physical body in which to manifest. Angels, holy or fallen, do not need physical bodies to manifest -- they can make their own bodies on the physical plane. When occultists repel a psychic attack, they absorb some of the knowledge of the individual that attacked them. In Harry's case, he absorbed the ability to speak snake (and other special capacities) from Voldemort.
Book 2, p. 314-322. Rowlings describes an occult war: Voldemort says he's the greatest sorcerer in the world and Harry says that Dumbldore is the greatest wizard in the world. Then a fawkes, a phoenix and a sorting hat show up to defend and fight for Harry. Voldemort gave Harry permission to use the tools Dumbledore sent him. Harry defeats Voldemort.	Occult wars are fought on the spiritual level. This story line is straight psychic metaphor. Harry found the weakness in Voldemort's existence and capitalized on it. There are references to items used in VERY NEGATIVE magic.
Book 3, p. 247. The Dementor's kiss.	Lupin explains that when dementors wish to destroy someone utterly, they suck the soul out of the person through their mouth. "You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working."
Book 3, p. 250, 251. Hermione is reading a Rune translation.
Book 3, p. 426, 427. Harry has a conversation with Dumbldore regarding saving Pettigrew's life. Dumbledore tells Harry that when one wizard "saves another wizard's life, it creates a bond between them. This is magic at its deepest and most impenetrable."	This bond and debt is called an ON in the occult world.
Harry does not know that he can talk in the language of snakes. You get an inkling of this in books 1, page 28. When Harry has a conversation with the boa constrictor, he thinks the snake is talking English, when, in fact, it is Harry that is talking "snake." The conversation with a snake comes up again in book 2, page 194. In a class titled "Defense Against the Dark Arts," a snake is ready to attack one of the members of his group, Justin, and Harry tells the snake to stop. The snake obeys immediately. People were astounded that Harry could speak snake.	Those who practice the many forms of familiar magick have the ability to communicate with animals. I.e.: horse whisperers, medicine men, etc.
Book 3, p. 28-30. Harry attacks his aunt Marge for her disparaging comments about him and his family by placing a swelling spell on her.	This is a psychic attack. Harry's lightening bolt scar on his forehead is a symbol of his psychic strength. The lightening bolt is similar in nature to the occult "Sword of the Cherubim."
Book 3, p. 133. Harry's class practices on a bogart to remove whatever fear they have. A bogart is an entity which morphs into whatever anyone is afraid of. It is a shape shifter and will change itself into "whatever it thinks will frighten us most."	Bogarts, called something else in the occult world, are real. They are used in occult training as practice for conquering fear and for perfecting their craft.
Book 3, p. 83. Harry has a confrontation with several dementors. These creatures are similar to vampires that can suck the positive energy out of a person. They cause a person to be confronted with their own evil and what the person fears. Harry is not successful in deriving the dementors away on his own. In book 3, p. 236-237, Lupin teachers him a spell to put a barrier between him and the dementors.	In the occult, psychic vampires are similar to dementors. They feed on the emotional energy of people. Fear is a strong emotion that dementors feed on.

***...Your people are the ones leading people away from Christ, I've seen it happened, hell I LIVED IT. It was people LIKE YOU that drove me away from Christ...***

Please, this is really over the top.

Isn't having an early reader fun?? : )

Don't worry, it takes years of study before one can accomplish human transfiguration (which is not, I might add, a good idea. At least not from other sources which indicate it can cause lose of life or limb in the practitioner).

Now, if you start losing dishes and finding an unusual number of rodents running around, I'd start getting worried.

I've only got partway down that list and am trying not to laugh.

First off, there's NO SUCH THING as a "sorcerer's stone". The stupid American publishers decided stupid American children wouldn't know what a "Philosopher's Stone" is. I got halfway through the book and started shouting "It's the philosopher's stone! You silly people!"

When you make that silly a mistake, why should I take a list like this seriously? And I'm sorry, I can't take statements like "bogarts are real" very seriously.