Posted on 07/13/2005 12:49:13 AM PDT by dsc
Mainsteaming witchcraft into American culture is not exactly a "small issue".
I'm one of those people who believe in the supernatural forces of good and evil. How a Christan could endorse or turn a blind eye to this plague is beyond me.
I would add that there is an unfortunate tendency to downplay the reality of evil, and especially of the evil one, among Catholics. That goes for "liberal" and "conservative" Catholics.
Harry Potter distorts the soul, says Pope
Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels - Signed Letters from Cardinal Ratzinger Now Online
Benedict XVI-New Pope Hits Out at Harry Potter Books
Harry Potter and the Chair of Peter (Lead us not into temptation has meaning to Benedict XVI.)
Links to the scanned copies of the two signed letters by Cardinal Ratzinger (in German) - In PDF format:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005_docs/ratzingerlet...
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005_docs/ratzingerper...
See LifeSite's Harry Potter resource section at:
http://www.lifesite.net/features/harrypotter/
Pope Benedict Opposes Harry Potter Novels
http://www.lifesite.net/features/harrypotter/obrienpotter.html
>>For cryin' out loud, they're fantasy novels, get over it.
Take a look around you... How much of our culture has been influenced by books, movies, and television?
How has the concept of love and romance been affected? Do you think there is any relation to how Hollywood treats sex and the number of kids participating in it?
Print, television, and film help to define the culture. Young people take what is presented to them in these media formats, and they integrate it into thier belief system.
So, there isn't anything to get over. Rather, open your eyes and realize how *negative* books, film, and other media can be.
That's quite a bit more broad a statement/complaint than Harry Potter isn't it? You could say "Hey there is sin everywhere and some people aren't Christians!!! what are we going to do about it???".
Well said...that's why I particularly like then-Cardinal Ratzinger's statement that what we're dealing with are "subtle seductions." That's a very good way to put it.
Okay, so let's just ban everything that we don't like, and throw away the same freedoms we fight for.
>>Okay, so let's just ban everything that we don't like, and throw away the same freedoms we fight for.
I wasn't aware *you* were fighting for freedom..
And I never said to ban everthing we don't like.. What I'm saying is that this opposition from the Pope to the faithful should not be ignored by the faithful. Society could learn a thing or two by not ignoring it as well...
This culture of death, culture of sex, exists *primarily* because of the support of the Christian community. It's time the Christian community wake up and smell the coffee -- and stop reading books and watching movies which preserve the perverse culture we live in...
I don't think the faithful *should* be blindly following what the Pope says. Each individual should take from the entertainment industry what they themselves see and make their choices accordingly.
Certain books, movies, etc. I may not agree with, and I won't read/watch them. Nevertheless, I wouldn't assume that everyone wanted my opinion on what they should think. What makes the Pope's opinion more important than anyone else's? Yea, he's dedicated to his faith, possibly more than anyone, but devotion to anything doesn't necessarily make someone any more equipped to tell others what to think.
The whole position of Pope can be summed up with two words: sheep herder.
>>I don't think the faithful *should* be blindly following what the Pope says.
And what makes you so wise to say so? What credentials concerning the faith do you have? And on what authority do you make such a statement?
How many years of theology have you studied? How much have you written which has been reviewed by the Bishops??
>>Nevertheless, I wouldn't assume that everyone wanted my opinion on what they should think.
aha, but you already assumed that already by proclaiming "I don't think the faithful *should* be blindly following what the Pope says". You already gave your opinion on how people should think.
You basically told everybody how they should think, something you deny that the pope should do.
So do they blindly follow you or the pope?
>>What makes the Pope's opinion more important than anyone else's
Credentials. Experience. Education. Position. Guidance of the Spirit. Faith. Visible leader of the Church. Advice of the Episcopate. Intelligence. Theological Education. Experience with the Congregation for the Doctrine & Faith. Relationship with Christ. Input of theologians world wide...
Need any more reasons why his opinions are more important than anyone else??
>>doesn't necessarily make someone any more equipped to tell others what to think.
See above.
>>The whole position of Pope can be summed up with two words: sheep herder.
Maybe to you, but those who listen to this "sheep herder" may not know the exact reason why behind the beliefs, but could easily find the answers.
Not knowing the intricate details doesn't mean the sheep are wrong. And watch out, because the resources of the Church are availble to the sheep, and many of them could wipe the floor with you in a debate on the positions of the Papacy...
Greetings all...I find it unbelievable that there are 800+ posts for something like this...Any thing on this planet could end up being used or viewed as contrary to God and a potential a distraction to faith...money, the occult, food and so on and so on and so on...we're surrounded by temptation, tests etc.....the goal is to focus on Christ and leave the rest behind...now all of you please get some rest and read the scriptures...
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