Thread IV: A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Gloria Romanorum blog ^ | 9/9/07 | Florentius

[Antoninus]

Previous Threads:

Buried in Potter's Field? A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads the Harry Potter Series

Thread II: A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

Thread III: A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban


Related recent threads:

Harry Potter: The Archetype of an Abortion Survivor

Trying to Skirt the Pope's (Cardinal Ratzinger's) Negative Appraisal of Harry Potter

Harry Potter and "the Death of God" - by Michael D. O'Brien

Harry Potter Fanatics Lash Out at Pope, Michael O'Brien, LifeSiteNews Over Criticism of Novels

Previous Threads:

Buried in Potter's Field? A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads the Harry Potter Series

Thread II: A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

Thread III: A Catholic Homeschooling Father Reads Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban


Related recent threads:

Harry Potter: The Archetype of an Abortion Survivor

Trying to Skirt the Pope's (Cardinal Ratzinger's) Negative Appraisal of Harry Potter

Harry Potter and "the Death of God" - by Michael D. O'Brien

Harry Potter Fanatics Lash Out at Pope, Michael O'Brien, LifeSiteNews Over Criticism of Novels

[TexasCajun]

I liked the Wizard-of-Oz and I like the Harry Potter movies.

Doomed to Hell, I guess.

[Antoninus]

Pinging potentially interested parties.

[Antoninus]

FWIW, taken from a previous thread, here are my reasons for reading the books, writing these reviews, and having the discussion:

1.) To evaluate the quality of the books as literary works.

2.) To determine if Rowling was inspired in any way by Christianity, the occult, or something else.

3.) And ultimately, to decide whether these books should be read by young Catholics, and if so, under what conditions.

[Tax-chick]

And ultimately, to decide whether these books should be read by young Catholics, and if so, under what conditions.

I've been curious for several threads about what qualifications you have to decide this, ultimately.

[Antoninus]

I've been curious for several threads about what qualifications you have to decide this, ultimately.

Let's see. I'm human. I'm literate (barely?). I'm a Catholic. I'm a father. And I'm a homeschooler.

I'm deciding nothing. I'm offering an opinion. If you disagree with the opinion, feel free to voice your disagreement on the points offered. Attacking me, or my credibility, has little to do with the discussion here.

Safe to assume that the gramatical/spelling errors in this post were sufficiently modest so that a different sort of behind-the-back criticism needed to be offered this time? :-)

[ClearCase_guy]

Rowling has suits of armor singing, "O Come All Ye Faithful"

I always enjoy your reviews. As I've said on previous threads, I believe Rowling inserts subtle Christian messages into the story. No, she isn't CS Lewis or JRR Tolkien. I don't want to give her too much credit for promoting Christianity -- that would definitely be a stretch.

However, the Dark Arts are about death, and suffering, and the loss of our free will. Voldemort's primary goal is to avoid death and cheat God of his judgement. Voldemort thinks that he is above Death -- he wants to live in our physical world forever, and has no desire for Heaven.

Rowling knows full well that this is not the proper track for anyone to be on.

Also, while it could be interpeted as a "diversity" message, the SPEW episode is the beginning of a trend toward reverance for life that starts in Hermione, but continues most strongly in Harry. In general, wizards tend to be parochial and centered on their own kind. Harry is different, and this is commented on by others in later books. There is a broad message in the book that all created life needs to be respected.

[Tax-chick]

I'm deciding nothing. I'm offering an opinion.

That's not what you said in post 4. You said, And ultimately, to decide whether these books should be read by young Catholics, and if so, under what conditions.

Please pardon my pointing it out, but that's a very sweeping statement, implying that whatever you decide is, ultimately, the one right decision for all young Catholics.

Your new statement conveys a very different concept. Of course, you have both the authority and the competence, as a parent, to determine the suitability of any literature for the young Catholics for whom you are responsible.

[maryz]

And thus it has been at Hogwarts--Christmas in the first three books has been all about feasting, decorating, and getting presents.

As in innumerable 19th century British novels, including quite respectable ones! ;-)

[Antoninus]

That's not what you said in post 4. You said, And ultimately, to decide whether these books should be read by young Catholics, and if so, under what conditions. Please pardon my pointing it out, but that's a very sweeping statement, implying that whatever you decide is, ultimately, the one right decision for all young Catholics.

As I am neither the Pope nor any other bishop, it should be easily grasped that I don't have the teaching authority necessary to decide for anyone but the young Catholics in my care. Thus, anyone with even a modicum of reason who reads these posts will recognize them for exactly what they are--opinions.

Whether they are valid or worthless opinions, I leave for others to decide.

Your posts seem more concerned with stifling the discussion in the first place. I personally think it's an interesting conversation and thus have a hard time understanding your attitude.

[Tanniker Smith]

Funny. I was just thinking yesterday “I wonder how book 4 is going.” (No, really. I was reading one of the other really, really bizarre HP threads that were posted in the last couple of weeks.)

[Tanniker Smith]

Now why she chose to use Aramaic--the language of our Lord--for this worst of all spells, and not Latin like she did for all the rest is beyond me.

Actually, for a reason you already guessed: it's similarity to 'abrakadabra'. She is consistent in her use of puns.

[ClearCase_guy]

I think it would have been interesting if Rowling had based general spell names on pseudo Latin, and "unforgivable" curses on another language (Greek perhaps). Avada Kedavra is a hint in that direction, but clearly cruciatus and imperius are Latin-based. And to use Aramaic for the killing curse is, I think, unfortunate and singular.

I think Rowling was clever in a lot of different ways, but this was not one of them.

[xsmommy]

i appreciate reading your interpretations of the series and look forward to your future reviews. i am not relying on your opinions to decide whether my 13 yo should read the series [she is midway through book 4, right now],but i think this conversation is a worthwhile one. It may be that taxchick and others had these discussions long ago, and are defensive because of attitudes they have encountered along the way. You and i are latecomers to the series, and are interested in discussing these things now, with fresh eyes, at least from our perspective. i finished book 7 this past week. HURRY UP! ; )

[Antoninus]

Funny. I was just thinking yesterday “I wonder how book 4 is going.” (No, really. I was reading one of the other really, really bizarre HP threads that were posted in the last couple of weeks.)

I'm actually already finished Book V as well, I just haven't had as much time to write of late.

[discostu]

Glad you’re still at it. I was actually wondering about you Monday, then I remembered you’d be up to GOF and that would take longer. I really respect the fact that you’re actually reading the books yourself, instead of regurgitating stuff from others or copping out with just the movies.

[Tanniker Smith]

implying that whatever you decide is, ultimately, the one right decision for all young Catholics.

No, I think he's implying that whatever he decides is ultimately the one right decision for all young Catholics in his care that he has the authority over.

My son's 11. He's read them all. Oddly enough, he started (last year) with book 4 because he had seen the first three movies. I knew the ending was a little dark, but that was my judgment. (I also know what kind of movies and TV shows and cartoons he watches, so I know what he can -- and should be able to -- handle.)

[Antoninus]

However, the Dark Arts are about death, and suffering, and the loss of our free will. Voldemort's primary goal is to avoid death and cheat God of his judgement. Voldemort thinks that he is above Death -- he wants to live in our physical world forever, and has no desire for Heaven.

Good points all. Hadn't looked at it that way. Though I don't know if Voldemort is specifically trying to cheat God of his judgment. Aside from the use of the terms "godfather" and "Oh god" on occasion, He's not mentioned at all--at least not through the first five books.

Safe to assume that the reason for the minions of Voldemort being called "death eaters" is explained in greater detail in Books VI and VII?

[Antoninus]

Glad you’re still at it. I was actually wondering about you Monday, then I remembered you’d be up to GOF and that would take longer. I really respect the fact that you’re actually reading the books yourself, instead of regurgitating stuff from others or copping out with just the movies.

Thanks. I get asked my opinion about the HP stuff all the time, and I just got tired of rendering no opinion because I hadn't read it. I figured some FR denizens might be interested in the discussion as well.

[Antoninus]

i am not relying on your opinions to decide whether my 13 yo should read the series [she is midway through book 4, right now],but i think this conversation is a worthwhile one.

Thanks. Of course, I don't expect that anyone would rely on my opinions, especially considering I haven't decided what my overall opinion on the series is yet!

It may be that taxchick and others had these discussions long ago, and are defensive because of attitudes they have encountered along the way.

I'm sure that's part of it. But based on some of the conversations I've had about HP outside of FR, I've found that some women have this instictive maternal desire to protect Harry after all he's been through--almost forgetting that he's just a fictional character. For what it's worth, these women are all exemplary mothers themselves.

You and i are latecomers to the series, and are interested in discussing these things now, with fresh eyes, at least from our perspective. i finished book 7 this past week. HURRY UP! ; )

I'm working on it!