Posted on 07/23/2007 7:04:00 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback
If there’s a child in your house, then you probably know what’s going to happen when the clock strikes 12 tonight. The final Harry Potter book—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—will be unleashed on the world.
The big question that has millions of kids on edge: Will Harry live—or will he die?
But the big question many parents have is: Should their kids be reading novels about wizards and witches and magic?
A Christian expert on Potter mania says, “It depends.”
Connie Neal, a veteran youth pastor and mother of three, is the author of a book titled What’s a Christian To Do with Harry Potter? Neal says parents must use discernment in deciding whether to allow their kids to read Harry Potter. For example, kids with an unhealthy interest in the occult should probably not read these books. Other Christians believe their kids benefit from the moral lessons the Potter books teach.
Neal’s belief that it’s okay for Christians to read secular novels comes from her reading of the biblical book of Daniel. Daniel, you will remember, was a teenager when he was taken away from Jerusalem to live in exile in Babylon. There, he was taught the language and literature of the pagan culture. He studied at a school that trained Babylon’s magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. The actual practice of sorcery and astrology was, of course, forbidden by God. But Daniel studied it well to understand it.
One day King Nebuchadnezzer called on his magicians and astrologers to interpret a dream; none could do it. In a rage, the king ordered that all of his wise men be put to death. Daniel asked to see the king, who then asked him, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel responded: “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery which the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”
Daniel had immersed himself in his culture’s pagan literature in order to understand it. But, because of his deep devotion to God, he didn’t defile himself. As Connie Neal told BreakPoint, “God put Daniel in Babylon to be a light in the darkness—and he was. He was not afraid to read literature that resounded in the hearts of the people with whom he lived. He used his familiarity with this pagan literature to reveal the true and living God.” And Neal knows some kids who have done the same in our own post-Christian culture.
Now personally, I don’t recommend the Potter books. I’d rather Christian kids not read them. But with some 325 million of them in print, your kids will probably see them and hear others talk about them, and they’re probably going to read them anyway. So use this occasion to teach them to be discerning—like Daniel. Dare them to have Daniel as their role model, not Harry Potter.
And if your kids do enjoy Harry’s magical world, you should give them copies of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
These books also feature wizards and witches and magic, but in addition, they inspire the imagination within a Christian framework—and prepare the hearts of readers for the real-life story of Jesus Christ.
“Do a search on this stuff. It’s more popular than ever. The Potter books certainly deserve their share of credit.”
It is really awful. My son has read all the books and he turned me into a toad just the other day. Thank goodness I knew how to counter the spell. We definitely won’t let him read the last book, otherwise he might turn me into something even worse.
If reading the series bothers you, then by all means don’t.
My point was, it’s make believe. The spells and charms don’t work.
“Real” witches will tell you that as well.
regarding your tagline..I love that Stones song
Some might say God being three-but-one and rising from the dead to fulfill the ancient savage belief of the ‘scapegoat’ (except for all humanity’s sins) isn’t real life either.
Bet you looked cute in that funnel!
The Star wars movies present a faster than light drive and laser swords in a palatable sense, with heroic possibilities and broad appeal.
Only a nut would believe he can become a Jedi knight after seeing a Star Wars movie. Only a nut would believe he should become a wizard after reading a Potter book.
And yet at the big midnight Potter sale I went to the metaphysics section was the only part of the bookstore nobody was in. Potter kids don’t seem to be the ones into this stuff, probably the ones getting into it are the ones sick and tired of being told not to read this or watch that or listen to this other by dipsticks claiming to be Christians but are actually ruled by fear not God.
I would like to help but, I'm all out of phoenix tail feathers and dragon heart strings.
We were at a friend’s house and they put on a video for their child that has the story of Christ but with all the extra stuff that their religion puts into it. My wife didn’t know what to do and was all worried. I came in at the very end of the show and told my wife not to worry about it. When we went to bed I asked my kids about the movie, and asked them what was accurate and what was just made up. They knew what was real and what was false (ages 12 and 9).
I mentioned to them that evil can wrap itself up in a very nice package - with Satan being called a deceiver, etc. and to be aware that just because something looks and acts nice that it is good. The older child said something like “Dad - its been that way since Eve and the apple!”. (I was so proud!).
Same goes with the Harry Potter stuff. I’ve told them that the occult is real, but also let them enjoy Harry and his friends. Similar to watching movies with violence and swearing. I’ve never heard one of them say a swear word (but did overhear them recently telling a new aquantice that was swearing to please stop ‘cuz we don’t like swear words!). Of course, if they ever did, it would be back to watching Barney videos!
My kids have seen all six Star wars movies, and watched the Clone Wars animated series.
Guess what: They don't believe they can be Jedi Knights.
Sorry about that. The site sent my post to the wrong party.
Any kid that can slog through Mein Kampf should be welcome to read it. Have you ever tried to get through it?
My raison d'etre, mon ami. ;-)
“Real” witches will tell you that as well.
Go ahead and listen to "Real" witches. I believe in God. He said to stay away from that crap. That's good enough for me.
Articles like this remind me of the old World Weekly News article headlined:
Your Co-Worker Could Be A Space Alien
Here's how you can tell!
The devil will make sure to be found wherever you look for him. Articles like this are a case in point.
please put me on your ping list.
Polly
Well said.
I’ve got a VERY liberal coworker who hates the books, doesn’t want any children reading them. I asked her if she’d ever read one.....of course she hadn’t. Typical liberal, judging what they don’t know.
The books are great fun. I’m glad kids are enjoying the FICTION.
Oh, Hermione rocks!!
Being a Jedi looks pretty cool, and Luke Skywalker is a heroic, happy-go-lucky kind of guy. Did you notice a lot of kids building lightsabers in the late '70s?
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