Posted on 11/19/2001 3:13:11 PM PST by PJ-Comix
What are kids saying about Harry Potter? Here are some samples:
| "I want to go to wizard school and learn magic. I'd like to learn to use a wand to cast spells." Dylan, age 10. "If I could go to wizard school, I might be able to do spells and potions and fly a broomstick." Mara, age 12. "It would be great to be a wizard because you could control situations and things like teachers." Jeffrey, age 11. "I'd like to go to wizard school and learn magic and put spells on people. I'd make up an ugly spell and then it's pay-back time." Catherine, age 9. "I feel like I'm inside Harry's world. If I went to wizard school I'd study everything: spells, counterspells, and defense against the dark arts." Carolyn, age 10. "I liked it when the bad guys killed the unicorn and Voldemort drank its blood." Julie, age 13. "The books are very clever. I couldn't put them down. When I was scared I made myself believe that it was supposed to be funny so I wasn't so scared." Nuray age 11. |
These are the comments of young readers of the Harry Potter wizard books quoted on a new video by Jeremiah Films. On the video, called Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged, Making Evil Look Innocent, author Robert S. McGee explains: "Children as young as kindergarten are being introduced to human sacrifice, the sucking of blood from dead animals, and possession by spirit beings."
Courts have banned the teaching of Christianity in public schools but Wicca, which is recognized by the U.S. courts as a religion and given tax-exempt status by the IRS, is taught freely. Harry Potter has become the method of introduction of Wicca to the very young.
Harry Potter materials have become much more than a hand full of children's fantasy books. Warner Brothers, Coca Cola, Minutemaid, and Mattel have used the Potter materials to launch games, puzzles, toys, backpacks, and every possible merchandizing product.
Scholastic, Inc., a major supplier of public school teaching aids has added the Potter literature to its line of curriculum materials. When the name "Harry Potter" is keyed into the Scholastic.com web site search engine, it returns 268 matches. "Jesus" returned only 23.
And now, a major movie is about to break on the scene called "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Millions of dollars are being spent on pre-release hype.
Once introduced to the world of wizards, spells, and dark arts, readers of Harry Potter can advance their knowledge and skills in witchcraft and paganism by visiting the hundreds of web sites available on the internet.
Or, they can purchase more books on the subject from the well stocked Wiccan sections in local book super stores. Or, they can find over a thousand volumes on witchcraft available at Amazon.com.
Harry Potter books have taken the world of children's fantasy literature by storm. Over 200 million have been sold in 40 languages. One study shows that over half of the children in the western world have read at least one of the Potter books. Many reported rereading each book several times.
But is it just fantasy literature like Snow White and Cinderella? In the Harry Potter video, cult expert Caryl Matrisciana points out that in the older stories, evil never prevails.
There are no absolutes in his world. What is right depends on the situation.
Witchcraft now has a complete package. Starting in kindergarten with Harry Potter and TV witch shows, children are led on to the horror movies and hundreds of Wicca and pagan web sites. When they thirst for more power, high school and college Wicca covens are available. In the adult world, corporations are hiring New Age practitioners to provide seminars in sensitivity training, stress relief, and self improvement for employees.
Former Satanist William Schnoebelen points out in his book, Wicca, Satan's Little White Lie, that, "I finally learned in the most graphic fashion imaginable that the difference between witchcraft or Wicca and Satanism is actually non-existent."
Before he was saved he found himself cruising the streets looking for a lone female to assault, not for sex, but to drink her blood.1
The bottom line is a hunger for power. Harry Potter and the rest of witchcraft promises that power. But in the end they discover that Satan is really in charge of the power and only uses it like cheese in a mouse trap.
Harry Potter provides a basic initiation into witchcraft for a whole new generation. Imagine what the world will be like when they grow up.
And don't get me started on "Bambi".
The horror... When I was a kid, I wanted to learn spells even though I hadn't read Potter. After reading Tolkien, I got myself a staff like Gandalf's and pretented to zap folks (they were orcs, naturally) with fire. I also thought that by peering through a colored marble I could see a magical world beyond our own. Not to mention my longing for a time machine...
--former kid
I spend all day muttering arcane incantation. It's quite mysical to those who see it. I have a dead chicken that I wave over those things that offend me. I am a unix system administrator. I am the dark side.
/john
All the more reason to watch Bugs Bunny, chug Coke, guzzle MinuteMaid orange juice and buy Barbies, IMHO.
How Strange! Thousands of children lined up outside bookstores waiting for them to open so they can buy a book? In the children's world awash with television, internet and video games, how can a mere book create such a demand? It seems like magic.
It is! The hero of the book is Harry Potter, wizard in training. The book is the 4th in the Harry Potter series claimed by some Christian leaders to be innocent fictional fantasy. Others, such as ex-witch William Schnoebelen, see them as training manuals for a new generation of sorcerers.
Readers of the Harry Potter books are "...immersing themselves in the magic world-view that does not fit with the Bible," Schnoebelen points out. The plot is different than good Christian fiction where the good and Godly win out over evil. "The Harry Potter books, in common with most horror and fantasy material, present a godless universe, one in which the most powerful wizard wins," says Schnoebelen.
"Our youth are awash in a culture that promotes evil, occultism, lust and power for its own sake. The magic world-view is all around them. It is promoted in Pokemon, in television, movies and music. More critical, it is often promoted in classrooms."
Yes, many teachers are ignoring the dark side of the Potter books and using them in class simply because it promotes an interest in reading. But John Andrew Murray writes on a Focus On The Family web site for teachers: "It is the world of witchcraft found in Harry Potter that is the greatest threat of all. This world...is presenting occult practices in a way that is attractive and fun." This "desensitization to witchcraft" can only "lead to serious spiritual consequences in the future."
The author, J. K. Rowling, claims that the book series will end after the 7th book to be released in 2003. In the meantime, movie rights have been sold to Warner Brothers who hopes to make billions of dollars promoting the Harry Potter craze. Soon we will see cartoon spin-offs, theme-park rides and interactive games.
So Harry Potter, born wizard, raised by dull, useless, boring, relatives (who resemble fundamentalist Christians) attends an exciting school for wizards where he learns that power is the ultimate moral choice, irrespective of good or evil. In the process he experiences episodes of astral projection, levitation, blood sacrifices, animal sacrifices and a baby boiled in a cauldron.
He deals with werewolves and vampires, and learns to cast spells, lie, cheat on homework, and that death is just the "next great adventure."
For Bible believers who are admonished to avoid even the "appearance of evil" the Harry Potter craze is just another wave in the ocean of evil washing over our land. Soul winners must use it as another opportunity to stand against Satan's strategy and witness to Biblical truth.
"If I could go to Wellsley, I might be able to do spells and potions and fly a broomstick." Hillary, age 12.
"It would be great to be an Attorney General because you could control situations and things like citizens." Janet, age 11.
"I'd like to go to wizard school and learn magic and put spells on people. I'd make up an ugly spell and then it's pay-back time." Donna S., age 9.
"I feel like I'm inside Billy's world. If I went to White House I'd study everything: spells, counterspells, and defense against the dark arts." Monica, age 10.
"I liked it when the bad guys killed Vince." George S., age 13.
"The Clinton's are very clever. I couldn't put them down. When I was scared I made myself believe that they were supposed to be funny so I wasn't so scared." Maureen D. age 11.
Sorry guys, this was just too easy.
My goodness--what a fabulous opportunity for parents to--scary thought--actually talk with children about the difference between fantasy/dreams and reality--and to remind the children that they (the parents) are there to protect them. I suppose the folks opposed to Harry Potter fantasy are also opposed to Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Leaves nothing to the imagination, literally.
It is truly sad to see an adult believe fantasy IS reality.
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.