'HARRY' CATCHES HELL FROM CHRISTIANS

New York Post ^ | 11/24/01 | TODD VENEZIA

[kattracks]

November 24, 2001 -- Is Harry Potter the spawn of Satan?

That's the opinion at one Christian school in southern Australia, where parents voted yesterday to forbid students from reading about the bespectacled wizard and his preteen cohorts.

The vote was just part of a widespread anti-Harry backlash by religious conservatives angered by the best-selling books' blatant celebration of witchcraft and the occult.

[Demidog]

So, one does not need to read the book to suggest that it is wrong.

If you prefer to let others make your decisions for you then this is the best course to take. And when a doctor tells you that he has a drug that will help you, remember that somebody else told you that drugs are bad and you shouldn't do them.

[Tuxedo]

Now that is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with decisions being made for me. It is simply supplied information. You choose whether or not to use it in your decision-making. One could say that cocaine has been known to kill people, and can be addicting. So, you would use this information when you are confronted with a situation that demands that you decide whether to snort or not. Same with this original post. If you are contemplating buying into HP for your kids, then here is some information. You can choose to believe it or not. Or, maybe even look for more information. Then, make an informed decision. It's called life...

[Demidog]

It has nothing to do with decisions being made for me. It is simply supplied information.

Information that you could easily verify and will not. Thus, you are chosing to adhere to somebody elses opinion about this book.

[Tuxedo]

I do not read children's books.

[nopardons]

Harry Potter isn't a Wiccan. That is something completely different for going to a school or wizards. Of you don't understand that distiction, then you shouldn't bother trying to talk abot what you know NOTHING at all about, dear. : -)

[nopardons]

Harry Potter isn't a Wiccan. That is something completely different for going to a school or wizards. Of you don't understand that distiction, then you shouldn't bother trying to talk about what you know NOTHING at all about, dear. : -)

[Demidog]

Do you have children?

[Tuxedo]

By the way, my best friend has seen the movie and read all the books. The following is his take:

Typical "christian" knee-jerk reaction. Their arguments are indefensible... They argue that it has to do with witchcraft, which is anti-biblical... then, when you point out that Tolkien and Lewis, both of whom they endorse as good christian literature, also used wizzards, witches (good and bad) and magical creatures, they say "yes but theirs was clearly fantasy". However, anyone who is or was ever into real witchcraft can clearly see that the Potter witchcraft, dispite some real *terms* used, is fantasy, not real witchcraft. Second, it teaches good principles. They argue that Harry and his friends get away with lying. But, that's part of the realism that makes it good literature... they are young teenagers, and that's something that young teenagers do. It's not teaching that you should lie, come on! What it does teach are such principles as:

not sitting there dreaming of what should be instead of living

Love is the most powerful force

self sacrifice for those you love

commitment in friendship

your value isn't on what material things you have etc.

Lots of good powerful lines in the book and movie that can be used as teaching points. "Focus On the Family" is divided on it. Some staff members like it, others condemn it. But even the ones that condemn it say "your kids are going to be exposed to it.. rather than forbid it, go see it with them, and talk them through it. Explain that witchcraft is evil and comes from the devil, and point out the good character traits that the movie presents". There are two books written about it from each perspective. The one against is "Harry Potter and The Bible", and the one for is "What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter". Both of them say to read/watch it with your kids and discuss it... neither of them says 'avoid it'. EOM

[Tuxedo]

Yes, both are too young to read on their own. Both are younger than 3.

[Woodkirk]

The real message of "Stairway to Heaven" is forward not backward -- if you pay attention to the words. People often innocently name their children and characters, but do you really think that deep thought did not go into the name of her magical hero. Her book is well researched in the occult with many poisonous gems hidden in there away from the prying eyes of parents, but the most obvious is that hidden in plain sight -- the name "Harry" which means the Devil or Satan. You did look this up in your dictionary, didn't you? Is it right? Do you think JKRowling has a dictionary? Do you think she forgot to use it?

[Tuxedo]

I should also say that my best friend was a Satanist in the early '80's. He became a Christian and renounced his ties to the occult. But, as someone who has seen both sides of the story, he has good views on the subject. I agree with most of what he says, and trust him as he has seen the movie and read all the books. Witchcraft just has no interest for me. Star Wars, OTOH... is quite cool, and yes, it certainly has sorcery in it.

As I said, I just chime in when Christians are getting bashed. I don't agree with all of the points they make, but when others (not you) bring up sending them to the lions (even if it was intended to be sarcasm), I have to say something.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

To ALL;

Well, we listened to the book by audio while on a road trip last week. It was delightful!!!

We read all the Dragonquest series,.. Terry Brooks books,..etc. When our kids were growing up, we shared a lot of our Science Fiction books. Actually we shared them all. We had a great time reading them, then discussing the funny and very exciting aspects of them.

I can't remember us ever believing that an Otter could talk, or that there were really dragons, or druids, or wizards.

None of our kids grew up to be wizards. Sigh.... (There goes that mansion, and all that money, youth, health, etc. Dang!!) They did grow up to be decent God loving Christians. Because their FAITH is strong. Because they know the difference between Fiction and NON-Fiction.

We just saw the movie this weekend with our 6 year old grandson and 5 year old grand-daughter. We loved it!! The Troll looked like an onry "Shrek"...and the only part that I think could be scary would be the double face (two sided head) at the end. We laughed so the kids didn't get scared. The movie theatre was FULL of little kids. Parents and Grandparents like us, all enjoying the movie!! We just had so much fun sharing the MAGIC of a movie like that. No less than our parents did for years when watching the yearly Re-runs of "The Wizard of Oz". Those who fear "Harry Potter" would think that "yearly tradition" was rather cultish. But I remember Mom getting the Popcorn ready and it being something we really looked forward to. I don't remember thinking witches were real. I wonder if those protesting the loudest ever watched "The Wizard of Oz",.. or if they truly live in "fear" all the time. I know they haven't read the Harry Potter books, nor have they seen the movie. I'm telling you that a female teacher cannot turn into a cat. Its make believe. K?? Sheesh!!!

I'm just amazed that so many feel so weak in their belief systems that something akin to the "Wizard of Oz" could threaten their faith. It could NEVER waiver our belief in God and Jesus!!

Those who are threatened by this movie or Indianna Jones, or anything FICTION.. are suffering from a few loose screws. Sorry to be so harsh... but thats REALITY.

If I believed that Alchemy was real.. don't you think that a lot of us would be changing dirt into Gold?? If there was a way to have an elixer of youth.. don't you think that many of us would have used it by now?? That there would be people "NOT" growing old? I haven't seen a REAL LIVE Troll yet in my life. I haven't seen an Otter talk (The Otter was from another book). We haven't seen a really cute dragon like the one in the "Never Ending Story",.. heck, haven't EVER seen one. But then.. thats FICTION. It isn't REAL!!!

It was a blast. Our grandkids didn't have nightmares. Our Grandson loves to sing at Church. And I really doubt he is trying to do any spells. But even if he did.. I remember as a little girl, getting some red glittery shoes as a gift. I did try to click my heels three times, and found I didn't go anywhere. Gee, guess I figured it out!!

Using our imagination is a wonderful way to excercise our brains. The use of our imagination can only enhance our abilities to be creative. I hasten to wonder what would have happened had the "Bill Gates" of the World not had the "opportunity and freedom" to "imagine" things. Without an imagination there would be no "Dr. Sauls" in this world. I shudder to think how ignorant we would be,.. how backwards medicine would be.. so many things that we are blessed with, came from an active, HEALTHY, imagination!! I think the kind of people who fear something so inate as "Harry Potter" would ban any kind of thinking that THEY didn't promote. Thankfully, we live in a Country more enlightened than that!! If you don't like what is being shown in your public schools, take your child to a private school. But NO!! You cannot take Huck Finn, and other tales of the imagination out of public schools. I think we need to teach reading, math, science and history to our kids. But we also need to teach them how to be creative. And that requires an imagination. We feel it is a gift from God. We enjoy that gift, and are thankful for it!!

People really need to get over this ridiculous notion that this movie or the MILLIONS of stories like it, are a threat. They are NOT. They are FICTION.. AND THATS A FACT!!

Our Grandson said it best, he described the movie this way to his Daddy when we got home. "It was so neat Daddy, it was about Love and Justice".

We didn't tell him that. He came to that conclusion on his own. When we discussed his assessment after we left their house,..we could see where he would draw that conclusion.

I guess we would add that it was also about Loyalty, Friendship, and yup.. LOVE!!! It was about liking people who have less than you, appreciating what you do have, and being nice even to not so nice people (Malfoy) :o)

Nevell got points for trying to stop his friends from doing something he thought might be dangerous to them.

Boy,.. I/we could go on and on about the fun of this movie, and all the good messages we saw in it.

It didn't follow the book to a "T".. but they never do. It did a pretty good job of it all in all.

We laughed a lot, we were thrilled and entertained. They did a pretty good job! I didn't see any of the wee ones get fidgety or want to leave..and it was a 2 and 1/2 hour movie!! Not bad, not bad at all. Can't wait to see "Lord of the Rings"!!!

Now to see some of Terry Brooks books made into movies!!!! (Harry Potter and some of the new movies coming out sure beat the heck out of all the filth on tv the past few years). FICTION IS FUN,... Good clean fun!! Bring it on!!! ;o)

God Bless!!!

[Frances_Marion]

Well, yes, it's fair to chastise me thusly. Know that I'm not making fun of "all" Christians, just those that want to control every aspect of everyone's life. If they don't want their kids reading Harry Potter, Mad Magazine, whatever, good for them. It's when they get the book banned from public libraries, which has happened in a small town nearby to the delight of the religious editorialists of said town's newspaper, that I get my boxerbriefs in a bunch. That's the only reason I feel compelled to "ridicule" as you say, many anti-Harry Potter folks aren't as benign as you would suggest.

[nopardons]

BRAVA ! Well said, well thought put, and a smahing refutation of the shivering bigots, whose faith is so shallow, that they can't see the forest for the trees.

[Tuxedo]

Yes, and I agree. I do not support banning anything.... including the Satanic Bible. We chose free will a long, long time ago. We get the bad with the good. I know there are some hard-liners in my faith. They mean well... most of them.

[Tuxedo]

Bigots?

[nopardons]

YES !

[Tuxedo]

Bigots... in what way specifically???

[semaj]

For those children who are covered by the blood of Christ, Harry Potter has no effect or power, for they are protected from its influence by possession of the Truth. But, for those who are not covered by the blood and retain no knowledge of the Truth, Harry Potter is a danger indeed. I personally would not recommend spending your money on furthering the cause of anti-Christian bigots by viewing this movie. On the other hand, you have a free will that allows you to exercise your perogative. If you claim to be a Christian and you decide to spend your money to view this movie or read the books, you will perhaps have sum splainin to do.

[RogueIsland]

Cool. For a couple of days I thought we were going to go a whole week without a new "Harry Potter is Satan" thread. I was starting to go through withdrawls.