Posted on 11/29/2001 4:10:16 AM PST by Aquinasfan
In the last two months of this year, two of the most eagerly anticipted movies of 2001 will hit theaters. Both are the first in a projected series of films, adapted from the first volumes of two popular series of books written by British authors who go by their initials. Both series, and both films, deal with magic and wizardry. The authors, of course, are J. K. Rowling and J. R. R. Tolkien; and the films are Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The Fellowship of the Ring. The former, due in November, is the first of what will surely be a number of films based upon Rowling’s projected series of seven Harry Potter books; and the latter, coming Christmas, is the first of Peter Jackson’s series of three films based on Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, slated for consecutive Christmas releases from 2001 to 2003.
Among many Christians, the coming of these two films is a herald of renewed debate. On the one hand, the works of Tolkien have been almost universally embraced by literate Christians, who have long recognized the richness and beauty of Tolkien’s Middle-earth as well as the profound influence of Tolkien’s Christian and Catholic faith upon the shape of his imaginary world. Christian fans of Tolkien also tend to be fans of C. S. Lewis, whose seven-volume series The Chronicles of Narnia is also a work of Christian imagination that involves magic and wizardry. The Harry Potter books, on the other hand, have met with decidedly mixed reactions among Christian readers. In both Catholic and Protestant circles, some have enthusiastically embraced Rowling’s popular series, at times even explicitly making comparisons to Tolkien and Lewis (at least as regards the use of magic and wizardry). Others, however, have attacked the young hero of Rowling’s series as a veritable poster child for the occult.
The quality of the discussion hit its lowest point with the advent of an ever-spreading email campaign based on facetious statements in a satirical essay in the Onion.com, a humor website. That essay, complete with made-up “quotes” from Rowling and her young readers (advocating the Church of Satan and mocking the death of Christ), has been mistakenly distributed as genuine reportage by innumerable Christians, achieving urban legend status. But even relatively sober arguments on the subject have too often been superficial, relying on guilt — or innocence — by association.
There’s something about Harry
Before plunging into the moral debate over the magic of Harry Potter, it’s worth noting that, in general terms, the Harry Potter stories have real merit as literature and entertainment, and perhaps social and moral merits as well (along with some moral drawbacks). They are well-written, lively, exciting, and quite funny, with vividly imagined creations and engaging characterizations. Moreover, although highly fantastical and imaginative, Rowling’s narratives are packed with knowledgable allusions and references to historical myths, legends, superstitions, and so forth, so seamlessly woven into the fabric of the narratives that even literate adults may not catch them all. Tie-in books with names like The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter offer readers insight into the cultural backgrounds of many elements in Rowling’s stories, potentially turning an exercise in entertainment and diversion into a genuine learning experience.
On a moral level, the Harry Potter books offer villains who are utterly odious and despicable, and protagonists who are, if not quite charitable or forbearing, at least brave and loyal. Courage and loyalty are, in fact, significant themes in the books, along with the evils of prejudice and oppression. Best of all, there are wise and competent adult authority-figures, especially brilliant and commanding Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, who inspires boundless confidence as being always in control of the situation, who virtually never makes a mistake, and whom no one can for long have at a disadvantage. (On the other hand, the series takes too long for my taste to get around to pointing out the problem of Harry’s repeated failures to avert potential disasters by not seeking help from Dumbledore as soon as possible.) And what of Harry himself? He’s a decent enough and likable fellow, with nothing of the bully or troublemaker in him. He’s not one to make an enemy — though, should someone make an enemy of him, Harry will make war on that person with every weapon at his disposal. The notion of turning the other cheek or using a soft answer to turn away wrath is completely foreign here; and even the more sober voices, such as that of his friend Hermione (whom Rowling has said of all her characters most resembles herself), generally caution Harry on purely prudential grounds, not moral ones. One aspect of the Harry Potter books that has raised some moral concern is the recurring theme of rule-breaking. Like many young children, Harry and his friends break a lot of rules (“about fifty,” Hermione figures at one point, and Dumbledore elsewhere reckons their transgressions at twice that number). Sometimes Harry is legitimately driven by necessity to break a rule; other times it’s only because he feels like it. Sometimes he is caught, sometimes not; sometimes he is punished, sometimes not. At first glance, this may seem like mere honest storytelling, depicting a typically imperfect young boy whose behavior sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. Yet closer examination reveals that Harry and his friends are only ever really punished for breaking rules when they’re caught by one of the nasty authority figures, particularly spiteful Professor Snape. When it’s one of the benevolent authority figures, such as genial Dumbledore, or even stern Professor McGonagall, there are no real consequences for breaking any number of rules, because Harry’s heart is in the right place, or because he is a boy of destiny, or something like that.
Another area of concern for some are the dark, scary, or grotesque elements in these stories: the Dementors, dreadful creatures almost as horrifying as Tolkien’s Nazgûl; a spell gone awry that leaves one of Harry’s friends coughing and choking on slugs issuing from his throat; a school washroom toilet apparently haunted by the ghost of a dead student; disembodied voices breathing murderous threats; anthropomorphic mandrake roots that look and scream like living human babies but may be transplanted or destroyed at will by teachers and students; and many others.
Taken altogether, it seems fair to say the Harry Potter stories are something of a mixed bag, with some genuinely worthwhile elements and some legitimate points of concern. Of course, for many parents who have children that love the books or who want to read them, the question may be not so much “Is this the best possible book my child could ever read?” as “Is this all right for my child to read? Or must I forbid it?”...
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I don't believe it works, myself, but "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, than are dreamt of," to coin a phrase.
together with another believer, should be able to do anything you wish.
Thats where you are mistaken, and where every other "sunday" christian gets it wrong - Just like the prayer of Jabez - We pray for Gods will, we pray to be tools for Him, we pray to be vehicles for His grace. Those prayers come true - you dont have to beleive that. Its intangible and doesnt fit with your paradigm. We dont pray for a new houndstooth coat or surfboard, nor would we expect to get it. Things might be different in Carmel.
Let's not turn this into a prayer session, hmm? It would be enough it you would simply answer my intial queries, something you seem loathe to do.
I made it plainy clear you are asking me and others to prove the intangible - you win (in the tangible world)- so c'mon - just a first name - no harm praying in my closet right ? -
lets just accept the fact we are at theological loggerheads and drop the swords-
Again, I can not prove the intangible -
Can you duplicate said effects under standard clinical/experimental protocol?
Would the great deceiver let someone so inclined expose him or would it best serve him to let you think he doesnt exist?
How about quantifying the properties and conditions inherent to and necessary for the manifestation of such powers or abilities?
Yeah, sure - it requires a cold heart, a hard heart and someone willing to turn thier back on the redemptive offering Christ has afforded us.
I cant prove the existence of God - it requires faith, blind faith - Some have it, some don't.
Praying hard with a first name would ease that task.
Some interesting links:
The author examines many eccentric German individualists, dreamers, and romantics and their role in occult societies. These include: Guido (von) List, who claimed to have rediscovered a Wotanist religion and was influenced by the Theosophist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky; Jorg Lanz von Liebenfels, who resurrected a sect based on the Knights Templars; the Ariosophists, who relied on a "theozoology" concerning the struggle of the Aryan race, and their secret societies, the Germanenorden, the Thule Society, and the Edda Society.
PBS documentary to air November 27, Hitler and the Holy Grail.
Man, don't be a total Harvey. You want to be a hipster or a Clyde, man? I mean, you're on an express train to Squaresville, man. Beat is like where it's AT, man, totally hip. You dig? ;-)
I would like to thank you for your honest answers. Instead of just mocking and insulting people and not staying on the issues. It seems that is the thing that people who are Christians and taking a stand for Harry Potter seem to do. BTW I am a Christian also!
Thank you also for answering my questions. I do have a few more. Have you seen the symbol of Diana the crescent moon showing up more and more in England? Do witches in your covens sometimes make jewelry to sell to support the covens?
I am just curious about a girl that once came in my business if she was into Wicca or satanism. For two and a half years I had a business or should I say I was it's slave. It was a nightclub in Southern Ca. 220 person capacity, live bands, big headache I learned allot from my experiences. One night when I arrived one of my employees came up to me and told me that there was a girl burning black candles at the bar (but she had put them out by the time I had arrived) and she was going into the bathrooms and kissing the mirrors (mens and womens)leaving lipstick marks on them. Then she started burning a black candle again at the front bar. At that time I approached her and told her she was not allowed to burn candles at the bar. She looked up and in a creepy voice said "It's my birthday" I told her I didn't care it was a fire hazard and she was not allowed to burn candles at the bar. (I doubt it was really her birthday). I admit that I might have ticked her off because when the band went on break my DJ played Cleansed by Fire by Cooper and dedicated it to her. The next day she came back briefly and she left a part of an apple. In your opinion what was that all about? Was she into Wicca or satan?
MCD
I would like to thank you for your honest answers. Instead of just mocking and insulting people and not staying on the issues. It seems that is the thing that people who are Christians and taking a stand for Harry Potter seem to do. BTW I am a Christian also!
Thank you also for answering my questions. I do have a few more. Have you seen the symbol of Diana the crescent moon showing up more and more in England? Do witches in your covens sometimes make jewelry to sell to support the covens?
I am just curious about a girl that once came in my business if she was into Wicca or satanism. For two and a half years I had a business or should I say I was it's slave. It was a nightclub in Southern Ca. 220 person capacity, live bands, big headache I learned allot from my experiences. One night when I arrived one of my employees came up to me and told me that there was a girl burning black candles at the bar (but she had put them out by the time I had arrived) and she was going into the bathrooms and kissing the mirrors (mens and womens)leaving lipstick marks on them. Then she started burning a black candle again at the front bar. At that time I approached her and told her she was not allowed to burn candles at the bar. She looked up and in a creepy voice said "It's my birthday" I told her I didn't care it was a fire hazard and she was not allowed to burn candles at the bar. (I doubt it was really her birthday). I admit that I might have ticked her off because when the band went on break my DJ played Cleansed by Fire by Cooper and dedicated it to her. The next day she came back briefly and she left a part of an apple. In your opinion what was that all about? Was she into Wicca or satan?
MCD
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