Posted on 12/27/2001 7:56:38 AM PST by Wiley Sr
The Harry Potter fiction series, widely heralded by critics as exceptional literature and by teachers for tuning millions of children into reading, is being condemned by Christ Community Church pastor Jack Brock as evil.
Harry Potter is nothing but witchcraft, Brock said. Its evil hidden behind the face of an innocent boy with little glasses.
Brock, who will be giving a sermon this Sunday entitled, The Baby Jesus or Harry Potter? said the church plans to hold a holy bonfire Dec. 30 to publicly burn Harry Potter books and other so-called unacceptable material.
The service begins at 6:30 p.m. and afterwards we will conduct a burning, he said.
Why does Brock find Harry Potter so offensive? The simple part is the story takes place in Hogwarts Boarding School, he said. All the teachers are witches and wizards, and they teach witchcraft.
If we hired someone who was into witchcraft or teaching witchcraft at (Christ Community Church) school, no one would come, he said.
In the book, written by British author J.K. Rowling, Brock said Harry Potter is labeled as being a wizard who wields good magic, and fights those who wield bad magic, something Brock also said is misleading.
Its (magic) all evil, he said. What she (Rowling) has done is make Harry look good and Voldemort (the villain) evil, but they both come from the same source. You can't call good evil, or evil good. That's what it is all about.
Brock said the witchcraft in the book is capturing the minds of young kids, who have a hard time dividing between fantasy and reality, and make them more prone to dabbling in evil practices.
Though Brock could not recall hearing any actual reports of children engaging in harmful practices as a result of reading Harry Potter, he said the books could inspire them to learn about real witchcraft practices such as Wicca, which he termed an abomination.
The greatest danger is these children are enamored with Potter and they go on the Internet to learn more about the book, and they're directed to other places where they can see information about Wicca, he said.
Brock went on to say that although the Harry Potter books are works of fiction, they are essentially teachings in Wicca.
The teachers are reading Harry Potter in school and that's a religion, he said.
Brock said he has not personally read any of the books, nor has he seen Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in the movie theaters.
I've seen video clips and reviews, he said. Readers Digest and other magazines are carrying titles about the author such as The woman who bewitched the world, and The wizard behind Harry Potter.
When asked why children's tales featuring magic such as The Wizard of Oz and C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia were considered acceptable material, Brock said it was because the wicked witches were beaten and the characters did not learn to use magic.
When reminded of Dorothy's magic red slippers in The Wizard of Oz stolen from the Wicked Witch of the East and the magical gifts given to the heroes of C. S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Brock said yes, but that was good magic.
Brock said on Dec. 30, other items, such as pornography and Heavy Metal records that exalt Satan will go into the fire with Harry Potter, depending on what items the congregation plans to dispose of.
Brock said he was not concerned with any public image the book-burning might give himself or the congregation.
As far as I'm concerned, the church is not out to make people look good ... were making a statement against evil, he said. The problem with most churches today is that nothing is said because they'll get people upset. This will get them thinking. Pastor Brock can choose to burn Harry Potter books at his church since that is his Constitutional right, he said. One can also go to the Public Library and choose or simply not choose to read Harry Potter books.
Let each person be fully convinced in their own mind regarding what they think is right and let them choose, Preston continued, but let no one take away that right to exercise ones right to choose.
The Metallica song Leper Messiah from the album Master of Puppets is a great tune about the Charlie Church crowd, specifically the televangelists. Give it a listen some time if you have never heard it. I think I will post the lyrics here for you and others to comment on.
Spineless from the start, sucked into the part
circus comes to town, you play the lead clown
Please, please
spreading his disease, living by his story
Knees, knees
falling to your knees, suffer for his glory
You will
Time for lust, time for lie
time to kiss your life goodbye
Send me money, send me green
Heaven you will meet
Make a contribution
and you'll get a better seat
Bow to Leper Messiah
Marvel at his tricks, need your Sunday fix
blind devotion came, rotting your brain
Chain, chain
Join the endless chain
Fame, Fame
Infection is the game, stinking drunk with power
We see
Time for lust, time for lie
time to kiss your life goodbye
Send me money, send me green
Heaven you will meet
Make a contribution
and you'll get a better seat
Bow to Leper Messiah
Bow to Leper Messiah
Witchery, weakening
Sees the sheep are gathering
set the trap, hypnotize
now you follow
Time for lust, time for lie
time to kiss your life goodbye
Send me money, send me green
Heaven you will meet
Make a contribution
and you'll get a better seat
Bow to Leper Messiah
Lie.
Don’t get me wrong, I kinda like Khepera, I used to think like him, guess that is why I rib him so much, because I see myself in a lot of his posts.
I believe that we are probably form different worlds, but I am impressed with your stick-to-it attitude.
Tunes like "Egg suckin’ dog" "Granny’s in the cellar" all mixed with the crickets and frog calls and the smell of hickory smoked meat. You folks wouldn't recognize fun if it bit you on the butt and the music you listen to dosen't have 4 part harmony. Last time I heard it didn't have 1 part harmony. There ain't no Ho's in Bluegrass and the only bitch is missing out on the jam session and the chance to sing "Down to the valley to pray" or "On the Highway to heaven". I’ll be somewhere workin’ for the Lord.
Gosh, I am in total agreement.
Color me amazed!!
AWARD TIME.That's the funniest thing said on FR this week. LOL
But people read what they want to read..
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Ahh, that felt nice.
To each his own. Fare thee well.
Personally, as a right wing, Christian, happily married, gun owning, deer hunting, wacko...
I dropped the HP question on my Southern Baptist, right wing, pro war, venison loving wacko pastor, and his take on the whole thing was much ado about nothing.
Niether my 14 year old son, or 9 year old daughter have read the stuff. We are looking forward to that hobbit thingy movie soon, as we have all read the books..
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