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"Harry Potter"
Ayn rand Institute ^ | 11/13/02

Posted on 11/15/2002 2:23:23 PM PST by RJCogburn

The movie adventures of child-wizard Harry Potter will continue on November 15. Far from being an agent of the occult, as his critics contend, Harry Potter is the kind of hero children should be encouraged to read about and emulate, said the executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute.

"It is true that Harry lives in a magical, fantastical world, but what's important is that he is a hero who wins through intelligence, effort and courage," said Dr. Yaron Brook. "Throughout the series, Harry has developed his talents through hard work and has learned to think for himself, to be honest and to be self-confident. He has friends who share his values and he earns the respect of his teachers. Aren't these the character traits all parents want their children to possess? I know they're qualities I actively try to instill in my two boys."

Dr. Brook said that the critics' focus on the supernatural aspects of the Harry Potter stories is completely non-essential. What is fundamental is the abstract meaning being conveyed during the course of Harry's magical adventures. "The books are, in short, fuel for a child's maturing mind. As vitamins and minerals are essential to a child's healthy physical development, so literature with this view of the world is essential to a child's healthy mental development."


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To: Bella_Bru
ROFL! It has warped my fragile little mind ...
141 posted on 11/15/2002 5:31:45 PM PST by strela
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To: Jael
It might not be very popular to interject God and what he says about such things into the Harry Potter argument, but I salute you for doing so.

Would it not be better to learn what the Word means? Do you note any special dispensation for Joseph or Daniel, despite their occupations? Has it never struck you as odd that Abraham disobeyed God's command to leave all he had, yet God never mentions it? Why did Abraham get a sign from God when he asked for assurance, yet Zacharias the father of John the Baptist was struck dumb for asking for assurance?

I have always been taught that if the Bible seems to contradict itself, be joyful because God has seen fit to reveal a mystery to you should you pursue it.

142 posted on 11/15/2002 5:43:20 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: 50sDad
Excellent post. BUMP!
143 posted on 11/15/2002 5:48:40 PM PST by Sloth
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To: Woahhs
There is no question in #125...
144 posted on 11/15/2002 5:55:58 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Woahhs
I have always been taught that if the Bible seems to contradict itself... You have apparantly been taught that, if the Bible seems to contradict itself, then DON'T pusue the mystery, since you might not like the answer...
145 posted on 11/15/2002 5:59:58 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Lurking2Long
Null's Daughter(14): I am very dissapointed with all you "adults." Have any of you even read the Harry Potter books? Do you have even the slightest idea of what you're talking about?

But wait, before I yell at you all for being stupid, I'm going to give you my HP background... Here i go- If you check the original copyright date of the first book, it proves that the book was published in 1997. In 1997, no one knew who Harry Potter was. In 1997, I recieved the first book as a christmas present; it was just another book. When Harry first began to emerge into the pop culture, and my classmates were doing the first book as their report, I had read the second and third book.

At first i was delighted with the Potter uprising, but soon i found myself disgusted with the new trend. I hated the movie, it was horrible, and i do much detest the lego's and what not. I am now ashamed to call myself a fan, the fame has destroyed the book for me. Remember, for me, Harry Potter was just a book-

Now, it's time to wake up your dead old people minds. Harry Potter is just a book, an innocent childrens book, and because the story isn't about a kid who lives on the farm and loves God, it must be evil. Go read the book, study the text. Not once does it say "satan, or devil" nor does it refer to the god your ignorant christian minds have invented.

Wait before you go off into a fit of rage, I'm not anti-cristian. But I don't think your image of god is correct. I went to catholic shool for the majority of my academic career, and i've gone through all the sacraments required for people my age, I know what I'm talking about. But enough about that, it's got nothing to do with the topic.

When I read Harry Potter for the first time, way back when, it did not corrupt my innocent mind. I did not convert from my religion, I did not suddenly begin to worship satan. Your odd imaginations are wilder than the story itself.

Half the people who have strong opinions of Harry havn't read the book. Hell, some of them havn't even seem the movie. They just assume that, since it has the word 'witch' in it's content, it's evil. And, also, what makes your religion correct? What makes it some how more valid than say wicca? And what do you even know about wicca? Please, explore these things before you so horribly label them.

Now, about the Harry Potter is a slave to the devil, that is pure bullsh!t. If you read the book, you would be aware that Harry is the "good-guy," He doesn't use his power to kill people, or steal. He doesn't summon up the dead, he deosn't worship anything. He doesn't do anything that your religion thinks of as evil. Like i said, it' an innocent childrens book.

If you've made it this far through my boring little testemony, i congratulate you. I'm surprized i made it this far myself. I've made my point now, though i don't expect your closed minds will open up, and start to think. Well, Off i go, dad's turn... INNOCENT! Harry is INNOCENT I tell you... =P

146 posted on 11/15/2002 6:01:32 PM PST by null and void
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To: Lurking2Long
There is no question in #125...

Then I take it you are conceding the point and admitting your error.

147 posted on 11/15/2002 6:01:34 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: null and void; yall
That's my girl! (Her first post to FR)...
148 posted on 11/15/2002 6:02:27 PM PST by null and void
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To: humblegunner
I know you will both have a great time. My mother is 82 and she has read all the books and loves them. :-)
149 posted on 11/15/2002 6:08:02 PM PST by Irish Eyes
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To: Woahhs
or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD ,

Doesn't matter if Harry Potter is fiction or not, the very elevation of even a fictional spell-casting character to cult status is "detestable" to the Lord... argue your point with Him...I don't think you'll win that debate either...

150 posted on 11/15/2002 6:08:24 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: JenB
Jen, when people got saved who had formerly been involved in the occult, they did the following:

Acts 19:13  ¶Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.


14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.


15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?


16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.


17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.


19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.


20  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

God certainly knows the difference.

2 Corinthians 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

151 posted on 11/15/2002 6:09:56 PM PST by Jael
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To: Jael
Hope they understand...
152 posted on 11/15/2002 6:11:26 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: null and void; Lurking2Long
Ask any ten year old if they know right from wrong, and they do -- with or without religious instruction. And then, along comes some creature carrying a book written by God no less ... and ...

I think you get my point.

Congratulations on your raising a fine young lady.

153 posted on 11/15/2002 6:11:29 PM PST by thinktwice
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To: Lurking2Long

Boorishness is not nearly as slippery and dangerous as judgmentalism is.

154 posted on 11/15/2002 6:12:56 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: thinktwice
Ah yes, the ten-year old who helped beat up that poor black man in Michigan(?), certainly did know right from wrong now, didn't he...

</sarcasm>
155 posted on 11/15/2002 6:13:48 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Cultural Jihad
Jesus did not preach against judgementalism so as to abolish it totally; He did so to point out that one nmust use it sparingly...

If there were no judgment, there would be no acknowledgement of sin...kinda sounds like America today, doesn;t it?
156 posted on 11/15/2002 6:16:12 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Lurking2Long
Hello...?
157 posted on 11/15/2002 6:16:37 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: thinktwice
You were saying...?
158 posted on 11/15/2002 6:18:03 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: thinktwice
Thinktwice, Thinktwice...
159 posted on 11/15/2002 6:19:45 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: thinktwice
I'll consider my point made...
160 posted on 11/15/2002 6:21:16 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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