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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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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To: Lurking2Long
Yes, our society today is certainly "proof postitive" that parents are raising their kids "right"...

I'm not talking about society, I'm talking about Christians. If Christian parents do a good job raising their children, then not Harry Potter or the Wizard of Oz or Dungeons and Dragons is any danger to their faith. Personally, I enjoyed the Potter stories. They're stories and that's all. No one I know, Christian or not, sees them as anything else. No one.

161 posted on 11/15/2002 6:21:34 PM PST by JenB
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To: JenB
Then I suggest you expand your circle of friends...
162 posted on 11/15/2002 6:22:33 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Lurking2Long
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

so you are speaking for God now? Perhaps you should consult Exodus 20.

163 posted on 11/15/2002 6:23:28 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: null and void
This is to Nully's daughter: What a wonderful job making your point. You mean to tell us, that at the age of ten, you understood the concept of fantasy and fiction? Hm. Seems like I could tell the difference as well when I was 10. I had read books about Merlin the Magician and the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur. Seems that there were magic and witches in those stories, but I never believed it was real. Perhaps we were just unusually precocious, bright and discerning children? Or, maybe spawns of satan? You decide! :)
164 posted on 11/15/2002 6:23:36 PM PST by .38sw
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To: Lurking2Long
So do you want to offer real, verifiable proof of your claim that Harry Potter causes witchcraft or devil worship in children?
165 posted on 11/15/2002 6:23:54 PM PST by JenB
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To: null and void
She needs her own screen name, Nully. Oh, wait, then you'll never get the computer away from her...
166 posted on 11/15/2002 6:24:12 PM PST by .38sw
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To: JenB
Sure, right after you prove it does not...
167 posted on 11/15/2002 6:24:52 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Woahhs
Would it hurt you to specify a particular verse or verses...?
168 posted on 11/15/2002 6:26:20 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Lurking2Long

"You're rather constipated, I pity you"

169 posted on 11/15/2002 6:26:47 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: Irish Eyes; RJCogburn; BCrago66; greasyHeart; Prodigal Son; KarlInOhio; Billthedrill; 50sDad; ...
"My daughter and I have a date to see it next Tuesday. Can hardly wait. Have you ever read the Harry Potter books??

May I ask if you have read the Bible concerning witchcraft and evil? And violence? I know people that took their young children to see a movie (Harry Potter) that actually majored in violence and evil.


The movies also taught that people NOT involved in witchcraft were stupid. I can't understand a Christian parent exposing their innocent children to the anger and mayhem in Harry Potter.

Psalms 101:3  I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Psalms 140:11  Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Psalms 141:4  Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.


Deuteronomy 18:10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

I keep hearing people say "It's just fiction" as if that makes it ok to teach your children that the occult is a good thing. The hero is a witch. I know REAL witches. Let me tell you, there are no *good* witches. Not according to God.

Also, I personally reserached how children are effected by Harry Potter. One of the most interesting things I turned up was the Scholastic message board. Children were posting there, sharing with each other how Harry Potter had gotten them interested in spells and other aspects of the occult.

Please don't think that what children see doesn't effect them, and deeply. Visuals effect adults, we all know that. Even more so for children.


Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

NOTE: Multiple occurrences of each item described below may be likely, definitely when plural.

Wanton Violence/Crime (W):


170 posted on 11/15/2002 6:28:17 PM PST by Jael
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To: Lurking2Long
Uh-uh. You don't prove a negative - my assertion that Harry Potter does not cause witchcraft. I can give you example after example of person who has read Potter and not become a witch. You give me just one example - backed up by proof - of the other way around, and we'll talk.
171 posted on 11/15/2002 6:28:27 PM PST by JenB
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To: humblegunner
Go back to your science fiction worship...maybe it will save you...
172 posted on 11/15/2002 6:28:50 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Lurking2Long
Sure, right after you prove it does not...

(raising hand) oow oow pick me. pick me. I just proved it doesn't.

173 posted on 11/15/2002 6:28:59 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: Lurking2Long
1 Corinthians 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.


14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
174 posted on 11/15/2002 6:29:52 PM PST by Jael
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To: Jael
I'll turn them over to you...you're doing GREAT...I have to be off to bed now...
175 posted on 11/15/2002 6:30:04 PM PST by Lurking2Long
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To: Cultural Jihad
"Boorishness is not nearly as slippery and dangerous as judgmentalism is."

Then why would you judge Lurker?


176 posted on 11/15/2002 6:31:22 PM PST by Jael
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To: .38sw
She needs her own screen name, Nully. Oh, wait, then you'll never get the computer away from her...

We both laughed...

177 posted on 11/15/2002 6:32:22 PM PST by null and void
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To: Lurking2Long
I just stumbled on this thread. It's not actually my forte. :-)


Have a nice night!
178 posted on 11/15/2002 6:34:00 PM PST by Jael
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To: Lurking2Long
I was thinking 7 in particular.

You see the problem is you can't seem to differentiate between sin and a disagreement with your opinion. There can be no truer expression of vanity.

179 posted on 11/15/2002 6:34:28 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: Jael
Hmmm, I wonder how the Bible would rate held to the same criteria...
180 posted on 11/15/2002 6:36:41 PM PST by null and void
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