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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: Jael
so what is your standard for judging between spiritual and pigheaded or foolish?
181 posted on 11/15/2002 6:37:04 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: Lurking2Long
Again, I submit to you that children have difficulty separating fact from fiction...therein lies the inherent danger of the book...

It would appear they have less difficulty than some adults.

182 posted on 11/15/2002 6:41:40 PM PST by CharacterCounts
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To: CharacterCounts
Isn't it amazing that some people who would say they believe in personal responsibility and individual freedom are so quick to step in and tell other people that they're bad parents or just bad people because of a series of books?
183 posted on 11/15/2002 6:42:44 PM PST by JenB
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To: Woahhs
Is there any reason to answer with anger and ugly words? Why does this cause such a reaction of those types in you? I have not insulted you, why must you try and do so?
184 posted on 11/15/2002 6:43:21 PM PST by Jael
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To: Jael
Why did you include me in that ping?

It's called freedom man. Tend your little plot of garden, worship your God and let the rest of us tend ours. I'm not going to try to convert you- why should you try to convert me? You don't want to go watch it? Don't. I enjoyed it though. I don't care if you consider it an offense to God or not- I really, really don't.

185 posted on 11/15/2002 6:43:53 PM PST by Prodigal Son
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To: JenB
Isn't it amazing that some people who would say they believe in personal responsibility and individual freedom are so quick to step in and tell other people that they're bad parents or just bad people because of a series of books?

Not really. People with spiritual lives that are dead often try to convince themselves otherwise by finding ways of trumpeting their orthodoxy. That way they can fixate on the argument of the moment and forget that they are being ignored by the Almighty.

186 posted on 11/15/2002 6:47:30 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: Jael
Children were posting there, sharing with each other how Harry Potter had gotten them interested in spells and other aspects of the occult.

Oh, Horrors.
Go ahead on and try any "spell" in the Potter series..
Anything happen?
Nope. It's literature, a story.
Want to see real evil? Look to the muslims.

187 posted on 11/15/2002 6:48:32 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: null and void
I make no apology for believing in and trusting what God says.

Luke 4:4  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.


Luke 4:8  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.


John 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.


188 posted on 11/15/2002 6:48:39 PM PST by Jael
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To: Cultural Jihad
Boorishness is not nearly as slippery and dangerous as judgmentalism is.

I'm confused. You've indicated that boorishness is better than judgementalism.

Aristotle's ethics has boorishness as a vice, and righteous indignation as a virtue. And Ayn Rand's ethics holds that the purpose of the human mind is to make judgements using reason.

The religious saying "Judge not, lest ye be judged" is flawed in that it's telling people to avoid using their mind, and reason.

189 posted on 11/15/2002 6:48:59 PM PST by thinktwice
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To: Woahhs
Hmm. Most other Christians I know have no opinion on Potter, or don't mind it. I have known a few in RL who freak out like this. They tend to be the legalistic type who don't believe in having fun on Sundays.

I'm not sure I'd paint with such a broad brush, though. I'm Christian and I'm pretty sure God doesn't have a problem with me reading Harry Potter. If I ever think otherwise I'll stop reading them immediately.
190 posted on 11/15/2002 6:49:56 PM PST by JenB
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To: JenB
Isn't it amazing that people who claim to be good moral parents actually expose their child to the violence and filth in Harry Potter and then can't deal when others comment???
191 posted on 11/15/2002 6:50:34 PM PST by Jael
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To: Jael
My mother read the books before she let me read them to my younger brothers. She didn't have any problem with them. Neither did my father, who has undergone some theological training.

By the way, I'll give you "violence" - not that much in the first few, but there's a little more in the latest - but not the filth. And these aren't books for six year olds, you know!

Do you approve of fairy tales?
192 posted on 11/15/2002 6:52:56 PM PST by JenB
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To: 50sDad
Wow. Great thread. When Ministers attack things such as Harry Potter, they really look dumb and the media picks up on it to illustrate the point that people who follow God are "Weird or crazy."

I find it ironic that the press will ignore religious stories of Musim Hatred but will concentrate on the Minister from Maine that says Harry Potter is evil.

Great post. Perhaps someday the press will care more about Wahibi Death Cults then a Minister insulting Harry Potter, but I dont count on it.

I think I will play some Computer D+D now! :D

193 posted on 11/15/2002 6:53:42 PM PST by Arioch7
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To: Jael
Please do not misunderstand me. I am being descriptive, I'm not calling names. It was a real question. If you don't know what would prove an idea wrong, you won't recognize it if it shows up. I have known many people who had deeply held beliefs, and they were wrong. Trouble is, you couldn't convince them otherwise because they would appeal to exactly the same passages you refered to.
194 posted on 11/15/2002 6:54:07 PM PST by Woahhs
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To: Jael
I make no apology for believing in and trusting what God says.

I make no apology for recognizing that the Bible is chock full of sin, albeit as examples of what not to do...

195 posted on 11/15/2002 6:54:28 PM PST by null and void
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To: Jael; Lurking2Long

His statements were illustrative of the blind leading the blind. To remain silent about the pit they are heading for would be most uncharitable, but even so I would never presume to judge the state of grace of his or anyone's soul. As it is written, "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

196 posted on 11/15/2002 6:54:50 PM PST by Cultural Jihad
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To: Prodigal Son
"Why did you include me in that ping?"

It's called freedom man. A duty to inform my fellow citizens of the content of a dastardly movie. There was no intent to convert anyone. For that you would have to hear and believe the Gospel. What I posted was in regards to 1.The actual filthy violent content of the movie. 2. What God says about such things.

Blessings,


197 posted on 11/15/2002 6:55:07 PM PST by Jael
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To: thinktwice
"The religious saying "Judge not, lest ye be judged" is flawed in that it's telling people to avoid using their mind, and reason."

Oh no. Actually the context of that verse is concerning judging someone involved in a sin you are involved in. For instance, were I having an affair, I would be best served by keeping my mouth shut about what Bill Clinton did.

In actuality, I believe that a Christian should judge certain things. It is needful for discernment.

But you judged Lurker yourself by calling him boorish, but then faulted judgment.

I found your comment to be a contradiction. If you are offended at what he said or did, you certainly wouldn't want to do the same. But you did.






198 posted on 11/15/2002 7:01:30 PM PST by Jael
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To: Jael
A duty to inform my fellow citizens of the content of a dastardly movie.

Which dastardly movie was that? Ishtar? Harry Potter was a good movie. My opinion counts just as much as yours- yes or no? I say it was good. Which part of the movie did you object to? Assuming you've seen it, of course.

Are you in communication with God at the moment? Am I? How do you know? Maybe God was sitting with me in the theatre enjoying the movie too. I say he was. Prove he wasn't.

199 posted on 11/15/2002 7:04:46 PM PST by Prodigal Son
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To: Woahhs
Did you know that 7 is Jesus' favorite number?
200 posted on 11/15/2002 7:06:29 PM PST by mamaduck
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