"Harry Potter"

Ayn rand Institute ^ | 11/13/02

[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."

[ET(end tyranny)]

You must be quite familiar with the witch site, to know about the guest log in and pop ups.

[Jael]

Look, not all of them are witches. Just go and ask one.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Look... whether they can "request" or "order" the devil (or its proxy) to do something is pretty much moot to the question "is witchcraft real." Sigh.

[HairOfTheDog]

What is with you and this site? Stop it! - We are not interested!

[Denver Ditdat]

Look, not all of them are witches. Just go and ask one.

Again, what does that prove? If I visit the state mental hospital, find that one of the patients believes himself to be Abraham Lincoln, and have him confirmthat in a conversation does that mean I have just met the 16th president of the United States?

[FreedomAvatar]

There are many very good themes in the HP books. The failure of evil, the triumph of bravery, friendship, and more.

My 10 yr old has read all the books several times. She no more believes in magic than she believes in talking rabbits who say "what's up doc?".

She's now starting on the Chronicles of Narnia.

[CharacterCounts]

I did a google search about saints discussing miracles. I found lots of sites about Christians discussing miracles. But none where saints were discussing their miracles on a chat site.

[Jael]

I know that some of them are real witches.

Do I support witchcraft in any way? No. You will find that those people have much animosity for me.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You will find that those people have much animosity for me.

OK, I'll probably regret it but I'll bite by answering this. Are they saying "we hate Jael"???

[Jael]

Look, you asked me how I knew witchcraft was real, I only told you how to find out for yourself, since you refused to believe me.

[Prodigal Son]

You will find that those people have much animosity for me.

LOL! This starts to be the funniest thread I've read (and been ignored on) in a long time.

[Jael]

I don't have any relationship at all with them. They pretty much do not like me at all, and I avoid them.

[HairOfTheDog]

So your proof that witchcraft is real comes from testamonials an internet chat board. OK... Enough said.

[Denver Ditdat]

I know that some of them are real witches.

By "real witches" do you mean people who practice Wicca as others may practice Buddhism or Tao, or do you mean "those who can perform magic and cast spells that have a real world effect?"

If you mean the former, then I agree with you. If it's the latter, please explain IN DETAIL why you believe this to be true.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well I didn't locate a charismatic Christian chat site in the first page of google results, but here is a discussion about one such site...
http://www.dtl.org/dtl/article/healing.htm
disclaimer... I don't buy into that particular theology

[ET(end tyranny)]

She's now starting on the Chronicles of Narnia.

Let me know how she likes them. I don't know enough about them to know if my son would like them or not.

[Jael]

I ignored you?

[lizma]

That is different that saying people can actually perform magic and cast spells.

I once read a book on witchcraft in the Elizabethian period. It was a time when civilizatation was short on science and people looked to superstition for their answers to their woes.

But the practices are still to this day carried on. The fact that we still say "God bless you" when someone sneezes would be construed as witchcraft back then. It would be acknowledging that an evil spirit just left a body and considered a spell.

Good chance you would be headed for the dunking tank after that flippant remark.

[HairOfTheDog]

You can sigh, but it was the crux of the question. Either you know the answer, or not. You can share your belief, or not. But I won't feel small for having asked the question, or because you sighed at me.

[HiTech RedNeck]

So your proof that witchcraft is real comes from testamonials an internet chat board. OK... Enough said.

Fire is real too but I never thought I would try getting myself burned to death to prove it