Vatican: Harry Potter's OK with us

Reuters via CNN ^

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Harry Potter fans, relax. The Vatican says the kid is all right.

The question of whether J.K. Rowling's books and the films on the boy wizard have a positive influence came up at a news conference Monday where the Vatican presented a document on "New Age" spirituality, which contain elements of the occult.

[ARA]

At least his last name is not "Rocksoffs"

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Statements must be posted in reply to someone.

No, they don't. You can delete the name in the "to" field, as I usually do. The person who replied to me used the word "YOU", so I figured he/she meant it for me. When I'm making a general statement, I use the third person, not the first person. I've been here on FR for years and this is the first time I've ever misinterpreted a "general" statement. I do know the difference.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

No problem, Elenya! :-)

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

My goodness! I can't even keep track of who I'm talking to here! Let's drop this because it's not really a big deal. I misunderstood you (I think!) and it's fine now.

[T Minus Four]

I stand corrected

(all spelled correctly too)

[Brytani]

I don't see it that way, he was punished in the first book with the final punishment being going into the forest - where the story ends.

Growing up, I read the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery series, even they broke the rules from time to time to get through a case.

[Michael2001]

If you saw the live action movie, you have my sympathy

[Michael2001]

PER TELLING: Labeling someone as a "BIGOT" is a diversionary tactic in debate.

Yes but sometimes the label fits (and BTW I'm not Catholic).

[Michael2001]

Thanks for a well reasoned post, I do the same thing with my kids. Catholic threads tend to turn into anti-Catholic/pro-Catholic debates, its a shame.

[Maximilian]

Isn't it amazing that the "Harry Potter is eeeevil" crowd never read any of the books?

Why should you attack concerned parents in this way? Plenty of people have done their homework on Harry Potter and have come to very troubling conclusions. Before making sweeping and derogatory generalizations, perhaps you could try to do some reading of your own. This might be a good place to start:

The Problem of Harry Potter

With particular reference to this article:

Harry Potter and the Paganization of Children's Culture

[Maximilian]

It was/is the same way with the "D&D is evil/satanic" crowd.

If you are willing to make the connection between Harry Potter and D&D, then you are making a very strong argument against Harry Potter.

For example, would you deny that "Magic-The Gathering" has very strong demonic elements?

[Maximilian]

Maybe they're afraid the books will overcome their free will and send them to the dark side.

Do you deny the existence of demonic spirits? If so, then you deny the validity of hundreds of verses in the Bible, in which case your opinion will not be of much value to Christians, Jews or Muslims (or even Hindus or Buddhists).

Before you dismiss so cavalierly the reality of evil, you may want to inform yourself:

An Exorcist Tells His Story

[T Minus Four]

Do you deny the existence of demonic spirits?...Before you dismiss so cavalierly the reality of evil, you may want to inform yourself

So you are saying it IS possible that reading Harry Potter books will cause demonic spirits to posses you?

[Maximilian]

Bewitched never influenced me to follow the occult, and I don't think Harry Potter will influence my kids to follow the occult.

Great points. Thank you.

Scupoli, I'm pretty surprised to see you taking this point of view. I would expect someone who takes his screenname from the author of "The Spiritual Combat" to have a more informed view on the reality of evil and of demonic spirits.

Have you read Fr. Gabriel Amorth's book, "An Exorcist Tells His Story"? It's a wonderful book and well worth it. I don't think you would take such a dismissive attitude towards witchcraft after reading it. Here again is a link to a homepage for the book:

Fr. Gabriel Amorth An Exorcist Tells His Story

[Maximilian]

So you are saying it IS possible that reading Harry Potter books will cause demonic spirits to posses you?

Any dabbling with the occult whatsoever is extremely dangerous. For example, I would never touch a ouija board under any circumstances. As to Harry Potter, my opinion is that it's still an open question.

The article by Michael O'Brien which I referenced does a good job explaining the boundary between fairy tales and occult. It's still not clear what side Harry Potter comes down on. But it's not reassuring to know that every book becomes darker and darker. It's also troubling to consider that Harry Potter does not stand alone. These books and movies are part of a tidal wave of occult material which cannot help but influence anyone who is involved with popular culture.

[Karsus]

Having never played MtG, a collectable card game about as far from a RPG like D&D, I do not know. But just talking about magic and monsters does not make a game satanic.

But I have played D&D and I have yet have anyone explain to me how saying that, in the game, you cast a spell then rolling dice to see what happens in witchcraft and/or magic. No rituals, magic words or anything of that nature are used in D&D. If you claim they are please provide sources to backup your claim.

[OHelix]

Yes but sometimes the label fits (and BTW I'm not Catholic).

I won't argue with you there. And if it does fit, there is no slander.

[T Minus Four]

Well I wouldn't touch a Ouiji board either (hey, I saw you know what movie!!!), and after a brief period of adolescent experimentation with Tarot cards, I stay far away from anything of that ilk. I really don't believe that the HP books fall into that realm, but you have made a point I have never considered - a retailing ride on the coattails of HP. Hmmm, but a tidal wave? Can you give some examples of the occult creeping into pop culture that I might have overlooked?

[Antoninus]

Carving "Christ Lives" on an obelisk does not change it from being an obelisk, anymore than obliterating the inscription on a pagan temple and replacing it with "This is the Temple of Jesus" makes the Idol in the temple no longer an Idol.

You are quite ignorant. The Catholic Church is the same one that succeeded in converting the entire pagan Roman Empire to Christianity--not the other way round. Many churches in Rome and other cities are built on the foundations of pagan temples. It's symbolic of Christ's conquest of the demons of the pagans. Indeed, one church I know and love is called "Santa Maria sopra Minerva" (St. Mary above Minerva).

The idols were disposed of. If you knew anything about paganism, you'd know that they believed that the idol itself was infused with the spirit of their demon god. Once the idol was thrown down and smashed, the demon fled. The edifices that housed them were purified for Christian religious uses. The Pantheon is an excellent example of such. Obelisks were never idols and unless you believe that everything the ancients touched is somehow stained with paganism, your attempt to link Catholicism to pagan practices is totally absurd.

Hope you don't have any old Roman coins in your house. Many of them depicted the emperor as Sol Invictus. You may be a pagan yourself and not even realize it!

[Karsus]

Marry Poppins (she could fly), Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (magic), Santa Clause (flying raindeer), Fantasia (magic), Lion King (talking animals)

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