Harry Potter

[hmh]

Me personally, my whole issue with Harry Potter is the darkness with the witchcraft and other evil undertones with the books. I prefer not to have my young'un exposed to it, as having grew up in a very dark household. I'd rather have my hija read Nancy Drew Mysteries or books on Quantum Physics.

[Gerioke]

I have mixed feelings about Harry Potter

On one hand you have the scholastic value, on the other hand what if the kids grow up saying " well if Harry Potter is gobbledeegook then what is the bible?" Or worse they might think that witchcraft has as much relevancy as the bible. I'm sure that Jesus would decline the use of Harry Potter as anything valuable.

[Gerioke]

Amen, Geri.

You know Christians have read secular stories to children at bedtime for centuries.

[Iryssa]

My first thought is this: It's fiction. I have no problem separating fact from fiction. Some people do, but that doesn't make the books evil. It has been argued that there IS witchcraft. Well, yes there is. But let me tell you that witchcraft as practiced in the real world is NOTHING like the "witchcraft" shown in Harry Potter. Too bad LotusWitch got driven out of here, you could ask her personally. Anyway, I have a close friend who was into the occult before becoming a Christian, and she says the exact same thing.

Second thought: If you DO happen to be one of those people that is tempted by reading those books, you shouldn't read them. I don't happen to be one of those people who is, but I know very well that there are people who feel drawn towards that sort of thing. This should be common sense, though, like keeping away from alcohol if you are a recovering alcoholic or have a strong tendancy towards alcoholism.

Third point I'd like to make is that of prejudice: A lot of people judge these books without having read them. As I said above, if you're one of those people that needs to stay away from them, DO, but then don't start acting like you know everything about them.

If you're not one of those people who has a tendancy towards meshing fact with fiction, or is tempted easily towards witchcraft, then I say go ahead and read the books. There are lots of good things to take from them: the theme of friendship is VERY strong in the series, as is that of selfless love (Harry's mother gave her life for her son, which is something that carries through all the books), and courage, and fighting opression, and many many other moral lessons.

[Iryssa]

So, its ok to sin, just so long as you can "control yourself"?

It is never ok to drink alcohol, BTW. Read proverbs.

harry potter, LOTR, and the Narnia Chronicles, and other "innocent fiction" about sorcery and magic, WILL eventually lead to hardcore witchcraft. part of the deception is the same as the deception of alcohol. You THINK you can stomache one more drink. Similarly, you THINK you can handle one more story about witches and magic and goblins and so on, and then you wake up, if you're blessed, a year or two or ten later and realize witchcraft has suddenly become a giant in your life, controlling every decision you make.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

First off, show me WITH VERSES that reading fiction is sinful.

I don't see anything in Proverbs that says that drinking wine is a sin. Yes, I've read Proverbs, I've seen 20:1 and 23:30, and all those other ones, but I believe that it is speaking agains excess (drunkenness), not alcohol itself. In 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul advises Timothy to drink some wine to help stomach problems. If drinking alcohol is always sinful, that would mean that Paul was advising him to sin. Does that seem right to you?

Funny, I've read those books all my life and I've never been tempted into witchcraft *shrug* As I said, some people are, and they should stay away from it, then, but not everyone is.

[Gerioke]

My first thought is this: It's fiction. I have no problem separating fact from fiction. Some people do, but that doesn't make the books evil. It has been argued that there IS witchcraft. Well, yes there is. But let me tell you that witchcraft as practiced in the real world is NOTHING like the "witchcraft" shown in Harry Potter. Too bad LotusWitch got driven out of here, you could ask her personally. Anyway, I have a close friend who was into the occult before becoming a Christian, and she says the exact same thing.

Second thought:

[hmh]

For those who have a weakness in certain areas, they need to stay away from that temptation. For others, put your trust in God first and foremost and you may learn something to use to witness to others or those who are involved in that particular area that is causing sin.

[CarolineS]

I think Satan is using these Harry Potter books to prepare the younger generation

for the acceptance of a false christ.

I think Satan is going to appear as an imposter of Christ. He will appear so righteous, perform miricles, speak Bible half truths. Call fire down from heaven,

cause the lame to walk, maybe the blind to see.

All these thousands or millions of young people who have read these books, heard them in school, re-read them; write to Ms. Rowling (I heard she has a huge following, by the way.) they are being programmed to accept the false christ.

I have read that some of the young kids that write to her think some of the characters are real. Some want to attend the school that Harry Potter attends, they think it actually exists.

My opinion is to stay away from them. They open the door to dark things. There are many other books available for kids to read. Who needs this garbage?

My children ages 9 and 3, won't be reading them.

"A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones." Leviticus 20:27.

The Lord doesn't like witchcraft, wizards, spirits, spells, lies, fortune tellers, etc.

Why open the door and allow this stuff in your children's world?

In Christ,

CarolineS

[Gerioke]

Non alcoholic wine at a party. I'm sure

[hmh]

I have no doubt to that CarolineS. That is one of the reasons I do not want my daughter to read those books when she gets older. And speaking from experience in growing up in a house where I got to read such "wonderful" books as the Satanic Bible, ESP and the Occult, UFO's and other such dark subjects, I want my daughter to grow up learning about God and Jesus Christ. If someone wants to read Harry Potter, so be it. I wish they didn't, but if you can use what you read in those books as an idea to what you will be dealing with when you witness to someone who is heavily involved in witchcraft and other dark matters, great. But please do not get caught up in that mess. That is my concern.