Harry Potter

[Guest Abelina]

Hello,

I am new here. I'd like to say right off the bat that I intended this topic to be a discussion of reasons why people do or do not agree with Harry Potter, and not to "stir the pot" or create a heated debate. I'm truly interested in hearing your reasons.

I enjoy Harry Potter, but I am aware that many people within the Christian community do not. So I would like to hold a little discussion about it, if anyone is interested.

And please, let's keep this to your own reasons and not judge anyone for approving or disapproving of Harry Potter - it'll make for a more insightful discussion.

~Abby~

[Trinity]

Ephesians 5:11

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

And Remember WWJD... If Jesus wouldn't read the book should you? Would Jesus really read a book promoting his enemy???

Just think about it

[Guest Abelina]

So you are saying that you believe Jesus would not read this book, and so you chose not to? Yes?

[Trinity]

So you are saying that you believe Jesus would not read this book, and so you chose not to?  Yes? 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it isn't exactly promoting Jesus in any shape or form, it is more like promoting the other side of things, Because the books are about witch craft, and who gives power to witches? Hrmm...

[Guest Abelina]

So you are saying that you believe Jesus would not read this book, and so you chose not to?

[Trinity]

And there are witches out there who believe they are Good witches... Yet the truth of the Matter they are still getting their power from the evil one

[apothanein kerdos]

It's a complicated issue.

If it were geared towards adults then I would have no problem and I doubt most Christians would either. The problem is this book is geared towards young kids and, unlike C.S. Lewis' works that young children read which were a metaphor of the Christian faith, is merely proporting the idea of using magic.

I cannot justifiably say it is absolutely wrong in every case and would instead suggest that it is up to each individual parent as to if their child reads the series. I would suggest that if a parent chooses to let their child read it, that they read the book with the child and explain it.

[Guest Abelina]

Not talking about "real" witches though (that's a whole other issue, lol).

Harry Potter is fiction, and yes, there are witches and wizards involved, but do the powers of magic have to have sinister origins? I'm not talking about "real" witchcraft, but rather the ficticious magical world created by JK Rowling - if she intends the good to be truly good, then could it not be said that their "magic" has good origins?

As an aside, have you (or anyone else to come) read any of the books in part or in whole, to see what they are about? If you haven't read, what have you heard that has helped form your opinions? (Curious)

[apothanein kerdos]

Not talking about "real" witches though (that's a whole other issue, lol).

Harry Potter is fiction, and yes, there are witches and wizards involved, but do the powers of magic have to have sinister origins? I'm not talking about "real" witchcraft, but rather the ficticious magical world created by JK Rowling - if she intends the good to be truly good, then could it not be said that their "magic" has good origins?

As an aside, have you (or anyone else to come) read any of the books in part or in whole, to see what they are about? If you haven't read, what have you heard that has helped form your opinions? (Curious)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem with that is that it's a shift from what reality is. What I mean by that is if we take something that is "wrong" but put it in a good light, is it still good? Now, I happen to believe witches and magic and the sorts can be used to teach us a good lesson and can be used in a good way (fictionally speaking). However, the question that we should ask is should children be reading stuff like this, children who can't exactly draw correlations for themselves.

As for me reading it, not in whole. I have not had the time to and I'm not all that interested. I've read a few chapters just to see what the buzz was all about, but never completed a book or bought one.

[Guest Abelina]

It's a complicated issue.

If it were geared towards adults then I would have no problem and I doubt most Christians would either. The problem is this book is geared towards young kids and, unlike C.S. Lewis' works that young children read which were a metaphor of the Christian faith, is merely proporting the idea of using magic.

I cannot justifiably say it is absolutely wrong in every case and would instead suggest that it is up to each individual parent as to if their child reads the series. I would suggest that if a parent chooses to let their child read it, that they read the book with the child and explain it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wouldn't say that Harry Potter is merely proporting the idea of magic use . . . while it's true that the heroes are magic users, and that children enjoy imagining that they could be like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I feel there is much more to this series than simply glorifying magic.

I also think that some people (this is not an accusation toward you, just an observation) underestimate their children's sense of reality. Children have glorious imaginations that should be encouraged, but by the time they are 10 or 11 (which is the start of the target age of the series, Harry's age in the first book), they can generally tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

That said, there may be children who would need that difference explained to them, definitely