Harry Potter to be or not to be

[chin]

if you want to fill your mind with anything, you have the free will to do that.

[None]

We should rather be supporting our local Christian bookstore for ourselves and our children. Supporting secular authors isn't entirely bad but what usually ends up happening is, instead of going into the Christian bookstore, we've already made up our minds to buy the media-promoted book that "everyone is buying".

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I would also worry about my children reading these and telling their friends about. Then their friends using the fact that the "Christian" kids do it, so it must be okay. Now there is something I wouldn't want to be held accountable for. Considering we ae not to do things that can possibly cause another to stumble.

[Guest LadyC]

i just think we are putting our children at unnecessary risk, spiritually speaking, when we allow them to watch, read, or listen to things that open doors to the occult.

Actually, I'm not arguing that.

I was pointing out how the issue is more complex than one book series.

The Wizard of Oz, classic Disney movies, Halloween, etc. are all avenues that introduce children to the occult.

We can't avoid them, nor can we be guaranteed to keep our kids away from them just because we don't allow them in our homes. Unfortunately, you cannot protect your children inside the public school.

"Just avoid" isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult, you know?

somehow i think my point is getting lost. i know we can't protect them from what they are exposed to in public school, or anywhere else where we may not be. but we can be involved in what we allow them to see in our home, and in theaters. we have a choice as to whether or not to allow our children to go to the theater to see harry potter just as much as we have a choice whether or not to buy the DVD when it comes out.

of course avoiding isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult. but we can limit what they're exposed to to the best of our ability. and if we willingly allow them to see these movies (or even wizard of oz), are we doing all we can do to protect them?

this is a tough one for me, because i love the wizard of oz, and i loved the chronicles of narnia.... and narnia was a christian series by a christian author. but the thing is, where do we draw the line? it's very difficult when we see things through adult eyes and not the kids eyes. but shouldn't we be looking at the issue through God's eyes, not our own, and not our children's?

[SeekerOfTruth]

I just want to share my personal experiences with you guys in regards to the Harry Potter books.

I really, really like the books. I bought the first book before the Harry Potter craze took off and devoured it from cover to cover (I was nine back then, I believe it was around 1997). Fantasy and Science fiction books were a way for me to escape reality for a while and forget about my own troubles.

The bad thing is, since reading Harry Potter I have become more and more interested in the occult. Fantasized about what I would do if I had these incredible powers, thinking of what I would be willing to give if I were offered these powers. I started to search on the Internet anything Wicca related and I thank God that He stopped me from doing anything stupid. I received an anonymous e-mail from a an ex-cultist that turned to Christ and how these 'dark arts' from the Devil ruined her life. I have no idea how she found my e-mail or what compelled her to send the mail to a complete stranger, but that really turned me off from my fantasies of power.

A part of me really wants to read the new book because I remember how much I enjoyed the previous books, but another part of me says that I should want no part of it. The books planted a seed that I'm still trying to get rid of. I'm learning that if you feed your mind with anything that is not of God but from the Evil one, you are setting yourself up for a Big Fall.

These are just my personal thoughts.

Take care and God bless.

Edited July 15, 2007 by SeekerOfTruth

[Scarletprayers]

i just think we are putting our children at unnecessary risk, spiritually speaking, when we allow them to watch, read, or listen to things that open doors to the occult.

Actually, I'm not arguing that.

I was pointing out how the issue is more complex than one book series.

The Wizard of Oz, classic Disney movies, Halloween, etc. are all avenues that introduce children to the occult.

We can't avoid them, nor can we be guaranteed to keep our kids away from them just because we don't allow them in our homes. Unfortunately, you cannot protect your children inside the public school.

"Just avoid" isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult, you know?

somehow i think my point is getting lost. i know we can't protect them from what they are exposed to in public school, or anywhere else where we may not be. but we can be involved in what we allow them to see in our home, and in theaters. we have a choice as to whether or not to allow our children to go to the theater to see harry potter just as much as we have a choice whether or not to buy the DVD when it comes out.

of course avoiding isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult. but we can limit what they're exposed to to the best of our ability. and if we willingly allow them to see these movies (or even wizard of oz), are we doing all we can do to protect them?

this is a tough one for me, because i love the wizard of oz, and i loved the chronicles of narnia.... and narnia was a christian series by a christian author. but the thing is, where do we draw the line? it's very difficult when we see things through adult eyes and not the kids eyes. but shouldn't we be looking at the issue through God's eyes, not our own, and not our children's?

Well that means you know what God's thoughts are on this, I also agree with Neb earlier when she talks about what is sinful for one isn't sinful for another.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

I just want to share my personal experiences with you guys in regards to the Harry Potter books.

I really, really like the books. I bought the first book before the Harry Potter craze took off and devoured it from cover to cover (I was nine back then, I believe it was around 1997). Fantasy and Science fiction books were a way for me to escape reality for a while and forget about my own troubles.

The bad thing is, since reading Harry Potter I have become more and more interested in the occult. Fantasized about what I would do if I had these incredible powers, thinking of what I would be willing to give if I were offered these powers. I started to search on the Internet anything Wicca related and I thank God that He stopped me from doing anything stupid. I received an anonymous e-mail from a an ex-cultist that turned to Christ and how these 'dark arts' from the Devil ruined her life. I have no idea how she found my e-mail or what compelled her to send the mail to a complete stranger, but that really turned me off from my fantasies of power.

A part of me really wants to read the new book because I remember how much I enjoyed the previous books, but another part of me says that I should want no part of it. The books planted a seed that I'm still trying to get rid of. I'm learning that if you feed your mind with anything that is not of God but from the Evil one, you are setting yourself up for a Big Fall.

These are just my personal thoughts.

Take care and God bless.

Seeker thank you so much. I came from an occultic background, and I am so glad that God put someone in your path to keep you from going down that road!

[ColleenLovesMischief]

i just think we are putting our children at unnecessary risk, spiritually speaking, when we allow them to watch, read, or listen to things that open doors to the occult.

Actually, I'm not arguing that.

I was pointing out how the issue is more complex than one book series.

The Wizard of Oz, classic Disney movies, Halloween, etc. are all avenues that introduce children to the occult.

We can't avoid them, nor can we be guaranteed to keep our kids away from them just because we don't allow them in our homes. Unfortunately, you cannot protect your children inside the public school.

"Just avoid" isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult, you know?

somehow i think my point is getting lost. i know we can't protect them from what they are exposed to in public school, or anywhere else where we may not be. but we can be involved in what we allow them to see in our home, and in theaters. we have a choice as to whether or not to allow our children to go to the theater to see harry potter just as much as we have a choice whether or not to buy the DVD when it comes out.

of course avoiding isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult. but we can limit what they're exposed to to the best of our ability. and if we willingly allow them to see these movies (or even wizard of oz), are we doing all we can do to protect them?

this is a tough one for me, because i love the wizard of oz, and i loved the chronicles of narnia.... and narnia was a christian series by a christian author. but the thing is, where do we draw the line? it's very difficult when we see things through adult eyes and not the kids eyes. but shouldn't we be looking at the issue through God's eyes, not our own, and not our children's?

Well that means you know what God's thoughts are on this, I also agree with Neb earlier when she talks about what is sinful for one isn't sinful for another.

How in the world can something be sinful for one and not for another? I have heard this said before, but could you please clarify how you justify that?

[Guest LadyC]

i just think we are putting our children at unnecessary risk, spiritually speaking, when we allow them to watch, read, or listen to things that open doors to the occult.

Actually, I'm not arguing that.

I was pointing out how the issue is more complex than one book series.

The Wizard of Oz, classic Disney movies, Halloween, etc. are all avenues that introduce children to the occult.

We can't avoid them, nor can we be guaranteed to keep our kids away from them just because we don't allow them in our homes. Unfortunately, you cannot protect your children inside the public school.

"Just avoid" isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult, you know?

somehow i think my point is getting lost. i know we can't protect them from what they are exposed to in public school, or anywhere else where we may not be. but we can be involved in what we allow them to see in our home, and in theaters. we have a choice as to whether or not to allow our children to go to the theater to see harry potter just as much as we have a choice whether or not to buy the DVD when it comes out.

of course avoiding isn't the surest policy to keep them from being attracted to the occult. but we can limit what they're exposed to to the best of our ability. and if we willingly allow them to see these movies (or even wizard of oz), are we doing all we can do to protect them?

this is a tough one for me, because i love the wizard of oz, and i loved the chronicles of narnia.... and narnia was a christian series by a christian author. but the thing is, where do we draw the line? it's very difficult when we see things through adult eyes and not the kids eyes. but shouldn't we be looking at the issue through God's eyes, not our own, and not our children's?

Well that means you know what God's thoughts are on this, I also agree with Neb earlier when she talks about what is sinful for one isn't sinful for another.

ok i'll go out on a limb here. i love ya to death SP, you know i do. but i DO know God's thoughts on this. He made sure to include His thoughts on this in scripture. i totally agree that there are many things that are sins for some but not for others. however, those are things that are not clearly addressed in scripture. steering clear of those things which pertain to sorcery, etc., are very definitely, and very definitively, addressed in His word.

[Guest LadyC]

How in the world can something be sinful for one and not for another? I have heard this said before, but could you please clarify how you justify that?

i'd like to shed some light on that. there are many things which scripture does not address. THOSE things are a matter of personal conviction. for example, a long time ago there was someone on here who, for HER, believed that anything having to do with cards was sinful. she wouldn't even play a game of solitaire. if i remember correctly, she'd had a previous problem with gambling... but i'm not sure. anyway, God had convicted her heart regarding cards, and she absolutely would not play ANY cardgame. however, it's a non-issue to many people.

similarly, drinking is not a sin.... but drunkenness is. some people who are recovering alcoholics or who have an addictive nature feel that even a sip of wine with dinner or champagne at a wedding is inappropriate for them, because God has convicted them to avoid alcohol altogether. yet God doesn't convict everyone that way.