Harry Potter to be or not to be

[Iryssa]

No, the only rituals that are satanic in the Harry Potter books are the ones done by Voldemort who is EVIL!!!!!!!

There are satanic rituals in the Harry Potter books???

And it's okay for kids to this?

Not real ones, that's for darn sure. None that claim that they are, either...there are some places where the antagonists are performing a black sort of magic. The protagonists just wave their sticks and say words in bad latin.

and harry and his fellow students are performing exactly WHAT sort of magic? godly, i suppose?

They're performing magic that isn't magic at all because it's all FICTION. But the novel portrays the magic they use as good.

Do I seriously need to explain to people that I don't think real witchcraft is in any way godly????? All I'm saying here is that the "magic" in the books is FICTIONAL, and does not teach kids how to do what wiccans call "the Craft" in any way because there is A LOT more involved than what is shown as magic in the books.

[Guest LadyC]

so let me get this straight... it's safe for children to watch movies about practicing witchcraft as long as they use bad latin and wave around goofy wands and ride broomsticks backwards..... uh-huh. ok. and i'll repeat my question... only one character in the show uses "black magic"... so what kind of magic are the kids practicing, God-ordained magic stamped with His Holy seal of approval?

[Emily~Anne]

The books are INTENDED to be accurate portrayals of witchcraft. Does that not bother you?

Um, no, Warner Brothers (NOT the author) claims that they are (and they're wrong). The witches were angry because they're NOT an accurate portrayal.

I've known many wiccans (there was a group of them that I was regularly ministering to in my old highschool), and I can tell you for certain that they would have been insulted by the implication that all it takes is an in-born gift, some words in (very bad) Latin, and a special stick.

Notice that the witches were angry that this one part did not accurately portray witchcraft, and that it is the only part, as in the rest they were fine with?

Your not the only one to know wiccan, my aunt who refers to me as her surrogate daughter is wiccan

So why don't you ask her whether that's what "the Craft" is about?

You have to be kidding me! Witches think their witchcraft is totally harmless. Their beliefs do not align with what God's word has to say on the matter. I'll stick to God's word thankyaverymuch.

I don't mean "ask her whether she feels what she's doing is wrong." I mean "ask her if she feels that the Harry Potter books accurately portray the processes related to the Craft."

Her daughter died a year ago, her daughter was heavily into witchcraft. This is a very terribly sensitive issue to talk to her about. Do you realize how likely it is that her daughter is in hell???? There is a certain tact one should have in dealing with those who the issue really can be very painful. I am so so so careful about what I say to her on spiritual matters. I am not going to ask her about Harry Potter. If I am going to have a discussion with her on spiritual matters, it will not be about Harry Potter.

What is the name of one of the books, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft? What does that tell you?

[Emily~Anne]

Iryssa, back up your info, I have posted an article. I can post a thousand more. Post some links that back up what you say.

[Iryssa]

Does it not make sense that these characters have never existed in real life and therefore can not actually be considered to have souls or to be put under Biblical standards? They're fictional, and NO ONE in the books is doing anything that would constitute performing real magic, sorcery, or otherwise.

[AndrewA]

Are people defending Harry Potter as being harmless in order to justify continuing other supposedly harmless things such as Halloween?

[Emily~Anne]

Does it not make sense that these characters have never existed in real life and therefore can not actually be considered to have souls or to be put under Biblical standards? They're fictional, and NO ONE in the books is doing anything that would constitute performing real magic, sorcery, or otherwise.

You could say the same about soap operas. I still dont want my kids watching those! Love affairs-sinful, Witchcraft-sinful. Fictional or not!

[Guest LadyC]

emily, i'm on your side of this issue, but please, is it necessary for it to become a debate over whether the magic portrayed is accurate? it doesn't matter what articles iryssa posts in defense of her position, the only source that is relevant here is what God's word says on the issue.... right?

[Giaour]

Once again the "harry potter is evil" thread has reared it's ugly head.

I'm glad this is the last book because these rehashes are tiresome.

Next thing you know, card tricks and pulling a quarter from a kids ear is going to be evil.

These kinds of threads get soooo judgemental.

I say, let the Holy Spirit convict us and let the judging be done by God.

Bears repeating.

[Guest LadyC]

Does it not make sense that these characters have never existed in real life and therefore can not actually be considered to have souls or to be put under Biblical standards? They're fictional, and NO ONE in the books is doing anything that would constitute performing real magic, sorcery, or otherwise.

nope, sorry, it doesn't matter. the characters in brokeback mountain were fictional and in no way actually engaged in a rape that turned into consentual homosexual sex. but i think you would agree that allowing your children to watch that movie could be very harmful to them.