Harry Potter to be or not to be

[Guest Biblicist]

and ? are you asking my opinion of it? i thought i gave my opinion. it should be avoided. do as i say, not as i do...

You gave your opinion of the movies/books in general.

What did you think after you watched it?

I was quite skeptical about the movies till I saw them, on television I might add. I think they are harmless. Although, I will not encourage my children to read the books. As I said, huge difference.

[Guest LadyC]

and ? are you asking my opinion of it? i thought i gave my opinion. it should be avoided. do as i say, not as i do...

You gave your opinion of the movies/books in general.

What did you think after you watched it?

I was quite skeptical about the movies till I saw them, on television I might add. I think they are harmless. Although, I will not encourage my children to read the books. As I said, huge difference.

my personal (human, non-spiritual) opinion of the movie? very well acted. not my cup of tea though. and this movie in particular is not suitable for any young child, regardless of their faith (or lack of). even for kids who love the harry potter series and whose parents approve, the show is dark and violent and should not be viewed by anyone under the age of 15.

i'm sorry you think they're harmless. i think that anything that glorifies witchcraft and conveys an anti-biblical message is extremely dangerous. and the use of magic to defeat demons, which was graphically portrayed in this movie, is something no christian should ever ALLOW their children to watch.

JMO.

[nebula]

You didn't have to get so defensive, neb.

I was merely asking what you might have seen in her countenance on television or in a movie? I don't believe you can read anything into what you see on television since they can edit and digitally enhance everything these days.

I'm not trying to counter your point or make my own, I was just saying I didn't find anything about it in Google. Maybe if you could produce the link or site where you got that information?

I would love to find the article. Unfortunately, I can't recall the exact words enough to punch in the Google search that would take me to it. . . . if it still exists at all. It may have been an internet news interview, the files of which could have been deleted by now. I was simply shocked that your reaction was to doubt my words. I can appreciate wanting to see the evidence for yourself, but I wish you could have given me a little bit more credit than you did. Your words did come across sounding like you don't believe me.

[nebula]

my personal (human, non-spiritual) opinion of the movie? very well acted. not my cup of tea though. and this movie in particular is not suitable for any young child, regardless of their faith (or lack of). even for kids who love the harry potter series and whose parents approve, the show is dark and violent and should not be viewed by anyone under the age of 15.

This is true.

Even in the library, the first few books are kept in the Children's section while the last books are in the Young Adult section.

i'm sorry you think they're harmless. i think that anything that glorifies witchcraft and conveys an anti-biblical message is extremely dangerous. and the use of magic to defeat demons, which was graphically portrayed in this movie, is something no christian should ever ALLOW their children to watch.

JMO.

This gets into the "In the world, not of the world" / "meat sacrificed to idols" debate, IMHO.

There are times we need to "avoid all appearances of evil," and their are times we need to - I don't know, be real to the world around us? Let's see how I can explain what I'm thinking. . . . Christians will read the Koran for educational purposes, even though we have no business having anything to do with false religions, right? In high school for English class, I had to read the most ungodly works of literature you could imagine; I wish I could have played the "against y religion to read this filth" card, but I couldn't. Yet I know if I mentioned some of those books, there would be Christians who would tell me that there was a good message in the story and ya-da ya-da . . . just like is being expressed in this debate.

I'm not saying you are wrong; that's not my point. I only know that the fantasy genre isn't for everyone, and I am guessing it isn't your type? But for someone to whom fantasy is a favorite genre and who interacts with others who are into fantasy, then books and movies like this take on a different meaning.

Does Jesus approve of Harry Potter?

Does He approve of classic Romance novels? (lust, jealousy, etc.)

Does He approve of Atheistic/Agnostic history and science documentaries and shows?

Does He approve of our sit-coms? (reveling on derogatory humor)

Does He approve of The Wizard of Oz? (there's a "good witch" in there, too)

Does He approve of game shows? (greed-oriented)

I think if we were to separate ourselves from all things "of this world", we'd have to completely abdicate ourselves from society.

The point is there is a balance, and there are lines we need to draw. But we each have our own walk, and we need to divide for ourselves what we avoid and what is "permissible" as far as being engaged in our culture.

And yes, it is a tough call.

[Guest Biblicist]

and ? are you asking my opinion of it? i thought i gave my opinion. it should be avoided. do as i say, not as i do...

You gave your opinion of the movies/books in general.

What did you think after you watched it?

I was quite skeptical about the movies till I saw them, on television I might add. I think they are harmless. Although, I will not encourage my children to read the books. As I said, huge difference.

my personal (human, non-spiritual) opinion of the movie? very well acted. not my cup of tea though. and this movie in particular is not suitable for any young child, regardless of their faith (or lack of). even for kids who love the harry potter series and whose parents approve, the show is dark and violent and should not be viewed by anyone under the age of 15.

i'm sorry you think they're harmless. i think that anything that glorifies witchcraft and conveys an anti-biblical message is extremely dangerous. and the use of magic to defeat demons, which was graphically portrayed in this movie, is something no christian should ever ALLOW their children to watch.

JMO.

I suppose it was bound to happen. The movies started off simple enough but as the children got older they were bound to get into deeper meanings, stronger messages. I am not surprised it's turned dark and violent. That's Hollywood.

Mind you, I am no fan of the movies and I was pretty upset with my Brother In Law when he took my, then, 13 year old son to see it for Thanksgiving. I watched the first two on television but that was not the theater version nor was it with any knowledge of the acutal books.

For me and my kids, it's simply entertainment. They know it's not real and I don't worry about the wanting

I also think that if you start cutting certian things out you will have to start reevaluating everything you watch. There may be one or two Disney movies I approve of. . . The list is endless.

[ladypeartree]

[Guest LadyC]

i see your point neb, and i agree to an extent. but that extent is limited to adults. for example, while fantasy isn't my thing, there are lots of movies i'll watch (and enjoy) that really don't glorify God. (i draw the hardest lines at movies that glorify sex, particularly homosexuality or adultry, and magic.)

what i was saying is that as christian parents, WE are responsible for what we actively allow our children to be influenced by. there is already so much (in terms of ungodly influences) that we have little control over. our kids are in the world every day, and are bombarded with anti-biblical messages. but of all thing things we should be good stewards of in life, our children are the most important ones.

we can't control what our kids see after they turn 18, and for the most part, not even after they (or their friends) start driving. it is up to us to spend the first 15 or so years doing everything in our power to instill values that will help them make wise viewing choices as adults.

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.

[Guest LadyC]

For me and my kids, it's simply entertainment. They know it's not real and I don't worry about the wanting

ahhh, but see bib, here's the problem... while the movie (or books) may be fiction, it's VERY real. the occult, practicing magic, all of that stuff is just as real as Jesus is. even the ones that seem "harmless" give satan a gateway to our children's minds, not that he needs more gateways. but it's very dangerous for us to view those gateways as harmless, and throw the door wide open, don't ya think?

ok, let's take this out of the supernatural realm for just a moment. would you allow your kids to watch "will and grace", a show that portrays homosexuality as normal, acceptable, and something to be celebrated? or allow them to watch any number of shows that encourage so-called "safe" but indiscriminate sex between teens? some christians do, and i'm not going to beat them over the heads for it, because despite my best efforts to forbid my kids from watching a lot of shows, they watched them anyway. i didn't have cable with parental controls.

so if your kids watch the shows i mentioned, can you think of ANY movies, shows or books that you would forbid them to watch because it conflicts with your faith? and if so, then consider WHY you establish those rules. (that's really the point i'm trying to get around to.) what elements of a show, or book, do you find so ungodly that you deem it inappropriate for your children to watch because of the influence it may have.

[senerhu]

For me and my kids, it's simply entertainment. They know it's not real and I don't worry about the wanting

ahhh, but see bib, here's the problem... while the movie (or books) may be fiction, it's VERY real. the occult, practicing magic, all of that stuff is just as real as Jesus is. even the ones that seem "harmless" give satan a gateway to our children's minds, not that he needs more gateways. but it's very dangerous for us to view those gateways as harmless, and throw the door wide open, don't ya think?

ok, let's take this out of the supernatural realm for just a moment. would you allow your kids to watch "will and grace", a show that portrays homosexuality as normal, acceptable, and something to be celebrated? or allow them to watch any number of shows that encourage so-called "safe" but indiscriminate sex between teens? some christians do, and i'm not going to beat them over the heads for it, because despite my best efforts to forbid my kids from watching a lot of shows, they watched them anyway. i didn't have cable with parental controls.

so if your kids watch the shows i mentioned, can you think of ANY movies, shows or books that you would forbid them to watch because it conflicts with your faith? and if so, then consider WHY you establish those rules. (that's really the point i'm trying to get around to.) what elements of a show, or book, do you find so ungodly that you deem it inappropriate for your children to watch because of the influence it may have.

[georgesbluegirl]

Considering the central message of the books concerns loyalty and above all love - this was spelled out in the sixth book, actually -

Pun not intended, I'm sure.

I always mean what I say...