Christians and Magic/Harry Potter

[presser_kun]

Originally Posted by wil

The television, juggling, flying, would all be magic in a different place and time and banned as well...

Quite right. Arthur C. Clarke (inventer of the telecommunications satellite and author of 2001: A Space Odyssey) famously said,

"A sufficiently advanced technology will seem like magic to us."

Who's to say the things HP can do won't be simply common sense, commonplace children's entertainments in the 28th century?

peace,

press

[stevemb88]

All Harry Potter is is entertainment nothing more nothing less its what sells so they make it. I think it is rediculous that Christians aren't seeing the movie because it has to do with "majic" and all of that wizard/witch stuff. If a movie makes you question your religion (in a negative way)than you are weak in your beliefs! A book/movie that is clearly marked as fantasy, that is made to stimulate a child/young adults mind should never be regarded as an unchristian thing.

-two cents
~Stephen

[presser_kun]

Originally Posted by stevemb88

All Harry Potter is is entertainment nothing more nothing less

Right.

If a movie makes you question your religion (in a negative way)than you are weak in your beliefs!

Right again.

A book/movie that is clearly marked as fantasy, that is made to stimulate a child/young adults mind should never be regarded as an unchristian thing.

-two cents
~Stephen.

Right for the third time, Stephen. I'd say your two cents are more like two dollars -- at least, in my book.

peace,

press

[stevemb88]

Originally Posted by presser_kun

Right.



Right again.



Right for the third time, Stephen. I'd say your two cents are more like two dollars -- at least, in my book.

peace,

press

Thanks a lot you have no idea how well that lightened up my day!

[presser_kun]

Just thought I'd share with my thread-siblings that I'm in contact with Eric Barger, the man who wrote the letter to Mallary that got this started. I've shared with him some of our thoughts here (without sharing identities) and we have agreed to dialog a bit. After we get to know each other a bit I'll ask him for permission to share with you what we're discussing.

It's a challenge to me, doin this, but I think I'll benefit from it.

As I do from engaging your minds and spirits, friends.

peace,

press

[InLove]

Hi Y'all--What a worthwhile discussion taking place here!

I won't try and wrap quotes around so many sincere responses--if I did that, I would spend way more time than necessary.

So I guess I will just add my own thoughts to the train we are on:

According to an age survey someone launched a while back here in CR, I discovered that I am probably on the verge of qualifying as an "antique" if measured by the staff of this present existence. So what I say here may not mean much to some who are younger--not because they could not understand, but just because they might have to do some research.

So, now, please don't laugh at me for this, but when I was a little girl, I thought that Samantha Stevens (from the original series "Bewitched") was the most beautiful woman and the best mom on television. She was caught in the middle of everything. (LOL--I still love both the character and the actor who played her so well, dear Elizabeth Montgomery, and I admit that I watch for those old episodes and that occasionally I will turn off the awful news and drift back to that comfort zone I remember, where the message was clearly one of selfless love amidst the chaos of evil things like prejudice and greed.

While I am not sure how that relates to the issue of HP, I'll just bet it does.

Having said that, I would like to briefly tell you all that recently I took a job at a retail store that takes the name of Christ and effectively sells music, books, greeting cards, gifts, and especially Bibles and educational materials. For those of you who know me here in CR, you will understand that even though this was not my dream job at all, I thought that it would be a safe harbor and a good place for me to make a few much-needed dollars.

Shall I scream out in agony now???? What a crock of nasty slime it was!!!

I am not saying that all who sell things Christian are like this--I surely hope not with all my heart--after all, my husband and I are musicians, and much of what we do could be distributed in this way. I mean, I suppose even Paul took money for his tents to support his mission.

Anyway, you surely would not find a Harry Potter book on the shelves there--but (pardon me) Lawdy, lawdy, lawdy--how they were thrilled when the truck came in with all the promotions of "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe"!!!

Cha-ching!!!$$$$$

(We do not think Barbie is a good role model, but we do carry Ruth and all of her accessories, and we are working on the Queen of Sheba.)

LOL--well, what I have written is not really what I thought I would write, but then I often find that CR, in its noble experiment, is often this way--we should enjoy the "freewrite" before the copyright laws dissolve everything (twenty years or so down the road???)

Okay--just one last thing--I am nearing a half-century on this earth in this present life. Yes, I hail from the American Bible Belt (sort of--hahaha--Texas is not Georgia nor Mississippi). Both my parents are still living, and living beautifully. I love them very much--they came from another place, and I am from here. When I tell them about this website, they are still afraid I am going to turn.... (insert whatever religion or belief (even denomination) you like here--whatever it is, they are afraid I am going to succumb!

Folks--let your children read. Just make sure you know what they are reading. It is not up to Satan to influence your kids unless you give him the reins. Talk with them, listen to them--read what they read. Turn off some of that nasty crap we call "adult", and watch T.V. or go to the movies with them--at least go to a movie they went to or want to go to.

When they try to talk to you about their research on religion, don't shut them down. Shut up (when need be) and be there. They will see if you will give them a chance. Harry Potter is not going to hurt them if they know the truth. I say it might be better to review the commercials and crappy sitcoms and stuff...

Well, I suppose I could just go on forever....see ya there .

(Man, that felt good!!!)

InPeace,
InLove

[juantoo3]

Flash of hindsight!

It is noble, but somewhat misguided to believe one can separate oneself and one's loved ones completely from influences that contradict or threaten one's own beliefs.

Nooowwww I understand where I goofed. I shoulda become Amish!

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by juantoo3

Flash of hindsight!



Nooowwww I understand where I goofed. I shoulda become Amish!

Watch out for them English...

It's an Amish thing...

v/r

Q

[juantoo3]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Watch out for them English...

It's an Amish thing...

In that case I'm d*mned if I do and d*mned if I don't, so to h*ll with it!

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Well said, InLove - and I'm glad to see you're still around, albeit about as sparsely as I am. I hope things are going more easily for you.

[suanni]

I think for much of this anti HP stuff they must have missed some beautiful little lines(forgive me for misquoting)...'Love is the greatest protector of all' 'Friendship is everything'....There's the fight of good over evil...Is that un-Christian?
I also think to suggest that children will turn to witchcraft after reading the books is denigrating to the children's intelligence. Children can distinguish fact from fiction. This series of books have sparked the interest of reading in many children. There's not many books that can lay claim to that.
Let the children have their childhood and enjoy all the fantasy that they can mop up, they're not children for very long.

[Thomas]

The latest Harry Potter movie came up in the homily at mass this Sunday.

What the priest noted, as well as this being the 'darkest' of the HP series so far, were the underlying principles, in particular a quote by Dumbledore, along the lines of "we have the choice to do what is easy, or what is right".

The presentation in simple form of the idea that good people can fall into bad ways simply by wanting to be liked, is a rich lesson indeed - it's one step from here to Aquinas' notion that no-one is evil per se, but choose 'a lesser good' through their own weakness.

What do children learn from HP? Magic? I don't think so - I've read three and haven't learned one spell, one occult art, one esoteric practice (whereas in my youth Dennis Wheatley was packed with numerolgy, how to use ouija boards, etc.).

What kids do learn about, in a simple and mythical form (and the element of myth is tragically missing from the world today) is right and wrong, good and evil, and more importantly are shown the importance of such virtues as love, faith, friendship, loyalty, trust, hope, humility, charity, perseverance ...

I think HP has a broad appeal, not only because it has a viable heroine as well as hero, but because it's message is essentially 'good' and its view 'optimistic' - I'd rather my daughter imaged herself on Hermione than some 'ho' in a rap music video, although she can be a bit of a swat (Hermione, that is).

Personally, as a Catholic, I think we could all do with a little more magic in our lives, not less.

Thomas

[Awaiting_the_fifth]

Ive been thinking again about this topic.

Is it possible that children will pick up witchcraft from Harry Potter.

I dont know.

But if they do, why is it so undesireable?

The Wiccan religion is every bit as valid as the Christian religion, in fact it may be more valid as it is so much older! So what is the problem if children are turned towards a different religion? I have known a few people who called themselves witches and practiced pagan rituals. I don't personally know whether they actually had any magical powers, but they were good, honest people who had a deep respect for nature and for other people.

So I say, bring on Harry Potter to get the kids interested, and give them some "Alternative" religious education. Let them all become pagans, give them wands and teach them spells. At least that way we can avoid yet another generation who think they can do whatever they want to whoever they want as long as they go to church on a sunday.

Forever
Awaiting The Fifth.

[wil]

Namaste @5

oh such a glorius world you see, allow it to manifest.

I will stand by you in that vision of a people that don't deride their children or others for being different, for finding their own path.

A people that fully support and embrace diversity, that seek to understand and learn from all and say, 'You know, that is interesting, it is not for me, but I am so happy you have found your way to express...'

[Thomas]

"Let them all become pagans, give them wands and teach them spells."

And let us teach them something of the reality, also.

Remember that a 'spell' is a superimposition of your will upon another person or thing to force them/it to perform according to your desire.

Remember also that there is evidence enough to believe that the practitioner will evoke any spirit, demonic or otherwise, to support him/her in this endeavour to bend another to his will?

Reading any text will also highlight the fact that steps must be taken to ensure one's safety in the event of 'backfire'. The circle in which the magician stands is there to protect him/her against any 'fallout' from the invocation going wrong - against 'collateral damage' as modern parlance has it.

The fantasy is one thing. The reality would be something else altogether.

Are you sure that's what you want?

Thomas