What the Harry Potter series is doing is introducing kids into witchcraft in there way of understanding it. Not all the kids will become Wiccans but some may. Just ask a Wiccan how they got into there pagan beliefs and they will tell you they had been interested in magic since there childhood. So what is important early on is important later. The devil is very subtle at times. The Bible warns us about the Occult and God says to have nothing to do with it.
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What the Harry Potter series is doing is introducing kids into witchcraft in there way of understanding it. Not all the kids will become Wiccans but some may. Just ask a Wiccan how they got into there pagan beliefs and they will tell you they had been interested in magic since there childhood. So what is important early on is important later. The devil is very subtle at times. The Bible warns us about the Occult and God says to have nothing to do with it.
I avidly read all of the Harry Potter books. The first one was published when I was in primary school. I wasn't aware of the controversy surrounding them until I'd read them all.
I'd same I'm fairly discriminating about what I read. I don't read modern novels as a rule, because one never knows what content they'll contain. Books are not given age-appropriateness ratings. Recently, I read and enjoyed the first novel in Henning Mankell's 'Kurt Wallander' series. Although the book was gripping and enjoyable, I was saddened by the recurrence, towards the end of the book, of the 'f' word. Nevertheless, I purchased the next book in the series and began reading it, only to find, on the first few pages, the 's' word. So, I stopped reading it and won't buy a modern novel again.
That's the level of discrimination that I take when it comes to what I read. On my non-ministry bookshelves, there's mainly authors such as Dickens, Tolkien, P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh (a little more questionable, I know).
The Harry Potter series is firmly rooted in the realms of fantasy. Many of the characters are ridiculous and the events laughably absurd. It is true that the tone of the books grew darker as the series went on, with the level of threat growing. This is the case with many books which Christians would happily have on their shelves, it is simply a narrative choice with the author of the Potter series has made.
Some suggest that the Potter books will encourage Christian young people to practise black magic. When I hear that, I can't but question what kind of upbringing these young people have had that they blur the line between what is fiction and imagination and what is reality. The Bible speaks of what is real and substantial, novels do not. As a child, I devoured books of all sorts, containing stories of magic, superheroes, young adventurers, talking animals, ghastly monsters, et. al. Never did I imagine that any of these fictional constructs existed in real life. I read the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them as exciting, and often, amusing stories. But just that, stories. Never did I imagine that I could brew a 'love-potion', or perform a 'levitation charm' or cause someone pain with the use of a 'magic wand'. It is patently ridiculous, and I question the parenting techniques of parents who're afraid that their children will attempt the 'magic' described in the Harry Potter books. Parents should be far more concerned that their children are trying to recreate the dangerous idiocy portrayed on television shows such as 'Jackass' or being made to feel a pre-pubescent insecurity about their bodies and fashion-sense thanks to mindless 'celebrities' selling their empty lifestyle to impressionable people.
I think it is every parent's right to control what their children read, and I would not criticise the decision of a parent not to let their children read the Harry Potter books. However, I would strongly contest the view the well-brought up children who have a knowledge of Jesus as their friend and Saviour will be so easily led astray by a work of fiction.
Moreover, while Christians are busily engaged burning (in a metaphorical sense) effigies of Harry Potter, other, more potent evils are entering the household. If you don't let your children read Harry Potter, or you don't read it yourself, I suggest you dispose of your television as well. I don't want to seem self-righteous, but I've never owned a television and would never let one into the house. I remember an anecdote which was told to me once about a Christian gentleman who decided he wanted a TV. His Christian friends advised him not to get one, but he was determined he would. So, he ordered the set to be delivered to him. Along came the delivery van, with the words 'Bringing the World Into Your Home!' emblazoned on the side. The gentleman, seeing this dire warning, met the delivery men at the door and told them to take the TV straight back to where it came from, and that he didn't want it.
I've rambled somewhat off the point, but what I'm trying to say is that when you let novels or television or the useful but potentially harmful internet into your home, you're bringing the world into your home. In this respect, I could heartily repeat the apostle's words about being the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1 v 5) for myself. We shouldn't get so wrapped up in condemning one attempt of the world to get into our homes that we neglect to watch out for others...
I'd same I'm fairly discriminating about what I read. I don't read modern novels as a rule, because one never knows what content they'll contain. Books are not given age-appropriateness ratings. Recently, I read and enjoyed the first novel in Henning Mankell's 'Kurt Wallander' series. Although the book was gripping and enjoyable, I was saddened by the recurrence, towards the end of the book, of the 'f' word. Nevertheless, I purchased the next book in the series and began reading it, only to find, on the first few pages, the 's' word. So, I stopped reading it and won't buy a modern novel again.
That's the level of discrimination that I take when it comes to what I read. On my non-ministry bookshelves, there's mainly authors such as Dickens, Tolkien, P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh (a little more questionable, I know).
The Harry Potter series is firmly rooted in the realms of fantasy. Many of the characters are ridiculous and the events laughably absurd. It is true that the tone of the books grew darker as the series went on, with the level of threat growing. This is the case with many books which Christians would happily have on their shelves, it is simply a narrative choice with the author of the Potter series has made.
Some suggest that the Potter books will encourage Christian young people to practise black magic. When I hear that, I can't but question what kind of upbringing these young people have had that they blur the line between what is fiction and imagination and what is reality. The Bible speaks of what is real and substantial, novels do not. As a child, I devoured books of all sorts, containing stories of magic, superheroes, young adventurers, talking animals, ghastly monsters, et. al. Never did I imagine that any of these fictional constructs existed in real life. I read the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them as exciting, and often, amusing stories. But just that, stories. Never did I imagine that I could brew a 'love-potion', or perform a 'levitation charm' or cause someone pain with the use of a 'magic wand'. It is patently ridiculous, and I question the parenting techniques of parents who're afraid that their children will attempt the 'magic' described in the Harry Potter books. Parents should be far more concerned that their children are trying to recreate the dangerous idiocy portrayed on television shows such as 'Jackass' or being made to feel a pre-pubescent insecurity about their bodies and fashion-sense thanks to mindless 'celebrities' selling their empty lifestyle to impressionable people.
I think it is every parent's right to control what their children read, and I would not criticise the decision of a parent not to let their children read the Harry Potter books. However, I would strongly contest the view the well-brought up children who have a knowledge of Jesus as their friend and Saviour will be so easily led astray by a work of fiction.
Moreover, while Christians are busily engaged burning (in a metaphorical sense) effigies of Harry Potter, other, more potent evils are entering the household. If you don't let your children read Harry Potter, or you don't read it yourself, I suggest you dispose of your television as well. I don't want to seem self-righteous, but I've never owned a television and would never let one into the house. I remember an anecdote which was told to me once about a Christian gentleman who decided he wanted a TV. His Christian friends advised him not to get one, but he was determined he would. So, he ordered the set to be delivered to him. Along came the delivery van, with the words 'Bringing the World Into Your Home!' emblazoned on the side. The gentleman, seeing this dire warning, met the delivery men at the door and told them to take the TV straight back to where it came from, and that he didn't want it.
I've rambled somewhat off the point, but what I'm trying to say is that when you let novels or television or the useful but potentially harmful internet into your home, you're bringing the world into your home. In this respect, I could heartily repeat the apostle's words about being the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1 v 5) for myself. We shouldn't get so wrapped up in condemning one attempt of the world to get into our homes that we neglect to watch out for others...
By this logic, we should all eschew 'Star Wars'. After all, the Jedi 'religion' grew up out of it.
When I was a child, we played cowboys and Indians and cops and robbers in the playground at school. Now, kids are playing Harry Potter games, making up spells and potions. These crazes come and go, something new (and probably worse) will overtake the popularity of Harry Potter.
There is a difference between kids wishing they went to Hogwarts rather than their boring old school, and practising the occult. Children have lively imaginations, it's good that they exercise them and create pretend worlds, or pretend they're living in the stories they read. It's important though to rein them in regularly and remind them what is real and what isn't. Well-grounded children will have no difficultly in distinguishing between what is fact and what is fiction.
Ah yes, cowboys and Indians. I'm sure many a Christian parent would love to turn back the clock to the "good old days" when the stalwart John Wayne (in the white hat) would kill the savage...or save the helpless drunk Injun' who couldn't possibly help himself...or be humbled by the Noble Redman with his talk of "Come...smoke peace pipe...make peace with white chiefs...ugh."
Naturally, in the games the children played (me too...) everyone wanted to be the Cowboy...the Indian was the "bad guy".
We Christians need to ask ourselves a honest question here: Is the very real racism of those old Westerns a better thing for our children than the wholly made up fantasy of Harry Potter.
Just something to think about...
I was introduced to the books at a later age, after one of my childrens classes(I teach Ju Jitsu) I overheard some of the kids speaking what was clearly Latin(5 years of it I know it when I hear it.) I approached them and asked them where they heard those words and they responded with "Its Harry Potter spells, DUH". When I told them it was in fact an actual language and then proceded to speak some of it to them most were not intrested, however 2 of the kids are now learning Latin through some sort of video program.
Honestly can something that peaks a childs intrest in linguistics or any other intelectual pursuit be a bad thing? I mean would you not rather have your kids learning Latin than the latest combination of 4 letter words gaurenteed to anger everyone?
just a thought
Honestly can something that peaks a childs intrest in linguistics or any other intelectual pursuit be a bad thing? I mean would you not rather have your kids learning Latin than the latest combination of 4 letter words gaurenteed to anger everyone?
just a thought
one learns latin when you learn italian. latin is italian written so i have been told.
and yes what you teach does have latin names to it.
ie oma plata. latin for shoulder blade and the same is used for anatomy books and medical jargon
and yes what you teach does have latin names to it.
ie oma plata. latin for shoulder blade and the same is used for anatomy books and medical jargon
There are differences between the two languages, the language that is nearest to Classical Latin is actually French.
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thats not what the italians say, i got that from them and also when got to the italian govt sites it says national language, italian and latin.
but im not going to argue from ignorance.
lol the french. hmm i know a canadian at work who will get kick out of that when i tell him that.
but im not going to argue from ignorance.
lol the french. hmm i know a canadian at work who will get kick out of that when i tell him that.
Exactly! Children's games are trivialisations of what are often stark realities. In the same way as a child playing cowboys and Indians doesn't think of the historical basis and implications of the game, kids playing Harry Potter games aren't remotely concerned with the real life delusion of occultism.
Excellent point, handy.
Uuummmm....I think HP has some aspects that are deffinitly NOT ok for children but as for Christians I think it's up to the person. I know there are verses on this but I can't find them. If you're wondering look at some of the stuff Paul wrote. I know this has to do with some of the stuff he talks about.
Any way if one person can watch HP and think "Oh cool! Fancty talking hats and magic!" that's great! I think that person can watch that but if another person watches it and thinks "The darkness is calling to me! I must convert to Wicca!" then that person needs to stay FAR AWAY! People respond differntly to differnt temptations.
I think that's why we don't all struggle with the same sins.
But I was a little upset with J.K. Rowling for bashing C.S. Lewis (who is one of my favorite authors). I honestly don't know the details but I heard from a friend that she was saying how he was saying bad stuff about women. So I am a little miffed at her.
Any way if one person can watch HP and think "Oh cool! Fancty talking hats and magic!" that's great! I think that person can watch that but if another person watches it and thinks "The darkness is calling to me! I must convert to Wicca!" then that person needs to stay FAR AWAY! People respond differntly to differnt temptations.
I think that's why we don't all struggle with the same sins.
But I was a little upset with J.K. Rowling for bashing C.S. Lewis (who is one of my favorite authors). I honestly don't know the details but I heard from a friend that she was saying how he was saying bad stuff about women. So I am a little miffed at her.
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Oh! That's right! My kids are going to be gay because they watched the Teletubbies when they were smaller.: :roll:
Since most children saw the Teletubbies, all of them have to got gay now. It is certainly at or in the water!
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Harry Potter or Bewitched (in German "Falls in love in a witch"), are only books/films/TV shows. They have had nothing to do with reality. Children and adults shall forget their often sad weekday. An actual magic looks different. I became a witness of this when I was at this meeting, where my neighbor had invited me.
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I think Joanna Rowling's series was based on C S Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which young people used to read 40 years ago.
My mom says she read that the books depict Harry doing things like stealing, getting revenge, dishonoring elders, etc--and getting rewarded for it.
I have to admit, I have my doubts regarding those claims. I dunno...just kinda seems like the info might be off. The people I know who have read them haven't mentioned anything like that being in there.
So I'll go ahead and ask--is what she heard true?
I have to admit, I have my doubts regarding those claims. I dunno...just kinda seems like the info might be off. The people I know who have read them haven't mentioned anything like that being in there.
So I'll go ahead and ask--is what she heard true?
