Pard
Member
My intent is to work out my feelings on the imagination and fantasy. I would like to express my feelings about fantasy works and also the use, or lack there-of, of our imaginations. I will probably break this down into two defined parts. One part will be on fantasy works, while the other will be on our imaginations. This will, undoubtedly, take some time and some posts, so feel free to comment on the work in progress.
I want to preface this by stating that I love fantasy. I love finding a corner in the house, or a chair in the yard, and just sinking into a good fantasy novel. I love the worlds that can come to life in my head. And my love for fantasy does not stop at the end of the book. I am a very imaginative person. I have worlds that no one knows about but me (and of course God), that exist only in my head. No one has ever touched these fantastic worlds and no one ever will. They are places I can go when I need to get away from people, and they are places I can go when I need to get away with God.
Fantasy has always been with me. The first book I ever read was a fantasy book. I began to read the Harry Potter series in second grade. I read Robin Hood in third grade. I completed ever one of Tolkien's books by fifth, and by sixth grade I was re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia for the fifth time. I saw Star Wars with my dad and uncle in the re-release. I discovered the Galactica before I had ever even heard of Iraq (meaning pre-9/11). I have been fighting monsters and rescuing my raggedy Ann doll since I was three. I am well versed in Elvish, Dwarfish, and three dialects of Klingon. So, to say I like fantasy and using my imagination is a slight understatement!
To me, fantasy is more than child's play. It is more than a hyper-active imagination. To me the ability to imagine fantastic, and un-earthly things, is a gift from God. He created everything on in this universe, and the imagination is one of them.
If this is so, than why is it that so many Christian groups scorn the imagination today? Why do they attack the fantasy novels and the games that capture the minds of so many people?
J.K. Rowling created a world of fantasy and magic in her book series Harry Potter. However, instead of being praised for the wonderful world she made or her ability to make kids fall in love with reading, she is attacked because she depicts magic in her books.
Yes, we are told not to practice any form of magic or wizardry (Deuteronomy 18:10-11), but reading about it is far from practicing it. Need I remind you that one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the last century, C.S. Lewis, wrote about magic in his books too? Beyond magic, is these woman's books so bad?
No, not at all. Her books pass along good teachings. The central theme of her series, from the eyes of anyone but a witch-hunter, is love! It is love that kept Harry alive. It is because of love that his mother died for him. It is love that defines Harry Potter from the evil Lord Voldemort. If anything, this series shows how great love is!
There is courage. That's a trait we want all our kids to have. It's a trait we all want to have! It takes courage to walk to your death, in order to save the ones you love. It takes courage to do the things that Harry has to do in order to save his friends.
How about justice? Even in the face of extraordinary disadvantages, good always come out on top over evil. Harry is a teenage boy, thrown into a entirely new world when he turns 13. He faces off against the most powerful human in the world. The only things Harry has going for him are love, courage, and goodness. Against terrible odds he triumphs over his enemy and saves the world from the tyrannic, genocidal, maniac. And all that in the first book!
So yes, Harry Potter does show magic, but if we can only look past that veil we will see a story rooted in moral teachings that any parent would want to instill in their child. In fact, I am not even sure if the magic in this book is such a big deal at all. It may very well enhance the learning potential of this book.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us to learn about the evil and the pagan things of this world, so that we may better combat them. If we approach the magic elements of Harry Potter as a learning experience than there is no harm at all in this wonderful book series Rowling has written.
In fact, I am a perfect example for pro-Harry Potter advocates. I have read the series more than 8 times (I re-read the entire series before each movie). I have all the extra books, like the one filled with the creatures and monsters of Rowling's world. I have seen, and own, every Harry Potter movie. I even have the complete Lego themed Harry Potter set. I am, however, not a corrupt, evil, occult child. I am a perfectly fine and faithful Christian. I own more Bibles than I know what to do with. I attend Sunday services every week, followed by youth group every Sunday night. Wednesday I attend two Bible studies, at two different churches. I have turned my sister to God and have brought both my parents towards God once more.
For such a terribly evil series of books, I turned out pretty fine!
Next time I will talk a little about Tolkien, I think...
I want to preface this by stating that I love fantasy. I love finding a corner in the house, or a chair in the yard, and just sinking into a good fantasy novel. I love the worlds that can come to life in my head. And my love for fantasy does not stop at the end of the book. I am a very imaginative person. I have worlds that no one knows about but me (and of course God), that exist only in my head. No one has ever touched these fantastic worlds and no one ever will. They are places I can go when I need to get away from people, and they are places I can go when I need to get away with God.
Fantasy has always been with me. The first book I ever read was a fantasy book. I began to read the Harry Potter series in second grade. I read Robin Hood in third grade. I completed ever one of Tolkien's books by fifth, and by sixth grade I was re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia for the fifth time. I saw Star Wars with my dad and uncle in the re-release. I discovered the Galactica before I had ever even heard of Iraq (meaning pre-9/11). I have been fighting monsters and rescuing my raggedy Ann doll since I was three. I am well versed in Elvish, Dwarfish, and three dialects of Klingon. So, to say I like fantasy and using my imagination is a slight understatement!
To me, fantasy is more than child's play. It is more than a hyper-active imagination. To me the ability to imagine fantastic, and un-earthly things, is a gift from God. He created everything on in this universe, and the imagination is one of them.
If this is so, than why is it that so many Christian groups scorn the imagination today? Why do they attack the fantasy novels and the games that capture the minds of so many people?
J.K. Rowling created a world of fantasy and magic in her book series Harry Potter. However, instead of being praised for the wonderful world she made or her ability to make kids fall in love with reading, she is attacked because she depicts magic in her books.
Yes, we are told not to practice any form of magic or wizardry (Deuteronomy 18:10-11), but reading about it is far from practicing it. Need I remind you that one of the greatest Christian thinkers of the last century, C.S. Lewis, wrote about magic in his books too? Beyond magic, is these woman's books so bad?
No, not at all. Her books pass along good teachings. The central theme of her series, from the eyes of anyone but a witch-hunter, is love! It is love that kept Harry alive. It is because of love that his mother died for him. It is love that defines Harry Potter from the evil Lord Voldemort. If anything, this series shows how great love is!
There is courage. That's a trait we want all our kids to have. It's a trait we all want to have! It takes courage to walk to your death, in order to save the ones you love. It takes courage to do the things that Harry has to do in order to save his friends.
How about justice? Even in the face of extraordinary disadvantages, good always come out on top over evil. Harry is a teenage boy, thrown into a entirely new world when he turns 13. He faces off against the most powerful human in the world. The only things Harry has going for him are love, courage, and goodness. Against terrible odds he triumphs over his enemy and saves the world from the tyrannic, genocidal, maniac. And all that in the first book!
So yes, Harry Potter does show magic, but if we can only look past that veil we will see a story rooted in moral teachings that any parent would want to instill in their child. In fact, I am not even sure if the magic in this book is such a big deal at all. It may very well enhance the learning potential of this book.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us to learn about the evil and the pagan things of this world, so that we may better combat them. If we approach the magic elements of Harry Potter as a learning experience than there is no harm at all in this wonderful book series Rowling has written.
In fact, I am a perfect example for pro-Harry Potter advocates. I have read the series more than 8 times (I re-read the entire series before each movie). I have all the extra books, like the one filled with the creatures and monsters of Rowling's world. I have seen, and own, every Harry Potter movie. I even have the complete Lego themed Harry Potter set. I am, however, not a corrupt, evil, occult child. I am a perfectly fine and faithful Christian. I own more Bibles than I know what to do with. I attend Sunday services every week, followed by youth group every Sunday night. Wednesday I attend two Bible studies, at two different churches. I have turned my sister to God and have brought both my parents towards God once more.
For such a terribly evil series of books, I turned out pretty fine!
Next time I will talk a little about Tolkien, I think...
I agree, Pard. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres. I think its because by using fantasy as the medium, the clash between good and evil, between right and wrong, can, in a literary way, be more focused. The stories are certainly more exciting.
