Category: philosophy/religion topics
Hi, I am new posting on this board here. I know that there are a lot of Harry Potter fans on the zone, and if there is anyone reading this I'm not trying to offend anyone. But after all, I am a Christian. Do you think it is right for a person to watch those Harry Potter movies or read the books? After all, there is a lot of magic stuff in the movies and in the books too. I won't lie to you I read a few of them, but after consulting with God's word I decided for me it was not right. So what do you think? I would like to hear your opinions. Thank you.
Hi, in my opinion one should not read it. There is a spiritual battle going on, and I think you open your heart up for negative spiritual stuff when you read them. Having said that, I started reading them before I became a christian, and so now fleshly curiosity had me finish them when I was a christian, because I wanted to know the end. I am not watching the movies now though. I was tempted once but I withstood. So I would judge nobody for reading them, but I won't anymore.
I agree that a person who is a Christian should not read the books or watch the movies because like the last post said, the books/movies causes spiritual warfare in the mind. I'm certainly not judging someone if they read them, although I think it is wrong for someone who is a Christian to do so. I just wanted to share my points of view with everyone who looks at the religion board and state my opinion.
isn't a questioning mind a good thing though? just my two pence worth here. and btw, if you want to talk about magic and stuff, read the narnia books, they're full of it, as are j r r tolkin's books, but both men were devout christians too. so magic, religion, depends what you call it. and also, spirituality isn't a bad thing either. basically jesus said, do un to your neighbour as you would have him do un to you, and that for me is the central teaching of any right thinking person, if he be called Jesus, or by another name.
You've got a point there. I guess I heard that Narnia has only magic used by the evil characters in the story. I'm not sure though as I haven't read it. I didn't know that Tolkien was a christian. I guess Narnia has a christian message, probably thatis why we are ignoringaccepting the fact that there is magic in it.
I have heard about the Narnia books, and I do agree with what has been said here so far. The biggest thing I think that I'm trying to say is that we should not believe in the magic stuff that is portrayed in the Harry Potter books, or in the movies. We should not take all of that magic stuff to heart, because it is only make believe. We should only believe in God who sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so that we can do our best to live for him, and work hard to become the Christians he wants us to be.
I love Harry Potter! I am not a Christian, but I have friends who are who read the books and watch the movies... I think people should read them and decide if they like them based on the story and not on their religion. The books are about love, friendship, chalenges and accomplishments, and in the end, good does win over evil or however you want to put it. HP will always be one of my favorite series no matter how old I get and I can't wait to see the seventh movie or I guess I should say movies, since it will be in two parts. *Smiles*
I do agree that we should make up our own mind how we believe about the books or movies. If you are a Christian, then you should look at the spiritual side of it and weith the pros and cons of what it would mean for you if you read it spiritually; then look at the fun side of it, and there are normally all pros to reading them from the fun side. but what you have to ask yourself is this; is it spiritually right for me to read those books or watch the movies knowing what you know about what the bible says about magic and divination, and are you willing to take the chance of the spiritual warfare in your life? If so, then it's your choice, but I myself am not going to take that chance. I have enough spiritual warfare going on in my life without adding something like those books or movies to them. I know we all have a choice as to whether we will read them or not, and my choice is not to read them.
cs lewis wrote of aslan the lion, now aslan had a very similar life to someone in a religious text i believe. hmm. who could that be? basically narnia books are full of christian reference.
As a nonChristian, I can't help but laugh at some of this. I mean, I know you guys are sincere, but these books are totally fiction. It's not like any of the "magic" will do anything. How can it cause any kind of "spiritual warfare" when there's nothing religious in it? That's like saying don't read Sherlock Holmes because you might suddenly get the urge to drop all modern things, live the Victorian life style and become a detective. I think it's sad that a book that's meant for entertainment purposes only can spawn such hatred, to the point where schools have chosen to ban it. Very good points abpout Tolkien. He was certainly Christian and I've never heard these kinds of arguments about his books. On the flip side, just to be fair, HP might give people a false impression of real magic. I myself don't practise it, but I'm sure that some people have looked at some of the less fantasy-like aspects of these books and said (oh cool. Magic works like that?" Even those who know it doesn't might join a religion involving magic to fit in or because they're a fan of the books, rather than for the right reason of really wanting to explore the faith they've chosen. That said, there's an excellent course on arithmomancy (numerology) on a Harry Potter bored that's totally accessible and usable for those, like myself, who seriously wish to learn the art.
Firstly, the Harry Potter books are not encouraging you to do magic. They are not saying that this is something you can go out and do, they are not teaching you magic tricks. Magic is merely used there to create a setting and catalyst for the story to move forward. That's my problem with Christians burning the books and refusing to read them. Should we not read any novel because the people in it did not exist actually. Is it wrong to watch James Bond because he has powers we can't possibly achieve?
If you read the HP books, especially the last one (and I presume you have, else this is a spoiler), the ending could not be more Christian, that the greatest thing you can do for those who love is to give up your life, whether you are killed by being nailed to the cross or some imaginary spell, or a bullet.
Secondly Christianity does not preach ignorance, as far as I understand. If you simply ignore anything that does not agree with your point of view you play right into the hands of those who want to manipulate you. Ignorance is dangerous and I go as far as to say it is unchristian. How can you possibly decide HP is evil if you have not even botherred to read it? I'd be ashamed to be a Christian if really and truly the religion forbids you from reading anything describing something that is not compatible with it, and a religion that strifes to keep you in the dark and uninformed. Will you refuse to learn math, because God is above math, or will you refuse to read biology or go to the doctors because it is God's work to heal and educate you?
I find it alarming there are people who actually think HP is evil and do not want to read it.
At least I have not yet tried to jump off the roof with our broom or waved it around expansively shouting "crusio" whenever my neighbour annoys me.
First of all, I did read a few of the Harry Potter books, so I'm not basing this on what someone has told me, or what someone is telling me to say. I am basing my writings on what I have learned and I'm just sharing my views on this subject. Second of all, I think that it is books like Harry Potter that gives people the idea it is okay to practice magic but it is not. The word of God tells us it is wrong, and it is your choice to read the bible to learn why it is wrong. If you read the word and you choose to practice magic then that's your decision, just like it is your choice to read the HP books or watch the HP movies. People are influenced by books, tv programs, ETC. and I'm not trying to influence anyone. I'm just sharing my faith of how I feel about the HP books and movies. I think people need to look at their value system, look at the movies or books and the pros and cons of reading the books or watching tv, and if you are a Christian the most important thing you can do is to read the bible and pray about it. We all have free will which God has given us, and if you decide to read the books or watch the movies it's your choice.
The Harry Potter books are not anti-Christian, pro-witchcraft, or anything of the sort. They're not a religious text, they're not an instructional series on how to perform dark arts. They're a collection of books geared at young adults about a boy who is neglected by his family at home, but finds a place for himself at school by using his own special talents to protect his loved ones and the innocent. This just happens to be symbolized in the form of "magic spells" instead of long passages about morality, so that children can better understand what it means to be an ethical person, a hard worker and a good friend.
In general, if you're looking for something evil, you're always going to find it. If you're looking for good, you'll find that too.
The Chronicles of Narnia are very much the same, except more blatantly written from a Christian perspective. It doesn't make them less good or evil, it makes them written by an author who loved Christianity.
ladies and gentlemen let's say this together. one two three. the harry potter series are books and movies. These are or are based on novels. novels are fiction. fiction is not real.
i am a southern baptist sunday school teacher. i totally agree with what miss m. and others have said here. in fact, i would even go so far as to say that God does not want us to live in fear. If we are concerned that some book is going to have a hold on us, that is what we are doing. It is our choice to read whatever we want as long as it is morally and ethically sound. Harry potter fits these categories.
Well said Turricane.
I would encourage my kids to read HP, once they are old enough to understand that fiction is fiction, and I'd want them to read those books because they really whos you the value of honesty, friendship and love, which is precisely what Christianity does and should inspire, not fear, ignorance and prejudice.
Of course, perhaps, itis inappropriate reading for very young kids who may not understand that the magic is simply a power to move the story forward, but not the center or purpose of the books as a whole. Then again, kids see a lot of cartoons about talking animals and magic carpets and so on, and I have not seen that this has negative effect on them.
Of course people are free to choose, including the choice to burn books and create their own moral values. I worry about people like that and feel they got no place around me or my family, but the world is made up of all sorts.
I think fantasy books tend to be very good because they generally paint very strong pictures of good vs evil, they tend to exaggerate it to create a sense of tension and purpose to the world the stories take place in, and they offer a glimpse into major self discoveries and self realizations, may be even more so than any type of genre, which is what makes them special in my mind.
personally, i prefer to watch harry potter. i like hearing the diffrent parts actually being spoken. brings more life in to the story, in my opinion.
If you say you're not going to read Harry Potter because it is against your religion and you want to be consistent, you shouldn't watch television or go on the internet as you may encounter things that are against the teachings of your religion. You certainly shouldn't go to the library, because you may select a book, not realising initially that it contains material that is against the teachings of your religion.
Personally, I feel secure about my beliefs, so I don't mind reading things that have the potential to influence them in a good or bad way. The strength of your mind is what matters, not the things that can influence it. If your mind and your ability to resist and oppose bad and wrong things are strong enough, you will do as God would want you to.
Therein lies your problem. If someone wishes to practise real magic, that's his or her choice. No one has the right to tell him/her not to do so. Now, if you said that Christians, according to their religion, shouldn't practise it, I'd have no problem with that. But people outside your faith, or I'd even say people outside your denomination of your faith, can believe and practise as they like. It's interesting how you say it's your opinion and how people have a choice, but in the same breath, you say that it's absolutely wrong to practise magic. It's these attitudes that make those of us outside the Christian community shun those who follow that religion. On the contrary, those Christians who have open and tolerant minds, those who believe that questioning things and obtaining knowledge is a good thing give me hope that someday, we may bridge the gap which exists between pagans and Christians or at least be more understanding towards one another.
OK, a few things. I am a Christian, and do believe in spiritual warfare, so I know what the early posters are talking about. However, I do not believe that HP, or books like it, play a part in that.
Wildebrew, I've never seen anything in Christianity that would forbid someone from reading the Harry Potter books, or ones like them. Certain denominations may have their own ideas about it, but when it all is said and done, each person, Christian or otherwise, must make their own choice.
I have met many Christians who feel they should not read the HP books or watch the movies. That is their right and their choice, though I personally do not agree with it. I am a Christian, and am fully capable of separating fact, faith, and fiction. Though I am not the biggest HP fan myself, it has nothing at all to do with my faith. It's that I think Rowlling is a terrible writer. However, I've read the books and watched the movies for curiosity's sake.
I do not believe the books encourage the practicing of magic, or even imply that it is real. Rowling knows as well as anyone that it is not, but that her stories sell, so she wrote them. I don't blame her nor hold that against her, or think she's a bad person for doing so
I also find that many of the Christians who are against reading the HP books or watching the movies never realized the authors like CS Lewis and Tolkien were also Christians, and used plenty of magic in their writings, too. It's a very interesting inconsistency, I think.
I agree with not being the biggest fan of HP. I think she sets the world up beautifully, the mix of magic and real orld is very good, especially in the first couple of books.
I find books 5 and 6 masterly writings, they both have fairly unhappy ending and have a lot of tension and unease and excellent characters, but the rest of the series I don't find particularly great, except I certainly cannot see they offend or are against any religion.
I'm not a big fan of the movies, but I hardly ever am, once I've read the book, because I picture things differently in my head I suppose.
I can see books that may not sit well with Christians, or muslims or any religion, books that specifically make fun of the faith or question it. I still think it is wrong to just ignore whatever does not fit into your world picture or what your pasteur tells you on Sundays. We must have our brains and analytic ability and creative ability for a reason.
I find Lord of the Rings pretty good and it definitely is written from a very Christian perspective, my favorite series is the Wheel of Time, where the main character really has a lot of comparisons to Jesus, except he does not realize he needs to save the world from birth, he is not all knowing or all ighty or faultless, but he suffers a lot of the same things. That series draws on a lot of religious and mythical elements and is just a bloody fantastic read.
First of all, magic, unfortunately, is not just make believe. It is what the enemy, the devil, uses to counterfeit the christian supernatural realm. Thus, in my opinion, it can open a door to demons.
And yes we ought to work hard to be good christians and become more christlike, but in god's strength. We can't do it out of our own strength.
Magic, in general, isn't make believe no. But anyone, from the newest Wiccan to the most hard core practitioner of an ancient magical tradition like Druidism, will tell you that the stuff in Harry Potter is pure fiction. And last time I checked, most religions with magical elements weren't out to destroy the world or Christians etc. They just want to have the same rights and freedoms as everyone else.
One more thing:
The word says: Everything is permissible to me, but not everything is beneficial.
So I agree with PGG.
Whoever said about if we don't watch or read Harry Potter we couldn't go on the internet or watch TV, let me explain this: There is a difference between inevitably encountering things that go against the religion, and purposefully deciding to encounter them. I hardly ever watch TV, and if I do, I watch christian channels. I choose carefully what sites I am going online. If I, for example, come here to make other friends and be a blessing to people, and I accidentally meet a few people who stir trouble, that is not my choise. If I read Harry Potter even though I'm convinced that this can open a spiritual door, I do it purposefully, and that is what we are talking about.
Does that mean, and I ask this sincerely, that you're afraid or unwilling to try new things in general? Do you have any nonchristian friends, go out in public/restaurants and get nervous, listen to the radio? If you work, how do you interact with your nonChristian co-workers or with Christian ones who view things differently? again, I'm being sincerely, not sarcastic.
This board is a little bit shocking. I am taking into consideration that I live in a very mixed city, ethnicities and different religions and perhaps my perspective on the topic is guided by this, but seriously, the last few hundred times I read the bible, there was blatant magic being thrown about!
Moses parts the read sea: Jesus makes wine out of water, turns a couple of fish into many, and brings people back from the dead....
If you are saying this isn't magic, that it's the work of the lord, than you've greatly misunderstood what magic is, or simply have not read the bible.
The same mindset which complains of evolution being taught in the classroom, because, it goes against the bible, and it creates "spiritual warfare," is a very similar mindset to that which tells children that reading a fictional story taking place in a magical world, is evil, or opens up doors to demons?
What demons?
Honestly, what would reading HP do for you in the evil sense?
Would it make one go out and try to perform magic tricks, or to scar children's faces, or to own a giant fat pet snake?
I mean, who visited Jesus when he was born? Was it not the three kings, the Three mages, The Three wise men?
Sorcerers! That’s who!
That’s what a wise man was, a witch doctor of the East!
But seriously, take a look at the bible and you will see that those who chose to follow Jesus, were those who asked questions, who had doubts, who struggled to understand the meaning behind his teachings.
Magic in the HP books, is nothing more than light sabers are to Star Wars.
If you struggle spiritually with that, then just imagine the struggles you will encounter when you realize that not everything your church believes in is justified, or even that the bible contradicts itself.
Huge hugs to you. I doubt they've read the Gnostic bibles or some of the Jewish texts with giants and the like in them either. I haven't, to be honest, but I do know about them. and I never even thought about it, but you're so right. I mean, didn't Jesus himself perform magic as you described? And those men who came to see him did so because of a star, so that now includes astrology. the fact is, much of christianity was taken directly from pagan faiths.
Astrology, large black clouds which hover over towns and suck people into them, chariots of fire, burning bushes, staffs which are dropped and can turn into a really big snake, which eats the snakes produced by the staffs which other wizards have dropped...
That's the bible, not HP, by the way.
The world would make so much better sense if it didn't have to be explained in only terms of good VS evil.
Sometimes a book is just a book.
i am reading in the nexct few months, the world according to narnia, which sets cs lewis books against the bible and sees where he got his info from, and how much of narnia is based in christianity, i will get back to you on this one. though the opening chapter sounds pretty good reading.
The Narnia books have never been my thing, either. I don't know why, I just don't like them, or CS Lewis's writing as well. I love LOTR. My favorite fantasy author is Tamora Pierce, who I think is a very good writer. and there is magic in all her books, too, but this has never given me cause not to read and enjoy them. i've also read the Twilight books, and though I dont' like some of the characters, I see no problem with reading those, either.
I think it is important to have an analytical mind and to ask questions, yet in the end, to have a set of beliefs one sticks to. I heard it said once that it's good to be open-minded enough to learn and take in new ideas, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out. I like that quote. I have Christian and NonChristian friends alike, and all are dear to me. Just some more of my thoughts on this.