Harry Potter Books

[tater03]

I enjoy these books alot. I was just wondering what you all thought about them? I ask this because my mother in law feels that I should not allow my sons to read these books because to make along story short she thinks they are not good books for a religious person to read. I just feel that I read them in fun and I don't agree with her views.

Good books for kiddies are the first few books. After the Goblet of fire it may get a little dark for little kiddies of the undesensitised* kind.

*thats a word right?

[John Jude Farragut]

Hmm. Good question! To me (if you don't mind my long-winded opinion), I think that it really boils down to what God might be saying through your conscience. If you feel that He wouldn't allow them, then don't read them. But if your conscience is undisturbed, and you objectively feel there's no reason to not read them, then by all means read them! They're incredible. It's amazing how Rowling can write! (I just never got through them myself.) One thing that I do want to note is that I know someone who feels that whenever she reads the books, it's opening a wrong door. I don't know if she feels that the books would be meant for just an escape, or if they allow a deeper, more sinister darkness to pervade--which they could. But it's all a matter of judgment and discernment, and because of the nature of the books, the decision should be based more strongly on what God says.

Hope that helps!

>>John

[Commodore Angryy]

Is the bible good for kiddies? It's full of 'God hates fags' 'black people are cursed' 'stone anyone that does anything' 'crucify him' 'torture them'. personally, i don't see how something that at least people accept is a work of fiction, can be considered dangerous.

[Clark Griswold]

Originally Posted by Commodore Angryy

Is the bible good for kiddies? It's full of 'God hates fags' 'black people are cursed' 'stone anyone that does anything' 'crucify him' 'torture them'. personally, i don't see how something that at least people accept is a work of fiction, can be considered dangerous.

Your understanding of the bible is really something, Commy.
Also just so you know, the bible doesn't say a thing about black people being cursed.
I'd have thought a person such as yourself who's read the book three times would have known that.


For the record, the Christians who raise the alarm over "Harry Potter" and the like make me laugh, but not in the good way.
Rowling doesn't try to portray her characters or the things they do as being "real".

There's plenty of things actually occuring 'round the world Christians OUGHT to be alarmed by instead of looking for Satan in a children's book about imaginary kids.

[wlarus2034]

There's plenty of things actually occuring 'round the world Christians OUGHT to be alarmed by instead of looking for Satan in a children's book about imaginary kids.

Absolutely. Point well made. The reality of evil is all around us on this modern age. Actually I found the last book and movie's message to be positive as the kids battle their resident tyranny. It is too bad that we Christians are not accomplishing the same thing.

[Mycernius]

I have a cousin who will not read the HP books because her of her conversion to Baptism and she now thinks they are full of bad, evil things, not fit for reading by good Christians. They question is how her, and others like her know how bad they are, after all they have never read them? It is like catholic organisations getting worked up about The Golden Compass because the book is anti-religious (closer to being anti-catholic) and the author is, shock, horror, don't let your children see this, an atheist. The thing is they have never read the book and seen the film and probably will never do. Come on people, grow up. Most people, be them Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Hindu, will not be bothered by such petty, trivial things.

[Clark Griswold]

Originally Posted by Mycernius

I have a cousin who will not read the HP books because her of her conversion to Baptism and she now thinks they are full of bad, evil things, not fit for reading by good Christians. They question is how her, and others like her know how bad they are, after all they have never read them? It is like catholic organisations getting worked up about The Golden Compass because the book is anti-religious (closer to being anti-catholic) and the author is, shock, horror, don't let your children see this, an atheist. The thing is they have never read the book and seen the film and probably will never do. Come on people, grow up. Most people, be them Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Hindu, will not be bothered by such petty, trivial things.

Though I myself don't fear myself being corrupted by a children's book, Christians actually DO have reason to not endorse such things because the bible clearly forbids sorcery for believers, and any other of the "magical dark arts".

In a nutshell, some Christian parents see exposing their children to such glorified sorcery the same way they'd see taking their little girls to a Brittney Spears concert during which the message is clearly that having random, unmarried sex and the exuding of a whorish sexuality is "the" thing to do.

Personally, I never worried about such things as the parent of younger kids because the wife and I discussed "magic" and the like with our girls--therefore we had no reason to forbid them from the Oz books, etc.

These parents just want to raise up good Godly kids, and ther're doing their best to please God, so no matter how wrong-headed you may see that, they do have reasons for believing as they do.
Like you, they just tee it up every day and do the best they can with the information they have.

[John Jude Farragut]

"There's plenty of things actually occuring 'round the world Christians OUGHT to be alarmed by instead of looking for Satan in a children's book about imaginary kids."

I agree! But Satan will use any means to filter into a lone individual's mind. Often times, it can be through things that seem entirely innocent, and when he does take residence in a person's mind, it's no longer trivial or unimportant. He is the father of darkness; any good earthly thing can and will be used for great evil. Sex is an excellent example, especially in these times. Even the Bible can be twisted by Satan to keep people deceived!

By the way, Clark, thank you for that post above. That's an excellent comparison you made!

[JM]

Originally Posted by John Jude Farragut

"There's plenty of things actually occuring 'round the world Christians OUGHT to be alarmed by instead of looking for Satan in a children's book about imaginary kids."

I agree! But Satan will use any means to filter into a lone individual's mind. Often times, it can be through things that seem entirely innocent, and when he does take residence in a person's mind, it's no longer trivial or unimportant. He is the father of darkness; any good earthly thing can and will be used for great evil. Sex is an excellent example, especially in these times. Even the Bible can be twisted by Satan to keep people deceived!

By the way, Clark, thank you for that post above. That's an excellent comparison you made!

Well according the the bible, which new testament scholars have agreed that it cant be taken literal

There is much that has been made up through folk lore and mythology