Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. -- Exodus 22:18 (KJV)
I did watch the first three Harry Potter movies, and I have to say, they are entertaining. The simple fact is, though, that they glorify witches and sorcerers. Each time they told Hermione Granger that she was "a good witch", or made reference to the full name of Hogwarts -- "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"-- I was bothered. This is the simple thing that is very wrong with this series. Although it is clearly understood that the God of Christianity hates witches, Christians have become accepting of witches and sorcery through a movie simply because "it is not real". This argument does not fly with me. If you are unwilling to see
Brokeback Mountain, they why do you accept this other type of sin -- because it is more fun?
When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you. -- Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NKJV)
Horsemen charge with bright sword and glittering spear. There is a multitude of slain, A great number of bodies, Countless corpses- They stumble over the corpses-- Because of the multitude of harlotries of the seductive harlot, The mistress of sorceries, Who sells nations through her harlotries, And families through her sorceries. "Behold, I am against you,” says the LORD of hosts; "I will lift your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, And the kingdoms your shame. -- Nahum 3:3-5 (NKJV)
God said he drove out the nations that had the land of Canaan before the Israelites because of this evil, yet we give children books glorifying it and take our kids to see this "harmless" movie. Yes, this does mean you should have a problem with the "christian"
Lord of the Rings. The difference is one of degrees; while
Lord of the Rings had a couple wizards, Harry Potter is all about them. One analogy I heard in college makes sense here, especially in a world in which, not surprisingly, Wicca is America's fastest growing religion:
"If I gave you a glass to drink, and I told you it had poison in it would you drink it?
What is I told you it was only 50% poison? Would you drink it?
How about 10% poison?"
The message is simple: if you accept a small amount of evil it is still evil.
So though I find the stories well done and the characters complex, I cannot watch another Harry Potter movie. If you care about doing evil, you should not either. But, hey, if sin is no biggie, then continue to be blind!
Do you think movies like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings teach children to be okay with witchcraft and sorcery? Why or why not, and how do you draw your conclusions?
Comments (126)
wow, seriously? it's a children's series, and it doesn't even attack organized religion like some books do.
at least you didn't make any jabs at dumbledore's sexuality.
when i first started reading harry potter and seeing the movies at about 7 or 8, i was old enough to distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality. i don't think reading harry potter is going to destroy your faith or be unpleasing to god unless you start to believe in it. it's simply entertainment. both those verses say that one should not practice witchcraft, not that one should not be entertained by fake accounts of it.
You have to say these scriptures encourage the killing of the wizards and witches before you can say they encourage you to not watch movies concerning fictional accounts of wizards and witches.
i'm confused that though you've written the answer to your own challenge, it still bothers you: "Although it is clearly understood that the God of Christianity hates witches, Christians have become accepting of witches and sorcery through a movie simply because "it is not real". This argument does not fly with me. If you are unwilling to see Brokeback Mountain, they why do you accept this other type of sin -- because it is more fun?"
Brokeback Mountain could be argued to have been "unChristian" on better grounds precisely because it was a realist film. there was no fairytale context in that movie used to convey an altogether different message. yet here in Hogwarts, there is. make-believe is the context used to convey rather traditional messages about friendship, loyalty, and the starkness between good and evil.
the question i'd pose to you is: have you ever watched scooby doo? isn't that, and other shows like Aladdin or Sky High equally evil? they all involve the supernatural, right? christians really need to get relevant.
It's not even the same type of witchcraft that they would be talking about in the Bible.
And the "wizards" in the lord of the rings are actually Maia sent by the Valar to watch middle earth and keep it safe from Sauron.
You are playing a very semantical game. You clearly dislike the words "witch" and "wizard" more than what they may or may not actually represent.
Yea. Let's forget all those good lessons it teaches kids when it comes to recognizing and rejecting the evils of discrimination. Let's solely focus on the harmless, fictional, and fantasy aspect of the characters being witches and wizards. It's not even encouraging people to practice sorcery. Where the hell are getting this?
That's like attacking Twilight for being about vampires when in reality people should be focusing on the message it sends to young girls, that being submissive to the guy who's stalking and controlling you is OK. Where's your critique of that?
0% opinion? Bull. 0 eprops for your "zero" opinion.
Oh, and perhaps we as Christians should also stop reading the Bible because of prostitution and rape contained therein. Wait, God was trying to make a point with these? Well, okay. Perhaps then as a reader and consumer of FICTION it's more important to recognize the points the author makes through the elements of fiction, such as setting, plot, characters, etc. Harry Potter values the importance of friendship, the bonds of family, and the triumph of good over evil. Put away your red pen and spend your time doing more important things for God.
Eh. I think they're harmless. I was a pre-teen/young teen when these books were insanely popular and most of my friends read them. None of them tried to practice witchcraft after doing so. I guess though that they were smart and realized it's not real and won't ever be real. *shrugs* I never read them though.
I don't think watching the movies/reading the books is sinning. It would be sinning though if you tried to practice the things seen in the movie. However, I think most Christians are smart enough not to do that. *shrugs*
I see what you're saying but it's a slippery slope at where to draw the line. Will you only eat at restaurants that are owned by Christians because otherwise you would be supporting their ungodly lifestyle if they're not Christians? Will you not drink Coke because it's owned by Mormons? Etc,.....
@salvatruca_stalking_havok13@xanga - @nyclegodesi24@xanga - I agree (:
you're insulting a big harry potter fan here, and if you took the time to read the series, you would recognize that its theme can be classified as a christian one. the whole series is a battle between good and evil, where good eventually wins in the end.
if you've never read the books, i don't think it's right to say whether the series against the bible or not. after all, the bible is just a clever way to keep society in check.
@nyclegodesi24@xanga - Question: what's supernatural about Scooby Doo? I thought all the "bad guys" were people in masks. Did I miss something major here? Oh, no...
Christians have really blown this series out of proportion. My family (we're Christian) recently got hooked on the series. Everyone's old enough that they're not going to try to be just like Harry. If you have discretion and can separate reality from fantasy, this series shouldn't be a problem. It's nothing like real witchcraft, anyway.
And Tolkien was the one who converted C.S. Lewis, so I doubt he was trying to propagate witchcraft. I'm surprised you didn't make an argument against The Chronicles of Narnia, which includes river and nature gods, witches, spirits, and other mythological creatures.
First, Brokeback Mountain is all kinds of fun.
But in all seriousness, really? Revelife is so starved for posts that we get to read about how evil Harry Potter is? Furthermore, to go after Lord of the Rings, which by all literary accounts is a Christian allegory?
Come on.
This is a tired debate. Is Harry Potter an evil series? No. It is a simple story of good vs. evil.
But Lord of the Rings...you've attacked a series that is so thick with Christian under (and some serious over) tones that it really cheapens your argument.
Tossing in Bible verses doesn't prove any further points, either.
@nyclegodesi24@xanga - Supernatural element is not what God abhors, for he is an supernatural being who has his follows who interact with him on that plan.. Paul went into the "third heaven" but Saul was cursed for seeking answers from a medium
@skylar_rose@xanga - If bible verses do not prove a point to "believer" what exactly do you believe in?
@x_sensationalquotes@xanga - i did on the other hand take the time to watch 3 of them before coming to my judgement.. but each time they mentioned "hogarts... school of WITCHCRAFT and wizardy" it got harder and harder for me to take... the contrast between Harry Potter were all the good guys are witches and sorcerers.. and Lord of the Ring which happens to have a wizard or two in it is strong... yet the portrayal of sorcerers is just as wrong
@arenfro@xanga It is NOT my opinion that God hates witches... (the God of the bible.)
@foxes_have_holes@xanga - Ok let's play that game... even by that game Harry Potter still fails, though Lord of the rings does not... but try to explain to a child why those sorcerers are ok in LOTR and not ok in Harry Potter....
The real thing is not to seek power from "magic"...
...Young people today have NOT made this distinction between real and fiction as WICCA is the fastest growing religion among youth. I guess they do buy the idea of it being "just fake" either.
The reality is power CAN be had from witchcraft or GOD... But not both.
Use that to put yourself in the shoes of people who are bothered when someone approaches and self- righteously proclaims to be a Christian.
@TheSutraDude@xanga - I agree about that too... The bible says:
Matthew 23:15
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.
@BiblicalTruth2@xanga - I'm a believer, of this I have no doubt. However, when I disagree with something in relation to Biblical teaching, a didactic approach serves little purpose. It's an overwrought method of forcing ideals.
Furthermore, it is a selective form of argument. On one hand, there are innumerable passages damning most people who currently live and breathe (and I'm talking good Christian folk). On the other, we have a merciful and loving God.
The God of the Old Testament was vengeful and a god of Wrath (ironically one of the seven deadly sins).
Yet, Mary Magdalene was to be stoned, and Christ embraced her for her sins.
It is an argument based on semantics. Quoting a book that provides two very different views on the same being lends itself to contradiction.
I am a Christian, but I follow the God of love.
Which God is yours?
Oh, you're SO right! What was I thinking, reading the arguably best children's series in the world? Please, I do hope God will forgive me for all the witchcraft I've committed. LOLWAIT. I HAVEN'T TURNED ANYONE INTO A FROG OR STOLEN THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN. Honest to God, have you no idea what the books are trying to get across? No, perhaps your ignorance won't let you. Alas, the open-minded have let J.K. Rowling arouse their intrigue and paint before us the tale of a young boy who, despite the clear and powerful presence of evil, overcomes damn-near impossible obstacles with the aid of friendship, bravery, and intelligence. Oh, and he's a wizard. Right. We should disregard all else because he carries a wand in his pocket.
By the way, I would LOVE to hear your arguments against Brokeback Mountain. Personally, the only thing I have against it is they should have went with a gay astronaut movie rather than a gay cowboy one.
@MisterAnthonyMichael@xanga - Thank you so much for this response!!! Seriously!!! Happy feelings to you :)
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
-- Exodus 22:18 (KJV)
And with this verse as a key reference, and fear of Satan's power as motivator, hundreds of innocent women were tortured and killed in the name of Christ.
Now, the fervent of today seek to protect themselves from a piece of fiction.
Mercy. The deceiver has indeed done a great work.
@skylar_rose@xanga - The God of the Universe did not change when He sent his son.