Church Exorcist and Pro Life Priest Warns Against Harry Potter

[peanutproduct]

I read the first 10 pages of the this thread and thought I’d offer my own experience with Harry Potter, which seems to be the opposite from a few that I read.

The Harry Potter books were really popular around the time that I was 10 or 11 and the last came out while I was in college I think. I really enjoyed all of the books and some of the movies. I’ve read them multiple times and when I was younger, I joined message boards devoted to Harry Potter. I even made a ‘virtual Hogwarts’ type website in middle school (something I may have gotten interested in without Harry Potter anyway, but certainly led to a number of opportunities and even helped shaped the major I chose in college). However, never once was I drawn towards Wicca or even trying to read tea leaves.

I could see some children or teenagers wanting to look into these things after reading the books, however I don’t think it’s the case the majority of the time. I can only sample from a limited population, but while many of my friends were also fans of Harry Potter, none of them ever expressed any interest in the occult (at least not to me).

 

[Mumbles140]

Dear Mumbles140,

Many thanks for your response.

The fact remains that Rowling’s remark respecting this character was still downright irresponsible and impious and ought not to have been uttered by an author of children’s books, especially a professing Christian. Sorry old chap but I stand by that. There is not really anything more that I can add to what I have already said on that particular issue.

Well since you won’t respond directly to any of my criticisms of your arguments, and you continue to flaunt it as ‘irresponsible and impious’ than I guess there is no more point in continuing this line of argument.

On the contrary, it is ignorance of the faith that is the occasion of many being duped by the Potter series of books and seeing them as nothing more than harmless fantasy fun, rather than the inferior and culturally uhealthy reading material that they actually are. Their want of spiritual discernment, because it is not informed by faith, has seriously impaired their judgement so that they are unable perceive the insidious dangers of these novels. For example, whilst the Potter books do, at least at first glance, appear to disconnect witchcraft from spiritual realities, they, nevertheless, present it as all very exciting stuff and in no way spiritually hazardous. Alas, this renders the series potentially more corrupting, since it gives to the unsuspecting child a false sense of what witchcraft is all about.

**So I am ignorant of my faith, and have been duped by a series of fictional books? That is what you are accusing then, correct? I know my faith, and the Lord knows me by my works, and I do not deem these books to be an ‘insidious danger’, ‘culturally unwholesome’, nor in any way related to actual Occult practices.

I ask you now - do you consider it a sin to read these books?**

Finally, the classical works of Tolkein and C.S. Lewis are unapologetically Christian, the same cannot be said for Rowlings Potter series, which stands in stark contrast to the former. Thus, for example, the good characters in Middle Earth and Narnia do not cast spells upon people, do not call up spirits and commune with them like beloved neighbours, do not perform rituals and blend potions. The good characters of Hogwarts academy do. In Narnia a ring transports one to another world whilst in Middle Earth lightening flashes at a critical time to perform some powerful feat. However, at Hogwarts you have the evil Voldemort who enchants a diary to take possession of a girl’s soul! Now even a blind man on a galloping horse can surely see that there vast and substantial differences, requiring us to view Rowling’s witchcraft in a wholly different light from the Lewis and Tolkein magic. Moreover, Lewis himself said that his books are replete with Christian symbolism (e.g. Aslan as an umistakable Christ figure), covering such topics as Heaven and the consumation of all things. All of this is far removed from the Potter series as the east is from the west.

Don’t throw in this garbage about how those are unapologetically Christian. This is the hypocrisy of Eutenener that has been discussed. Every argument has been about the portrayal and use of magic, how is it ONLY the tool of the Devil, and there is no distinction between good and bad magic. The end, bottom line, no grey areas here. But this standard only holds true for works that aren’t specifically ‘Christian’? I’m sorry, but there is no other term for this than utter hypocrisy.

 

[Mumbles140]

I could see some children or teenagers wanting to look into these things after reading the books, however I don’t think it’s the case the majority of the time. I can only sample from a limited population, but while many of my friends were also fans of Harry Potter, none of them ever expressed any interest in the occult (at least not to me).

Thank you - and I assume this is because you have a firm grasp between what is real and what is fictional, not to mention a solid foundation in the faith.

Portrait, if you read what is above, you see that the average person sees maybe a small percentage of people who have read these books as wanting to ‘explore the Occult’ in life. Then, in view of Woodgate’s experiences, we see that Harry Potter was coincidental, and other factors such as rebellion against parents, being around bad influences, and a separation from religion are responsible.

You know, Mark David Chapman read Catcher in the Rye and murdered John Lennon. Does that mean Catcher in the Rye made him do it? Or is the fact that he had an obsession with a fictional book coincidental, whereas his extended drug use, psychological issues (including hallucinations), and other factors are to blame?

 

[gatewood1988]

Even though surrounding factors in my life and being completely sheltered from things growing up, I can at least testify that witchcraft is very real and very dangerous, while not against all fantasy literature, video games, TV shows, movies, etc, I think that we do need too, however be careful of what our children are subjected to. Most of the media nowadays puts witchcraft in a good light (Ex: Halloweentown on Disney Channel (the main character actually says shes a Wiccan), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wizards of Waverly Place, and the list goes on)) I understand now that this is fantasy, however children do not. What we need to do to help out the next generation is to make absolutely sure they aren’t dabbling in anything, even if it seems ok to us. Now, true there is fantasy out there, but there are many who are trying to escape the lives they are living with their parents and they seek a way to control things (in the case of me) I am actually saddened that most of those who turn to the occult are young girls who are looking for acceptance (I was a loner, a bookworm, suicidal, etc) for whatever reason. I am not saying that by watching one show will turn children into heathens, no but most of the time they can relate to it because of the main character and find others at school like them. It’s not hard to find books in our schools either, all they have to do is go to the section 133.3 and find a plethora of occult books at their fingertips. Bottom line: they are searching for a spiritual path that won’t criticize them in their mind. We just need to be aware of these things, I wish my parents were.

 

[Mumbles140]

Even though surrounding factors in my life and being completely sheltered from things growing up, I can at least testify that witchcraft is very real and very dangerous, while not against all fantasy literature, video games, TV shows, movies, etc, I think that we do need too, however be careful of what our children are subjected to. Most of the media nowadays puts witchcraft in a good light (Ex: Halloweentown on Disney Channel (the main character actually says shes a Wiccan), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wizards of Waverly Place, and the list goes on)) I understand now that this is fantasy, however children do not. What we need to do to help out the next generation is to make absolutely sure they aren’t dabbling in anything, even if it seems ok to us. Now, true there is fantasy out there, but there are many who are trying to escape the lives they are living with their parents and they seek a way to control things (in the case of me) I am actually saddened that most of those who turn to the occult are young girls who are looking for acceptance (I was a loner, a bookworm, suicidal, etc) for whatever reason. I am not saying that by watching one show will turn children into heathens, no but most of the time they can relate to it because of the main character and find others at school like them. It’s not hard to find books in our schools either, all they have to do is go to the section 133.3 and find a plethora of occult books at their fingertips. Bottom line: they are searching for a spiritual path that won’t criticize them in their mind. We just need to be aware of these things, I wish my parents were.

First, my apologies to Gatewood - I incorrectly referenced you as ‘Woodgate’ in my prior post. Please forgive me - I was in a rush and didn’t take the time (as I should have) to reference your post again.

Now, at the heart of the matter, this is something we all should be able to agree on. The truth is that there are a lot of things that are out there that can confuse this line. The Harry Potter series is clearly fictional in the same way Narnia and LOTR are, and that point is very evident. However, when you have television characters calling themselves Wiccan, which is an actual pagan practice, that is something to be concerned with. I’m not saying this will cause people to fall into that trap, but that is a real portrayal of ‘real’ witch craft. I mean, with Sabrina, she was literally a regular girl living a regular life, except she had magic powers and could make potions.

More importantly, when we are talking about younger children in their formative years, it is the role of the parents to filter out certain things which could confuse their children, reinforce the faith, and be positive role models for them. This is critical to the successful growth of children into young adults. And there are dangers with the Occult - very real and powerful dangers, but it is possible to be scrupulous concerning this matter.

I remember being in elementary school, having read Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in 4th grade (on my own), and hearing how parents wanted the books banned. I knew the reason why, and I had heard ‘that word’ before, but I also had certain lessons from my parents which instructed me about things like this. First, that term was a hateful word never to be used by me. Secondly, during the period when the book was written, that term was commonly used, and so the piece was historically accurate. Third, it is necessary to look at the context in which questionable things are used before judging them.

If I were to ask you if you’d read a book that repeatedly used a racial slur, what would you say? Now, if I asked you if you would ever read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, what would you say? You see, when you are aware of the context, it loses the danger. Now, when you start to slip on your grasp of the context (i.e. thinking it is okay to use racial slurs), you fall into that danger area.

 

[mdrummer5]

Even though surrounding factors in my life and being completely sheltered from things growing up, I can at least testify that witchcraft is very real and very dangerous, while not against all fantasy literature, video games, TV shows, movies, etc, I think that we do need too, however be careful of what our children are subjected to. Most of the media nowadays puts witchcraft in a good light (Ex: Halloweentown on Disney Channel (the main character actually says shes a Wiccan), Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Wizards of Waverly Place, and the list goes on)) I understand now that this is fantasy, however children do not. What we need to do to help out the next generation is to make absolutely sure they aren’t dabbling in anything, even if it seems ok to us. Now, true there is fantasy out there, but there are many who are trying to escape the lives they are living with their parents and they seek a way to control things (in the case of me) I am actually saddened that most of those who turn to the occult are young girls who are looking for acceptance (I was a loner, a bookworm, suicidal, etc) for whatever reason. I am not saying that by watching one show will turn children into heathens, no but most of the time they can relate to it because of the main character and find others at school like them.** It’s not hard to find books in our schools either, all they have to do is go to the section 133.3 and find a plethora of occult books at their fingertips. Bottom line: they are searching for a spiritual path that won’t criticize them in their mind. We just need to be aware of these things, I wish my parents were**.

Nobody here is suggesting that witchcraft isn’t real.

You bring up two very interesting things though… the main character in a show on the Disney Channel stating that they are Wiccan is an ENTIRELY different thing than HP. Wiccan is real… painting real witchcraft in a good light is, yes BAD. Everything in HP is fiction

Secondly… the DD 133 is parapsychology and occultism. 823 is what HP falls in… English FICTION.

While I can appreciate your personal experience and feel for your concerns they are not relevant as, again there is nothing relating HP to the occult.

 

[The_Old_Medic]

I have yet to find a critic of the Harry Potter books that has actually read all of them.

They are about as Christian in their outlook as any book could be. Good triumphs over evil; the evil are punished; sometimes the good suffer, but in the end they are vindicated; and so on.

They are no more “irreligious” than “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, or any similar book is.

Our pastor, who has read all of them (and who was trained in Rome, going to seminary there), strongly recommends them to our pre-teens and young teens. We have copies of them in our Parish Library.

 

[peanutproduct]

Thank you - and I assume this is because you have a firm grasp between what is real and what is fictional, not to mention a solid foundation in the faith.

I’m actually currently converting. Previously, I had been been to churches with a family member or friends, but I wouldn’t have considered myself religious at all. I think just knowing the difference between a story and real life is needed. I’d assume a teenager with a solid foundation in their faith would be even less tempted

 

[gatewood1988]

Nobody here is suggesting that witchcraft isn’t real.

You bring up two very interesting things though… the main character in a show on the Disney Channel stating that they are Wiccan is an ENTIRELY different thing than HP. Wiccan is real… painting real witchcraft in a good light is, yes BAD. Everything in HP is fiction

Secondly… the DD 133 is parapsychology and occultism. 823 is what HP falls in… English FICTION.

While I can appreciate your personal experience and feel for your concerns they are not relevant as, again there is nothing relating HP to the occult.

Ok, but isn’t it possible for those who don’t know better, usually younger kids to take the things in Harry Potter (spells, astrology, divination) and research for themselves to see if they are in the real world too? I guess I may be wording things kinda wonky. Is it possible for kids to let their imaginations run wild to the point where HP fantasy, TV, etc and the occult kind of interconnect? I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.

 

[mdrummer5]

Just more numbers for those that want to make the claim HP is responsible for a “rise” in the occult.

There are 2.2 Billion Christians in the world (1/3rd of the world’s population) and about half a million Wiccans… just for scale that’s 2,200,000,000 vs 500,000. It’s a safe bet then that AT LEAST 33% of the people who’ve read HP are Christians. That’s about 16 million. So the ratio of Christian HP readers to Wiccans is about 32:1.

So there is roughly ONE Wiccan… for every 32 Christian HP readers. Harry Potter is obviously to blame for this!!! Someone had better call Bloomsbury Publishing and tell them to stop the presses before the whole world renounces God and he shows us his wrath.

Ok, but isn’t it possible for those who don’t know better, usually younger kids to take the things in Harry Potter (spells, astrology, divination) and research for themselves to see if they are in the real world too? I guess I may be wording things kinda wonky. Is it possible for kids to let their imaginations run wild to the point where HP fantasy, TV, etc and the occult kind of interconnect? I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.

You just made the loudest point that people like Portrait simply refuse to see. This is where education and good parenting come into play. Of course if a kid doesn’t know better and he might think “man I’d really love to wave a magic stick and make fire”.

Another example is a family I know who’s kid was beating their dog’s new puppies with a frying pan. Sounds horrible doesn’t it? When asked why he did it he said “I wanted to see if they’d bounce”. He had just finished watching a Tom & Jerry marathon on cartoon network.

I can play violent video games, read fantasy novels, play Magic: The Gathering and all kinds of other dorky things without being drawn to the real world occult because my mother taught me the difference between right and wrong, fantasy and reality.

I can also watch Tom & Jerry and not have the urge to start beating on my cat…

 

[Mumbles140]

Ok, but isn’t it possible for those who don’t know better, usually younger kids to take the things in Harry Potter (spells, astrology, divination) and research for themselves to see if they are in the real world too? I guess I may be wording things kinda wonky. Is it possible for kids to let their imaginations run wild to the point where HP fantasy, TV, etc and the occult kind of interconnect? I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.

For children of a certain age, or for those whose mental capacity has not properly matured (not saying mentally handicapped, just saying if the mind doesn’t match the age), then it would be easier to follow the path of the one to the other. But as has been pointed out, we are not saying the books are perfectly fine for everyone to read. Our strongest two cases in point are children not of the proper age (this age increases deeper into the series) and those who have difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction.

Let us delve a little deeper into this second point. This doesn’t mean people who think cartoons are real life, or those who may experience hallucinations or anything of the sort. I mean, it does, but there is more to it than that. Every fiction book has some form of reality to it - if not, we could not comprehend it. Certain books, like Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, and the Chronicles of Narnia, are so deep in fiction that it is evident they weren’t meant to be real, but there are aspects of reality in them (school children, vegetables, elephants, etc). Other books, such as DaVinci Code, also have aspects of reality, but they try and come off us real also, even though some of their happenings are just as fictional/absurd as fantasy literature. And so, the danger lies when someone applies reality to fiction when it shouldn’t. In Harry Potter, LOTR, and Narnia, there is magic used. However, this is not pagan/Wiccan rituals being detailed. Wiccans/Pagans are real, and so trying to connect the fictional magic of these books with the reality of paganism is precisely the example we have been pressing.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Mr. Paine, who is a high priest of an assembly of witches, is likely to be far more knowledgeable about these matters. Therefore his testimony is more credible and weighter than some Priest stating that there is nothing amiss with the Potter series of books.

Yet you discount entirely the testimony of the two Wiccans/pagans whom I’ve seen on these Harry Potter threads who laugh at and dismiss the notion that Harry Potter fantasy magic even remotely resembles their craft. Hmmm.

Maybe these Wiccan forum-goers don’t try to piggyback off of the success of Harry Potter because they don’t have an assembly of witches to advertise?

Also, what about that other poster who went to Mr. Paine’s website and found there that he highly recommends Lord of the Rings? Does that mean we should condemn Tolkien’s fantasy?

whilst the Potter books do appear to disconnect witchcraft from spiritual realities,

Actually, they portray the search for power, control, and immortality through magic as very spiritually and morally destructive - note the examples of horcruxes, the Elder Wand, Ginny’s use of Riddle’s diary, etc.

they, nevertheless, present it as all very exciting stuff and in no way spiritually hazardous.

Again, that’s just not true. Examples like Ginny’s possession in Chamber of Secrets, Harry’s reckless and disastrous use of “Sectumsempra” on Draco in Half-Blood Prince, Crabbe’s reckless use of fiendfyre in Deathly Hallows, and everything having to do with horcruxes completely undermine the claim that seeking power or control through magic is not spiritually hazardous in Harry Potter.

Finally, the classical works of Tolkein and C.S. Lewis are unapologetically Christian, the same cannot be said for Rowlings Potter series, which stands in stark contrast to the former.

This is just plain factually untrue, as numerous critical works on the Potter series - Granger’s writings are my favorite - have repeatedly proven.

Thus, for example, the good characters in Middle Earth and Narnia do not cast spells upon people, do not call up spirits and commune with them like beloved neighbours, do not perform rituals and blend potions. The good characters of Hogwarts academy do.

In Narnia…

Glenstorm uses astrology to predict regime change in Narnia with total impunity.

Lucy Pevensie casts a spell from a magician’s spell book in Dawn Treader, again with complete impunity.

Diggory and Polly, as you yourself point out, use magic to enter and explore other worlds.

This distinction you’re drawing is artificial and falls apart completely. Harry Potter, just as much as Narnia, removes its world of magic from the world ordinary human beings can safely access. It does so through the wizard/Muggle distinction, and the thematic, legal, social, and geographical isolation of the magical world (including Hogwarts).

However, at Hogwarts you have the evil Voldemort who enchants a diary to take possession of a girl’s soul!

Yes, he does, and it’s presented as a Very Bad Thing! Ginny’s father even warns her not to mess with powers like the diary’s, which she cannot understand even if they make her feel good.

In Lewis’ Prince Caspian, a dwarf attempts to perform necromancy and summon the evil witch with the help of a werewolf and a hag. It’s an acceptable portrayal, as you’d agree, because it’s presented as evil.

So is Riddle’s diary in Chamber of Secrets.

Moreover, Lewis himself said that his books are replete with Christian symbolism (e.g. Aslan as an umistakable Christ figure), covering such topics as Heaven and the consumation of all things. All of this is far removed from the Potter series as the east is from the west.

You’re incorrect. This is not even a matter of opinion, so it’s just downright frightening that you persist in making such claims.

Here I must love you and leave you as it is my custom to take a breather from the boards at weekends. It just remains for me to wish you all a most enjoyable weekend, whatever you plan to do. Jolly good show and thankyou for the lively debate.

Have a good weekend - I hope to hear from you sometime in the future about my responses to the above analogies that you’ve offered.

Excellent points. I feel like between the two of us, we covered examples from both Narnia and Lord of the Rings.

Even though surrounding factors in my life and being completely sheltered from things growing up, I can at least testify that witchcraft is very real and very dangerous, while not against all fantasy literature, video games, TV shows, movies, etc, I think that we do need too, however be careful of what our children are subjected to.

Good points. Thank you for helping us keep some perspective, gatewood. It’s all too easy for those of us - like me - who have never experienced the occult in any fashion to forget that it is real and can be very dangerous and alluring.

 

[mdrummer5]

Have a good weekend - I hope to hear from you sometime in the future about my responses to the above analogies that you’ve offered.

Your entire post was well thought out and well constructed but this part is just ludicrous. To actually expect him to respond with any validity is a stretch at best

I’m at the point now that I’ve given up trying to convince those that view Potter the way Portrait does. He and anyone who fights for his point so hard with no evidence is completely ignorant. Ignorance towards facts and logic frustrate me beyond belief as you cannot prove a point to someone who refuses to see or use them as he has continued to do.

Here’s a summary of what his arguments have consisted of.

“Harry Potter is full of insdious dangers”

“prove it”

“Harry Potter is full of insidious dangers”

“ok, again prove it”

“This person says that Harry Potter is full of insidious dangers”

“Where’s your proof?”

“Harry Potter is full of obviously insidious dangers”

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

Your entire post was well thought out and well constructed but this part is just ludicrous. To actually expect him to respond with any validity is a stretch at best

I’m at the point now that I’ve given up trying to convince those that view Potter the way Portrait does. He and anyone who fights for his point so hard with no evidence is completely ignorant. Ignorance towards facts and logic frustrate me beyond belief as you cannot prove a point to someone who refuses to see or use them as he has continued to do.

Here’s a summary of what his arguments have consisted of.

“Harry Potter is full of insdious dangers”

“prove it”

“Harry Potter is full of insidious dangers”

“ok, again prove it”

“This person says that Harry Potter is full of insidious dangers”

“Where’s your proof?”

“Harry Potter is full of obviously insidious dangers”

Yeah, it frustrates me too. I have seen Portrait respond once or twice to specific points, actually - but then he quickly excused himselfand said that he didn’t wish to get bogged down in specifics…

 

[styrgwillidar]

Actually, they portray the search for power, control, and immortality through magic as very spiritually and morally destructive - note the examples of horcruxes, the Elder Wand, Ginny’s use of Riddle’s diary, etc.

Again, that’s just not true. Examples like Ginny’s possession in Chamber of Secrets, Harry’s reckless and disastrous use of “Sectumsempra” on Draco in Half-Blood Prince, Crabbe’s reckless use of fiendfyre in Deathly Hallows, and everything having to do with horcruxes completely undermine the claim that seeking power or control through magic is not spiritually hazardous in Harry Potter.

If I may add yet again–
Rowlings very emphatically depicts— Prior to the final conflict– that Voldemorts true loss is in the next life because of what he has done to his soul. Literally. Win or lose in this world he has lost for eternity in the next Only true remorse could have saved him.
The whole point of Voldemort’s fate is that evil is spiritually destructive.

A point Portait, that I feel you have not adequately addressed. The point of HP is death, what lies beyond, and how our actions, evil or good, affect our eternal future.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

If I may add yet again–
Rowlings very emphatically depicts— Prior to the final conflict– that Voldemorts true loss is in the next life because of what he has done to his soul. Literally. Win or lose in this world he has lost for eternity in the next Only true remorse could have saved him.
The whole point of Voldemort’s fate is that evil is spiritually destructive.

A point Portait, that I feel you have not adequately addressed. The point of HP is death, what lies beyond, and how our actions, evil or good, affect our eternal future.

Excellent point.

 

[Mumbles140]

Can’t believe this hasn’t been posted before, but here is a link to an Ask the Apologist question concerning Harry Potter and answered by Michelle Arnold, where she includes 5 different links to the matter of Harry Potter and Catholics. Enjoy!

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=99996

 

[CrazyRachel]

I apologize if this point has already been made in a previous post, but Lord of the Rings was written by a devout Catholic man and those books have alot in common with the Harry Potter books, i.e. good wizards versus bad wizards, life after death, consequences for our actions, sacraficing yourself to save your friends… There are many representations of Christian virtues in both series of books. I love the Harry Potter books. They’re great fun, however I can honnestly say I’ve never taken them so seriously that they’ve came between me and Jesus. Also JK Rowling has stated that she does believe in God and as far as I could tell there was nothing in any of the HP books to suggest otherwise, as I found nothing in the LOTR books that would bring Tolkien’s deep faith into question.

 

[masha]

To add some (hopefully) clarification to the occult discussion. I have been involved in the occult. I was only loosely attached to the neo-pagan movement, but my cultural upbringing bordered on a sort of superstitious, Catho-paganism, which was easily converted into an occult worldview. Obviously, this had nothing to do with the Harry Potter books, as they didn’t exist at the time, and (as I’ve mentioned) Rowling’s complete misunderstanding of magic would have repelled me then as much as now, for different reasons.

I will say that the neo-pagan movement, particuarily Wicca, did see a huge rise in teen and pre-teens who “wanted to be witches” after reading Harry Potter. This was almost as big of a problem to the Wiccan community as it was to the Christians: partially because Wiccans are always being accused of trying to lure in children, and partially because this poor kids wanted to be Harry Potteresque witches, not to practice Wicca, and that was absolutely obnoxious, impossible, and terribly frustrating - similar to someone converting to Christianity because thought he could then get into Narnia. Plainly, Wiccan’s tended to loath and discourage the upsurge.

All that said, in certain kids, the Harry Potter books did awaken the longing for supernatural power, and, disappointed with Wicca’s rejection, they may have turn to more purely occult practices, which do offer that “magic which affects the actions of other” which Wicca forbides and Harry Potter allows. From there is could be a quick and easy descent into Occultism. I’ve already tried to explain the differences between magic as represented in Narnia and Rowling’s magic, I hope I’ve made somewhat clear the differences. Overall, I think the chance of Rowling’s books encouraging one to practice magic are slim. The primary “magical” problem they create is that her understanding of magic is so flawed and her connections between fantasy and reality so weak, that she tends to encourage in her readers a belief that “all magic is fantasy,” which then leads to the belief, expressed by one poster, that ouija boards, tarot cards, etc are all “superstitious bunk.” This attitude, this lack of understanding of the reasons these things are forbidden, weakens our resistence to them and weakens our understanding of the dangers in the occult. It forms us in a materialism that is damaging to our abiltity to fully accept and embrace the mysteries of our faith.

I hope I’ve at least given something to think about, in the occult department. I think the dangers of embracing or dismissing the occut are nearly equal, though they act on different extremes in our personalities: the marterialist and the magician are equally apart from God.

Blessings,
Masha

 

[mdrummer5]

I will say that the neo-pagan movement, particuarily Wicca, did see a **huge **rise in teen and pre-teens who “wanted to be witches” after reading Harry Potter.

Given that I’ve provided numbers negating this repeatedly please refute them with your own if you’re going to make such a claim.

Wicca forbides and Harry Potter allows.

Ok… but Wicca is REAL and Harry Potter is FICTION. And if a kid reading the books doesn’t know the difference that’s his/her parents’ fault for not properly educating them on the difference between fiction and reality.

her connections between fantasy and reality so weak

Of course they are… they’re two entirely different things… again it’s a matter of knowing the difference between the two. It’s when you try to connect the two that it becomes a problem. i.e. I read Harry Potter as a work of fiction/fantasy… cool stories… good ending… the end. A kid that doesn’t know better because their parents didn’t teach them better reads the same books and says “man it’d be cool if I could really do this… I’m going to go study up on magic and be just like Harry Potter!”

I don’t know what it is about those that want to write HP off as a doorway to the occult but not one has been able to provide a shred of proof. Yes a kid reading about magic may become fascinated to the point that they pursue it as a real life study. That is not the fault of the books. If it were the huge rise you claim has taken place would be much more noticeable given that over 50 MILLION people have read them or seen the movies.