Yeah well, that’s one way of putting it. However, just to make it easier to understand, I am simply criticizing people who condemn fantasy stories that are set in a world like ours (as they did in Morals of Magic) when they don’t realize that magic isn’t demonic and is morally neutral in that particular fictional universe. That doesn’t change what real magic is like in the real world though.
Doing something for the sake of others is never selfish. Ever wonder why the word “self” is even in the word?
Got any proof or logic to back that up? The difference between magic in this world and magic in any fictional fantasy world is basically what gives the genre the right to be free from absurd fundamentalist criticisms.
Ahhh, there’s the rub…God doesn’t exist in the world of Harry Potter, either in Hogwarts or in Little Whinging. So, if we truly lived in a world of HP, we could indulge in witchcraft without any ill effects to our consciences.
I respectfully disagree. We can’t say God doesn’t exist in their world just because magic is allowed. For all we know their world could just be governed by different unseen laws. You know this is another problem I see in people who like to criticize fantasy. They impose the standards of our world to that of fictional worlds. Why should we do that when we can’t even impose the standard of fictional worlds to our worlds? (E.g. we can’t fly just because Superman can.)
) when they don’t realize that magic isn’t demonic and is morally neutral in that particular fictional universe.
Magic in the real world may be reflected in literature, though I don’t see anything accurately depicted in the Harry Potter series. A lot of writing on the topic of ‘real witchcraft’ is hokey, but people fall for it hook, line, and sinker.
To me, when reading critically, if it’s not implied or even alluded to, then it’s usually not there, and our experiences in this reality may or may not be a point of reference. Now, don’t go taking me too literally…simply because a book doesn’t have a loo, doesn’t mean that in the writer’s fictional world, no one has to use a loo! But on the bigger matter of Faith in Realms of Fantasy (oooh, what an essay title that would be), it’s usually a very strong thread, and not too often ignored. Likewise, when tsetting up an alternate universe with a ruling body, the author usually gives us a hint of the type of government. Mmmm…think of Serenity.
I am not sure which or how much of any fictional world I would like to impose on real life.
Not necessarily. I mean which looks more God-less to you? A regular world where magic is simply another commodity like cars or electricity or a world where pedophiles can rape and impregnate underage girls and get away with it? I mean when you think about it, using magic just to do something simple like making your bed fix itself sounds perfectly fine when you compare it to someone comitting homicide with a gun.
I suppose (and I’ve heard this advice many times before) that education on this subject has always been the best solution. Tell people the differences between fantasy and reality. Tell them how awful (or in my opinion, downright lame) real witchcraft and sorcery is.
Trust me, when I looked up stuff such as Wicca and other supposed beliefs that taught “magic”, I was inclined to just toss the book and go back to playing my video games. I prefer using magic to blast monsters to smithereens than make myself look silly by dancing in a circle thank you very much.
Well that depends on how you would still read it. I mean have you ever wondered why the belief of souls is still present (as evidenced by the presence of ghosts and the concept of the Horcrux)? Ever wondered why horrible acts such as murder result in the tearing of the soul? I for one believe that there’s got to be some omnipotent being who made these rules. Let’s not forget that there was little to no mention of Christianity at all as far as from what I’ve read (although I’m still 75% done with the last book). Can we say Christianity didn’t exist even though the critics are claiming that Harry Potter is set in a world similar to ours?
Yes I know not all critics are like that which is why I’m specifying only the kind I’m talking about. I understand their intentions are good but they really have to be careful because one wrong move could cause everything to do more harm than good. That is why, the same with readers/players/viewers, these critics should educate themselves more before firing away. Ignorant alarmism on such topics can cause moral panics you know.
There is a difference between legitimate self-love and self-glorification. Self-love involves treating the self well, and with all proper respect. Self-glorification, which is a form of idolatry, is about elevating the self in the eyes of oneself or others. Self-glorification can also be about assuming power over others not for the purpose of doing them good but for the purpose of elevating the self. I think that the latter is more what you’re interested in- else you would find all your joy in a charity rather than in something that directly makes you so supreme and does little to help others.I’m still not so sure if the desire for power in of itself is completely evil. Sure it can go out of control but there have always been measures for that. I think this has more to do with the kind of power being desired. If I abandoned the desire to wield magic and replaced it with something more realistic like learning a lethal martial art or mastering a gun, would I still be acting within the way God designed me? I mean I don’t need to go visit questionable psychics or anything, I’d just train my body in a class or go to the shooting range to improve my aim. (Speaking of which, wouldn’t that make the desire to improve oneself the same as seeking power? I mean it does glorify the self in a way.)
Some people can only be good at things that are not considered charitable you know. Not everyone desires to run a charity or work in places you’d expect saints to devote themselves to (hospitals, orphanages, schools). That’s just how they are (that’s just how I am in fact). Some of us just want to be good at the things we want to do be it playing video games, martial arts, our aim, cooking, drawing, writing etc. Excessive pride is bad but I don’t see anything wrong if you like people appreciating your hard work.
Ah there’s the catch right there eh? Suppose God does decide to give it, what then? Suppose He suddenly decides the world would become magical in a more literal sense. What then?
Magic is from the demon. I don’t understand how you can even think God would allow a magical world.Some people can only be good at things that are not considered charitable you know. Not everyone desires to run a charity or work in places you’d expect saints to devote themselves to (hospitals, orphanages, schools). That’s just how they are (that’s just how I am in fact). Some of us just want to be good at the things we want to do be it playing video games, martial arts, our aim, cooking, drawing, writing etc. Excessive pride is bad but I don’t see anything wrong if you like people appreciating your hard work.
Ah there’s the catch right there eh? Suppose God does decide to give it, what then? Suppose He suddenly decides the world would become magical in a more literal sense. What then?
After all, His ways aren’t our ways. We can never tell what He is thinking…
That’s because you are only limiting yourself to a certain variation of magic the Church has specified (I call it, the occult type). In the worlds of fiction however, people now have many variations.
Heretic.
You’re not the Magisterium. Kindly tell me what’s so heretical in declaring that fantasy fiction has many variations of magic?
It is not heretical to discuss fictional magic, but it is heretical to say God could create a magical world. Magic is from the devil, so God could not create a magical world.
That’s because you are saying such with the presupposition of the Church’s definition of “magic” in mind. My presupposition of what magic is broader and not as strictly defined.
So? Magic in fantasy is the same as the magician’s sort of magic as well. One way or another they’re both just illusions.
Actually, I’m using the infallible teaching of the Church. You are using opinion.
You don’t know what a presupposition is do you?