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pfoos
Guest
That is very sad…My family will keep you in our prayers.
Harry potter, a question for those who know about spiritual warfare
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Hildebrand
Guest
Exactly my point.
I know of a parent who will not show her daughter Sleeping Beauty because of the unrealistic stereotypes it portrays in it. I disagree with her decision, but that is her daughter and she has every right to protect her child from what she believes to be undesirable influences.
Compare that with having a generation of children wanting to do magic. Obviously some of them will get involved in the occult. Not in every instance, of course.
By reading Narnia, many children really try to find the wardrobe, the entrance into Narnia. This is normal.
After watching Goonies, children will want to find buried treasure and many do start to look for treasure around the house.
After reading Harry Potter, why does it seem unlikely that children will try to cast spells and perform magic?
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Liberalsaved
Guest
You do that. I’ll put you in the register along with the gal who promised to pray for me cause I voted for John kerry.
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Jennifer123
Guest
I already posted my two cents, but previously on this subject in another thread I had posted a link to a website aimed at children who wanted to learn to cast spells using spells in the Harry Potter books. I couldn’t find the link but I did find this:
envoymagazine.com/harrypotter.htm
Just FYI - I still think parents have the right to discretion but I urge prayer discernment for all before deciding whether the books are good for you and your family.
"The Church’s Warning
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states unequivocally: “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. … The Church for her part warns the faithful against it” (2117).
This is strong language in the catechism, the same language used to condemn lust, fornication, and abortion. Catholics cannot in good conscience take such a warning lightly. If Harry were using lust, fornication, or abortion to save his friends at Hogwarts, would we still think these books were acceptable children’s fare?
It’s important to note that the witchcraft about which Rowling writes stands in stark contrast to fantasy magic as it’s portrayed in Tolkien and Lewis. The good characters in Middle Earth and Narnia don’t cast spells on people, don’t call up spirits and commune with them like beloved neighbors, don’t perform rituals, and don’t mix potions. The good characters at Hogwarts do.
In Narnia, a ring transports you to another world, and in Middle Earth lightning flashes at a critical time to perform some powerful feat. But at Hogwarts, the evil Voldemort enchants a diary to take possession of a girl’s soul. These are vast and substantial differences, requiring us to view Rowling’s witchcraft in a much different light from Tolkien’s and Lewis’s magic."
envoymagazine.com/harrypotter.htm
Just FYI - I still think parents have the right to discretion but I urge prayer discernment for all before deciding whether the books are good for you and your family.
"The Church’s Warning
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states unequivocally: “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others — even if this were for the sake of restoring their health — are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. … The Church for her part warns the faithful against it” (2117).
This is strong language in the catechism, the same language used to condemn lust, fornication, and abortion. Catholics cannot in good conscience take such a warning lightly. If Harry were using lust, fornication, or abortion to save his friends at Hogwarts, would we still think these books were acceptable children’s fare?
It’s important to note that the witchcraft about which Rowling writes stands in stark contrast to fantasy magic as it’s portrayed in Tolkien and Lewis. The good characters in Middle Earth and Narnia don’t cast spells on people, don’t call up spirits and commune with them like beloved neighbors, don’t perform rituals, and don’t mix potions. The good characters at Hogwarts do.
In Narnia, a ring transports you to another world, and in Middle Earth lightning flashes at a critical time to perform some powerful feat. But at Hogwarts, the evil Voldemort enchants a diary to take possession of a girl’s soul. These are vast and substantial differences, requiring us to view Rowling’s witchcraft in a much different light from Tolkien’s and Lewis’s magic."
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Liberalsaved
Guest
Opinions are fine, I guess. I prefer to form my own and not listen to what someone else tells me to do, though. Therefore I read Harry Potter.
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Liberalsaved
Guest
Those things exist in your heart and imagination.
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pfoos
Guest
Oh, a cry for help. I see, no problem. You got it!You do that. I’ll put you in the register along with the gal who promised to pray for me cause I voted for John kerry.
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Liberalsaved
Guest
I had to be sarcastic, but I was exaggerating in my original comment. I love harry Potter, but if i was burning my hands I MIGHT consider putting it down.
I just think this whole hullabaloo is silly. I’ve played Final fantasy since I was a teenager, and I still can’t burn people by waving my hands and shouting “FIRE!”
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pfoos
Guest
Ha ha… Good to know!
Well, keep trying. Ya never know!
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Liberalsaved
Guest
if it doesn’t work on naturally flammable editors, it isn’t gonna work period.
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slyboots
Guest
I quit looking for the entrance to Narnia in the back of our armoire years ago. And the same for believing I could say some words, wave my wand and make something happen. My point…most of us grow up.
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Hildebrand
Guest
You are making my point for me. Thanks.
You are saying children “playing” wizards and witches is harmless.
Let’s put it in context. What would you rather have… your daughter come to you and say she’s pregnant or playing some harmless game. What would you rather have… your son smoking “pot” or playing some harmless game.
This is a normal secular viewpoint. If I were a Deist or Unitarian, I would espouse this point of view.
I know several people who love “Dudgeons and Dragons”. I am sorry, no offense, but that is not how I am to bring up my kids. My obligation as a Catholic parent is to raise saints (not kids who fit into today’s “morals”).
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slyboots
Guest
Hildebrand, I am sorry. I am not following you.
I did those things as a child. They helped make me who I am, an adult Catholic Christian with a strong love of righteousness and desire to please God.
Those things did not deter me from this path. They helped put me on it.
Please explain again why you think fairy tales and stories of imagination are not good for our children? Harry Potter is a story. Like Narnia. Like Lord of the Rings. An entertainment for the senses. God gave us imagination as a gift. And I cannot seem to wrap my mind around how fanciful literature is harmful to children.
I did those things as a child. They helped make me who I am, an adult Catholic Christian with a strong love of righteousness and desire to please God.
Those things did not deter me from this path. They helped put me on it.
Please explain again why you think fairy tales and stories of imagination are not good for our children? Harry Potter is a story. Like Narnia. Like Lord of the Rings. An entertainment for the senses. God gave us imagination as a gift. And I cannot seem to wrap my mind around how fanciful literature is harmful to children.
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Hildebrand
Guest
I think we are going around in cricles or maybe you did not read one of my prior posts.
I say again, I was unaware of those stories MAIN CHARACTER being a boy who practiced witchcraft with his young friends.
(Target audience for Harry Potter books: young boys and girls.)
(Sorry, I do not feel like reposting posts 36 & 37. You can read those if you’d like.)
In Narnia, the children do not go to school and learn to become witches and wizards. There is a big difference between HP & LOTR/Narnia.
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slyboots
Guest
Hildebrand,
I read your previous posts. I read the column from Envoy.
I respectfully disagree.
Just as the writer of the Envoy piece, I too was involved in the occult for a while as a young person. Curiousity led me there. God is good. I walked away with discernment of spirits as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Harry Potter does not ring the same bells other materials have of which I give wide berth.
But if you feel it is a better thing not to expose your children to it, that is your decision.
God be with you.
I read your previous posts. I read the column from Envoy.
I respectfully disagree.
Just as the writer of the Envoy piece, I too was involved in the occult for a while as a young person. Curiousity led me there. God is good. I walked away with discernment of spirits as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Harry Potter does not ring the same bells other materials have of which I give wide berth.
But if you feel it is a better thing not to expose your children to it, that is your decision.
God be with you.
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bones_IV
Guest
The holy father said that those books prevert the conscience before it has the chance to grow.
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Shoshana
Guest
Code:
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Liberalsaved
Guest
Good for the Holy Father. I’m way past the soul-formative stage.
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SpiritIsWilling
Guest
I’ve played Dungeons and Dragons. I play many role playing games.
My latest is a game called The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
I read an enormous amount of fantasy books. I love fantasy. It’s one of my favorite genres.
I think that is a parent’s option if they want their child/children to play/read these things. In my opinion, neither the Pope, nor anyone else, can command me to cease reading or cease playing something that, for me, is totally harmless.
I think it is absurd that some people will refuse to let their children partake in fantasy because it could ‘corrupt’ them. Why not allow them to read/play and explain to them that it is simply fiction and nothing real will ever come of it?
Your children will encounter the real world sooner or later, how will they react when they do?
My latest is a game called The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
I read an enormous amount of fantasy books. I love fantasy. It’s one of my favorite genres.
I think that is a parent’s option if they want their child/children to play/read these things. In my opinion, neither the Pope, nor anyone else, can command me to cease reading or cease playing something that, for me, is totally harmless.
I think it is absurd that some people will refuse to let their children partake in fantasy because it could ‘corrupt’ them. Why not allow them to read/play and explain to them that it is simply fiction and nothing real will ever come of it?
Your children will encounter the real world sooner or later, how will they react when they do?
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Hildebrand
Guest
Well said. I could not have said it any better.
I have never read the books, but have watched Harry Potter movies a few times. They are entertaining for adults and mature persons. I do not recommend them at all for very impressionable minds and for children who may be inclined or find the doing of witches and wizards personally attractive.
I myself would not risk Harry Potter with any children. Children and young adults (younger minors) are still in the soul-formative stage. There are far better avenues of entertainment for children.
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