Nobody addresses the origins of magic in fairy tales either and yet you don’t complain about people reading these to their children.
You seem to be forgetting what made us question the origins of magic, to begin with.
My problem concerning the occult/magic in the Harry Potter series is twofold: (1) it is the product of an unchanged ‘adaption’ of the Western European witchcraft folklore where (1a) power comes from the Father of Lies; (2) it is written using the novel format, and more specifically the bildungsroman–which is a genre particularly effective at uniting the reader’s sympathies with the character’s progress.
As previously discussed, there is
no comparison when a story takes the form of myth/legend/epic/&c. (c.f. 2) or there is a novel where the origin of the re-adapted Western European witchcraft folklore is explained (c.f. 1/1a).
If anyone’s obsessed here, it’s you who can’t seem to sleep well at night over this series because you can’t make a simple, common sense presupposition.
I’m actually quite bored–yes: surprise, surprise considering the volume of my online posting. You see, I’m awaiting the beginning of my Army contract, and I find posting here an engaging semi-intellectual exercise to bide my remaining time.
But, in my defense, you’ll note that I didn’t call anyone any names. I didn’t call you obsessed–
this is something you’ve said yourself. 
…and despite my sometimes sardonic, sometimes acerbic tone its
you who’s begun to outright attack me and argue with ad hominems.
I would recommend, again, that you take this magic stuff less seriously. It doesn’t exist, and its not worth sacrificing charity over, OK?
Lots of fantasy stories and games don’t elaborate on the origin of magic. Magic just exists. Period. It’s part of their world. I don’t see you asking where magic came from in Disney’s Aladdin or Cinderella.
True, very true, but irrelevant to my point. I’d suggest you re-read what I’ve written more slowly, more charitably, and without looking for something to argue over.
Again, more apples and oranges. Stop comparing super powers to sexuality. Super/magical powers come in more stunning varieties than even physical talents can compare.
Here’s the deal. The Harry Potter series, according to my reading, sets up two civilizations alongside each other: one based on technology (i.e., Muggles) and one based on magic (i.e., Wizards). The former is not given an ethical free pass in terms of how it uses technology; that is, simply because we are born with en-thumbed hands and therefore natural tool users, every application of technology is
not sanctioned.
No, quite the contrary–many, many restrictions are placed on the awesome power that our inventors have managed to put within the reach of the technology-using public. If you looked at the total magnitude of the power the human race wields collectively, and the total power of the average human you would probably be shocked to find out how insignificant and powerless we are.
Therefore, its not a ridiculous suggestion to ask that–despite being born with the potential to use this power–wizards/witches not use magic, if it comes from evil origins.
The fact that you consider me “lucky” to not have been born with magic powers just proves my point.
No, I actually meant to say that* I’m* lucky you don’t have magic powers. I would find that quite scary, as you seem a little vindictive and ‘obsessed,’ as you said, with this whole thing. I’m still young, and I don’t want to get dusted quite yet. :stretcher:
f God decided to one day have people wake up with powers they can’t explain, without having NO explicit occult encounter, then I’d wager you’d be our world’s new Bill Stryker (or at least be an instant member of his cult). Can you really call yourself a Christian for hating people because they use something they’re born with? I don’t know what’s stopping me from assuming that you fantasize about hunting down wizards/witches, never admitting that they’re human, and only going so far as to say they are bastard children of Satan who need to be caged and constrained so that they’ll be ‘cured’.
haha, you’re now assailing my Christianity because you disagree with my argument (
which you’ve completely misunderstood, by the way) about Harry Potter?! Are you serious?
Look, I may enjoy the thought of having those powers, I may make heavy use of them, but the fact remains I didn’t ask for them. It’s not like sexuality where there are limited uses.
It’s closer to our physical talents but you’d be surprised, no, shocked at how much freedom we have with those. You can’t restrain magic any more than you can restrain someone from studying evolutionary biology or from being a sharpshooter.
I actually used sexuality as a interchangeable or of equal value with technology–see my argument regarding technology above. That is, we have freedom in how we exercise it, and simply because we have it does not mean that all of its applications are ethically condoned–much like sexuality or being a sharpshooter. But because, like being an engineer, or a lover, or a sharpshooter, is a choice that we make from God-given freedom and God-given ability, it follows that God will judge us by them.
Therefore it remains to be proven how the power of the wizard civilization of the Harry Potter series differs from the power of wizards/witches in the folklore tradition that J. K. Rowlings lifted it from. You have to admit, she could have done something to ease these misunderstandings, if she had an ounce of concern for her Christian audience.
