'Harry Potter and yoga are evil', says Catholic Church exorcist

[CorinneV]

As a mom of two and grandmon of three, I must agree with Fr. Amorth regarding Harry Potter. Young readers can become enthralled in the fantasy created by the author. Many young readers and adults, as well, are avid collectors of all kinds of Harry Potter items, in addition to reading all the books and seeing all the movies again and again. This kind of repition must make a spiritual impression.
It’s very obvious that Rowling recycles many characters from Greek and Roman mythology in her writing.These characters arose among the ancients because they embody human emotions, for good or ill. Like any well-crafted work, Rowling’s writings draw the reader into her world of fiction, and the unspoken beliefs that underlie the plots are not necessarily spiritually sound.
I think yoga is probably ok for stretching your muscles, but my former yoga instructor was always referring to ‘life forces’ and other non-scientific terms, that I found annoying. I think that someone seeking a spiritual home can be led into mistaken eastern beliefs by yoga.

 

[twf]

As a mom of two and grandmon of three, I must agree with Fr. Amorth regarding Harry Potter. Young readers can become enthralled in the fantasy created by the author. Many young readers and adults, as well, are avid collectors of all kinds of Harry Potter items, in addition to reading all the books and seeing all the movies again and again. This kind of repition must make a spiritual impression.
It’s very obvious that Rowling recycles many characters from Greek and Roman mythology in her writing.These characters arose among the ancients because they embody human emotions, for good or ill. Like any well-crafted work, Rowling’s writings draw the reader into her world of fiction, and the unspoken beliefs that underlie the plots are not necessarily spiritually sound.
I think yoga is probably ok for stretching your muscles, but my former yoga instructor was always referring to ‘life forces’ and other non-scientific terms, that I found annoying. I think that someone seeking a spiritual home can be led into mistaken eastern beliefs by yoga.

What about the numerous Judeo-Christian references, metaphors, and symbolism in the books? Particularly the emphasis on the power of self-sacrificial love, laying down your life for others, and salvation through the shedding of blood… Have you read Tolkien’s essay On Faerie Stories? As a devout Catholic and classic fantasy writer, he defended the value of the fantasy genre.

 

[curlycool89]

What about the numerous Judeo-Christian references, metaphors, and symbolism in the books?

I especially think this analysis by Fone Bone deserves a shout-out.

the climax of every book is modeled on the structure of the Paschal Mystery: in every single one of the seven novels, Harry goes underground (or among the dead in some other sense), confronts evil, dies a symbolic death, is assisted by some kind of Christ symbol, and is “raised again” when he defeats evil assisted by grace (that climax’s Christ symbol).

Here’s a little outline I just made, if you want proof/details. These are big spoilers:

Philosopher’s Stone
UNDERGROUND: Literally, beneath the school into the chambers where the Philosopher’s Stone is kept.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Professor Quirrell, possessed by Lord Voldemort.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Falls unconscious upon physically struggling with Quirrell to protect the stone.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Albus Dumbledore to the rescue.
RAISED AGAIN: Awakens in the hospital wing to discover he successfully protected the stone.

Chamber of Secrets
UNDERGROUND: Literally, beneath the school into the Chamber of Secrets.
CONFRONTS EVIL: A spiritual copy of Lord Voldemort’s younger (though still evil) self.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Mortally wounded by venom from a basilisk that answers to Voldemort (basilisk = snake = traditional Satan symbol).
CHRIST SYMBOL: Fawkes the Phoenix (phoenix = resurrection bird = Christ).
RAISED AGAIN: Flies out of the chamber - back aboveground - by holding on to Fawkes’ tail.

Prisoner of Azkaban
UNDERGROUND: Literally, in the shrieking shack beneath the school.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail, a cowardly servant of Lord Voldemort.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Assailed by a horde of soul-sucking dementors.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Stag Patronus (a stag is a traditional Christ symbol… remember the “White Stag” in the Narnia series?). Also Buckbeak the Hippogriff.
RAISED AGAIN: Conquers the dementors with the Stag Patronus, rescues the innocent Sirius Black who flies away on Buckbeak.

Goblet of Fire
UNDERGROUND: Symbolically; he’s in a graveyard.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Lord Voldemort himself.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Attacked, tortured, and nearly killed by Voldemort.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Harry’s father and mother appear after one of Voldemort’s attacks mystically backfires to give him aid and encouragement .
RAISED AGAIN: Escapes the graveyard.

Order of the Phoenix
UNDERGROUND: Literally, into the bowels of the Ministry of Magic in London.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Death Eaters and their leader, Voldemort himself.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Voldemort attempts to possess Harry.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Albus Dumbledore.
RAISED AGAIN: Voldemort is unable to possess Harry. Also Harry’s politically tarnished reputation is redeemed by Voldemort’s attack on the Ministry.

Half-Blood Prince
UNDERGROUND: Literally, into a cave.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Evil magic in the cave, then Death Eaters.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: Inferi in a lake in the cave attack him.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Albus Dumbledore sacrifices himself.
RAISED AGAIN: Emerges successfully from the cave; survives Dumbledore’s death.

Deathly Hallows
UNDERGROUND: Symbolically underground, because Harry actually goes to his death.
CONFRONTS EVIL: Lord Voldemort.
SYMBOLIC DEATH: “Killed” by a curse from Voldemort.
CHRIST SYMBOL: Harry himself, finally.
RAISED AGAIN: Voldemort’s magic is powerless against the spiritual efficacy of Harry’s selflessness. Upon Harry’s resuscitation, his sacrifice permanently protects his friends and loved ones from harm at the hands of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Harry worthy to unite the Deathly Hallows, because by surrendering to death freely, he is the only one worthy to conquer it.

 

[JackVk]

What about turning Yoga into a form of Christian prayer? My youth minister was once in a very liberal part of Texas and went to a yoga session with a friend. The instructor started spouting off a bunch of New Age nonsense such as “getting in touch with your highest inner spirit”. So my YM decided to talk to God in that time.

 

[twf]

I especially think this analysis by Fone Bone deserves a shout-out.

Excellent points! There are many other Christian elements in the book. It goes without saying, for anyone who has read them, that Harry’s mother’s sacrifice, speficially, as Dumbledore points out at one point, the shedding of her blood, protects Harry from Voldermort (Satan) throughout the series… you can’t get much more obvious. Self-sacrificial, Christian charity/love is the greatest form of magic in the series… the idea that the books are intended to promote the occult is, in my humble opinion, absurd. If some people have misconstrued the books for evil, that is a problem - but that doesn’t mean that the books themselves are inherently bad. I again recommend that people read Tolkien’s On Faerie Stories…an excellent Catholic (and scholarly) defense of fantasy…from the devout Catholic and beloved friend of CS Lewis who brought us The Lord of the Rings.

 

[Sonic]

Scroll down and listen to Fr. Ripperger’s (FSSP) seminar on Spiritual Warfare if you’d like to inform yourself further:

sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html

For those who are either perplexed or interested in why so many Catholic exorcists have been talking about Harry Potter and seemed alarmed by it, check out Lesson 2b under Spiritual Warfare on Fr. Ripperger’s website.

Starting at 00:08:21 to 00:09:45 of the audio file, you will hear mention of some actual cases involving the Harry Potter series (more detailed information would probably encroach on the privacy of the people involved).

sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html

I will add that this sort of thing is not isolated to just the Harry Potter series. Many news articles have mentioned warnings from Exorcists like Fr. Amorth and Fr. Euteneuer, but they have not followed up to find out why the exorcists have become alarmed.

I suggest listening to the whole series to better understand the full context of what is being said.

 

[Cormacnl]

For those who are either perplexed or interested in why so many Catholic exorcists have been talking about Harry Potter and seemed alarmed by it, check out Lesson 2b under Spiritual Warfare on Fr. Ripperger’s website.

Starting at 00:08:21 to 00:09:45 of the audio file, you will hear mention of some actual cases involving the Harry Potter series (more detailed information would probably encroach on the privacy of the people involved).

sensustraditionis.org/multimedia.html

I will add that this sort of thing is not isolated to just the Harry Potter series. Many news articles have mentioned warnings from Exorcists like Fr. Amorth and Fr. Euteneuer, but they have not followed up to find out why the exorcists have become alarmed.

I suggest listening to the whole series to better understand the full context of what is being said.

Sounds to me that these exorcists are simply trying to justify their jobs.

I have seen a 13-year-old boy who was commanded by a voice in his head to cut people’s throats. It wasn’t a demon - the poor lad was saddled with a severe mental illness.

I have seen another person who for a short time spoke with two distinct voices. One of the voices was her own and the other claimed to be a demon. Funny enough the demon departed once she started taking medication.

Exorcism is a load of superstitious nonsense and should have nothing to do with faith in a creator.

 

[Cormacnl]

Fr Ripperger can not know all these facts he claims to about angels etc.

He should have more initials in his name as he is a greater fantasist than J. K. Rowling, J R. R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis.

 

[Soulstorm]

Sounds to me that these exorcists are simply trying to justify their jobs.

I have seen a 13-year-old boy who was commanded by a voice in his head to cut people’s throats. It wasn’t a demon - the poor lad was saddled with a severe mental illness.

I have seen another person who for a short time spoke with two distinct voices. One of the voices was her own and the other claimed to be a demon. Funny enough the demon departed once she started taking medication.

Exorcism is a load of superstitious nonsense and should have nothing to do with faith in a creator.

In Christian countries authentic cases of possession sometimes occur and every priest, especially if he be a parish priest, or pastor, is liable to be called upon to perform his duty as exorcist. In doing so, he is to be mindful of the prescriptions of the Roman Ritual and of the laws of provincial or diocesan synods, which for most part require that the bishop should be consulted and his authorization obtained before exorcism is attempted. The chief points of importance in the instructions of the Roman Ritual, prefixed to the rite itself, are as follows:

**Possession is not lightly to be taken for granted. Each case is to be carefully examined and great caution to be used in distinguishing genuine possession from certain forms of disease. **

–Catholic Encyclopedia

Next time research a subject before you decide to be so uncharitable!

 

[michelleds]

Sounds to me that these exorcists are simply trying to justify their jobs.

I have seen a 13-year-old boy who was commanded by a voice in his head to cut people’s throats. It wasn’t a demon - the poor lad was saddled with a severe mental illness.

I have seen another person who for a short time spoke with two distinct voices. One of the voices was her own and the other claimed to be a demon. Funny enough the demon departed once she started taking medication.

Exorcism is a load of superstitious nonsense and should have nothing to do with faith in a creator.

Fr. Amorth has written two books about exorcisms, EWTN archives have articles concerning exorcisms, Pope Leo XIII wrote the St. Michael prayer in 1886. You might want to do your due diligence before calling out Fr. Amorth and other exorcists of the Church.

Fr. Amorth was the Chief Exorcist of Rome, tho not the Vatican. Back in the day, and even now in many places, every diocese has a Chief Exorcist.

ignatiusinsight.com/features/framorth_excerpt1_aug04.asp

I wonder if you think that exorcism is a “load of superstitious nonsense” if that means that you do not believe in Satan or his demons?

 

[thomasf]

Yoga should be avoided by Catholics, simply because it is contrary to our faith. Most do not realize that the bodily positions in Yoga exercises are poses of the different Hindu gods. In Hinduism worship is done through bodily poses, and each pose represents the different gods that are being worshiped. In Yoga, a pose is held for 20-30 seconds at a time, and then switches to another pose. Thus an hour of Yoga is an hour of bodily worship of the different gods represented in many of the poses, so I can see why Fr. Amorth might tell people to avoid Yoga…

If you do it with the intention of just exercising your body and not to worship any hindu gods I don’t see the problem. I would bet most people don’t even know that about Yoga. If you don’t know, and don’t intend, and are just working out, I don’t see the problem.

 

[A_G]

I agree with Fr. Amorth. He is an expert in this field.

Yoga aims to establish a relationship with the pagan god Vishnu. Yoga is not compatible with Christianity. I would stay away from yoga. Yoga has a pagan background and is a form of Hindu worship. To practice the religion of yoga spiritually, is to deny Jesus Christ. Their “poses” and stretching “positions” imitate pagan gods. To practice the so-called “modern” yoga is harmful as this can push you into a “new age” style of thinking which is contrary to the teachings of the Church. “Yoga” means “to control,” and it promises salvation via pagan gods. It manipulates the body, mind and spirit, via physical postures, breathing control and chanting of these false beliefs. A real christian will reject paganism, and all the heresies accosiated with them.

As for works like “Harry Potter,” they may seem innocent, but the glorification of magic and spells isn’t good. That is not compatible with Christianity either.

 

[Cormacnl]

Fr. Amorth has written two books about exorcisms, EWTN archives have articles concerning exorcisms, Pope Leo XIII wrote the St. Michael prayer in 1886. You might want to do your due diligence before calling out Fr. Amorth and other exorcists of the Church.

Fr. Amorth was the Chief Exorcist of Rome, tho not the Vatican. Back in the day, and even now in many places, every diocese has a Chief Exorcist.

ignatiusinsight.com/features/framorth_excerpt1_aug04.asp

I wonder if you think that exorcism is a “load of superstitious nonsense” if that means that you do not believe in Satan or his demons?

I think Satan is a reflection of ourselves, and no, I don’t believe in demons that can influence your mind and body.

I also don’t believe in the incubus, the succubus, hobgoblin, pixie, or the rest of the pantheon of little devils that have been convenient scapegoats for superstitious man down through the years.

We should work towards getting in touch with the divine rather than blame shadows for our ills.

 

[michelleds]

I think Satan is a reflection of ourselves, and no, I don’t believe in demons that can influence your mind and body.

I also don’t believe in the incubus, the succubus, hobgoblin, pixie, or the rest of the pantheon of little devils that have been convenient scapegoats for superstitious man down through the years.

We should work towards getting in touch with the divine rather than blame shadows for our ills.

Since you list your religion as N/A, you might not feel that the following is pertinent info. However, since this is a Catholic forum, I’ll reference the Catechism

391 Behind the disobedient choice of our first parents lurks a seductive voice, opposed to God, which makes them fall into death out of envy. Scripture and the Church’s Tradition see in this being a fallen angel, called “Satan” or the “devil”. The Church teaches that Satan was at first a good angel, made by God: “The devil and the other demons were indeed created naturally good by God, but they became evil by their own doing.”

395 The power of Satan is, nonetheless, not infinite. He is only a creature, powerful from the fact that he is pure spirit, but still a creature. He cannot prevent the building up of God’s reign. Although Satan may act in the world out of hatred for God and his kingdom in Christ Jesus, and although his action may cause grave injuries - of a spiritual nature and, indirectly, even of a physical nature- to each man and to society, the action is permitted by divine providence which with strength and gentleness guides human and cosmic history. It is a great mystery that providence should permit diabolical activity, but “we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him.”

414 Satan or the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan. Their choice against God is definitive. They try to associate man in their revolt against God.

There are also a number of Saints who have had experiences with Satan and demons, e.g., Saint Padre Pio, St Gemma, St. John Vianney, etc.

 

[Cormacnl]

There are also a number of Saints who have had experiences with Satan and demons, e.g., Saint Padre Pio, St Gemma, St. John Vianney, etc.

These claims can’t be tested today.

I am sure though we can test the link between Satan and his nasty minions, on the one hand, and Harry Potter and yoga on the other.

Were are the testable Satan/demon appearances these days in every day life?

Perhaps Satan should sack Harry Potter and ditch yoga - they are useless recruiting agents.

 

[Gabriel_Serafin]

Wow…first it’s Harry Potter, now it’s Yoga. I have never heard anything so ridiculous in my lifetime.

It may sound ridiculous to some, but evil spirits are as real as the nose on your face. But evil spirits, like angels, are pure intellect. Thus they operate in the realm of thoughts, influencing ideas. Ideas are the most powerful things on earth. Ideas have the power to move mountains and diver rivers and guide the masses.

But just as God has his prophets and saints in this world, so too does the devil have his ambassadors, who influence the masses through movies, television and music. Thus an exorcist realizes this in a very special and real way.

Movies and books inspire people, and parents who care about their children should be aware of the dangers of the seeds which movies and books can plant into the minds and hearts of their sons and daughters. In the Potter series, Harry is a young wizard, and witchcraft and wizardry is a central themes. What’s more, the spells used in the books and movies are actual incantations inspired by people who practice the occult. Harry Potter is fiction, but that’s not the point. The reason why movies and television shows are laced with all sorts of social agendas is because the minds behind these shows know the power of propaganda, which can assimilate people (especially the new generations) into accepting, thinking and practicing certain values.

A study done in India showed that after Western channels were made available through the new cable systems in the region, crime skyrocketed 800% within a couple of years. Monkey see monkey do. Pornography has an effect on a person, and depending on his or her temperament, it will produce different fruit, albeit all rotten. From fornication, adultery, broken homes, rape, promiscuity; in other words, polluted thinking produces bad actions. Pour MTV into the mind of your teenager and don’t be surprised when they come home with a tattoo, body piercings, or dabbling with witchcraft. Television and movies have the power to transform a person by having ideas take root inside the mind.

Today, the practice of the occult is becoming more mainstream, and thanks in part to such movies as Harry Potter, children today can repeat the same incantations and magic spells they hear coming from the lips of young movie stars.

Parents, don’t be stupid. Raise and mold your children in Christian virtues, if not, the world will do it for you with movies, music and television. Check out this VIDEO LINK of a short interview with an exorcist on the dangers of dabbling with the occult…
http://theworldhates.com/goths/files/2009/10/goth-smoke.jpg

 

[SamTheNewfie]

Wow. I love Father Amorth. His books are amazing. I love Yoga though. It’s an amazing stress reliever. I’m a little stunned that simple exercises could lead to possession. Is he really talking about Hatha Yoga?

 

[karaleigh]

In the Dec 9th issue of the magazine The Week it says the former chief exorcist of the Vatican has denounced yoga as a tool of Satin. Fr. G. Amorth ,86yrs, who is Pres. -for-life of the International Assoc. Of Exorcists, says the increasing popular Eastern discipline and breathing can lead devotees to Hinduism and thus to a “false belief in reincarnation and a unholy worship of the body”. Practicing yoga is Satanic", said Amoth.". “It leads to evil just like reading Harry Potter”.
I find this hard to believe. I think he should retire.

Yoga is the exercise derived by persons who are in the physiological stage in mental health called Mordor. Mordor develops when a man, either willing or unwillingly, kills his wife. The man is 90% of the time in some church clergy position when he believes his wife has been unfaithful. Because yoga is the movements used to relax after the death of his sole mate, persons should be careful not to be closely involved with the exercise. If you are a bible reader, the Book of Tobit(NABRE), is a good example of the dialogue and delusions a Mordor would use and see.

 

[Gabriel_Serafin]

Realize that the books teach authentic sorcery to children. The spells and rituals in the Harry Potter books are real. In the first book alone, former occult practitioner and expert Toni Collins lists the “Sorting Ceremony” described on pages 117-122, the Body-Bind spell on page 273 and brews listed in Professor Snape’s potions class on pages 136-139, as being authentic. She said only someone who has engaged in these practices would know they weren’t fantasy, and only someone who had done meticulous research into Wiccan practices could have written them. Former occult practitioner Steve Wood, host of St. Joseph’s Covenant Keepers radio show, also confirmed that he used many of the rituals that are casually described in Potter books…

HERE IS AN ARTICLE by Toni Collins which you should to read.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Yoga should be avoided by Catholics, simply because it is contrary to our faith. Most do not realize that the bodily positions in Yoga exercises are poses of the different Hindu gods. In Hinduism worship is done through bodily poses, and each pose represents the different gods that are being worshiped. In Yoga, a pose is held for 20-30 seconds at a time, and then switches to another pose. Thus an hour of Yoga is an hour of bodily worship of the different gods represented in many of the poses, so I can see why Fr. Amorth might tell people to avoid Yoga…
http://yogaworldtours.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Yoga_2.jpg

Actually the postures in Yoga are from nature.

In fact, having done Yoga exercise off and on for the past 20 years, the very first thing I noticed in watching my grandson, when he was just a toddler, is that he was doing yoga movements, but easily, because his muscles are loose, not tense like adults.

Anyway, it’s a fact, Yoga exercise is good for the body.

If you do engage in sports of physical fitness, you’ll end up doing some Yoga, for stretching, because being the benefits are so good, all trainers use Yoga in some form in their training regimes.

What makes any thing spiritually dangerous, is the reason you’re doing it.

If Jesus Christ is the center of your life, you don’t have to worry about the devil possessing you because of the physical exercise you do, or watching Harry Potter or the Wizard of Oz

Jim