harry potter

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i really like the harry potter books but people at my church say they are evil and it is a sin to read them. is that true? also some people at my school say they wish they were witches and wizards because they think it would be a lot of fun. what do i do?
 
 
I don’t know if the people at your church know this… but Harry Potter isn’t real.

It’s just a children’s story for mere entertainment, and even within it’s pages, there are relative morals anybody can obtained for everyday life or in some situation-- as a fairy tale would present.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood
 
butters said:
i really like the harry potter books but people at my church say they are evil and it is a sin to read them. is that true? also some people at my school say they wish they were witches and wizards because they think it would be a lot of fun. what do i do?
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Ah the classic “Is Harry Potter Bad?” thread. I see Harry Potter as no different than say, “The Lord of the Rings.” Both movies have wizards, magic, monsters, etc. Both movies also tell tales of sacrifice, friendship, and courage. Keep in mind that LOTR was written by a devout Catholic. Would LOTR be any different or condemned by people if it were written by a Protestant or someone of no faith at all? I don’t see Harry Potter as an outright attack on the Catholic Church like Dan Brown’s books and movies.

As for wanting to be a witch or wizard, who didn’t wish they had magic powers at some point in their life? I couldn’t count the times I wish I could halt time, be invisible, or fly. I would just brush it off as harmless joking if it was just brought up in casual conversation. Now, if people start trying to summon spirits or dabble with spells, then you should keep your distance. Witchcraft is real and is no joke so stay away if it turns from harmless chatter to actual practice.
 
butters said:
i really like the harry potter books but people at my church say they are evil and it is a sin to read them. is that true? also some people at my school say they wish they were witches and wizards because they think it would be a lot of fun. what do i do?
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I’d tell them that Cardinal George Pell has said there is a lot of good moral truth in Harry Potter.

There.👍
 
Harry Potter is so full of imaginative imagery and I, for one, am thankful for the stories and films. I love fantasy. There is so much muckaluck with “realistic” dramas and “slices of life”. Please. Give me flights of fancy any day.👍 I know a priest who really likes Harry Potter. I don’t understand how anyone could say it was “evil”. Hansel and Gretel is terrifying, as are many of the fairy tales I was raised on. What about the witch in “Narnia” and some of the other menacing C.S. Lewis creatures? Or how’s about those really scary flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz? Yikes!:eek:
 
Blade_and_Blood said:
I don’t know if the people at your church know this… but Harry Potter isn’t real.

It’s just a children’s story for mere entertainment, and even within it’s pages, there are relative morals anybody can obtained for everyday life or in some situation-- as a fairy tale would present.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood
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The problem is that the morality is relative.

For example, torturing someone (using illegal, prohibited means) because they killed your godfather.

Now a truly moral tale might involve such a use by the protagonist, but it would also involve the person in question being punished with the appropriate consequences ( in the case of the crucius curse, that would have been exile to Azkaban) or at the very least, the protagonist expressing a level of remorse approproiate to the moral wrong.

Neither happend with Harry.

What is presented instead is that if an evil person kills a relative of yours, that person may be tortured without repercussions. I’m not convinced that such a message is appropriate for kids.

For example, how many of us would be comfortable with a novel where the protagonist, Harry Carpenter, tortures an Al Queda operative with a taser because he killed their godfather.

Or is does the fact that imaginary means ( curses) are used to torture justify the message?
 
Brendan said:
The problem is that the morality is relative.

For example, torturing someone (using illegal, prohibited means) because they killed your godfather.

Now a truly moral tale might involve such a use by the protagonist, but it would also involve the person in question being punished with the appropriate consequences ( in the case of the crucius curse, that would have been exile to Azkaban) or at the very least, the protagonist expressing a level of remorse approproiate to the moral wrong.

Neither happend with Harry.

What is presented instead is that if an evil person kills a relative of yours, that person may be tortured without repercussions. I’m not convinced that such a message is appropriate for kids.

For example, how many of us would be comfortable with a novel where the protagonist, Harry Carpenter, tortures an Al Queda operative with a taser because he killed their godfather.

Or is does the fact that imaginary means ( curses) are used to torture justify the message?
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Harry Potter is a little more complex than that. :o Besides, to comment on your first point, it added more than just a touch of reality to the story (as far as raging teenagers go :rolleyes:). It sort of reminded me of a History Channel program about Batman, and how he was (I think) one of the first dark heroes. 😃

Personally, I love the Harry Potter series–not only for the story-- but, primarily, for how it was written: structure, imagery, style, continuity, etc. It was simply excellent!

To answer the question in bold: Countless patriotic citizens of America! …You know, you’ve got something there. :hmmm: That’s definitely a keeper… if you enjoy writing. 😉

Ironically Yours. ❤️
 
butters said:
i really like the harry potter books but people at my church say they are evil and it is a sin to read them. is that true? also some people at my school say they wish they were witches and wizards because they think it would be a lot of fun. what do i do?
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I can’t absolutely vouch for this, but shortly after reading book two I decided to become a homosexual.
 
butters said:
…some people at my school say they wish they were witches and wizards because they think it would be a lot of fun. what do i do?
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I used to wish I was Captain Kirk because I thought it would be a lot of fun. I grew out of it. So will your friends.

(actually, I still think it would be a lot of fun)
 
It seems that more people have issues with Harry Potter because it’s a book *about *witches and wizards, not just those featured as passing supporting characters. It’s all imaginary and none of it’s real. For most people who know the difference between fantasy and reality, they will see HP as nothing more than a good book (and pretty good movies, too!). For someone who blurs that line (or very young kids), HP may not be the best choice for reading. I say if you fall into the first group, read it anyway. They’re very well-written books and worth the time spent reading them!
 
pamnbam said:
It seems that more people have issues with Harry Potter because it’s a book *about *witches and wizards, not just those featured as passing supporting characters. It’s all imaginary and none of it’s real. For most people who know the difference between fantasy and reality, they will see HP as nothing more than a good book (and pretty good movies, too!). For someone who blurs that line (or very young kids), HP may not be the best choice for reading. I say if you fall into the first group, read it anyway. They’re very well-written books and worth the time spent reading them!
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I think that is a very fair evaluation of the Harry Potter series. Like anything, you obviously need to take take into account the audience’s age. After all, I know a lot of great movies that are not appropriate for children, but that doesn’t make them bad movies. Similarly, while Harry Potter may not be good for a very young or impressionable mind that doesn’t make them “evil” or “anti-Catholic.” Just about any movie rated PG or higher has elements that don’t promote Christian values but that doesn’t mean, for the appropriate audience, it is automatically off limits and deserves global condemnation.

Just for full disclosure, I have only seen the Harry Potter movies and have not read the books. I know that the movies are a more watered-down version of the books so perhaps there are elements covered in the books that are skipped in the movie.
 
I think I remember reading somewhere that the chief exorcist of Rome discouraged people from reading the Harry Potter books. Italian culture is also steeped in superstition and those growing up in it may have more trouble reading the books without using them as tools to help them explore the occult. I think people should be very careful whenever they read any kind of fantasy story- especially when it deals with witchcraft and other occult practices.

If you can read the books and take them for what they are- fictional literature- then I think it’s fine to read them. I think if you are the type of person who really gets into what you are reading- to the point where you sometimes have trouble seeing the difference between reality and fantasy- then there is a problem.

These books were a big hit with the generation after mine- a generation of kids that were well-known for computer/video games, but were not known for being big readers…except when it came to these books. I appreciate the books, and I highly respect the author especially for that inspiration.
 
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