Fantasy magic is representative of real magic just as the cross in representative of Jesus’ sacrifice for the sake of our sins.
False comparison. I’ve seen crosses used to symbolize a sort of holy elemental magic in a few RPGs that aren’t Christian-centric. The cross is also a fashion accessory for goths.
I’ve dabbled a bit in semiotics as a language studies major. Assertions and false comparisons like yours are just flat out ridiculous. You might as well say that the swastika is the universal symbol of Nazism but don’t let the Buddhists and Hindus tell you otherwise.
In fantasy, magic is simply a super power that is part of a certain group’s natural functions.
In reality, magic involves having a different religion and a different world-view.
The former is the equivalent to mutant powers in science-fiction. The latter is simply the religion of hippies and tree-huggers. They are far from being the same.
As I said before. The devil doesn’t walk around with horns and a pitch fork but when he is represented as such it is merly to symbolize non material aspects in a material way.
Sorry but the Church does not specify a nice long list of what represents the devil and what doesn’t.
Similarly magic in stories like harry potter may be greatly exagerated in its effects but there is some truth in them as these exaggerations “REPRESENT” the intent (whether spiritual or physical) of the will of the witch. The use of the elements: fire, water etc. in Harry Potter are mirror copies of these saame elements use in actual witchcraft.
Riiiight, following your logic superheroes like Iceman, Human Torch, and Storm are witches and wizards because they use the elements.
To say that they are not real witches since in the book they are a race born with powers called witches is to be disingenuous. The references to actual witchcraft is obvious, to anyone who knows about witchcraft, from the terms, concepts and symbols depicted in the movie.
Using a religion as a cosmological reference is common practice for plenty of fantasy writers. I already mentioned Dante and Tolkien as strong Catholic examples. That doesn’t mean such works glorify their references.
And disingenuous? The very basis of what defines occult is the calling on forces and dabbling with things that are not within the domain of man. Now, if a certain group of people are born in a way that makes them capable of manipulating these forces, then they’re no longer out of man’s domain.
Understand that (as an example) Moses himself did not part the Seas himself. Rather he depended upon the power of God to do so. So to do witches (whether knowingly or unknowlingly) conjure spirits of the underworld to effect change in the physical world.
You’ve just highlighted your deliberate ignorance of fantasy magic right here. What you realize is that fantasy wizards/witches DO magic by themselves. It’s an
inherent ability. They do not call upon gods or demons. They manipulate magic purely through mind power and force of will.
Let me tell you: after the first movie made its debut there was an explosion of witchcraft and wiccan literature in my local bookstores.
Classic logical fallacy. Correlation does not imply causation.
I would be very careful about how I say what I say about any Catholic priest friend. I caution you to be careful because rebellion is born of the devil and slander against a man of God is a sin.
I didn’t say it. It was long been in the news. News is news. You don’t like it? Not my problem.
Saying he is making bare assertions is based on what? Do you have evidence that he is not speaking from a position of authority and knowledge on such matters or are you just hoping he is wrong so you don’t have to feel guilty about loving the H.Potter series?
Has he studied literature? Has he ever written fantasy himself? Does he even know his basic mythology? If you can give me proof that he has knowledge on fantasy fiction/literature to speak on it, I’d be happy to listen. Till then, every time you mention him will be nothing more than an empty appeal to authority.
So because the concept is slightly modified (witches are born witches instead of taught witchcraft) the concept of the movie does not represent that of witchcraft?
Obviously you are ignorant of the implications found within the difference of being born with something and having it taught to you.
Here’s a hint: You can’t choose what you’re born with.
I am not referring to slight of hand and trickery. The magic in Harry Potter is obviously not mean to illustrate trickery but is meant to speak to a supernatural use of power not born of God. And if it is supernatural and not of God I wonder who it is meant to come from?
You assume it’s not of God? Why not? You assume it is supernatural but is it really? Are you aware that in fantasy, science is virtually non-existent? Magic is simply the substitute. The cosmological laws governing a fantasy universe is clearly far different from our own.
Acceptance of true magic and occultism is so much easier when you have a population conditioned to accept it.
Just because there are dolts out there who can’t tell fiction from reality, doesn’t mean the line between them doesn’t exist.
