J
Joe_5859
Guest
Seeing the plethora of Harry Potter threads that have cropped up recently, I became curious as to how many people here are for or against Harry Potter. I am also interesetd in how you came about finding yourself in one camp or the other (or somewhere in between). I started on one end, but am now leaning towards the other.
I was anti-Potter for a long time. Not that I went out of my way to bash the series or campaign against it. I just thought it was, more likely than not, evil.
I only had a peripheral sense of the series growing popularity when I read an article in Envoy magazine that was very much against the series. As I had never read an article in Envoy that I disagreed with and as I am predisposed to disliking whatever is “popular” I pretty much wrote off the series. I figured, if I have the time to read, I’d rather re-read The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia.
The pro-Potter people also turned me off with such arguments as “It’s only fiction” and "If you haven’t read the books, then you just don’t know what you’re talking about. It reminded me of the same line of thought that “DaVinci Code” supporters used. This rubbed me the wrong way because, first, I’m not stupid and I realize it’s fiction. Fiction still influences people. Second, just because you haven’t read the book doesn’t mean you can’t discuss general principles (I can argue against the historical inaccuracies found in the DaVinci Code without knowing the plot points). I admit, though, that I never spoke out against Harry Potter. I didn’t feel I had enough info to do that. But I deferred to people like Micheal O’Brien (whom I respected) when they made distinctions between the type of magic found in Harry Potter and that in LotR or Narnia.
More recently, I discovered that a priest friend of mine loves the series. (He bought the 7th book and read it that weekend). As he is fiercely orthodox in his beliefs and very much liturgically minded (no improv Masses for him!), I started to have second thoughts. My wife and I have watched the first four movies recently (I know, I know, watch the movies before reading the books?
) I also read The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide. And I must say, I think I’m coming around. Now I understand what the pro-Potter camp is saying when they say that the magic in HP is not the same thing as the occult. Of course, I’ll reserve final judgment until I get the chance to read all the books myself.
I would like to hear from people as to why you are pro-Potter or anti-Potter. Did you read something somewhere? Did a trusted friend make a recommendation? Did you read the books yourself and then come to your decision?
I’m not looking to start another debate on the morality of Harry Potter. I’m just looking for the reasons behind your beliefs one way or the other.
I was anti-Potter for a long time. Not that I went out of my way to bash the series or campaign against it. I just thought it was, more likely than not, evil.
I only had a peripheral sense of the series growing popularity when I read an article in Envoy magazine that was very much against the series. As I had never read an article in Envoy that I disagreed with and as I am predisposed to disliking whatever is “popular” I pretty much wrote off the series. I figured, if I have the time to read, I’d rather re-read The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia.
The pro-Potter people also turned me off with such arguments as “It’s only fiction” and "If you haven’t read the books, then you just don’t know what you’re talking about. It reminded me of the same line of thought that “DaVinci Code” supporters used. This rubbed me the wrong way because, first, I’m not stupid and I realize it’s fiction. Fiction still influences people. Second, just because you haven’t read the book doesn’t mean you can’t discuss general principles (I can argue against the historical inaccuracies found in the DaVinci Code without knowing the plot points). I admit, though, that I never spoke out against Harry Potter. I didn’t feel I had enough info to do that. But I deferred to people like Micheal O’Brien (whom I respected) when they made distinctions between the type of magic found in Harry Potter and that in LotR or Narnia.
More recently, I discovered that a priest friend of mine loves the series. (He bought the 7th book and read it that weekend). As he is fiercely orthodox in his beliefs and very much liturgically minded (no improv Masses for him!), I started to have second thoughts. My wife and I have watched the first four movies recently (I know, I know, watch the movies before reading the books?
) I also read The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide. And I must say, I think I’m coming around. Now I understand what the pro-Potter camp is saying when they say that the magic in HP is not the same thing as the occult. Of course, I’ll reserve final judgment until I get the chance to read all the books myself.I would like to hear from people as to why you are pro-Potter or anti-Potter. Did you read something somewhere? Did a trusted friend make a recommendation? Did you read the books yourself and then come to your decision?
I’m not looking to start another debate on the morality of Harry Potter. I’m just looking for the reasons behind your beliefs one way or the other.
