Warnings about Harry Potter

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Brooklyn said:
Following Christ is never boring - it is sometimes frustrating (fighting ourselves mostly), sometimes (and usually) very difficult, but always a grand adventure learning and experiencing new and beautiful teachings with a wonderful ending if we stay on the right path. But it is never, never boring. If I find myself bored, I know I am doing something wrong. I don’t need the life of a wizard to “get my kicks.”

Lady a/k/a Mary
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Excuse me but where did I say that following Christ was boring? :ehh:
I said my life was boring. And if it’s not boring, it’s downright stressful (heck I just had my preliminary exams today and I’m pretty much bummed and burned out… you try feeling like an academic failure some time… you might understand why geeks like me prefer to fantasize and even wish our fantasies would come true -.-;; ).
 
shannyk said:
What does following Christ have to do with reading or watching HP?
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Our Christian faith informs everything we do. 😉

Seriously, though, we should certainly not paint them as mutually exclusive (or, mutually inclusive).

(Edit: Hey, this is my 3,000th post! Only 3,000 more and I’ll graduate from “Regular Member” to “Senior Member”! ;))
 
Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how this thread is still so hot? 😉 I wasn’t going to post anymore, but some recent comments have made me want to. 🤷 I think Brooklyn is saying that she thinks these books, in and of themselves, are evil because they depict something that is evil and that the spells and other things are actually real. That is not MY opinion/fear. My thoughts are that these books CAN (not always or maybe even not often) lead some to have a greater desire to be a wizard/witch/whatever you want to call it. These particular books, because they’re set in a society that is so closely connected with our current society, can lead kids who are not lead by powerful role models helping them discern good/evil fantasy/reality, to want to learn more. To want to dive deep into the occult world. I do not think that if you get a wand (even if it has unicorn hair in it ;)) you will be able to wave it around w/ the spells in the book and get any desired effect. But, I do believe that there are real occult practices happening and I think that a child not properly guarded, may fall prey to that. I know that is what happened to my niece.

Likewise, I do not think that being a good Catholic and being a HP fan are mutually exclusive. I just think that there are better stories for kids to read that I feel will not incite this desire quite so much. I feel this way because of my own personal experiences. Again, when I read the books (and I’ve read 6 of them) I thoroughly enjoyed them…I think that J.K Rowling is a wonderful author…I think that’s part of the problem (for me!).
 
Ok, it’s the fanatic back here to get pounded by all of you who love Harry Potter. Again, I’m not giving my opinions. LifeSiteNews.com is a Catholic website devoted to the family and more specifically, to news concerning life isuses, e.g. abortion. Here is a link to lifesitenews.com which has devoted an entire section to Harry Potter. Why, you wonder, would they do that? Because they are very concerned about the effect of Harry Potter on children. I guess they’re fanatics like me. Here is the link:

lifesitenews.com/features/harrypotter/

Here is an excerpt from their site:
Many thoughtful families are caught in the whirlwind of controversy over the wildly popular Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling. That is, are these series of novels just harmless, imaginative, children’s adventure stories or do they condition young readers to be more open to the occult and serious witchcraft?
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It is not easy to answer these questions. Strongly pro-family spokesmen have come out on both sides of the issue.
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A clue might be that the establishment media and entertainment industry are ecstatic about Harry Potter. The almost universal enthusiasm from the generally anti-family mainstream media should cause families to pause and at least take a careful look at all the arguments.
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It is hoped that the following material will provide quality alternative food for thought to help parents and others to discern the best response to Harry Potter.
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Michael D. O’Brien on Harry Potter
We especially direct you to the essay by Michael D. O’Brien (author of A Landscape With Dragons: The Battle for Your Child’s Mind) in which he carefully analyzes the Potter phenomenon from a Christian perspective and points out the differences between the Harry Potter series and J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia fantasies. Lord of the Rings has a wizard as a main character, there is also magic, lots of monsters and constant battles between good and evil.
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O’Brien’s essay is an education in morally sound versus morally dangerous fantasy literature for children. The work goes beyond criticizing the Potter series and stirs the conscience to reflect more seriously on the loss of traditional faith and the danger posed by the secular entertainment media. O’Brien acknowledges the Potter series is a creative, imaginative and powerful drama filled with enticing ideas. However, the allure created, according to O’Brien, heightens the danger that the crude and morally confused concepts will be assimilated and put into practice - especially by some of the more vulnerable in the target audience of impressionable children.
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Just to let you know, there are some very reputable “fanatics” out there. Okay, you can have at me now.

Mary
 
shannyk said:
What does following Christ have to do with reading or watching HP?
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I wonder that too. I responded because the whole “I hope you know and defend your Faith as much as you know and defend Harry Potter” thing was out of line, IMO.
 
Brooklyn said:
Ok, it’s the fanatic back here to get pounded by all of you who love Harry Potter. Again, I’m not giving my opinions. LifeSiteNews.com is a Catholic website devoted to the family and more specifically, to news concerning life isuses, e.g. abortion. Here is a link to lifesitenews.com which has devoted an entire section to Harry Potter. Why, you wonder, would they do that? Because they are very concerned about the effect of Harry Potter on children. I guess they’re fanatics like me. Here is the link:

lifesitenews.com/features/harrypotter/

Here is an excerpt from their site:

Just to let you know, there are some very reputable “fanatics” out there. Okay, you can have at me now.

Mary
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We all still love you, Mary! :grouphug: 🙂

Seeing how LifeSiteNews misrepresented the Pope’s comments on Harry Potter really hurt their credibility in my eyes. Their hearts are in the right place, I’m sure, but if they can draw incorrect conclusions on Harry Potter from the letters of then-Cardinal Ratzinger, it makes me wonder what else they have gotten wrong on this subject.
 
Joe_5859 said:
We all still love you, Mary! :grouphug: 🙂

Seeing how LifeSiteNews misrepresented the Pope’s comments on Harry Potter really hurt their credibility in my eyes. Their hearts are in the right place, I’m sure, but if they can draw incorrect conclusions on Harry Potter from the letters of then-Cardinal Ratzinger, it makes me wonder what else they have gotten wrong on this subject.
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Thank you sincerely for the affirmation. I needed that.

I’m involved in the pro life movement, and I have found that one of the very best places to get life-related news is LifeSiteNews.com, I learn things there that are impossible to get in the MSM. I know there is a lot of back and forth on whether the Pope likes Harry Potter or not. It’s true that he hasn’t actually condemned it, but he certainly has said some not so favorable things about it. And there is certainly nothing in his comments to endorse Harry Potter. As they report on their site:
On March 7, 2003 then-Cardinal Ratzinger wrote a letter to his friend Gabriele Kuby, the author of a book warning against Harry Potter. The Cardinal wrote: “It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly”.
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That’s a direct quote from then Cardinal Ratzinger.

I do hope you will do yourself a favor and at least look at the webpage.

Mary
 
Joe_5859 said:
Our Christian faith informs everything we do. 😉

Seriously, though, we should certainly not paint them as mutually exclusive (or, mutually inclusive).

(Edit: Hey, this is my 3,000th post! Only 3,000 more and I’ll graduate from “Regular Member” to “Senior Member”! ;))
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I agree our Faith informs everything we do or should, the wink wasn’t necessary, but thanks;) But that is not what Brooklyn was getting at, she was insinuating that following the advice/warnings of these Priests is tantamount to not following Christ. That is what I was questioning.

I’d rather stay regular, but that’s just me.:D:p
 
shannyk said:
I agree our Faith informs everything we do or should, the wink wasn’t necessary, but thanks;) But that is not what Brooklyn was getting at, she was insinuating that following the advice/warnings of these Priests is tantamount to not following Christ. That is what I was questioning.

I’d rather stay regular, but that’s just me.:D:p
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Whats really cool is when you become a “Forum Master” You get to walk around in a white robe and mutter “May the Force be With You” to everyone you enocunter.

BTW-if you wantt to stay regular I recommend METAMUCIL.
 
estesbob said:
Whats really cool is when you become a “Forum Master” You get to walk around in a white robe and mutter “May the Force be With You” to everyone you enocunter.

BTW-if you wantt to stay regular I recommend METAMUSIL.
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😃 Thanks, I’ll mix it up and pass it around this thread I think.🎉

You know what burns me, in all seriousness, is that those articles from lifesite (which does have some good material but has had problematic material too) and others is that parents who allow their children to read HP are accused of being basically reckless with their children and buying into a whole culture of disorder and death. It’s never presumed that we are competent people who have made an informed decision about what we do and don’t let our kids read. I resent that. I’m VERY selective about what my kids read and watch. We only recently got a TV back in the house and it’s watched exactly 30 min a day. Inane, base, mindless, kid pandering entertainment is not allowed in my home. I’m probably more anal about it than 90 percent of parents I know. HP in my judgment does not fall into the former category IMO.
 
adstrinity said:
Something tells me my Imperius Curse didn’t work on Brooklyn. 😦
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I’m curious - is the curse just for me, or is it for all who disagree with you? Does everyone here think I am just out to wreck your fun? Do you think it is at all possible that all of these people I am quoting might have some valid points?

Your friendly fanatic,

Mary
 
Brooklyn said:
Ok, it’s the fanatic back here to get pounded by all of you who love Harry Potter. Again, I’m not giving my opinions. LifeSiteNews.com is a Catholic website devoted to the family and more specifically, to news concerning life isuses, e.g. abortion. Here is a link to lifesitenews.com which has devoted an entire section to Harry Potter. Why, you wonder, would they do that? Because they are very concerned about the effect of Harry Potter on children. I guess they’re fanatics like me. Here is the link:

lifesitenews.com/features/harrypotter/

Here is an excerpt from their site:

Just to let you know, there are some very reputable “fanatics” out there. Okay, you can have at me now.

Mary
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Okay:
  1. What do political issues such as abortion have anything to do with literature or fiction? I thought Marxist literary critics were the only people who involved political/social commentary with everything like that? The effects of Harry Potter on children are no more of a danger than letting your kids watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame or The Secret of Nimh.
  2. Do I like the kind of guy to afford something like that? Sorry but I can’t comment on essays like that even if I wanted to. Stick to something we can all discuss without needing to spend a few extra dollars. Aren’t we in a global recession or something?
  3. I’d rather that instead of trying to point out books or essays we can’t possibly comment on at the moment, try instead to present your own case for what dangers there are in engaging in fantasy. If you actually have the material you mention and you can quote it to us, even better.
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
Okay:
  1. What do political issues such as abortion have anything to do with literature or fiction? I thought Marxist literary critics were the only people who involved political/social commentary with everything like that? The effects of Harry Potter on children are no more of a danger than letting your kids watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame or The Secret of Nimh.
  2. Do I like the kind of guy to afford something like that? Sorry but I can’t comment on essays like that even if I wanted to. Stick to something we can all discuss without needing to spend a few extra dollars. Aren’t we in a global recession or something?
  3. I’d rather that instead of trying to point out books or essays we can’t possibly comment on at the moment, try instead to present your own case for what dangers there are in engaging in fantasy. If you actually have the material you mention and you can quote it to us, even better.
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I don’t know what relevance your first two points have, but as to your third point, the reason I don’t give my feelings about Harry Potter is because I have no expertise in this matter. Harry Potter never interested me one way or the other. I never gave it any thought at all until I heard what exorcists were saying about it, and not just one, but all of them, at least the ones I have heard talk or read about. Also, Spirtdaily.com, which is a Catholic news website, is always pointing out the dangers of Harry Potter. I have been giving you all the links and quotes that I can - I don’t know what more I can do. It is quite obvious that you are all huge Harry Potter fans, and nothing can deter you from that. I honestly believe that if Jesus Christ said directly to you not to have anything to do with Harry Potter, you would laugh in his face. You certainly are not listening to any of his representatives, and I have quoted from many of them.

So okay - I give up. This thread is going nowhere, you are all set in your feelings, so God bless and watch over all of you.

Mary
 
estesbob said:
Whats really cool is when you become a “Forum Master” You get to walk around in a white robe and mutter “May the Force be With You” to everyone you enocunter.

BTW-if you wantt to stay regular I recommend METAMUCIL.
Click to expand...
What status is it when I get to saunter around and recite, “I am adstrinity, Blogger of Bloggers, look on my posts ye mighty and despair!”?
Brooklyn said:
I’m curious - is the curse just for me, or is it for all who disagree with you? Does everyone here think I am just out to wreck your fun? Do you think it is at all possible that all of these people I am quoting might have some valid points?

Your friendly fanatic,

Mary
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Hey Mary! As you can see, forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=5439510&postcount=107 the curse was for you and you exclusively. It doesn’t seem to be working, though.

Also, before you go, I asked you in post 162 to please show me the spells the books were using that the exorcists pointed to being satanic. Thank you.
 
Brooklyn said:
Next week a new Harry Potter movie comes out, and I thought it would be a good time to re-warn everyone about this series. There was a thread previously on this forum about Harry Potter, and I was amazed at how many people defend these stories.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=340846&highlight=HARRY+POTTER

Father Gabriel Amorth, the Vatican chief exorcist, has warned about Harry Potter time and again. For example:

theage.com.au/news/arts/harry-potter-satanic-popes-exorcist/2006/08/31/1156817037586.html

Another:

homilia.org/Potter/exorcista.htm

I’ve recently read two books on exorcisms, and they both warn about Harry Potter. Please, parents, don’t take your kids to see this movie, and keep these books out of your house. The devil is real, and he don’t play.

Mary
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I have read all the books, I’ve seen all the movies except the new one (and will see that and the final one in the theaters), and I hope to buy a box set of the books and a box set of the movies. I appreciate them for what they are- works of fiction. I don’t recommend that everybody read or watch them. People who are attracted to the occult should avoid them, but those who like them simply because they like fantasy (and acknowledge it for what it is) are ok.

Coincidentally, I am currently reading “An Exorcist Tells His Story” by Father Amorth. Remember that, though the U.S. had things like the Salem witch trials, the US doesn’t have the superstition-immersed culture that Italy does. One common offensive gesture in Italy is to give someone the evil eye. We don’t really have anything like that in our culture- at least not one that is as prevalent. I’m not saying that there aren’t demons in America, or that there aren’t Americans who take those books WAY too seriously, but our culture is more likely to take literature like the Harry Potter books as works of fiction more than as gateways to possessing divine powers (a temptation that draws people to the occult).
 
Brooklyn–

The great medieval philosophers all believed strongly in the maxim “The appeal to human authority is the weakest of all arguments.” I agree with them.

Experts and news outlets and quotes don’t convince me because I’m looking right at their logic, and it breaks down. I’m looking right at their reasoning, and it doesn’t make sense. I’m looking right at their evidence, and it doesn’t support their conclusions. It doesn’t matter that they’re experts on the occult or reliable prolife news outlets. They are not experts on Harry Potter, and their arguments simply don’t make sense.

Fr. Amorth says that the Harry Potter books are dangerous because they draw a false distinction between black and white magic. But they don’t; I’ve read the Harry Potter books many times, and they do not make a distinction between good and bad magic. What’s more, under Fr. Amorth’s definition of magic, there is no magic in Harry Potter.

Bro. Mary says that the Harry Potter books are written from the worldview of witchcraft. But he doesn’t explain that claim. He doesn’t provide a shred of evidence for it.

Meanwhile I have read a mountain of evidence that Rowling’s worldview as expressed in Harry Potter is very Christian, and Rowling herself has said that the Scripture quotes in the 7th book almost epitomize then entire series! And in the face of such evidence I am supposed to conclude that the Harry Potter books are dangerous to the soul, just because of Fr. Amorth’s and Bro. Mary’s good names and their experience battling the occult, even when they are not experts on the Harry Potter books, and even when I am looking right at their arguments and they don’t make sense? I can’t do that.

Brooklyn, you seem convinced that those who are defending Harry Potter continue to do so despite your quotes because they are just that loyal to the series. But that’s not true. I’m not fighting you on this because I’m just that loyal to Rowling’s work. I’m fighting you on this because your experts’ arguments simply don’t make sense and because I seem to have specific refutations of them. And I’ve given those refutations, in this post and others. Where am I wrong? Why are my responses to Fr. Amorth’s arguments invalid?

Citing experts won’t do it. “The appeal to human authority is the weakest of all arguments.” I want to see an explanation of why the Harry Potter books are dangerous. I haven’t seen one yet that doesn’t break down. I have to believe what I think is really true. And so I do.
 
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