Why is Harry Potter hated by some Catholics for magic when lord of the rings has Gandalf who was a wizard?

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I tend to think youth having curiosity and dabbling in the occult is an issue in itself and they get interested in it because nobody tells them it’s wrong.

I used to watch Dungeons and Dragons and other cartoons that had magic, read C.S. Lewis and Tolkien and other stories and entertainment that had “magic” but that wasn’t what made me curious about the occult as a teenager. I understood that fantasy was just fantasy. To me the occult was just something I was curious about in itself.

I used to go over to a friend’s house and she had some tarot cards – we didn’t need Harry Potter in the 80s. We were doing what curious teenagers do. I had an ouija board that I brought to school for show and tell as a teenager and even did a “reading” with another in class to show how it “works”. But the kicker here is that my teacher at the time was a Catholic that also went to my church and was even my religious education (CCD) teacher. So I guess as an adult, while I can’t judge them, I wonder why he never said anything, and why my parents never said anything. Probably because they were going along with the “spirit of the times” it just wasn’t taken very seriously and as a Gen X Catholic, my parents trusted that the youth group and CCD classes would be fine, but my religious education was actually very poor. And there lies the issue, at least to me.
 
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Gandalf and the Lord of the rings stress a difference from the powers of good and the powers of evil. Gandalf being a lesser angel and servant of the great Eru Ilúvatar which is the sole source of his power. Harry Potter although I’m sure it has very good intentions and fun for children does infact indirectly promote witchcraft in children. Harry Potter doesn’t stress the difference between the power of God and the powers of evil and portrays magic and witchcraft as something good.
 
I cannot tell you how many Catholic friends of mine use tarot cards and love getting their fortune told. It’s rather disconcerting if I’m honest.

I do think part of it is because we simply don’t talk about these things or if we do it’s in that hysterical way that kids ignore. A calm, frank discussion would do a world of good.
 
I hate Harry Potter because I developed arachnophobia after watching one of the movies (thanks, Ron).
 
ratio1 said:
Can’t understand why people like LOTR. It was so boring that I couldn’t finish the book.
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I think it’s one of those “you’ll either love it or hate it” things. There doesn’t seem to be any in-between. 🙂
 
It took me four tries to read it. It’s written like a textbook. The first novel is a complete SLUDGE to get through but the next two novels have a bit more action and get a bit more interesting.

But it’s definitely not for everyone. Tolkien definitely did not write with ‘entertaining’ in mind. LOL.
 
I fell asleep during the second book every few years and never finished it . . . until my oldest at 10 appeared likely to finish before me if I didn’t get moving!

she saw a commercial on Thursday for the movie, told my wife, “Mama, I want see that!” was told that maybe I’d take her if she read the book first . . . and we saw it on Sunday!

(that one taught herself to read at 3 or 4 and has devoured books since . . . the next had no interest in reading . . . until one night we called up to turn the lights out [we required her to read before bed] and she asked if she could finish the chapter [uh, Yes!!!] It was the first Harry Potter book . . . )

hawk
 
Oh my gosh! So cute!!! Haha. I was a voracious reader as a kid. Could finish a book in a day. Now I struggle to read a SENTENCE in a day. LOL
 
casslean said:
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YoungCatholicGuy:
Nevertheless:
it includes actual occult terminology and occult history references, which with any use of google/ library books, a teenager could easily get information on and dabble in.
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So do history books.

And encyclopedias.

And dictionaries.
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So does the Bible.

Now if you want to read something sensational, one of the articles above featured a Jack Chick comic. I cannot imagine anyone researching him would fail to see just far off the rails one travels when riding the Chick train.
 
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With all due respect, this topic has been done many, many times over the years. I think it’s time to put this “Harry Potter” thing to bed.

-Moderators- please shut this topic down and ban this topic!
 
The wizards of Harry Potter were born with their magical abilities and not acquired through illicit or sinful means.
 
That’s a good point. And muggles (regular humans) cannot use magic at all.
 
Really? I think some of us were having a very good discussion in this thread. I saw no hostility or attacks but because you personally are bored of it you want it gone?
 
It still does however promote magic and encourages kids to get into magic and eventually they will also attempt to acquire magical powers like in Harry Potter, except through sinful or satanic means.
 
Masihi said:
and eventually they will also attempt to acquire magical powers like in Harry Potter, except through sinful or satanic means.
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Not if they know the difference between fantasy and reality. If they don’t, their parents shouldn’t allow them thread fiction until they teach them the difference.
 
Source for this? I know many children who’ve read this series, even grown up on it, none sought out magic. They all, for some strange reason, realized it was just make believe.
 
Exactly. Kids who attempt to acquire magical powers in real life have other issues going on beyond just the books they read…
 
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