Harry Potter

Jesus Freak

Previously DanaCovert68
What does everyone think of the books/movies? I think they're okay as long as you don't practice what they're doing.

Leviticus 20:6

"`As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people."

I think this means that if a person practices magic and witchcraft that they will be banned from their village. Now what about watching the movies, and reading the books? Is it right to read them/watch them? What do we do? And yes, I am talking about myself.

I will not get mad if anyone tries to say anything. I promise you all that right here and now.
 
Whenever I'm torn about whether its alright to watch a particular movie, I ask myself these questions.....if Jesus was setting right next to me on the couch would I change the channel? Would I feel awkward or guilty about watching that particular movie?

What does the movie promote? What is it glorifying? The clear answer to me is witchcraft.

I believe if people want to watch something bad enough then they will go to great lengths to justify it. Seems like these days Christians are always seeing "Christian themes" and "Christ like characters" in some of the movies hollywood puts out, such as lord of the rings. I think its just an attempt to justify watching these movies. I wouldn't look for God in anything hollywood puts out.

I'm not saying its a sin to watch these movies but I do think we should be conscious of what we choose to entertain ourselves with. Our minds are like our bodies, if you put junk in, you will get junk out.
 
It is silly to have a religious objection to Harry Potter. I love American Horror Story: Coven and I enjoy watching Wizards of Waverley Place. Maybe I am just of the Jesuit persuasion, but I strive to find God in all things, and therefore I do not believe in a separation between the secular and the religious. I find God in watching a really beautiful romance movie just as much as I do listening to Gregorian Chants. American Horror Story: Coven is a series about the descendants of Salem witches, and it contains a beautiful story of how striving after worldly power only leads to corruption. It is a very Platonic and Christian message.

Then again, I guess if I actually believed magic were real and we could contact the dead and demons, I might be a little more concerned with the portrayal of witchcraft. I simply do not believe magical practices have any power.
 
Harry Potter is a fantasy story. Granted I'm no fan, but that's just a matter of taste than Christian morality. Fantasy magic in that format is not an endorsement of Satanism or a rejection of God. The Lord of the Rings stories, which are celebrated by many Christians, involves the same format of magic. Tolkien was not much for allegories and didn't write the LOTR stories by that means.

Some Christians reject both Harry Potter and LOTR -- I give them credit for at least being consistent.

I have no problem with someone rejecting Harry Potter if it makes him uncomfortable. Though anything can be put together anyway we want (just like when people used to love linking the Matrix to the gospel). One could do the same on the other side of the spectrum.
 
Lysander,

Good post. My rule of thumb on things like this is, if you think it's wrong, then don't do it. So if someone thinks reading Harry Potter books is wrong, then they shouldn't read them. I enjoyed them myself.
 
...Then again, I guess if I actually believed magic were real and we could contact the dead and demons, I might be a little more concerned with the portrayal of witchcraft. I simply do not believe magical practices have any power.

People can and do contact demons!

I 100% believe it is wrong to watch or read anything that shows sin are okay. Not trying to be judgemental... still working on this myself. I'm trying to not watch or read ANY shows that show immoral behavior as okay, and there are MANY.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20
 
What does everyone think of the books/movies? I think they're okay as long as you don't practice what they're doing.

Leviticus 20:6

"`As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people."

I think this means that if a person practices magic and witchcraft that they will be banned from their village. Now what about watching the movies, and reading the books? Is it right to read them/watch them? What do we do? And yes, I am talking about myself.

I will not get mad if anyone tries to say anything. I promise you all that right here and now.
I always look at this from how Paul explained about eating food offered to idols. A big portion of scripture from 1 Corinthians 8. I will draw a parallel to this for watching Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.. Watching the movie is nothing.. But is it being a stumbling block for someone else? The answer is yes.. So from my point of view, Christians should refrain from endorsing these hollywood movies. Not that people are going to become demon possessed, but not to be a stumbling block for new believers. I am quoting this from "The Message". I like it the way it has been quoted and helps to draw parallel easily.

1-3The question keeps coming up regarding meat that has been offered up to an idol: Should you attend meals where such meat is served, or not? We sometimes tend to think we know all we need to know to answer these kinds of questions—but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. We never really know enough until we recognize that God alone knows it all.
4-6Some people say, quite rightly, that idols have no actual existence, that there’s nothing to them, that there is no God other than our one God, that no matter how many of these so-called gods are named and worshiped they still don’t add up to anything but a tall story. They say—again, quite rightly—that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master—Jesus the Messiah—and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. It’s true.
7In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It’s just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn’t everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn’t that insensitive.
We need to be sensitive to the fact that we’re not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating “idol meat,” and are sure that there’s something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn’t going to change overnight.
8-9But fortunately God doesn’t grade us on our diet. We’re neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can’t stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
10For instance, say you flaunt your freedom by going to a banquet thrown in honor of idols, where the main course is meat sacrificed to idols. Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong.
11-13Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him—because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it doesmake a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these “weak ones.” So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.
 
May be I should use the term weak believer. let me post a question back to you :) How do you see the passage I just quoted?
 
I'm curious. How are LoTR and Harry Potter a "stumbling block for new believers"?

"Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go into that banquet? The danger is that he will become terribly confused—maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong."
 
I agree that certain things could be a problem for certain people, but it really all depends on the individual; a struggling alcoholic might be best not going to the bar on a Saturday night, but that doesn't mean it now applies to everyone. Likewise, a weak, pliable Christian might be best to stay away from certain things. Maybe that even includes Harry Potter books and movies. But just because that could indeed apply to one individual doesn't mean it applies to all.

Another individual might know precisely how much is OK for him to drink and when to call it an evening. And another Christian might find no threat in Harry Potter as he has a stronger foundation for his faith and knows Harry Potter or LOTR are faerie tales.

While there are definitely certain things that ought to be avoided by everyone and certain things that are just objectively wrong, this shouldn't mean all people should be regarded as a one-size-fits-all species. Each individual is unique and has different strengths, weaknesses, and gifts.
 
May be I should use the term weak believer. let me post a question back to you :) How do you see the passage I just quoted?
I don't understand the relevance. The scripture you quoted refers to offerings to other gods. In this case, we're talking about books and movies that don't have anything to do with gods or Christianity.

Isn’t there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue
I guess I don't understand what "issue" we're talking about. Is the argument that someone who's weak in their faith will read a Harry Potter book and be like, "Well, I'm not a Christian anymore"?
 
I see the passages you quoted as being helpful. I say that it is wrong for me to watch Harry Potter. But, in the end I will pray to God about this issue.
 
I hear many people say "I'm not weak in the faith, so this is ok for me, but maybe not for weaker Christians." While in some cases that is true, I still cant help but feel that it many cases that is just another attempt to justify what they are doing.

I believe people can come in contact with demons. I believe witchcraft can be a gateway to that. I see no good in watching movies that glorify and promote such things. Its not just that people can become desensitized or influenced by watching these movies, but its that we are giving our support and stamp of approval when we watch these movies. People will say that its just entertainment or that its all in good fun, but I think that satan's method of operation. He loves to downplay everything. He has been doing it since the Garden of Eden. "You will not surely die" or in other words, don't be so dramatic, its no big deal.

I'm not questioning anyone's Christianity for watching these movies, but I just don't believe its appropriate. I enjoy watching certain movies. I also enjoy listening to music and playing video games as well, but I do draw lines. Sometimes its a judgment call when it comes to entertainment because it isn't always so cut and dry.
 
lord of the rings is chock full of witchcraft. Sprinkling Christian themes and symbolism on it doesn't change that.

I made a mention of that. I find it strange when people disapprove of Harry Potter but then approve of LOTR. Whether I agree or disagree, I'm glad you're being consistent in the matter.
 
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