Question:
My mother doesn't let my sister see Harry Potter movies?
anonymous
2009-10-07 23:39:00 UTC
She claims that Harry Potter movies talk about 'magic' which is bad according to the Bible. Is this correct? And if so, where do you draw the line? Does this mean she can't watch Casper the Friendly Ghost reruns, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie or read books like King Arthur? Where do you draw the line between fictional magic and real magic?
24 answers:
Abigail
2009-10-07 23:51:47 UTC
Nope she shouldn't watch any of them....however the Chronicles of Narnia probably slipped by due to it's uncommon Title.



Nothing that has to do with spiritism of any sort. Including Magical, Spirit Mediums, Divination, Paranormal, demonic....in nature. It's like inviting demons into your home.



Deuteronomy Chapter 18
Professor Coldheart!
2009-10-07 23:52:03 UTC
Your mother probably lets her watch the Chronicles of Narnia because there are heavy Christian themes throughout the story. Has your mother actually watched the Harry Potter movies, or is she just making her decision based on what others have said. Try telling her that Harry Potter has a lot of really strong, positive themes (like friendship, loyalty, perseverance, bravery, honesty, family, etc). Yes, there are a lot of fictional aspects to the story, but so long as your sister understands that the magic and wizards are all make-believe, I really don't see a problem. I find it astounding that so many people still have a problem with Harry Potter. I mean, the good guys are good and the bad guys are clearly bad. There isn't a whole lot of room for misunderstandings or moral ambiguity. The good guys try to do what's right and the bad guys get a fair and just punishment.



Edit: When does Harry Potter lie without consequences? I've read all of the books multiple times and I'm having a hard time figuring this one out. All the instances I can remember where Harry is being a jerk - much like many of the characters in the Chronicles of Narnia- he ends up chastised and reprimanded, usually by Professor Dumbledore who does it in a very diplomatic and Aristotelian way.
Old Timer Too
2009-10-08 00:07:34 UTC
How old is your sister?



There are elements in the Harry Potter movies that I object to. Harry seems to have no problem telling lies and maintaining a lie. That, to me, is a major problem that has nothing to do with any "magic" which is all make-believe, anyway.



Magic is a problem with respect to some religious views. While it is not promoted in the Bible, it is not fully condemned, ether. The magi (of the three wise men) were allegedly astrologers, which involves such things as sooth-saying, and so on. Even Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors talks about one of the kings and his wondrous box full of ... "things" some of which had magical properties. While this is a modern telling of the story, it shows that religion -- particularly Christianity -- is not uniform in its beliefs.



The problem is something you've already pointed out... the difference between "real" magic and "fictional" magic. My question is, is there really such a thing as "real" magic, or is it nothing more than illusion?



If illusion, then (aside from its entertainment value) there is still a problem and the problem is one of accepting the concept of an illusion as if it were real (without knowing what principles of physics were involved in creating the illusion) and accepting the reality of the world around you.



The other problem is that many people consider religion to be an illusion of sorts and so here is one person who practices an illusion (Christianity, in the minds of some skeptics), criticizing another illusion (magic -- fictional or real).



Fun problem, isn't it?



Finally, your comparison to the Chronicles of Narnia... Harry Potter still lied without remorse or consequence. That didn't happen in Chronicles.
anonymous
2009-10-08 00:11:02 UTC
Your mother is crossing the line to lunacy.



Harry Potter is about good versus evil, and in all the movies so far produced, GOOD wins! (I won't ruin the last few for you...I've read the books)



Actually, anything that gets kids reading, interested in reading, and reading more and better, is a GOOD thing...religiously or not.



There is NOTHING in the Bible that says you can't read about magic. Or that you can't read fiction about wizards and witches.



It ONLY has a line about not supporting the Witch of Endor (this was an evil character that used BLACK magic).



Tell your mom to get a grip on reality.



To be honest. I'm pretty sure your mom would object to all those examples.



Narnia is a Christian Allegory, which would explain why her pastor tells her that she can read it.



Maybe she should stop listening to the pastor and start to think for herself. I'm gonna bet she HAS the capacity to do that.





@Mo in the middle. LOLOLOL! Yeah. Dan Brown has become a multi-millionaire using that logic!
auntb93
2009-10-07 23:45:18 UTC
The Chronicles of Narnia have a Christian base; Harry Potter does not.



But it is sad that your mother has such an attitude toward fiction. Does she keep all Disney animated movies away from your sister, too? After all, they depend on magic all the time.



As to where you draw the line between fictional magic and real magic, see the link below.
anonymous
2009-10-07 23:43:56 UTC
Harry Potter is make believe. But Jesus raising the dead isn't some kind of magic? If Harry Potter were real, People would probably follow him around and write testaments of his life. And maybe even start a church with him as the Icon. He is the chosen one according to the books :P Edit: As far as drawing the line, when Harry Potter starts practicing magic for real, then you might want to be worried. Even if he does it with Christian undertones lol
tonks_op
2009-10-07 23:50:11 UTC
There are some Christians, often from the South, who have never read the Harry Potter books and only because Harry goes to a school for Witches and Wizards, they think that the books are evil. They are very ignorant.



As you can see by my screen name I am a Harry Potter fan. J.K. Rowling is a Christian. She was once asked by a reporter about her faith, and her answer was "I am glad that no one has asked me about what I believe, because if they knew, wither 6 or 60 they will know how the series ends".



And knowing that I predicted how the books would end, based on Christian theology, and I was right.



The books are very, very Christian, but in a hidden way. If anything Rowling is showing the teaching of Jesus to the world of unbelievers who would never know him any other way. There are many, many Christian like myself who love the Harry Potter books. Priest, monks too. If it ware evil do you really think we would all read and love them? They are Christian books!!! I could write a book about each of the HP books and the Christian symbolism in them. Someday I will. Others have written about the Christian ideas in the books. John Granger, is one. Check him out at Amazon. Have you mother read his work. Or the work of a woman named Neil. They are both Christians.



Even in the last book there are two quoits from the Bible. And Christ is Cruxified symbolically more than one. It is a real tear jerker. The last book and the two movies that will be based on it, will rip your heart right out and stomp it half to death. And the Boy who Lived, will...
Hailie P
2009-10-07 23:47:37 UTC
Hello :)



The chronicles of Narnia was written by a very Christian man, so that explains why she has no problem with it.



If you would like to watch Harry Potter (recommended, it is amazing!!! ^_^), just tell you're mother the truth: the books message is love, friendship, and good vs. evil. Nothing satanic about that right? :)



:) ♥
Eclectic Heretic
2009-10-07 23:46:52 UTC
I like sci-fi. Does that mean I am waiting for the little green men to come down and save me from all this stupidity? I wish. The Chronicles of Narnia are supposedly allegorical "christian" movies, I guess that is the difference. Personally, I liked "Bewitched", it was kind of fun.
єlly
2009-10-07 23:45:21 UTC
Chronicles of Narnia is a mega-christian story. The lion represents jesus or god or something. Edwin or whatever his name is is tempted by a satan figure bla bla bla. I think it's funny that such an outlandish story is okay to watch, but kids who do magic and fly on broomsticks isn't okay. Whatever, she sounds misguided. Go rent a harry potter movie, it's entertainment.
anonymous
2009-10-07 23:42:44 UTC
Narnia has Biblical References, The Potter Boy does not



pun! Well, not really
Michael K
2009-10-07 23:43:15 UTC
Yes, magic is scorned in the Bible, however, Harry Potter is fiction. FICTION. Might want to point that out to her as well as her hypocrisy to Narnia.



It might have been the Christian overtones that Lewis used that your mom liked.
He Heals the Broken Hearted
2009-10-07 23:57:39 UTC
Chronicles of Narnia honor God

harry Potter honors the dark side



I don't know where you draw the line, but it is your parents God given right to raise them as they feel best. And it is honorable for the child to obey his/her parents.
anonymous
2009-10-08 00:13:37 UTC
I'm assuming that she's witnessed millions of JK Rowling readers turn to the "darkside" before the movies got established. Senseless
luis l
2009-10-08 00:17:32 UTC
I have 2 answers for you;is very sad but the preacher is brainwash your mom,he made her life sad ,she´s always a sin life ?

life is so great to meet a lot of people to live and learn from our mistakes she can be good and be alive .
Cactus12
2009-10-08 02:30:09 UTC
The Bible is clear about magic, it is very wrong in God's eyes:



(Deuteronomy 18:10-13) . . .There should not be found in you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, anyone who employs divination, a practicer of magic or anyone who looks for omens or a sorcerer, 11 or one who binds others with a spell or anyone who consults a spirit medium or a professional foreteller of events or anyone who inquires of the dead. 12 For everybody doing these things is something detestable to Jehovah, and on account of these detestable things Jehovah your God is driving them away from before you. 13 You should prove yourself faultless with Jehovah your God.



(Leviticus 19:26) “‘YOU must eat nothing along with blood. “‘YOU must not look for omens, and YOU must not practice magic.



(Acts 19:19) Indeed, quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody. And they calculated together the prices of them and found them worth fifty thousand pieces of silver.



Where to draw the line? You should talk to your mum about Narnia and ask her to justify this. At the end of the day fictional or real, magic is magic in God's eyes. It's not a game or something harmless to mess about with. The reason God hates it so much is because it's not from him, rather from Satan the Devil and his demons. You may now be asking 'What is demonic about Bewitched or Jeanie etc?' but the Bible also states:



(2 Corinthians 11:14) . . .And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.



Something that looks harmless can in fact be the opposite. Just because it's packaged up as something cute doesn't mean it isn't harmful.



This is an extract from the book What does the Bible really teach?



To mislead people, the demons use spiritism. The practice of spiritism is involvement with the demons, both in a direct way and through a human medium. The Bible condemns spiritism and warns us to keep free from everything connected with it. (Galatians 5:19-21) Spiritism does for the demons what bait does for fishermen. A fisherman uses a variety of baits to catch various kinds of fish. Similarly, wicked spirits use different forms of spiritism to bring all sorts of people under their influence.



One type of bait used by the demons is divination. What is divination? It is an attempt to find out about the future or about something unknown. Some forms of divination are astrology, the use of tarot cards, crystal gazing, palmistry, and the search for mysterious omens, or signs, in dreams. Although many people think that practicing divination is harmless, the Bible shows that fortune-tellers and wicked spirits work together. For instance, Acts 16:16-18 mentions “a demon of divination” that enabled a girl to practice “the art of prediction.” But she lost this ability when the demon was cast out of her.



The Bible tells us both how to resist wicked spirits and how to break free from them. Consider the example of the first-century Christians in the city of Ephesus. Some of them practiced spiritism before becoming Christians. When they decided to break free from spiritism, what did they do? The Bible says: “Quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody.” (Acts 19:19) By destroying their books on magic, those new Christians set an example for those who wish to resist wicked spirits today. People who want to serve Jehovah need to get rid of everything related to spiritism. That includes books, magazines, movies, posters, and music recordings that encourage the practice of spiritism and make it seem appealing and exciting. Included, too, are amulets or other items worn for protection against evil.—1 Corinthians 10:21.
mo in the middle
2009-10-07 23:43:12 UTC
And yet another parent creates an insatiable curiosity in their child. If your sister hasn't sneaked out to see the movies already, she will.



Nothing makes a movie or a book more intriguing than forbidding it. Ask Dan Brown all about it.
Dances with Unicorns
2009-10-07 23:50:12 UTC
Want to get a kid to read what you wrote or watch what you created? Tell them it's forbidden; there will be a line around the block to get copies. Congratulate your mother for me, for helping to create a curious mind, will ya?
Snow Believer
2009-10-07 23:44:31 UTC
There is no line between fictional magic and real magic, because there is no such thing as real magic. The sooner more people understand this the better our world will be.
.Bubbles. {Let's Get Wiggly}
2009-10-07 23:42:17 UTC
Correction.





Where do you draw the line between not enjoying fictional entertainment and paranoia
anonymous
2009-10-07 23:42:54 UTC
All magic is fictional magic.
★GaGa★
2009-10-07 23:49:38 UTC
I don't like to insult people's mothers, so I'm not gonna touch this one.
Tweety G
2009-10-07 23:44:32 UTC
I've never heard of anything like that.



I love religious people! XD



i wish i could see her face when she said this it would make me laugh
Alexandre
2009-10-07 23:53:06 UTC
ok


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