Harry Potter: Good Witch or Bad Witch

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter (Part 2)
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:38 PM

Kay...

I am a Christian. I am also a HUGE HP fan. All I can say is that these folks no more represent Christians than Laurie Cabot represents Wiccans.

I think the HP books are a great way to teach children that evil exists, and that good can triumph. One of the main messages of the HP books is that his own Mother died to save him, and it was her love and sacrifice that spared him.

How much more Christian a message can you get than that?

There are always extremists (From all walks of life, not merely Christian), and they always seem to be the most vocal amongst us. Ignore them...they will find something else to hate in short order.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter (Part 2)
From: GUEST,InOBY sans Cookie
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:33 PM

I saw the film today, and thought the Christian values in the film where much more Christian than say, the version of Robin hood with that clown from Dances With Wolves, which totally looses the ideal of heroism, where in Robin Hood robs women, cuts the face of an unarmed fellow in a church (the good guy hero should always respond to a blow, not be the instigator) hits fellows from behind in fights... Rather Harry Potter is loyal to friends and plays fair in the face of enamies who don't, not a bad thing to reteach our kids.
Larry who lost his cookie, but not at the film.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter (Part 2)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:30 PM

I think most people in the Western world think of magic as fantasy, something quaint, interesting, and entertaining. Fundamentalist Christians look on it as something real, but as the work of Satan. For them, I guess, it's something to fear and to fight.
I dunno. I think it's fun, and I don't want to read anything more into it. Do we have to ban everything, just because some people are afraid of it? Is it improper to make mention of Harry in our schools?

That's one reason why I sent my kids to Catholic schools. My kids' teachers could talk about evolution and mythology and magic and whatever, without being afraid somebody would sue them.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter (Part 2)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:28 PM

Joe Offer,

Our posts must have crossed. I made it a new thread because I did think this right wing Christian reaction to the film deserved a separate discussion. It seems to me to be something even those who aren't interested in Harry Potter might still be interested in discussing. If I could have named the thread better, I'm certainly willing to change my original thread name. But I do think it should be kept out of the other thread (which I agree is too long, and should be split).

Not meaning to cause trouble, just wanting to do truth in advertising!

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Agreed. I changed the name back, and I'll figure out some other way to handle the confusion.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter (Part 2)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:25 PM

Um, what happened to the original thread title I put on this thread? "Part II' makes it look as if this thread is a continuation of the previous thread, which isn't what I intended.

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Good Witch or Bad Witch?
From: GUEST,Guest - can't be bothered to re-install my c
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:23 PM

Yeah, well fundamentalist Christianity is a pretty scary thing too - anyway they should be worried: wait til they read the children's trilology 'Dark Matters' by Philip Pullman about ultimately creating a Republic of Heaven - hopefully they might implode with self-riteousness?

Banning stuff like Harry Potter which also takes on board important childhood issues about not fitting in, the search for self, loyalty and friendship, strong moral codes, relationships with parents will do more harm than good. My Mother snatched away from my 5 year old hands a birthday present book on "Giants, Witches and werewolves' or similar - ever since I've had a morbid and completely out of proportion dread of the occult basically because I was given the message that it was too scary to deal with - now a 35 years later a 30 second trailer for 'Salem's Lot' still gives me nightmares for weeks

Subject: RE: BS: Harry Potter: Good Witch or Bad Witch?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:20 PM

I hope the first poster doesn't mind too much that I renamed this to "Harry Potter (Part 2)." The first thread was too long, but it would be better if we had some sort of order to our Harry Parter discussion and didn't end up with a proliferation of threads like we had with "Songcatcher." The first Harry Potter movie thread is here (click)
ALSO SEE Better Kid Flicks than Harry Potter
-Joe Offer-

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On second thought, I renamed it back.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Harry Potter: Good Witch or Bad Witch?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 01 - 07:09 PM

From today's Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Minnesota clergy denounce Harry Potter Published Nov 19 2001 Evangelical, conservative and even some moderate Christian ministers and religious leaders in St. Cloud, Minn., have denounced the Harry Potter phenomenon as satanic.

Some fundamentalist Christians in St. Cloud and throughout the country say Harry Potter teaches children to use profanity and to blaspheme God. They said the children's books and film mock fundamental Christians, teach that moderate drinking is acceptable, and teach that there is "good" witchcraft.

Several St. Cloud-area ministers have been watching and passing around the documentary videotape "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged," which claims that the tales lead kids to the occult and that the Harry Potter phenomenon is incompatible with Christianity.

"I believe this is more than a fantasy," said the Rev. Dan Larson, senior pastor at Good News Assembly of God in St. Cloud. "It's not just harmless entertainment. Specifically the Harry Porter books include things like human sacrifice, the possession of demon spirits and the sucking of human blood."

-- Associated Press