Neil D Posted August 9, 2007 Posted August 9, 2007 Quote: Harry Potter and Witchcraftby Steve Wohlberg From the August 2007 Signs The excitement mounted daily as we approached the July 21, 2007, countdown-to-midnight. On that Saturday night, at 12:01 a.m., kids and adults worldwide eagerly seized Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final installment in J. K. Rowling’s runaway series chronicling the adventures of a teenage sorcerer. As the Pottermania juggernaut rolls relentlessly toward its dual-to-thedeath climax between the diabolical Lord Voldemort and young Harry Potter, so does the raging controversy over whether the Potter novels themselves are healthy or harmful; a gift from heaven or a gateway to hell. Before I tell you what I think, here’s a question for you: Do you believe what the Bible says about the perils of witchcraft? Be honest. Yes or no? When one boils down the issues—inside either cup or cauldron— this is the pivotal question. If your answer is, “Yes, I believe God’s Book,” then this article should make perfect sense. If your answer is “No, not really,” then you will probably disagree with my conclusions. What is the reason for this negativity against reading Harry Potter from the religious world? Those Christians who read it, and yes, there are some who have read it, do so because it is a good read...The interactions between the characters are excellent and have far more to do with life than the world that it is set in. And it is prolly answering a need that the religious world neglects... Does this mean that those of us who read HP advocate witchcraft? I don't think so. Does this mean that we believe it is possible to have this sort of power within ourselves? I don't believe that either... Are we undermining the tenets of EGW and Biblical values? I don't think this is a reality either.. Are we, who advocate reading HP, undiscriminately advocate that all people should read it? Absolutely not. Like most people who have "not of thier making" issues in thier lives. we read for pleasure, to escape the dreary issues of our lives. It is a good hobby, one that strengthens the reading habbits. It is a habbit that appeals to us, just like reading about Dirt Pitt, et al heros of various genre [sp]. We realize that HP is a cultural phenomena that appeals...Like HP, the books have grown up and, despite the hype, appeals to discriminating tastes...amazingly, it appeals to not only adults, but kids with good reading habbits. Do we realize the dangers of reading HP books? Yes, there is a danger in promoting the art of witchcraft... And those parents who do not take the time to talk to thier children about magic and magical things indirectly support fantasy and unrealistic thinking and neglect thier parental privelages. Fantasy, in reading, is a tool,... and can be compared to power tools in childrens hands...some children have been taught respect and good techniques in handling those tools..and there is an age requirement for handleing those tools...and the end product, like a good read, can bring about a blosseming craft and pleasure...l Religion has made many crys for which it has been embarrased. Capernicus and his theory that the earth was not the center of the universe...Radio, that that "devil music"....need we go on? Instead, if Religion were to show more of the morals and the dangers of poor logic, encourage the support of family and parental privilages, perhaps the scepticism of religion would not be as rampant as it currently is.... Just my opinion.... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw
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