|
RESPONSE
TO NEWSLETTER #30
JEN'S
COMMENT ABOUT TOLKIEN
Subject: Newsletter_30 Harry Potter
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: "Bill Yates"
Love the newsletter.
I think it may be useful for your readers to know something in regards
to Jen's comments "I am sure that Tolkien's (Lord of the Rings) work will
come under fire as has Harry Potter but I believe in this case that the
story is what you take away from it. I have read the Hobbit and the Trilogy
at least 7 or 8 times now and every time I have learned more from it.
Although Tolkien himself may not have been a Christian, there are Christian
values that are still presented to readers in his story." Tolkien was
most certainly a Christian and extremely instrumental in leading his fellow
Oxford professor, C.S. Lewis, to the Lord as Dr. Lewis tells us in his
autobiography. Makes any talk about the magic in Lord of the Rings so
ridiculous, I am waiting for that discussion to take place.
Thanks for the discussion,
Bill Yates
Response:
You are so very right. Tolkien was a Christian. Thanks. -David
ALLEGORY
IS ALLEGORY
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: C.A. Sowards
If you read the Narnia
books without knowing that C.S. Lewis was a devout Christian and without
knowing that they are meant as Christian allegory, then they too could
be deemed to encourage the practice of magic and wizardry. Animals talk,
children walk through pieces of furniture, magical things happen and tranformations
take place.
There are so many
people who use Christianity as an excuse to stop thinking. We are never,
regardless of our religious beliefs, allowed NOT to think. In examining
the lessons that Harry Potter has to teach, how can you find fault with
a series of books that emphasize (in much the same way that the Narnia
books do - Rowling was very much influenced by Lewis' writing, I'll wager):
Courage
Compassion
Persistence
Tenacity
Love
Loyalty
Industry
Mercy Using one's powers (whether they be natural or supernatural) for
good and not evil
Are these lessons
made any less potent because Harry waves a wand or flies on a broom? Nonsense.
Allegory is allegory, nothing more or less. It is the message in the story
that must be sussed out and understood. It is a little more difficult
when the author isn't banging you over the head with a crowbar and telling
you that Harry Potter is some euphamism for the Devil.
People, puhleeeze...
can we just take time to think just ONCE before we go all hysterical and
panicky?
Thanks for letting
me vent, David.
~C.A. Sowards~
Response:
I tis time to think. Yes yes yes. I totally agree with you. Thank you,
Thank you, thank you. I hope others take to heart what you are trying
to say.I so appreciate your contribution. -David
IT'S
FICTION -WITH POWERFUL LESSONS FOR CHILDREN
Subject: Harry_Potter_Can_Be_Used_Positively
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: "John H. Pavelko"
Dear David,
I agree with you, Harry Potter is fiction. It does not have the depth
of Tolkein's (would someone please tell Jen, that Tolkein was a Christian
and instrumental in Lewis conversion), Lord
of the Rings or the theological truths of Narnia but it is enjoyable
and contains some valuable insights into human behavior. For example,
Dumbledore shows brilliance in hiding Harry with the Dursleys. It not
only protects him but teaches him humility in contrast to Malfoy. This
can be used as a powerful lesson with children. It not the toys, the experiences,
or the situations that bring happiness but in how you respond to the circumstances
in which you find yourself.
John H. Pavelko
Walled Lake, MI
Response:
You are so very right. Tolkien was a Christian. Thanks for your insight
concerning Dumbledore and powerful lessons. -David
ABSOLUTELY!
Subject: Harry_Potter_Can_Be_Used_Positively
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: "maria"
Absolutely!
CHRISTIANITY
IN HARRY POTTER
Subject: Harry_Potter_Can_Be_Used_Positively
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: Jason
Dave I have always
seen the wizarding world as parrel for the Christians in our world. We
try to hide from the world and preserve our traditions. Our ways seem
weird and mystic to outsiders. I have read all four novels and love them.
I put them in the same boat as The Narnia books and LOTR trilogy. The
magic is not realistic the books. It is used for Harry as we use technology.
They kids are taught not to use it for evil. That is the over all them
of the book. Not to turn good Christian kids into Satan worshiping wiccans.
Over the summer I
was at the movies with some buddies. before the film, they showed a trailer
for LOTR. I was amazed, I was so excited. After the film we were talking
about the trailers and what looked good. I brought up LOTR. He replied
I don't know it looks not so good. Insulted I asked how it could not look
good. He replied that it looked bad because of the magic involved. I laughed
and snapped back "Tolkein was a Christian!!!"
I get that allot.
I am a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire slayer. People at church always used
to look at me funny for saying that. I see a huge correlation between
her fight against evil and our walks as Christians. I see this all the
time. God working through TV shows that seem unlikely. I fact I wrote
an essay on for English compaction this year. I see huge evidence for
this in the old testament. In Jeremiah God used the opposing army to speak
to the Israelites. They would not listen him any other way. I agree with
you Dave that we should use Harry potter for good, not tear it down.
your brother in the
struggle,
Dan Cramer
www.morethenamovie.homestead.com
Response:
Thank you. And Yes Church folks can have strange reactions. They are well
intentioned, however. But I am with you. Long live LOTR and Buffy. -David
WHEN
HEAVEN WEEPS
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter_Is_Dangerous
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: Danny
I am glad you are
welcoming responses. I believe that most Christians as stated above, do
not believe that this is a no-Satanic film, or just harmless fiction.
Satan is the great deciever, and he loves to twist what looks like innocent
fun into something entirely for his purpose. Judging by the mass hysteria
about Harry Potter, and the huge number of pre-order tickets (so I've
heard), Satan has already decieved many. Wicca is becoming a prominent
pre-teen, teen and adult lifestyle now, and is being thought of as the
harmless alternative to Witchcraft. This is another one of Satan's lies.
I had an EIGTH-GRADE Wiccan tell me that she loses a tiny part of her
soul every time she casts a spell or uses her power. And Wicca is being
presented as harmless??? I am shocked and saddened by the fact that a
supposedly "Christian" website could endorse such a film as this. Harry
Potter is also presented as harmless, and kid-friendly. What an easy way
for Satan to target the youth audience. Though the battle is already won
by God, Satan thinks he's winning the war, and writing a review like this
that Christians and non-Christians alike will read, is ENCOURAGING him.
I would ask everyone at this website to consider their relationship with
Jesus, and their walk with God, and why they are promoting such awful
movies like Harry Potter as Christian material. That is what SATAN does.
But, I gues that anyone who would work for a website called "Hollywood
Jesus," must be a "Hollywood Christian." Jesus never once twisted bad
things and promoted them as good- he told it like it was. And I would
ask you to do the same, when reviewing Satan's tools.
Response:
Thanks for your sharing views. We have totally different views and approaches,
but I am glad you are a follower of Jesus. -David
THE
HARRY POTTER THING..
Subject: Satanic_Hysteria_Newsletter_30
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: Paul Jacoby
First of all, I have
not read the HP books, but book 3 was released back when I worked for
a major book chain. So I had the chance to talk to alot of people who
have read them, asking key questions as to the nature of the content,
what parts were considered "dark", and the like. So I made the decision
to go to the movie. Hopefully, nobody will see me there & scream "HYPOCRITE"
or something. Maybe I'll wear an invisible cloak or something :)
Yet, it was the hype
that actually drove me to being more curious about seeing the movie. But
the movie isn't the issue, the evangelical hype is. It seems to pop-up
everytime some entertainment trend makes the big time. And it goes WAY
back. I'm surprised no one else sees a pattern to the whole thing.
I first encountered
this phenomena as a child when my Grandmother forbade me to watch the
cartoon "Smurfs" based on something she heard from a televangelist. The
smurfs were created by a good wizard, and were chased around every Satuday
by a mean wizard. Not that I wanted to watch the Smurfs to begin with,
but my Mother & Grandmother closely scrutinized my TV/cartoon/movie habits
every time they were informed of any "suspected satanic" forms of entertainment
from their fave preacher. I don't have the space to list every program
or movie I was forbidden to see, but the fact was that the list was (a.)
numerous and (b.) contradictory.
For example, I could
watch the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz every year, but I couldn't watch
Disney's Witch Mountain series. The Hobbit & LOTR animated movies from
the 80's were okay with Mom, but I wasn't allowed to watch He-Man or Dungeons
& Dragons on TV. All of these programs are works of fiction, contain pretend
"wizards & witches" and have absolutely no basis in real-world occult
practice. One deals with fairy-tale entertainment, the other deals with
actual religious worship. I understood the difference, why didn't Mom
& Gran? Later on, I used their fear and paranoia as one of many lame excuses
to leave the church myself and renounce Christianity. It took me five
years to figure out that Christianity isn't supposed to run on narrow
mindedness & fear. And since then I've returned to Christ.
But the paranoia remains.
We've just seen the latest kid-entertainment fad make a transition from
Pokemon (remember that?) to Harry Potter & many evangelicals still don't
have it figured out. I have many close friends feeling very strongly that
these forms of entertainment are like a "gateway drug" of sorts into the
occult. They have gathered quite a bit of evidence that appear to back
it up as well. By the same token, I regrettably found myself behaving
like my mother whenever I was around my friend's daughter, "You can't
watch Sailor Moon!", I hollered, "One of the characters reads from the
Tarot!" So where to draw the line? God isn't the author of this here confusion,
but that's what we are dealing with as a Christian community. There is
a solution though.
I believe the Bible
is very clear on this subject. If you are unsaved, if you were once dead
in you trespasses & sins, it doesn't matter what books you read whether
truly "Satanic" or not, you're D E A D in your sins and already held in
the thrall of the Prince of the Power of the Air. But, if you are saved
by Grace through faith, then the Holy Spirit will guide you through the
world which is passing away with it's lusts (WHOOPS, I meant "fads", silly
me. . .) that is. . .if you are 100% committed to walking with Christ.
That's all that matters isn't it?
Jesus looks straight
through us, right into the very motives of our hearts, and tells us, "What's
that of any concern to you? Turn away from the world & follow me." This
may mean having to shelve the Harry Potter book for awhile if it detracts
from prayer, or your daily devotionals, or serving Christ in any way.
Like Paul wrote. . .
"All things are lawful
unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me,
but I will not be brought under the power of any." -1st Cor. 6:12
Expedient - profitable,
good or best
Lawful - permitted or possible
If, after some prayer & self examination you are truly convicted that
the entertainment form you enjoy is not an idol or a stumbling block to
yourself, then you have that form of entertainment as a "freedom in Christ".
But it doesn't end there man. If Harry Potter is a freedom to you, don't
hand the book to someone who is weak in that area. Don't make the freedom
you enjoy become a stumbling block to other Christians. In this light,
I might have to reconsider seeing the film myself and stay away in case
another Christian sees me there. But that's a living sacrifice of my own
personal entertainments and comfort. . .and as a modern American Christian
I couldn't POSSIBLY do that ;D --hehe!
But that's a whole
'nother can of worms. . .
Paul Jacoby
Response:
Thanks for sharing your journey. I would challenge you to not be afraid
of the "weaker" Christian. Rather, take the weaker Christian
and help them to understand how to view popular culture, turning it into
opportunity. -David
TEACHING
CHILDREN TO BE GOOD
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Bec
The Harry Potter books,
especially the latter ones, teach children to be good, kind, inclusive
of all races and genders. They help children and adults to understand
that what is on the inside counts. There are clear allusions to the KKK
in one of the novels, which raises notions of anti-racism, anti-essentialism,
anti-class and feedom of thought and religion. One would think Christians
of all people would be cherishing these ideas.
The most important
thing that these books teach children however, is that hope for the future,
faith in ourselves and others, and the active imagination are crucial
ingredients for happiness and success. Children are well able to establish
the difference between fantasy and reality, they are just very good at
participating in the former with gusto. I think it's the adults we should
be concerned about - how unhealthy to be reading those ridiculous criticisms
into HP, i'm sure Freud would have much to say about it!!
Bec.
Response:
Thank you for your insights. You are refreshing. -David
NO
WISDOM OR DISCERNMENT
Subject: Re: Newsletter 30 _Harry_Potter_Is_Dangerous
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001
From: Fran
Well, hey if that's
the case, how about no more Discernment? How about no more Wisdom from
Above? How about no more Understanding of the Holy? How about no more
Knowledge of the Truth? How about no more Insight into the Realm of the
spirit?!! So what, do you just take a marker and blot out the Holy Scriptures
of the LORD that speak on witchcraft, demonism and possession? Do you
just blot out what the Holy Spirit reveals in His Word about exactly why
Hell was created? Namely for satan, the rebellious angels who followed
him and all other CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE! It's amazing. Folks will just
nod and smile and say, "Oh its just a fairy tale!" And then you want to
justify rebellion against Christ and TWISTING THE SCRIPTURES by saying
that "oh well Paul used Zeus, so we can use Harry Potter!" And then on
top of it you attack the vessel of the LORD in Pastor Hagee, who is simply
WARNING America of the insidious nature of THE DEVIL and his tactics that
can indeed cause souls to turn forever against G-D and wind up burning
in the ETERNAL LAKE OF FIRE. Sure some movies and books and stories and
music can provide inklings of spiritual truth and understanding, but IF
you BELIEVE JESUS, then you know what? Somewhere along the Way, you will
be accountable to draw the line on the side of HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD,
and not the world's wisdom or the world's self justification or penchant
for SIN !! So it's all "fairy tale" right? Okay so then go ahead and let
your children learn PRAYER through INCANTATION through DEMONIC SPIRITUAL
FORCES so that they become immersed and under the dominion of DEMONIC
STRONGHOLDS and WICKEDNESS! And then once they have learned this and incorporated
it all into their spirits and souls and minds and bodies, tapping into
unseen forces for which you will have NO CONTROL OVER, since you have
NO FAITH in the WORD OF THE LORD WHO TELLS YOU TO SHUN ALL EVIL AND BE
HOLY AS HE IS HOLY, then you can go back and REALLY READ THE BIBLE and
LEARN just what the LORD CHRIST has to say about how HE WILL JUDGE all
of these things in FIRE. But of course then it will TOO LATE for ALL who
allowed themselves to be DECEIVED and BOUND, but you will never be able
to stand before the LORD Jesus Christ and say, "I was never told! I never
knew!" Oh no! You will never be able to say you were never told. Who knows
maybe even tonight someone who's thinking on these things will follow
that little nudge in their spirit and actually pick up their Bible and
read in Gospels how Jesus cast out demons and even legions of demons and
unholy spiritual forces from within human beings, and maybe, just maybe
they'll realize, "Wow, if Jesus had to do that, then maybe those things
are really real!" Yeah, wow! Maybe someone will really get it, that that's
just why He had to die and shed His Holy Blood on the Cross... 'cause
of SIN on the earth, and the real Adversary who hates Man (and our children)
and wants to see them destroyed with him in the Fire forever. Maybe someone
will decide they don't want to be thiefed out of their inheritance in
Christ! "The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
John 10:10
In Christ in Prayer and Praise,
Fran
Response;
Thank you Fran for sharing. Needless to say I am squarely with the Apostle
Paul in this matter. I simply do not make the same connections that you
make. In fact, it seems to be you are judging me. Oh well, I am glad that
you are at least a follower of Jesus. -David
TOLKIEN
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Paul Walton
In your latest newsletter,
you say, ".Although Tolkien himself may not have been a Christian, there
are Christian values that are still presented to readers in his story.
" Tolkien WAS a Christian! He and CS Lewis were good friends, and part
of the 'Inklings' literary group in Oxford.
Paul Walton
Response:
You are so very right. Tolkien was a Christian. Thanks. -David
|
