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HARRY
POTTER
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001
From: Sue Mosher
I've read the
first book and I took my 10 year old son to the movie. (He has read
the 2nd book, too.) Anyway, we had a great conversation about how
the theme of Harry Potter is power. Harry was powerless at first
(in his closet) then became very powerful as a wizard with natural
talent. There was the evil power of Valdemort and the selling out
of the teacher (I forget his name) to receive Valdemort's power.
There was the good power of friends with different talents working
together, not unlike Paul's example of the body with many parts.
All in all, I found Harry Potter (at least the first one) to be
a great story of good winning victory over evil. By the way, why
are the wizards in Harry Potter any different than the wicked witch
in "Snow White" or the witches in the "Wizard of Oz"? What about
"Bewitched" or "I Dream of Jeannie"? Was there an uproar when those
shows were on TV? (I was too young to know if there was.)
=====
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your
power to act." Proverbs 3:27
THE
HARRY POTTER PROBLEM
Subject: Harry Potter
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001
From: "dtm"
I have been
a christian for over 13 years. I also only spent 14 hours reading
the firs harry potter book. I loved it. How can any one want to
ban i book that quotes theat the love between two people can over
come all evil. is that not what jesus christ died for?
If youre going
to remove any books from the shelves, it should be the moddern magasines
that tell people that to be beutifle you neen to by our product
There is nothing rong with paganisum. I have practiced healing and
sutch (NEVER going near black arts) all my life. I terned to Christanity
because it made sence. God is God nomatter how you look at it (i.e.
alla buda e.t.c.), and from hime every thing groes. No religiouse
text or picture should be taken off the shelves of class rooms,
insted a deeper feeling and understanding should be tought!
Ps it may interest
you to know that last year I was dumped by my girle friend because
she got a mesage from god saing that I was the sporne of satan.
she also toled me that people should only go out if they plan on
getting married. she later went on to go out with some one ells.
you would think that this would dampen my relationship with God
but it didnot. i now have full faith that i have a purpouse and
that here views were diew to a lack of propper knolage.
Yours Sincerely
Daniel Shortland
THE
WITCHERY
Subject: Harry Potter
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001
From: Ashley
Hi there Dave,
I'm Ashley, I'm 16 and I like doing research on movies /books or
anything that causes a stir, I stumbled across this site by an ex
- astologist and occultist, I think maybe you should download the
43 minute sound clip about what he says about Harry Potter, its
quite interesting and informative. heres the link: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/
yours in Christ
Ashley
Response:
Bogus nonsense. Urban legends. He is way off base. He truly believes
that this nation will suffer because all the kids who read Harry
Potter will become witches. That's one third of the children of
America. These children are going to take over America, perhaps
the world. He claims that Harry Potter will lead to drug use. He
says witches uses broom sticks as dildos. What? So, how did he use
the broom stick as a male witch? Oh my gosh. He thinks that the
subject of death is a sure sign of evil. His man is a liar and the
truth is not in him. He was a witch? I wonder. He also believes
that Star Wars is witchcraft. He believes that the author of Potter
is in league with Satan and communists. And says that I (and other
like me) have the intelligence of a lima bean. -David
THE
WITCHERY
Subject: Harry Potter
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001
From: Ashley
Hi there Dave,
I'm Ashley, I'm 16 and I like doing research on movies /books or
anything that causes a stir, I stumbled across this site by an ex
- astologist and occultist, I think maybe you should download the
43 minute sound clip about what he says about Harry Potter, its
quite interesting and informative. heres the link: http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/
yours in Christ
Ashley
Response:
Bogus nonsense. Urban legends. He is way off base. He truly believes
that this nation will suffer because all the kids who read Harry
Potter will become witches. That's one third of the children of
America. These children are going to take over America, perhaps
the world. He says witches uses broom sticks as dildos. What? So,
how did he use the broom stick as a male witch? Oh my gosh. He thinks
that the subject of death is a sure sign of evil. His man is a liar
and the truth is not in him. He was a witch? I wonder. He also believes
that Star Wars is witchcraft. He believes that the author of Potter
is in league with Satan and communists. And says that I (and other
like me) have the intelligence of a lima bean. -David
"PROFESSING"
CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT VIEW IT
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter_Is_Dangerous
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2001
From: "Charles"
I totally believe
that Harry Potter should not be watched by "professing" christians.
I also believe that the witchcraft in the movie opens doors to which
makes magic appear harmless and fun. I do know that God can use
all things for His glory, but what about those people who are not
looking for God? 1John 2:15 states: " Do not love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the
Father is not in him." Shouldn't those who know God and His word
be teaching His truths? Or is it okay to let people believe that
God thinks sorcrey and witchcraft are alright? Also, Revelation
3:15,16 states: I know your works that you are neither cold nor
hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
Isn't about time that people become radical for God instead of saying
we are christians and then watching something that is displeasing
to Him.
Response:
You go to far. This is a Fantasia type film, or Mary Poppins. It
has nothing to do with the scriptures you quote. Unless, of course,
you mean to say Mary Poppins is satanic. In which case, I would
not know how to respond to you. PS the witch huits are over. RIP
-David
POINTING
TO THE TRUTH
Subject: Harry_Potter
Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001
From: Aaron
Hi, just a quick
note to thank you for your efforts. I appreciate your site for your
focus on how Christians can use pop culture as a bridge to speaking
about Truth and sharing the Gospel.
While I have
mostly stayed away from the whole Harry Potter controversy, one
thing concerns me as I read through some of the posts regarding
the film. While we may disagree with both the message and tactics
used by those who attack this film, we should not stoop to insulting
them and calling them names. Some name-calling may be appropriate,
but I do not believe Jesus would approve of us calling our brothers
and sisters in him morons, etc.
I appreciate
your attempts to engage in rational dialogue regarding so controversial
an issue. God bless you and your ministry. Aaron
Response:
Good point and thank you. -David
HARRY
POTTER AND MEDIA SCARES
Subject: Harry Potter
Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001
From: "Stuart Wheeler"
David,
That the HP books are well written is clear. That the film, with
actors, actresses, production teams, locations (and budget) of such
an outstanding calibre, could not fail to be both artistically and
commercially successful, is beyond question. The fact that HP has
already and will continue to exert an incalculable influence over
our cultural life today, is what lies at the heart of the problem
about HP within the Christian community. As Bible-believing Christians,
we know that there is a network of spiritual enemies waging war
against the Kingdom of God, and we know that our enemy is attempting
to orchestrate opposition, futile though that is, to the will of
God. It is too tempting for Christians to believe that all evil
(including the WTC tragedy), all cataclysmic events, real or anticipated
(including the Y2K scare), anyone who has become obscenely rich
and successful (eg Procter and Gamble), and any phenomenon that
has captured the imagination of a disproportionate number of people
(the Beatles, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Harry Potter,etc) must
be part of this network of evil, orchestrated by our enemy. What
we don't understand, has to be rationalised by being squeezed into
a conspiracy, whose existence I would certainly not deny, but whose
scope has become exaggerated.
Job's 'Comforters'
were sharply rebuked for seeing God's judgement in Job's sufferings,
and, although God told Job he had been speaking about things he
did not understand, when he proclaimed his own innocence and the
injustice of his troubles, He did not give any reason for them happening,
nor did He contradict what Job had said. Jesus did not support the
attempts of some of His contemporaries to rationalise the deaths
of the people crushed by the Tower of Siloam as being Divine Judgement:
He said that they were no more or less sinful than anyone else,
we are all corrupted by sin, but God has mercy on whom He has mercy,
and no one can truthfully say they understand this; it's one of
the Mysteries of God.
So, can we see
the orchestration of the enemy at work in the case of the Harry
Potter media avalanche? Perhaps. Not in the content of the original
work or of the film, necessarily, but perhaps in the way some Christians'
response to it has been fanned into flame, drawing ridicule from
the media, and, more importantly, diverting Christians from what
they should really be doing as the night draws near: sharing their
Savior with a lost generation. But should we allow our response
to go to the other extreme? Harry is a teenager, making decisions
in his day to day life, as we all do, some decisions are good and
noble, many are selfish, deceitful, hurtful, dangerous and potentially
destructive; he has no Savior to guide his decisions or protect
him in a dark and oppressively evil world, so he uses sorcery. No,
I would not seek spiritual truth in HP, any more than I would seek
it in the Beatles or Monty Python. I would rather check out God's
word. But each individual should use their own judgement about whether
they want to see the film or let their children see it (with them).
And perhaps we can use this media issue as an opportunity to talk
to others about our faith.
Response:
Thanks for your insight. I appreciate it. -David
TOLKIEN
A CHRISTIAN?
Subject: Newsletter 30
Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2001
From: LKJ
Jen sees this
positive value, she wrote me the following email: 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. My understyanding
is that Tolkien was a devout Catholic and dear friend of C.S. Lewis
(a renowned Christian author)
http://www.tayloru.edu/upland/programs/lewis/articles/seland.html
http://www.tayloru.edu/upland/programs/lewis/articles/seland.html
http://www.scriptorum.org/l/kolbitar.html
http://www.scriptorum.org/l/kolbitar.html
Response:
Yes, as a matter of fact, Tolkien was the one who God used to lead
CS Lewis to the Lord. -David
SPIRITUALITY
AND TOLKIEN
Subject: Lord_of_Rings and Newsletter_30
Date: Sat, 01 Dec 2001
From: Chuck
If I remember
correctly, in C.S. Lewis' "Space Trilogy", he actually identifies
the wizards of Middle Earth as visiting angels, here to help folks
out.
I also seem
to recall something by Tolkien himself, hidden in the appendix of
Book III to that effect.
I could be wrong.
It's been a long time since I took a course on LOTR in college.
I get a kick
out of all the hub-bub over "evil" wizards and witches by folks
who are obviously ignorant (literally - no insult meant) of the
things they criticize. For example, major parts of Harry Potter
evolve around Christmas time & traditions. Silly...
Response:
Good insight. Thanks. And I think you are right about CS Lewis.
-David
WICCA
Subject: Newsletter_30
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001
From: Holly
Harry Potter
is just a hollywood version of the true religion on wicca. twisted
and bent for the audiances enjoyment. It is not a tool to recruit
new wiccans, it is simply a book that is to be read. And if your
children do become interseted in another religion then let them.
Would you rather have them grow up to be open-minded to new ideas
or close-minded in thier ways?
Response:
I agree that Harry Potter is not a tool to recruit for the Wiccans.
HP has hit at the core of a cultures quest for spirituality in a
postmodern culture. -David
YES
YES YES
Subject: Newsletter_30 Harry_Potter_Can_Be_Used_Positively
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001
From: Beth
YES YES YES!
Read (Wheaton
College English professor) Alan Jacob's article, "Harry Potter's
Magic" in FIRST THINGS for the reason why Harry Potter can be used
positively.
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0001/reviews/jacobs.html
But be forwarned.
Jacobs is not of the Church AGAINST Culture School of Christian
Life: he doesn't think that we have to prove our allegiance to Christ
by bashing everything that isn't directly listed (with approval)
in the concordance.
Jacobs seems
to be a graduate of the Justin Martyr School of Christian life:
we don't need to disparage what is good to establish the One who
is Good; we don't need to reject what is true in order to point
to the One who is True.
And it is not
a matter of not being able to recognize what is good and true in
the world, because Romans 1:19-20 teaches that we can indeed know
what is good and true apart from special revelation. In fact, Paul
says that it is precisely BECAUSE we can know God's power and character
(Good, as true, etc) from general revelation that humankind is in
trouble! We know it, but because we are in rebellion against Him,
we refuse to recognize, glorify and thank God for it.
If Harry Potter
shows us something true and good, it can only be because it is a
reflection of Him who is Truth and Goodness itself. Sure, it's wrapped
in an unusual package, of witches and wizards and dragons and magic
and the stuff of fairy tales...but nowhere yet have I read anything
in the books or seen anything on the screen that would say those
things are the product of SATAN'S power or character. Until I do,
I say to all Christians, "Harry Potter is not off-limits; in fact,
he may even assist us to better see Christ!" The scandal of Harry
Potter is not that he is a wizard who is able to do "magic." It
is that Christians refuse to see that the magic of Harry Potter
can be used to bear fruit: to direct us further on, to what C. S.
Lewis called the "Deep Magic:" the love and power of Jesus Christ.
But, then again, Jesus is used to being a stumbling stone...
"The stone the
builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes." Therefore I tell you that the
kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people
who will produce fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken
to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matt. 21:42-44)
Lord, deliver
us, from falling on this Stone, like the unbelievers do, and from
being crushed by it, because we have refused to bear fruit.
Yours in Christ,
Beth Bilynskyj
Response:
Right on. Thank you. -David
THE
HARRY POTTER SCARE
Subject: Newsletter_30
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2001
From: Miss Stella
I'm just gonna
tell you this once...
Harry Potter
is NOT Evil!
He has become an architypical good guy, fighting against the evil
oppressors of the world!
...and he gets
children who have no interest in books whatsoever to read!
If one takes
into account the graphic details in the books, one would think 'oh,
my, its satanic!'...but that's because the world (in most places)
has been taught to fear all things in the world of mysticism...and
I'm just gonna say that if you do, I KNOW you're a Muggle :)
Ms. Rowling
has good intent in her books and they can be geared towards children
as well as adults. There are many symbolic things within the books...some
plain to see, others you have to dig a bit to understand... I'm
not sure if I've put up a good argument or not, but I'll stick by
Ms. Rowling's side until everyone has gotten over their 'occult'-phobias...
After all...where
would our Christmas trees and our Easter bunny be if Christianity
hadn't merged with the Gael traditions, hmm?
((And, really,
if you Christians knew what you're getting yourselves into with
your children dancing around the May Pole, geesh! ;o) ))
-Ashley E."ccentric"
Wilson
Official Reader Of Books,
Honorary Mugwump,
Two-Cents Putter-Inner...
17,fm,Va,Usa...
tempus_magus@yahoo.com
Response:
Thanks I appreciate your thoughts. Do you think that maybe Christmas
will suffer the same attack as Halloween has when certain Isolationist
Christians discover it's true origins? It staggers my mind to think
of what's next. -David
THE
SPIRIT OF ANTI-McCARTHYISM
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter_Is_Dangerous
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001
From: Gary
...the spirit
of anti-McCarthyism (liberalism) now controls you, and you don't
even realize it...
11 And for
this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
...i, of course,
disagree with every point you make - enjoy it while you can, purveyor
of lies, it will not last!!!...
Response:
McCarthy was the master of the 1950s communist black listing witch
hunt. And you equate McCarthyism with God? What? We follow Jesus
not McCarthy. You base your concept of honesty on being in line
with McCarthy? Interesting. 1 Corithians 1:11-13, 17 comes to mind.
Perhaps McCarthyism is the strong delusion of the end times. God
bless you Gary. I hope your eyes will refocus on Jesus and not Senator
McCarthy (Hebrews 12:1-2). -David
CONTINUED
HERE
Harry
Potter main page -Reviews
HP more Reviews -Reviews by Hamm
and Wiertra
Harry Potter page 1 -Sol O Mann Top 10, Great HP Links
Harry Potter page 2 -Interview
with JK Rowling, Vision of Dark & Light
Harry Potter page 3 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 4 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 5 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 6 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 7 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 8 -Bulletin Board (Comments)
Harry Potter page 9 -Bulletin Board
(Comments)
Harry Potter page 10 -Bulletin
Board (Comments)
Harry Potter page 11 -Bulletin
Board (Comments)
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