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I'm going to try to add something productive to this discussion, if I can. wink One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned is the mundaneness of magic in the HP books, another is the parodistic take on magic by the author.

Magic is not described as a) a power that comes from a supernatural force, or b) a power that comes from inside oneself. Magic in the Harry Potter fictional universe is nothing more or less than specific abilities some people are born with. To those people, magic is nothing more mysterious than turning off a light switch or typing on a keyboard. It's just one other thing they can do. It is not based on religion or the lack thereof. It's just there. Some use magic for good, some use it for bad. Let's keep in mind that we are rooting for the good guys. Rowling makes it clear that there is a difference between good and evil, and the "good" is pretty much the choice for any decent person.

Re: the divination thing. The references in the book to "divination" are as far from real divination as "real magic," if one believes in such a thing, is to the magic in the books. Divination, when mentioned, is described as unreliable and not taken seriously, and is comprised largely of tea leaves and crystal balls. It's all something of a parody to our idea of magic. We know those practicing witchcraft don't fly around on brooms any more than they sit on poufs and look into crystal balls. It's not serious, and it's not trying to seriously mirror anything real.

One user said (talking about the Christianity in the books, I think) that if you look very hard for something in a book, you find it. That's where the so-called Christian take on Harry Potter comes from. Christians against Harry Potter seem to be of two breeds (in general. Don't feel like I'm putting you into a box): those who read the books and distort them (more on that later), and those who don't read the books and are content to believe the lies of the distorters.

Let's be intelligent about this, Christians. If your soul cannot rest unless you are anti-HP, here are your options, as loving, intelligent Christians. Either do your own studying and exhort people away from HP on the Holy Spirit's authority, not that of "John Smith, who once practiced witchcraft and read the books and was shocked by the similarities," or keep your prejudice about the books to yourself and keep the books out of your home.

If you'd like to see an example of "distortion" of the message of the books, I'm posting a link here. If you haven't read the books, take it from someone who has: none of this is even remotely related to the book in question; it's all a lie, and it undermines and insults the Judeo-Christian morals that are actually found in the books. If you have read them, well, this should be entertaining.
Exposing Satanism: Harry Potter and the Immaculate Conception
Warning: Article contains Book 2 spoilers. Just a couple, though, since the article content seems to have been taken primarily from out of nowhere rather than from honest consideration of Book 2. razz
~Gilwen

Eidt: I'm seriously considering starting either a point-by-point analysis of the fallacies in the above article, or an essay on the true morals, ethics, and message of the Harry Potter books (as someone who has read them each several times and yet has managed to refrain from worshipping Satan altogether smile ), since it's a long weekend. If anyone feels like they would find either essay interesting or helpful, let me know. wink

Oh, right. Please forgive me; I don't know what I was thinking. gonk smile

Well, you couldn't do that as Hogwarts is, of course, unplottable. wink wink

But yeah, I agree. If anything (that can include good things) becomes more important to you than God, it's an idol, and obsessive fanship definitely leads to that.

I totally agree! Brainwashing may just save the world one day......

Everyone says "well that's my belief!" What about what the Bible says on the subject? Could it be that Christians have sacraficed adhereing to the Word of G-d to be 'nice'? Have we lost our focus? The Bible calls witchcraft a sin and an abomination. It says in 1st Thessalonians 5:22 NLT "Keep away from every kind of evil." The Bible speaks point blank on the subject of witchcraft and what G-d will do if we practice it:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of G-d. Galatians 5:19-21 KJV

If we go further into the Old Testament we see what G-d says about witches:

Exodus 22:18 KJV Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Deuteronomy 18:10 KJV There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Why would G-d say to put witches to death? Why would He not want people to seek familar spirits or know their futures? ~ Because He said that they would be of their father the devil. John 8:44 If a person is not listening to what G-d says in His Word then they are against Him and His Kingdom. Then has G-d turned them over to satan. We need to get things right.... anything that calls on someone other than G-d is practicing witchcraft, whether if it be by their mouthes, by watching a movie or by reading a book.....no matter how 'good' the storyline may be.

I don't really take what the poepe says too seriously. Pope John Paul was great, but this guy is just horrible. Harry Potter is not evil. It's a children's book, sheesh. gonk

Because he was a p***k in the OT.

It makes me wonder about the switch from "I shall smite thee, if ye hath stinky poop," to "I show mercy."

(Sarcasm noted but still making a note)
If Harry p. is so "evil" and magis is so bad for us, then why do we read Shakespeare's work. As I recall, one or the first acts in his play were 3 witches makng a spell. Yet, it is considered reading, understanding and liking the work of shakespeare greatly high-class and smart! But, I DO think that children take it too seriously. In fact, there is a school of witchcraft (but I don't remeber where it is) in America. Strange ,isn't ?

well ,goodnite!!