Is Harry Potter Evil?

[A. Christian]

Ok recently there was some talk about whether or not d&d and harry potter books are evil. I think this is important because there is danger of alienating a whole lot of people by attacking this and if it isn't evil then it isnt worth the risk.

 

[Sue D.]

I took time to Google both of those and found that they are nothing to be messed around with. Especially Harry Potter.

Maybe some things Need to be 'discussed' -- hopefully Not alienating people, but in educating them.

Satan knows how to make the 'bad' seem to be okay, There's Godliness and then there is wickedness / evil.

D and D is a very weird fantasy world of scify type of adventures -- popular but Not healthy. 'we' Need to be learning how to live, deal with Real everyday life.

We need to be enriching our minds / hearts.

The risk you're suggesting -- alienating lots of people -- from What exactly. People are being sucked Into a fantasy world -- rather than working with Reality. Reality is where we live, our relationships, our jobs , what we are putting into our minds and bodies. What part we are giving to God.

Now -- granted -- there Are those who feel that God / Bible / heaven / hell are the fantasy -- and the Real world is 'out there' Needing to be found and lived in. But the Real world Does have God existing. And it Does have witches and warlocks and devil worshiping taking place. And there Will be a real heaven and a real hell waiting for everyone. And we Do have a choice as to which eternal reality we will live in Forever.

Genesis 1;1 "in the beginning God... created...."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who so ever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. "

 

[A. Christian]

ok let's look at specifics. What specifically is wrong with Harry Potter or D&D? Whichever you want to discuss first. But when you think of your grievances first ask yourself could this also be applied to CS Lewis's chronicles of narnia? And is the source that I am referencing a reliable first hand account or is it just hear say?

 

[Sue D.]

Okay -- for one thing I've never seen the Chronicles of Narnia.

For one thing -- I'd never go see a Harry Potter movie -- I've heard enough about them -- and seen previews on TV. So I've no desire to investigate on my own.

Kind of like a person doesn't have to personally experience a bar to know that it's not a place to frequent for drinking or socializing. A person doesn't need to 'experience' 6th street to know to stay away From.

Same goes for D and D.

Maybe You can share why you feel Harry Potter is okay.

 

[A. Christian]

Well I know both harry potter and narnia has movies. But I am talking about the books. The books are first hand what the author wishes to convey while movies are Hollywood's take on them. I don't think there is a single person who can say that Narnia is evil. It is a fantasy story with alot of biblical parallels but it is still fantasy still not the real world. And simply I have read the books and I have found nothing wrong with the series. It really does teach decent lessons.

 

[Sue D.]

I've never read the books. Don't intend to. Isn't it true, also, that a person can rummage through a trash can and find something 'edible' inside. Movies aren't usually that far off from the book.

Why don't we just stay with the Real world instead of the fantacy. Isn't that really what satan Wants -- is for 'us' to get side-tracked by the fantasy world AWAY From God's Word.

And, doesn't God's Word say that the objective of born-again believers is to be reaching out to others with the Gospel unto salvation -- Because -- the 'time is near'.

Okay -- I'll ask you -- What 'decent lessons' are being taught in the books?

 

[Hekuran]

There was a lot of Christian opposition to the Harry Potter books as they came out. Then the last book turned out to have numerous biblical and gospel parallels.

I don't know dungeons and dragons, so any opinion offered from me would be worthless.

We should learn to be discerning about all kinds of art - what light does any work shine on reality? What insight us there about the nature of our lives?

 

[A. Christian]

I've never read the books. Don't intend to. Isn't it true, also, that a person can rummage through a trash can and find something 'edible' inside. Movies aren't usually that far off from the book.

Why don't we just stay with the Real world instead of the fantacy. Isn't that really what satan Wants -- is for 'us' to get side-tracked by the fantasy world AWAY From God's Word.

And, doesn't God's Word say that the objective of born-again believers is to be reaching out to others with the Gospel unto salvation -- Because -- the 'time is near'.

Okay -- I'll ask you -- What 'decent lessons' are being taught in the books?

First off Narnia is basically straight up bible truths told in symbolism that children can understand. Its like pilgrim's progress for children. Like I said no one can say narnia is evil.

As for harry potter, obviously jk rowling isn't christian but I have learned from book two that not everything that appears good is good. And that it is the choices we make that determine who we are. Book 1 says it takes courage to stand up to your enemies but greater courage to stand up to your friends. Loyalty, courage, friendship, and teamwork are often repeated themes. Cooperation was very big too. There are lessons on forgiveness. And above all those, the way love is portrayed is amazing. Towards the end of the series death is encountered more and though I never needed it I can see how it might help some who have suffered loss like that.

 

[Sue D.]

@A. Christian -- Didn't mean to suggest that Narnia was evil.

Harry Potter does sound -- from your description to be fairly okay. But under a backdrop of learning from witches and sorcery / sorcerers -- the idea Might get portrayed that That isn't really so bad, After all.

You Do realize that God and satan are at opposing , totally opposite ends of the spiritual / eternal spectrum. It strikes me like a very evil step-mother managing to instill in her step-children -- a modicom of good character traits that would actually be Good, Positives for the children. But that it would be So Much Better for the kids to be able to learn from warm, loving, compasionate step- parent who would teach them about God's love -- obeying your parents -- the Golden Rule -- living a life day by day that is pleasing to God. That we need to play nicely with other kids because that's pleasing God. To treat other people the way We would want to be treated. And definitely to forgive And that we can take all our troubles burdens to God because He loves us and can help us. And that we always need to tell the truth and don't take things that belong to others. That we aren't responsible for how other kids / people treat us, but we Are responsible for our own Reactions / actions.

Do you get where I'm going with this ? There are better sources for learning those important lessons in life. The author of those books makes witches / worlocks / sorcery look okay which they are NOT.

Your comments ?!

 

[Christ4Ever]

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Let's look at the subject matter.
Is the Arcane arts that practitioners like to call it or another word which Christians should know the Occult (Harry Potter). Is it Evil or Good according to Scripture, which is witchcraft? Which then moves one to ask, is it something that Christians or anyone for that matter, be involved in?

D&D has you going through activities of a sort (role playing), in gaming type scenarios (story telling). Whether physically or verbally which many will construe as an adventure, and what I would call fantasy in action. The characters if I'm not mistaken are or can be creations of the individual. Spell casting of course is not something abnormal to the characters chosen in many ways, though dependent upon the story line being followed.

So, when you look at these type of items, which can be found in fantasy, D&D like minded gaming, books, movies, etc. be something a Christian should participate in? I believe the WWJD question of the 90's is relevant here. Does one honestly believe that Jesus would be doing these things and would He approve? I honestly would answer this with a resounding "NO" I do not believe so.

This is not even touching upon the addictive nature of these items, which not only will take away from time better spent in His Word, but also family activities. This happens as these type of pursuits become more enjoyable than the real world, which fantasy and gaming are meant to distract one from.

This is my rather quick take on this.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

 

[A. Christian]

@A. Christian -- Didn't mean to suggest that Narnia was evil.

Harry Potter does sound -- from your description to be fairly okay. But under a backdrop of learning from witches and sorcery / sorcerers -- the idea Might get portrayed that That isn't really so bad, After all.

You Do realize that God and satan are at opposing , totally opposite ends of the spiritual / eternal spectrum. It strikes me like a very evil step-mother managing to instill in her step-children -- a modicom of good character traits that would actually be Good, Positives for the children. But that it would be So Much Better for the kids to be able to learn from warm, loving, compasionate step- parent who would teach them about God's love -- obeying your parents -- the Golden Rule -- living a life day by day that is pleasing to God. That we need to play nicely with other kids because that's pleasing God. To treat other people the way We would want to be treated. And definitely to forgive And that we can take all our troubles burdens to God because He loves us and can help us. And that we always need to tell the truth and don't take things that belong to others. That we aren't responsible for how other kids / people treat us, but we Are responsible for our own Reactions / actions.

Do you get where I'm going with this ? There are better sources for learning those important lessons in life. The author of those books makes witches / worlocks / sorcery look okay which they are NOT.

Your comments ?!

I agree it would be better to learn those lessons from christian sources instead of secular. I would much rather recommend reading narnia than harry potter.

However, I can't in good faith say that harry potter is evil when the only ties to actual witchcraft are the words that are used such as witch. And these words are used in a world so far removed from this one that it takes on a different meaning entirely. The magic of the world of harry potter doesnt have the slightest resemblance to what alot of the occult actually teach.

That said we were created with the ability to imagine great and beneficial things. "Fantasy" is a very good way to cultivate a good imagination. Whether we us it in good ways like CS Lewis or bad, that is entirely up to us.

 

[Sue D.]

Your comments are Much appreciated.

 

[Sue D.]

Your comments are Much appreciated.

My comment was for Christ4Ever.

 

[Sue D.]

I agree it would be better to learn those lessons from christian sources instead of secular. I would much rather recommend reading narnia than harry potter.

However, I can't in good faith say that harry potter is evil when the only ties to actual witchcraft are the words that are used such as witch. And these words are used in a world so far removed from this one that it takes on a different meaning entirely. The magic of the world of harry potter doesnt have the slightest resemblance to what alot of the occult actually teach.

That said we were created with the ability to imagine great and beneficial things. "Fantasy" is a very good way to cultivate a good imagination. Whether we us it in good ways like CS Lewis or bad, that is entirely up to us.

"that is entirely up to us" -- are we glorifying God?

 

[A. Christian]

Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Let's look at the subject matter.
Is the Arcane arts that practitioners like to call it or another word which Christians should know the Occult (Harry Potter). Is it Evil or Good according to Scripture, which is witchcraft? Which then moves one to ask, is it something that Christians or anyone for that matter, be involved in?

D&D has you going through activities of a sort (role playing), in gaming type scenarios (story telling). Whether physically or verbally which many will construe as an adventure, and what I would call fantasy in action. The characters if I'm not mistaken are or can be creations of the individual. Spell casting of course is not something abnormal to the characters chosen in many ways, though dependent upon the story line being followed.

So, when you look at these type of items, which can be found in fantasy, D&D like minded gaming, books, movies, etc. be something a Christian should participate in? I believe the WWJD question of the 90's is relevant here. Does one honestly believe that Jesus would be doing these things and would He approve? I honestly would answer this with a resounding "NO" I do not believe so.

This is not even touching upon the addictive nature of these items, which not only will take away from time better spent in His Word, but also family activities. This happens as these type of pursuits become more enjoyable than the real world, which fantasy and gaming are meant to distract one from.

This is my rather quick take on this.

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

Now onto d&d. I have no idea what the game was actually like back when it first came out. So my experience of that is not first hand. But I can talk about 3.5 edition and 5th edition. 3.5 had way to much math.

True you create your own character and roleplay in a world most likely created by another player. What I like about it is that you decide what to do. You could choose to play an evil character or a good character. So whether or not it is a good thing depends entirely on how you play. When my daughter gets older I plan to use it as a way to teach her about consequences for our actions and other lessons about life while being in a safe place. Much better to roleplay what could happen when you flash your money around strangers.

I'll also use it to teach her about math. That is all the magic in there is. As with alot of other things in the game, it is all about math. Distance, radius, probability, addition and multiplication. Also, in the world that you create you could add all of the real world stuff that you want. What to teach about Japan have their character go to Japan. Want to learn about the revolutionary war it becomes fun when you can imagine yourself as part of it.

As for whether or not Jesus would play, I think he would. Remember he was famous for not doing what was expected of him by the religious and hanging with sinners. I can totally see Jesus using the game to convey the same lessons that he taught in his parables.

Now as for any addiction. D&D is in my experience no more addicting than any other hobby like say bicycling.

 

[Sue D.]

Apparently Anything can be rationalized.

 

[A. Christian]

"that is entirely up to us" -- are we glorifying God?

Again whether or not we use our imagination to glorify God is entirely up to us. CS Lewis and John Bunyan certainly did.

 

[A. Christian]

Apparently Anything can be rationalized.

Is that what you think I am doing?

 

[Sue D.]

Is that what you think I am doing?

You tell Me -- re-read what Christ4Ever said in #10.

time to close for today.

 

[A. Christian]

I first want to take the opportunity to say that though we are currently disagreeing on this subject, I have seen posts both by Sue D. and Christ4Ever and I agree with them on much more important matters. I respect both of your imputs.