From all the research I have done so far, I have found, statistically, (which is almost the only firm statistic imformation I can synthesize in this essay because most of this topic is based on opinion), that there is no real evidence of people in America practicing withcraft. There are a few organized groups that are Satanists, but there are very few and very little of crime can be associated with withcraft.
Conservative Christians have opposed reading the Harry Potter books, and have encouraged parents to not permit their children to read it, because the books have to do with magic. The ideas of goblins, witches, wizards, conjuring spells, and dark magic, they believe strictly goes against their religion. In the scripture of Deuteuronomy it clarifies this belief that any kind of witchcraft or sorcery violates God's law. This specific and literal source from the Bible and these literal ideals of anti-religion is what makes Harry Potter so questionable to Christians.
However, on the opposite end of the scale, some Christians praise Harry Potter for its christian morals. The Harry Potter books emanates love, companionship, loyalty, and triumph over good versus evil.
In fact, the Harry Potter books have been known to illustrate religious undertones. Most of JK Rowling's characters and fantasy-like elements are based on religious symbolism. The pheonix, which saves Harry's life in the Chamber of Secrets, the second enstallment, is reborn from its own ashes. This bird described by T.H. White, a well-known English author, is a "resurrection bird". Harry's father, James, was nicknamed "Prongs" due to his ability to turn into a stag. Harry must conjure a spell to drive away evil creatures and his shielding spell appears as a stag, which is a medieval symbol of Jesus Christ. The first four books, John Granger recaps, (who is an author of books analyzing Harry Potter) as a form of trial in which Harry's purity of heart is tested. Harry find power of immortality that was concealed in a magiv mirror because it is only won by those who do not wish to use it for selfish purposes.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Pros and Cons
PRO
This controversy has two very diametrically opposed responses:
"Reading the Harry Potter books promotes investigation by children into the occult?"
"To in any way condone entertainment that glorifies that which is born in the pits of Hell is to court disaster."
It is amazing how these innocent fantasy books have shaken up the world. J.K. Rowling had no intention of causing such an outrage. In fact, these books should develop readers' literacy and thoughtful. So the question that has everyone bottled up is if Harry Potter contains source of withcraft and Satanism that will lure others to follow, or is it simply a book of literature that truly demonstrates good morals and meaningful life lessons. I say this because one of J.K. Rowling's most evident themes is the triumph over good versus evil:
"'Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leave its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.'" Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chapter 17, pg. 216
This concept is evident in most of the Harry Potter series. This shows how J.K. Rowling has incorporated good morals behind all the magic. Through the magic, in fact, she demonstrates real life themes, primarily love and death. This is what the Harry Potter books are really about, not the craft of becoming a witch and conjuring up spells. However, some people believe it can be construed like that.
CON
Those people against reading Harry Potter believe that children are susceptible to converting to occultism. They believe, without Rowling's intention, she creates "little resistance to her seductive call". (source). They fear that those who are easily influenced can possibly find delight in witchcraft, and they will learn to crave more. According to an article in Christianity Today, there was a personal story of a person who became obsessed with supernatural thoughts over a course of ten years of her life. This woman recollects that the local Barnes & Nobles bookstore nearly sold out it's floor display of Teen Witch Kits. However, there is very little evidence of practices of witchcraft in America. For instance, police have caught crimes that seem related to witchcraft, however they find very little hard evidence. There is a very small percentage of organized groups that worship Satan.
The fear that Harry Potter will influence children, especially teenagers to the "dark side" is embedded within the general fear of teenagers involved with pop culture. For example, another popular fantasy-related fad, Dungeons and Dragons, is a game in which kids will role play into make believe characters and enroll under different imaginary adventures using dice. A mother claims that her seventeen- year old son shot himself after a Dungeons and Dragons curse was placed on him. Cult-seminars want to use this to ban role-playing games, paralleling to the thought of banning the Harry Potter books. For years, adolescents have been known to be rebellious; listening to loud music with sporting hairstyles, and clothing to match. The more perverse have defaced walls, toppled gravestones, broken into empty houses, and set fires.
Those suspicious of these elements, such as cops, therapists, and preachers believe pop culture can lead to potential corruption. Witchcraft and Satanism is said to be a great threat to American future. Role-playing games are leading teenagers to suicide and Satanism are redisposing them to crime. This is an example of the fear of change in society due to the breakdown of traditional society life.
This controversy has two very diametrically opposed responses:
"Reading the Harry Potter books promotes investigation by children into the occult?"
"To in any way condone entertainment that glorifies that which is born in the pits of Hell is to court disaster."
It is amazing how these innocent fantasy books have shaken up the world. J.K. Rowling had no intention of causing such an outrage. In fact, these books should develop readers' literacy and thoughtful. So the question that has everyone bottled up is if Harry Potter contains source of withcraft and Satanism that will lure others to follow, or is it simply a book of literature that truly demonstrates good morals and meaningful life lessons. I say this because one of J.K. Rowling's most evident themes is the triumph over good versus evil:
"'Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you leave its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign...to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good.'" Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chapter 17, pg. 216
This concept is evident in most of the Harry Potter series. This shows how J.K. Rowling has incorporated good morals behind all the magic. Through the magic, in fact, she demonstrates real life themes, primarily love and death. This is what the Harry Potter books are really about, not the craft of becoming a witch and conjuring up spells. However, some people believe it can be construed like that.
CON
Those people against reading Harry Potter believe that children are susceptible to converting to occultism. They believe, without Rowling's intention, she creates "little resistance to her seductive call". (source). They fear that those who are easily influenced can possibly find delight in witchcraft, and they will learn to crave more. According to an article in Christianity Today, there was a personal story of a person who became obsessed with supernatural thoughts over a course of ten years of her life. This woman recollects that the local Barnes & Nobles bookstore nearly sold out it's floor display of Teen Witch Kits. However, there is very little evidence of practices of witchcraft in America. For instance, police have caught crimes that seem related to witchcraft, however they find very little hard evidence. There is a very small percentage of organized groups that worship Satan.
The fear that Harry Potter will influence children, especially teenagers to the "dark side" is embedded within the general fear of teenagers involved with pop culture. For example, another popular fantasy-related fad, Dungeons and Dragons, is a game in which kids will role play into make believe characters and enroll under different imaginary adventures using dice. A mother claims that her seventeen- year old son shot himself after a Dungeons and Dragons curse was placed on him. Cult-seminars want to use this to ban role-playing games, paralleling to the thought of banning the Harry Potter books. For years, adolescents have been known to be rebellious; listening to loud music with sporting hairstyles, and clothing to match. The more perverse have defaced walls, toppled gravestones, broken into empty houses, and set fires.
Those suspicious of these elements, such as cops, therapists, and preachers believe pop culture can lead to potential corruption. Witchcraft and Satanism is said to be a great threat to American future. Role-playing games are leading teenagers to suicide and Satanism are redisposing them to crime. This is an example of the fear of change in society due to the breakdown of traditional society life.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Point of View
Those conservative Christians and parents who deny their children of Harry Potter books because they believe it will morally corrupt them and put ideas in their minds about witchcraft and Satan worship, are paranoid in my opinion. These are the kinds of people who take the Bible to literally, and believe that everything that seems stereotypically against God's will and his beliefs should be strictly forbidden. However, I have gotten truly great morals out of Harry Potter books. Although some people think it is spiritually damaging, it really opens your mind to explore spiritual and moral subjects. Behind all the magic and fantasy of Harry Potter, its sole purpose is very evident, in that it stresses meaningful morals and life lessons. I believe reading Harry Potter has inspired so many children to read, and open their minds to books. If Harry Potter books have influenced children, it has done so in a positive light. However, when I say children I don't mean those children who get tucked into bed and is read a bed time story. These books are meant for kids like us; in fact they cannot really be categorized in a certain age group, and they are timeless books. I'm sure everyone who has read Harry Potter feels that they can always come back to the books and feel as intrigued by them as they were when they read them initially.
Harry Potter demonstrates a struggle between good versus evil, and always has good triumph over evil. This theme is represented throughout every juicy part of each Harry Potter book. It is particularly evident when Professor Dumbledore explains to Harry what really occured that night Voldemort killed his parents. The reason Harry did not die is because his mother protected him with her love. After Voldemort killed Harry's father and mother, his parents had just, perhaps unintentionally, defeated Voldemort that night with the act of love. This overrides the most powerful wizard (besides Dumbledore) in the entire wizarding world because Voldemort cannot grasp the concept of love, and therefore he cannot have power over it. That night Voldemort dissapeared, some of Voldemort's powers were transferred to him, and Harry notices some similarities between him and Voldemort. But the one thing he always can set himself a part from him and defeat him is the strenght of friendship and love that Voldemort will never know. This sole purpose of the books represents the true spirituality of this book. It deals with serious moral reflection. The magic and fantasy really is what gives it decoration. The story is told very well; J.K. Rowling's books are simply irrestible to put down. It's a true achievement to hold childrens' attention, of all different ages, for 300+ pages in each book.
I believe there is really no evidence that J.K. Rowling uses her books to seduce others into witchcraft. It is not the type of "magic" and "witchcraft" that could be used as modern-day witchcraft. Rowling invites children where witchcraft is "neutral" and authoriy determined solely by one's cleverness. And this is a huge difference in religion and Rowling's books that christians should not ignore.
Harry Potter demonstrates a struggle between good versus evil, and always has good triumph over evil. This theme is represented throughout every juicy part of each Harry Potter book. It is particularly evident when Professor Dumbledore explains to Harry what really occured that night Voldemort killed his parents. The reason Harry did not die is because his mother protected him with her love. After Voldemort killed Harry's father and mother, his parents had just, perhaps unintentionally, defeated Voldemort that night with the act of love. This overrides the most powerful wizard (besides Dumbledore) in the entire wizarding world because Voldemort cannot grasp the concept of love, and therefore he cannot have power over it. That night Voldemort dissapeared, some of Voldemort's powers were transferred to him, and Harry notices some similarities between him and Voldemort. But the one thing he always can set himself a part from him and defeat him is the strenght of friendship and love that Voldemort will never know. This sole purpose of the books represents the true spirituality of this book. It deals with serious moral reflection. The magic and fantasy really is what gives it decoration. The story is told very well; J.K. Rowling's books are simply irrestible to put down. It's a true achievement to hold childrens' attention, of all different ages, for 300+ pages in each book.
I believe there is really no evidence that J.K. Rowling uses her books to seduce others into witchcraft. It is not the type of "magic" and "witchcraft" that could be used as modern-day witchcraft. Rowling invites children where witchcraft is "neutral" and authoriy determined solely by one's cleverness. And this is a huge difference in religion and Rowling's books that christians should not ignore.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Harry Potter Interpretations
Harry Potter has created a new world for all of its readers and has embellished itself in the movies. It illustrates a world of fantasy and mischievous doings, however there are many who interpret the morals of Harry Potter harmful to their lifestyle. Perhaps this is bias, however this pertains to the beliefs of conservative christians. Critics have claimed that children will use these books as a tool to study witchcraft and sin. I personally believe that it is only what people interpret it as, to think that it will manipulate childrens' minds to develop bad morals and worship Satan. As one Christian author has claimed, "They're choosing to interpret the books in a very selective way." The book introduces various magical and mystical characteristics, including astrology, numerology, and crystal gazing, or predicting the future.
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