You read fictional books to vicariously experience what you are reading, period. If you are reading fanticy sex novels it does not necessitate your are reading for the sex any more than if you read Harry Potter you are doing to learn magic. Yet you are reading to be apart of that which you read. So if one glorifies magic and the other glorifies sex, which is more sinful? Niether. The point I'm making is not that a book can not contain magic (the bible does!) but how it is conveyed to its readers regarding the truth of the matter. If the scriptures are supposed to be our standard for life and doctrine does this NOT include our entertainment as well. Not everything has to say 'God' or 'Jesus' in it, but do even the 'good' stories convey the truths were are supposed to hold so dear and in the same manner show sin for what it is. As I said previously, it is for adults choose to read various books but to do so with a firm understanding of truth. So why do we give something like this to our children up through the teens who are JUST beginning to grasp the truth for themselves.
Tolkein wrote his for a mythology for Europe.
Lewis wrote his as a alagory.
Rowlings wrote hers as a story which endorses (though it does not stress) the use of magic since that is what creates the entire atmosphere and world itself. It is in part (half in fact) of the learning and casting of magic. She doesn't have any prejudice against the usage of actual magic either, not that is specific here but it shows there is not moral reason why she wouldn't write a bood about something she sees as ok.
The homosexuality is secondary since it was superintened to be suspected somewhat, thus not specifically a direct issue but a supporting understanding of what and why he does what he does.
Again, many see them as the same. As you stated they are both objects of the writers and both are used as means to an end. However, do you really suppose those who read Rowling books do not become emotionally involved in the act of their casting magical spells or learning. As an example : they become very bound up, and even think of other spells the caster should have used instead of the that was used by the charactor. You can not seperate them, because the intent to read them are the same for both the Romance Novals and Harry Potter, as I said before:
ONE LAST THING:
About Romance novals - I know people personally who love to read them for the 'romance' and love stories and actaully detest the sex parts, of which they skip over. Not everyone who reads those novals read them for the sex. But should we place ourselves in an environment where our mind in these books of fantisy, can step out (if even for a moment) and play the harlot/magician in a point of mental weekness or curiousity? How much more so do we think young minds?
For those Harry Potter lovers - Did you know ??
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Allan, Oct 20, 2007.
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Thanks! :thumbs:
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HOWEVER, if this thread DOES violate BB Rules then I have no problem with (like it would matter :) ) them deleting it. -
Baptist Believer Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Inadequate in Myself MemberSite Supporter
I had to laugh!
I am really enjoying reading both perspectives on this, but as I was reading while not logged in, I saw an add next to Allan's post at the top of this page for Harry Potter Ring Tones!!!:eek: :eek: -
And if enough people on here are against drinking then we'd have a whole LOT of literature/movies/tv shows to get all fired up about, since you'll find alcohol in most of them. It's a sin for Christians to watch movies where drinking is permitted, isn't it?
Contribute your list, too. We can formulate a list of books and movies and TV shows with anything that any Christians might find offensive and then hold a book/movie/show burning. And if any Christians admit to liking any of this entertainment, we can burn them, too. -
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Like I said earlier... it is not so much the fact that one of the characters is gay, it is the attitude of the author... she is intentionally provoking Christians.
That bothers me the most...
And if anyother business or author would take a jab at Christians the way she is, I wouldn't support them either.
Her intentions are clearly Satanic... Do whatever it takes to make Christians mad. -
Galatians 5:19-21
KJV: 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, revelings, and the like; of which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
I am with you Tim
What I don't get with Christians is this......just because it doesn't feel like a sin doesn't mean it is a lesser sin. Drunkenness gives more of a rush, that is noticeable.
The world accepts HP just fine. HP doesn't bother me much except the mixture of homo & kids, that doesn't fly. Neither does treating your customers like dirt. Homos molest kids, most don't, but still.
If I am going to loose the Kingdom it will be over something much more gratifying such as adultery or getting high. HP isn't worth the hell risk and neither is any other sin categorized in a way which leads to my death. Worshiping idols will getcha good even if it doesn't feel like you are worshiping them. He is jealous god, visiting the iniquities of the forefathers who...not sure the rest offhand. There are worse things than reading HP. But the important question is, are they worse in God's eyes? -
Yet here I am, today. And I didn't get here because Christians boycotted the radio station (they didn't). Funny how things work. -
Were you angry at Christians npet? What was the reason if I may ask? You don't need to answer, it's fine.
Actually, I don't flock toward Christians. More often, I find they are harder to get along with. Judgmental. Maybe I come off that way too. -
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I don't know if it is normal for a person without the Holy Spirit, but I don't believe so. Yet like I said, I am hesitant towards Christians, yet I am one. What's normal anyhow
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I think it is normal.
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Also, homosexuality is wrong, period.
The Bible also condemns witchcraft.
But since you have not read these books, tinytim, and I have, I will point out to you a few reasons why I think that some Christians can choose to read them. They are set in a fairytale England. In HP, there is a fully-developed world of elves, unicorns, centaurs, giants, you name it.
The SAME kind of fairytale magic and world as the Brothers Grimm and Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.
The characters such as Harry Potter have their magical abilities innately just like Superman or Spiderman. HP and friends NEVER call on demons or participate in any sort of rituals or ceremonies that gain them powers from demonic forces.
They go to school to train their abilities sort of like Batman trained Robin in the Bat Cave.
A character in HP that claims to tell the future is consistently portrayed as a fraud.
In many ways, what Rowling did is write one more English boarding-school story, a well-established genre in English popular fiction. And simply cram in every stock fairy-tale situation there has ever been. As well as every other stock literary device.
They are enjoyably written. Young orphan boy raised by Cinderella-type guardians finds his true heritage. Finds true friends. Has amazing adventures. Rescues people in danger. Lots of humor.
I am reasonably well-educated, and without Rowling's statement, I would not have known her intent for Dumbledore to be gay. It simply is not an issue in the books. Simply he is a somewhat remote, benevolent headmaster that comes and goes mysteriously.
No more reason to assume anything about Dumbledore than, for example, some brother-sister situations in "Anne of Green Gables" books. Which, is to say, absolutely NONE! Some "fans" have way too much time on their hands. Rowling responded to some of them in ways that Tolkien simply would have ignored them.
I would not recommend these books for young children at all. My teenager enjoyed them. But was not transfixed by them.
Neither would I recommend Lemony Snicket books for their supposed child audience. But they COULD be read tongue in cheek.
Anyway, tim, if HP books are bad at all times for everybody, most of Shakespeare is bad at all times for everybody. As well as Batman and Spiderman.
Each person has to make their own decisions. I have read HP. I personally think James Bond movies are horrible. Complete disregard for women in those movies.
And then Star Wars. I know many Christians who enjoy Star Wars movies, but they do display a dualistic, light vs. dark side of the force. Not a Christian world-view at all. -
Maybe I just don't know enough about him, but I have trouble matching up "gay" with Richard Harris. ;) This isn't relevant to anything, but it just occurred to me who played Dumbledore in at least one of the movies. (he died in 2002)
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[/quote]What I don't get with Christians is this......just because it doesn't feel like a sin doesn't mean it is a lesser sin. Drunkenness gives more of a rush, that is noticeable.
The world accepts HP just fine. HP doesn't bother me much except the mixture of homo & kids, that doesn't fly.............HP isn't worth the hell risk.....There are worse things than reading HP. But the important question is, are they worse in God's eyes?[/quote]
You have a lot of presuppositions woven in here. There is no "mixture of homo & kids" in these books. The first in the series came out over 10 years ago.
A number of Christians have borne false witness against J. K. Rowling, by treating as fact and sending them all over the internet, many "facts" from spoof and parody sites such as the "Onion".
This one is a legitimate quote from her, but it is NOT something explicit or implicit in the books.
HP doesn't bother you much (except for something not even in the books) and yet you think it is a hell risk?
Can someone lose their salvation over Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?
Same thing.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour. He saved me, and He will keep me saved.
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