I ran across an interesting article today on the Harry Potter books. So far, we are not into the book series in our house. Zach, my oldest read the first 2 or 3 books and stopped. I know the books have been a topic of debate amongst Christians. The man who wrote this article has an interesting perspective. To read the article, click here.I'd love to hear your perspective on this book series, if your kids (or you) have read them and what to make of the attempted analogies to the Christian faith.
8 comments:
I've had many discussions with other Christians about Harry Potter. My mom had recommended them to me quite awhile ago and being and avid reader I feel in love with the books immediatly. I have never felt the magic of the book was the point--it's just a backdrop for Harry and his friends to learn life lessons. Harry grows up in these books learning about family, friends, doing good, fighting evil and learning who he is as a person. The setting just helps with the imagination and fun--it does not promote that children learn witchcraft any more than C.S. Lewis' stories of Narnia really support that unicorns and talking animals are real.
Certainly every parent must decide for their own children if they want to allow the books to be read. But I advice those parents to not listen to the general distaste some Christians have for the book without first actually reading one. I've had a number of people change their minds about the appropriateness of the books once they actually read the story. People need to use discretion and interact with it instead of blindly hating it just because some other CHristian told them to.
--Shannon
Shannon,
Thanks for your thoughts. This is good insight. It seems like those Christians who only want to throw stones at the books etc. are often the type of Christians who would disagree with me on many other cultural issues as well.
Very Interesting.
I must admit that I've never read any of the books. Not really because I'm opposed to them, but I've never really have had the interest to read them.
But I think I am guilty of judging the books by their covers and listening to what mainstream Christianity says about them.
How difficult it is to go against the norm!
I am currently looking for a job as a teacher and knowing what kinds of books that are out there is pretty important. I'm thinking I should at least give the book a fair chance.
While I am pretty weary of anything with magic or "witchcraft" like things, I do confess to being a big Lord of the Rings fan that contains magic and wizadry.
This is the first time I've heard a thumbs up from a Christian croud.
"As I look abroad, I am grieved and have great heaviness of spirit at what I see among professing Christians. A very serious matter concerns the amusements engaged in by professing Christians. I see it publicly stated, by some who call themselves Christians, that it is good for Christians to seek entertainment, inorder to find christ in worldly places..."
"My dear brethren and sisters, whatever your deficiencies, be pure in heart... Never indulge an evil imagination (the witchcraft in harry potter), or speak about things which are unclean (the pure sorcery in hasrry potter). Let them not once be named among you, as becoming saints... Anything and everything that verges upon the unchaste must be rejected..."
"Beware of the leaven of worldly pleasure, for its working is silent but sure, and a little of it will leaven the whole lump. Keep up the distinction between a Christian and an unbeliever and make it clearer every day..."
C.H. Spurgeon
-SWORD & TROWELL,
Issue 1995 No. 2
Spurgeon, have you read the books?
Spurgeon was right when he said that it takes only a little evil to throw us off course.
Being a person who hasn't read the Potter books, can anyone tell me how they compare with the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of Rings?
Narnia and Lord of the Rings do have some magic and wizadry in them, yet they are accepted throughout the Christian world.
Potter books on the other hand seemed to be labeled as "witch craft."
As Christians, it is important to know why we believe. If the Potter books really are evil, what makes them different from the Narnia and Lord of the Rings?
For an interesting article on this, go here: http://docs.google.com/Edit?docid=w.dckvkx56_1c7fccn&btr=EmailImport
I think to agree with spurgeon in the sense that we as believers should strive for a level of holiness. if you read the entirety of the article that C.H. Spurgeon wrote you will find that it is not only based on luering witchcraft, but its based on the massive hours spent by christians on worldly entertainment- that would include those other books. He then goes on to explain thow they build a rational of justification of why they should spend hours reading a "harry potter" book or watching "lord of the rings" rather than pursuing more chirst-like activities. I believe that time is short, and if we are about our Fathers bussiness, then we should-like spurgeon put it- do away with world practices of compromising entertainment; this includes those other witchcraft driven novels.
I was hoping for some feedback on the Harry Potter books, so this is great. Seems like I know more Christians who are leary of the book series, than those in favor of it. I do agree with the Spurgeon quotes about being careful what we spend our time on and what we fill our minds with.
However, I find it fasinating and fun to find Christ and good theology in the media. Most often a non-Christian will see "Children of Men" or "Lord of the Rings" before they'll see even "The Chronicles of Narnia." To me, that's a great opportunity to engage in conversation about the theology presented in those movies. The tricky part is not justifying hours of media intake just to find those rare God moments to discuss with your non-Christian friends.
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