Yale Divinity Course Examines Theology in Harry Potter

yodelingyorkies »

Sun Apr 13, 2008 6:11 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

Coming from a 17 year old's stand point, some people are way too easy to dig into harry potter. I was sixteen when i read the books (i just never got around to it), and sure didn't feel like the devil was taking my soul just from reading them! They are great books that probably shouldn't be read by anyone under the age of 12 or so, since they could be considered influential. As for harry potter being sinful reading...um i've read much worse. i don't think that harry potter has any christian themes, but not every book does, nor do i think everything your child reads should be limited to that. most of my favororite books include fantasy, Twilight-a story about a girl falling in love with a vampire- is among my favorites. i love to read, and have read many "non-Christian" books, including Narnia when i was little. i don't think it makes me less of a Christian. If you guys want to talk about censorship go somewhere where it's needed...like TV sex scenes or something....hp doesn't promote drugs, sex, alcohol, etc., but doing what needs to be done even when people try to shut you up. yes, they broke rules in the story, but it's not like they didn't get caught or punished...

Chris333 »

Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:22 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 0

mr_dumberton,

I am in partial agreement with you, but it all depends on what you are actually trying to say. I can "expose" my children to sex, without exposing them to sin. I can teach them the proper and right way to have sex, without having to show them pornography, let them watch suggestive movies, or encourage them to experiment with their friends. We do not have to show our kids sin in action, in order to let them know what it is. Certainly, at an appropriate level, we can show them the reality of the world, but let's face it, 99% of entertainment in America is not based on reality, but a materialistic, secular, sex-driven, anti-God, agenda. There is an insurmountable difference between letting your 15 year old see a documentary or movie based upon terrors that happened in Germany during ww2, or Rwanda, and letting them play Grand Theft Auto.

Sure they are going to encounter such base things in life, and we have to teach them how to deal with it in a godly way, not expose them to it and let them figure it out. The same goes for ourselves too, we may be "adults" but we are still children of God, and we don't have to expose ourselves to sin, in order to be more "experienced".

Charlemagne »

Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:55 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 1

The Bible teaches us to meditate on God's word daily, continually, to focus on those things that are lovely, beautiful and true, i.e., His word. Even when being taught to distinguish between a real bill and a forged bill you are taught to know a real bill so scrupulously that when you do see a counterfeit you will recognize it immediately.

As a well grounded Christian, who knows what God's word has to say about life and the world around us it may not be to problematic to digest such content. Although the Bible does tell us exactly how God feels about witchcraft and sorcery, i.e. an abomination, and should therefore be utterly avoided.

As for children, who are very impressionable, they should be protected from reading or viewing such material so that they are not misled. Rather, use God's advice and raise them up in the admonition of the Lord, train them up in the way they should go, and when they are old they shall not depart from it.

Yes, they should be taught about all varying viewpoints and beliefs, religious and otherwise, but always from a Biblical perspective and worldview. I speak from experience, having grown up reading all kinds of science fiction, fantasy novels to participating in dungeons and dragons for over 10 years, even though I was raised Christian. I was misled because I wouldn't dare be so closed minded as to believe that my parents, who had much more knowledge about God than I, could be right about such issues.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." so it is of the utmost of importance to guard over what we allow ourselves to be exposed to and even more so for children. As the computer saying goes, garbage in, garbage out.

In Matthew 18:6 Jesus tells us "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." I would say He probably feels pretty strongly about this kind of subversive induction of children into paganism and witchcraft through the guise of supposed innocent entertainment.

ifeelfine72 »

Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:29 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 2

Thank you for the wise words Mr_dumberton

justus3llp »

Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:16 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 1

For those of you who believe that God is okay with witchcraft, please read His word and learn the truth. God's word says we're to have NOTHING to do with with it. As for you, pastor Dumberton, I have read half of the series, so I can speak as to it's content. I was delivered from that sin in my life by hearing the truth preached, and through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. I warn you that you will answer to our Holy Father, God Almighty, one day as you stand before his throne. He has made it clear that He never changes, that he hates sin, and that witchcraft is evil in his sight. As one who leads, you must lead in the way of righteousness, or the blood of those you led astray will be on your hands. Read your Word.

2 Chronicles 33:6 (NAS)
6 He made his sons pass through the fire in the valley of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination, practiced sorcery and dealt with mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Galations 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 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 God.

mr_dumberton »

Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:32 am Agree: 4   Disagree: 5

Actually, Rowling claims to be a Christian. She is a member of the Church of Scotland. And for TMK - I have to disagree with you about avoiding anything with the potential to mess you up. Everything has the potential to mess you up! Sex can mess you up. Does that mean I should never teach my children about how God intended sex to be part of our lives? Absolutely not! We need to equip them to deal with the influences of culture, not pretend they aren't there. Being in the world but not of it should be a constant tension for us. Too many Christians are convinced that good parenting is defined by what kids are not exposed to. The less the exposure, the better the parenting. I protect my kids from things that are too mature for them to deal with, but I also want them to grow up as engaged disciples, sheltering them will not accomplish that.

JoshGilman »

Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:21 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 1

If a book is read critically enough, dissected into thousands of pieces, and then interpreted through symbolism is can be translated into almost anything. I've ready all seven Harry Potter books, a couple of times actually, and have never once felt any Christian inspired ideas. In movies like The Chronicles of Narnia it is without a doubt clear that it represented the message of the Gospel, and I believe even C.S Lewis (Who was also one of the greatest Christian apologists of his time) himself admitted to it. Here we have Rowling who I believe is rather secular (correct me if I'm wrong), and has not once admitted to have any kind of religious influence in her works.

It's almost like it's become a fad to find religious influences in all the popular fiction books.

TMK »

Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:02 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

That's true, and it's a good thing to not come across that way to non-believes. But we shouldn't do so at our own expense. If you know there's potential for something to mess you up, you should avoid it. Don't relate to the world at your own expense

mr_dumberton »

Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:41 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 7

Let me start by saying, I am a Christian and a pastor in the PCA. I am also a fan of Harry Potter. Do I think they are a Christian allegory such as the Chronicles of Narnia, or the Lord of the Rings? No. But I do think that J.K. Rowling clearly drew upon Christian imagery and themes in her books. There is a clear ressurection motiff that dominates the entire series culminating in the events of the final book (which includes direct scripture quotations from 1 Corinthians and the Gospel of Matthew) If you haven't read the books, then I hope you are not commenting on them and pronouncing them full of the devil. All that does is make Christians come across as close-minded bigots. Certainly there are aspects of the Potter series which could be confusing and potentially harmful to the faith of young children, but good Christian parenting includes teaching your children how to process ideas that are in conflict with their worldview. Rowling has produced a wonderful narrative filled with unforgettable characters, humor, and touching emotions. As Christians we should use these stories to find common ground with a lost world, building bridges by which we can share the ultimate truth of the Gospel.

TMK »

Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:27 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

Umnenga, I think if you want to compare Narnia to Harry Potter, you need to look at Lewis' original book, not the movie. The movie was good, but didn't contain all the details that Lewis placed in there, regarding to Christian allegorical things.

You can apply the same principles from the book to the movie, but it's not the same if you don't...

Umnenga »

Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:52 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

I found it easier to find the Christian allegories in Harry Potter than in the Narnia movie. Ironically if you go to the website about.com and you choose the aethiesm topic the aethiests there were saying after the third book that Harry Potter would turn out to be a Christian allegory

MuggleBorn »

Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:30 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

Okay ... look at my alias. Is it obvious I'm a fan of the Harry Potter series? And I agree with tpmvabch and freefallin. THAT should tell you something.

If you like the series ... fine. But don't place its value over God's Word.

freefallin »

Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:23 pm Agree: 10   Disagree: 12

Anyone who can't discern that Harry Potter is full of Witchcraft and is of the Devil, Probably isn't saved... If You are saved and have the Holy Spirit living in you it should be pretty easy to tell that...

tpmvabch »

Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:55 pm Agree: 16   Disagree: 2

Here's a thought. Let's focus on sharing Christ with the world instead of spending valuable time and resources on Harry Potter vs Christianity.