Harry Potter books

[raina snow]

I don't care for them just my opinion I don't think that the Lord wants us to read about witch craft there is enough going on in this world and these books are feeding right into our childrens lives , so easy like. I don't understand if you are a christian family you can let these books into your home. :confused:

[fuzzis]

I don't care for them just my opinion I don't think that the Lord wants us to read about witch craft there is enough going on in this world and these books are feeding right into our childrens lives , so easy like. I don't understand if you are a christian family you can let these books into your home. :confused:

Have you read them?

[Astra]

That was going to be my first question as well. Unfortunately, I have heard a lot of people attribute things to the books that actually are NOT in them :(

[raina snow]

I have read jackets to the books and I didn't go any further didn't need to.

[Hermione]

Raina, some of the biggest HP fans I know are devout Christians. The books treat witchcraft as a skill, not as a manifestation of the occult. There is no mention whatsoever of Satan and any harmful witchcraft is treated as an evil. The books promote values such as loyalty, courage, honesty, self-sacrifice, and above all, love. Harry is protected from the villain because his mother gave her life to save him. His mentor tells him several times that "love is stronger than any magic." J.K. Rowling herself is a Christian and deeply influenced by C.S. Lewis (who had witches in the Narnia books) and Tolkien. Many writers use fantasy to promote worth-while values because many people enjoy imaginative or fantasy stories. There are witches in Snow-White, in Sleeping Beauty, etc. etc.

[fuzzis]

I'm always amazed at people who condemn something without really knowing what it truly is. It's one thing to make an informed decision, but that's not what has happened in many instances. Sad.

[raina snow]

dont get me wrong I do not judge or comdemn anyone who reads them I am just saying I really don't think still that they are something I want my grandkids reading. I love to hear all opinions on the books though this is interesting to me. RAINA

[Hermione]

Well, you absolutely have the right to make these decisions. However, you might think about letting them read the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis instead.

[KingMaker]

You know it's interesting. I've never read any of the books (watched all the movies), but I don't see anything wrong with them. I promise you there a lot worse things your kids could be reading. Any letter to the Hattiesburg American by Scott Tyner is just one example. But, I digress....

If you are teaching your children right from wrong and bringing them up in a faith based home, then they will know it's all make believe. A fairy tale.

If you start banning all stories with magic where do you stop? Do you take away the Wizard of Oz? Do you ban them from Peter Pan? What about Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales?

If a parent has the type of relationship they need with their children they need not worry what Harry Potter tells them.

[Conveyor Belt]

Well, you absolutely have the right to make these decisions. However, you might think about letting them read the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis instead.

No, way! A MAGIC wardrobe is in that book! Can't have all that devilish stuff going on!!!

[Conveyor Belt]

What of fairy tales, raina snow? or Aesop fables? Where do you draw the line?

I've got extended family who wouldn't let the kids play Super Mario 3 because it had a 'magic flute' in it. Can you believe that?

[Hermione]

CB, Raina is being sincere and I hope we won't gang up on her too bad. She and I had a nice PM exchange on this subject -- I'm about to shut down for the evening, you be nice, ok?

[Conveyor Belt]

CB, Raina is being sincere and I hope we won't gang up on her too bad. She and I had a nice PM exchange on this subject -- I'm about to shut down for the evening, you be nice, ok?

I'm always nice!!!

I'm not giving her a hard time, but I will ask some questions...

[kevin]

It's a book of fantasy!The Harry Potter series is awesome and if by it influences Christians to do evil than they weren't too stable in their Christianity to begin.Life is way too short to be so jaded .A pastor asked me not to watch The De vinci Code for some reason and I told him to tell it to his children I'm a free-minded adult and even as a child I listened to Metal music like KISS it never tore me away from the church and certainly formed a rebellion amongst us as young kids.Potter books and films teach morality not evil.It's not real that's why it says FICTION!

[sackett22]

My two cents on this is that a lot of churches and christian people believe the HP books are wrong, bc of witchcraft.. But as others have said the Narnia books have witches, (but christian book stores and churches were promoting the books and movies) Tolkiens novels have trolls, and ogres, and magic, but I don't hear anyone condemning them.

Point in fact is no matter what you think of the HP books, they are getting kids to read and not just sit in front of the TV or playing video games.

[Astra]

It's a book of fantasy!The Harry Potter series is awesome and if by it influences Christians to do evil than they weren't too stable in their Christianity to begin.Life is way too short to be so jaded .A pastor asked me not to watch The De vinci Code for some reason and I told him to tell it to his children I'm a free-minded adult and even as a child I listened to Metal music like KISS it never tore me away from the church and certainly formed a rebellion amongst us as young kids.Potter books and films teach morality not evil.It's not real that's why it says FICTION!
I always found it comical that KISS was ever considered to be a potentially evil influence. I suppose at the time the makeup and costumes could be a bit scary, but "evil" isn't quite the word that comes to my mind. People still hold on to that fear though - just a few years ago I went to high school with a boy whose mother (an otherwise very educated and intelligent woman) totally bought into all that nonsense about KISS being an acronym for "Knights in Satan's Service" or whatever and tried to ban him from listening to any of their music. Her efforts totally backfired.

It was really kind of sad to watch, since it caused quite a rift between her and her son and the entire basis of her objection came from one piece of information that wasn't even true.

[SexyChocolate]

Actually the Harry Potter book actually help you understands how a kids who have lost a parent or parents. The lost and lonely feeling that Harry express in each book and wanting to find a place call home.

[Guru]

Harry Potter and magic tricks is a bit slow for today's kids. I think we can all agree that they have little chance of levitating a car in motion on Hardy Street but more problematic things for kids are within their reach every day.
Things that don't happen in Harry Potter books that kids do now do in everyday life:
* Spend a lot of time listening to Rap music with very aggressive lyrics concerning physical abuse, sexual abuse, way loose sexual morals, drugs, stealing, killing; and treat none of this as bad but often good or a way of life
* Spend a lot of time trying to talk like a Rap star
* Walk around exposing themselves with their clothes half off and think it's cool
* Sex parties within kid groups are something you read about routinely and from news stories they don't even wait until they are teenagers for this which would be bad enough if they did
* Kids are invited to sit on the couch and be catered to by adults now and have no chores to do to contribute to a household or home
* Lack of community concern as evidenced by the fact that kids think nothing of littering wherever they go in public

If you can find a kid that actually reads a book such as one of these that shows me evidence that they can read, pronounce and comprehend higher level words other than dis, dat, etc. then it means they at least got a full 3rd grade education and are on their way to becoming literate.
Such a kid in today's time will have figured out they can't turn you or their siblings into cats.
Just like you I heard all the things about the books and when the movies came out I thought I had better maybe pay more attention, maybe I had missed something so I should take another look.
After I did I found just what the other posters have said. Besides wanting a wand to play along the lines of wanting a GI Joe or Barbi doll the kids might actually learn some values like friendships, human morals, family values and watching out for mean people.
Of course you have to make your own decisions but before you do I would suggest just checking out the first Harry Potter movie or reading one of the books and seeing for yourself if you can find anything that would make you not want a kid to see or read it.

[Conveyor Belt]

That's the Christian Thought Police for ya, Doc!

[Hermione]

You know, CB, in my own church, it's the PC liberal thought police who are the problem -- the traditional Christians are on the ropes.

[timforjesus]

i've read all but the last of the series... i might out of pure curiosity but i'm still very skeptical... witchcraft and encouraging kids and all that is just pure evil... i would not allow my kids to read them... it's become a phenomenon and something like that that kids are so emphatic about is very disturbing if i do say so myself

[Hermione]

tim, do you let your kids read the Narnia books?

[timforjesus]

i don't have any kids but yeah i would if i did... and by the way i trust C.S. Lewis.. he was one of the greatest Christian thinkers of his day and the Narnia books is basically the bible written in a fantasy... I find no such school of thought involving J.K. Rowling.. that may or may not change but until then i would not persuade anyone to read her books...

[TheKing]

dont get me wrong I do not judge or comdemn anyone who reads them I am just saying I really don't think still that they are something I want my grandkids reading. I love to hear all opinions on the books though this is interesting to me. RAINA

its this very line of thinking where you judge the book by the cover and consider it evil without getting context that gives christians the bad rap they have

have you ever ONCE for a second considered actually reading one?

[timforjesus]

i read all six of the ones in print... still don't really like them and i wouldn't recommend them to anyone...

[TheKing]

I tried to read the left behind books but simply got bored with the first one halfway through and decided it wasnt worth my sanity to proceed.

[Hermione]

C.S. Lewis is probably the greatest Christian writer of the 20th century. For one thing, he wrote across several genres. He wrote fiction, literary criticism -- my particular area of interest in him --, and Christian apologetics. He wrote clearly, concise, learned prose that can be grasped by anyone, and that is one of his great strengths. Rowling (to get back to Harry Potter) is a great fan of his, and like him uses a lot of medieval imagery that escapes us modern Americans. I'm very anxious to see how Book 7 ties together a lot of the underlying themes (loyalty, love, redemption.)

Tim, I recommend George Sayre's biography of Lewis. (NOT the Wilson biography, which is deeply flawed.) You can see that Lewis was also a "daily Christian" as well as a philosophical one. When I reviewed Professor Sayre's book for a Lewis publication, I was astonished and flattered beyond telling that he responded. He was Lewis's pupil and close friend for many years and the biography is excellent.

[timforjesus]

Rewards of Fasting and The Pleasures of Loving God by Mike Bickle, and Drawing Near and Driven by Eternity by John Bevere, Pursuit of God, The Radical Cross, and That Incredible Christian by A.W. Tozer, Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill, and a bunch of others...

[aaron]

The rapture conversation has moved to the catchall thread.

[timforjesus]

thanks...

[timforjesus]

i guess it catches all the stray religious comments.. hence the name catchall

[timforjesus]

i don't care... i'll talk about my faith anywhere i'm allowed... it don't bother me none

[Conveyor Belt]

Given that the first post is sort-of anti-Christian, I guess I assumed that it was a catch-all thread for non-Christian religious posts.

No, that would be Doc's Catch-All Non-Christian religious thread...

[Conveyor Belt]

i read all six of the ones in print... still don't really like them and i wouldn't recommend them to anyone...

I just don't think you had your heart in the right place, tim. You have to read them with an open mind and an open heart. If you read them, and still didn't like them, then you really didn't read them the right way...

[timforjesus]

i read them when i wasn't saved and i enjoyed them then now it doesn't fascinate me... catch my drift

[Conveyor Belt]

i read them when i wasn't saved and i enjoyed them then now it doesn't fascinate me... catch my drift

nope.

[Astra]

I have to share this, just because it's a funny memory and your comment reminded me of it:

Back in high school, we had a rash of "cool kids" who "got saved" as more of a social thing than anything they actually believed in. It was really rather depressing to watch, since their newfound faith only applied to their clothes and music and not to the way they treated other people.

Anyway, this one girl from that group was sitting with a bunch of other kids discussing movies. The only reason she was anywhere near us was because we were stuck in a class together and bored, otherwise she wouldn't have given most of us the time of day. I don't remember what film we were talking about, something along the lines of "The Matrix," probably, but she said the following:

"That was my favorite movie (realizing she's sharing with the unwashed masses, so she dismissively adds to it)... but then I got saved"

This was around the time Afroman's "Because I Got High" was getting a lot of airplay on CPR. The way she said it caused an instant connection for a bunch of us. We never did get around to writing the entire song though...

[timforjesus]

nope.

my interests changed when i got saved... things that used to fascinate me just didn't anymore and that was one of them... you just gotta experience that to understand it

[threekidspa]

I just don't think you had your heart in the right place, tim. You have to read them with an open mind and an open heart. If you read them, and still didn't like them, then you really didn't read them the right way...

Brent swims up....sniffs the bait....thinks about it for a second...............then swims away.....

[dasmybaby]

i've read all but the last of the series... i might out of pure curiosity but i'm still very skeptical... witchcraft and encouraging kids and all that is just pure evil... i would not allow my kids to read them... it's become a phenomenon and something like that that kids are so emphatic about is very disturbing if i do say so myself

i think for a child to be well rounded, they should be exposed and taught right from wrong. just because i saw people getting it on on tv doesn't mean i went out and did it....it brings on "teachable moments."

my interests changed when i got saved... things that used to fascinate me just didn't anymore and that was one of them... you just gotta experience that to understand it

me = saved. and still read it.

i read them when i wasn't saved and i enjoyed them then now it doesn't fascinate me... catch my drift

if you know right from wrong, and you're teaching your kids right from wrong and they know it's just a work of fiction, then why not let them read it? my mom is a pretty hardcore christian, but she still let me read them and make a decision. matter of fact, she knew i like things about the supernatural, so she bought me harry potter books, the blair witch project, and the craft. i didn't turn out bad because of it...

[jkspatty]

my interests changed when i got saved... things that used to fascinate me just didn't anymore and that was one of them... you just gotta experience that to understand it

Please tell me you are not one of those "Harry Potter is evil because it promotes magic" people.....

[timforjesus]

nope just don't have an interest for it... and what would it be to you if i was jks... people grill me for doing the very same thing you just did to me

das... never said it was bad... just said i don't have a stomach for it... that's all... wouldn't recommend it to anyone because i've read better...

[jkspatty]

nope just don't have an interest for it... and what would it be to you if i was jks... people grill me for doing the very same thing you just did to me

das... never said it was bad... just said i don't have a stomach for it... that's all... wouldn't recommend it to anyone because i've read better...

It would not "BE" anything to me....just asking......

[timforjesus]

It would not "BE" anything to me....just asking......

sorry... just wanting to make sure... i guess i'm a little extra paranoid... :smt118

[Ted]

Hmmmmm I don't care for them just my opinion I don't think that the Lord wants us to read about witch craft there is enough going on in this world and these books are feeding right into our childrens lives , so easy like. I don't understand if you are a christian family you can let these books into your home. :confused:Ummmmm - - - Well, briefly -
None of that disturbs me at all because witchcraft and magic Do Not Exist.
These things are not real.
They are a product of creative imagination, fantasy and wishful thinking - and maybe a bit of scientific illiteracy.
I do, however, realize that some few people believe and pursue these things.

RE the HP business - it's just a series of entertaining action/adventure type fantasy stories.:)

[LoneStarGirl]

I am a Christian and have read every Harry Potter book in print. (more than once) I'm anxiously awaiting July 21st and the release of the last book. I was also at the theater an hour early Wed. night to make sure I had great seats for the latest movie. If you haven't realized by now I'm a pretty big Harry Potter fan. The books are wonderfully written and very entertaining. And as stated before they promote loyalty, friendship, love and compassion. I would suggest the series as a great read to anyone. As far as the thought police goes...I answer to no one but God when it comes to my thoughts and actions.

[Conveyor Belt]

None of that disturbs me at all because witchcraft and magic Do Not Exist.
These things are not real.

they exist, just not in the way the Potter books lay them out...

[Hermione]

That's sad. I could really use a wand and one of Mrs. Weasley's laundry and housecleaning spells!

[LoneStarGirl]

That's sad. I could really use a wand and one of Mrs. Weasley's laundry and housecleaning spells!

No kidding, that would be great!

[HorseWhisperer]

I read the 1st Potter book and I enjoy the movies alot. Im a christian and most of my friends that LOVE the Potter books are christians. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I mean they know what they believe and its just a book its not like its going to make them start believing in witchcraft and stuff. And like the Narnia stories. Those are christian books but I dont see my horse talking to me in the morning (from the book The Horse and His Boy.) They are darn good books and movies. Im reading a book now from the christian novel section of BAM and in it a guy is drifting in and out of life on earth and some other alternate universe where there are big fuzzy white bats and stuff. Lol... Its called Black by Ted DekKer.

[selmore]

I say we stone anyone caught reading them books!!

The Qur'an and Hadith have numerous passages relating to the danger of magic and sorcery. For example, Al-Baqara (2:102) tells of evildoers trying to teach magic to lure people away from Allah (SWT): "And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls, if they but knew!"
And a Hadith, related by Abu Huraira, recounts the seven destructive sins as told by the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), one of which is to practice sorcery.

[IBB]

I never thought I would like them either.. UNTIL.. I was forced to read the first one in a Children's literature class in college.. I must say it was one of the best books I have ever read. I started reading them all!! You can't knock it until you read at least one. I am a christian and my children have seen the movies and know all about Harry Potter. They are not praying to satan and practicing witchcraft in the front yard on the neighbors! IT is all what YOU make of it!! Try it. You may like what you read! It is so very entertaining!!:clap:


I don't care for them just my opinion I don't think that the Lord wants us to read about witch craft there is enough going on in this world and these books are feeding right into our childrens lives , so easy like. I don't understand if you are a christian family you can let these books into your home. :confused:

[Ted]

That's sad. I could really use a wand and one of Mrs. Weasley's laundry and housecleaning spells!:clap:Yeah. Me too!!

That'd be really neat.:)

[dispatch25]

I grew up in church, and I've heard many people over the years express concern over toys, books, videos, and other forms of popular entertainment. The worry over children's stories that include magic is usually inspired by a passage in the new testament that tells the story of new converts to Christianity who disposed of books which contained divination rituals. I think that particular action was symbolic of the fact that they were now going to practice Christianity. I don't think it was meant to be a standard for what children could read for entertainment purposes. Witch stories are even in the Bible. The Old Testament has a story of a king who sinned by going to see the witch of Endor (which incidentally is where they got the name for Samantha's mother in the bewitched show). :) The bottom line is that witchcraft isn't real. I just can't see the point of being afraid of something that only exists on tv and in books.

[Hermione]

I hope that everybody who read the final book now realizes that Rowling is a Christian, and that Christian themes permeate the books. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien come to mind as deeply Christian writers who used fantasy as grist for their mills.

[ComputerDude]

There are a lot of misconceptions about witchcraft. I use to date a gal who practiced witchcraft and I can say in no uncertain terms, there was nothing SATANIC about what she did. As with EVERYTHING in this universe, there is a light and a dark side. White magic, black magic..etc. It's peoples fear of the unknown that have instilled these mis-conceptions all through time.
As a Christian, you should be more open minded to witchcraft. Think about the miracles written in the new testament about Jesus. Water to wine, healing the sick and the lame, bringing site to the blind. Can't all of these miracles be considered "witchcraft".
If you say no then you're kind of a hypocrite in my opinion.

[Conveyor Belt]

*finds cover*

[Imapepper]

If you say no then you're kind of a hypocrite in my opinion.

NO.


God will judge if I am a hypocrite or not.

[ComputerDude]

*finds cover*
:laugh::laugh::laugh:



NO.


God will judge if I am a hypocrite or not.

And that's fine. I'm not trying to change your beliefs, just trying to give you another point of view. The things written in the bible about what Jesus did could be viewed as magic.
The Harry Potter books gave children a reason to be excited about reading again. J.K. Rowlings doesn't strike me as the kind of woman who would try to turn the worlds children into a bunch of devil-worshiping miscreants.

[SouthChic]

There are a lot of misconceptions about witchcraft. I use to date a gal who practiced witchcraft and I can say in no uncertain terms, there was nothing SATANIC about what she did. As with EVERYTHING in this universe, there is a light and a dark side. White magic, black magic..etc. It's peoples fear of the unknown that have instilled these mis-conceptions all through time.
As a Christian, you should be more open minded to witchcraft. Think about the miracles written in the new testament about Jesus. Water to wine, healing the sick and the lame, bringing site to the blind. Can't all of these miracles be considered "witchcraft".
If you say no then you're kind of a hypocrite in my opinion.

I cannot believe you are calling the miracles of Jesus witchcraft and saying those who don't believe that way are hypocrits.

Witchcraft involves the manipulation of a demonic host, through incantations and the casting of spells. Witchcraft can also involve communication with demonic spirits impersonating the dead. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead cannot communicate with the living as there is a great chasm separating the dead from the living (Luke 16:26).

"There shall not be found among you anyone who <!-- makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who -->…practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you." (Deut. 18:10-14)

Take a lesson from the sorcerers and witches who came to a saving knowledge of Christ in Acts 19:19, “And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

Paul ascribes witchcraft as a deed of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Christianity teaches that witchcraft, even charming, candy coated witchcraft, is evil and that redemption only comes through Jesus Christ and certainly not from the occult.

[ComputerDude]

I cannot believe you are calling the miracles of Jesus witchcraft and saying those who don't believe that way are hypocrits.

Witchcraft involves the manipulation of a demonic host, through incantations and the casting of spells. Witchcraft can also involve communication with demonic spirits impersonating the dead. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead cannot communicate with the living as there is a great chasm separating the dead from the living (Luke 16:26).

"There shall not be found among you anyone who <!-- makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who -->…practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you." (Deut. 18:10-14)

Take a lesson from the sorcerers and witches who came to a saving knowledge of Christ in Acts 19:19, “And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

Paul ascribes witchcraft as a deed of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21: “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Christianity teaches that witchcraft, even charming, candy coated witchcraft, is evil and that redemption only comes through Jesus Christ and certainly not from the occult.

Please go back and re-read what I said. I said everything in this universe has a light and a dark side. Evil and good and witchcraft is the same thing. I didn't say all forms of witchcraft are good. Absolutely there are forms that practice in the manner in which you mentioned. And my comparison of the miracles Jesus performed can be VIEWED as magic.

Witchcraft involves the manipulation of a demonic host, through incantations and the casting of spells. Witchcraft can also involve communication with demonic spirits impersonating the dead. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead cannot communicate with the living as there is a great chasm separating the dead from the living (Luke 16:26)

As I stated, SOME witchcraft involves the manipulation of demonic hosts and so on and so forth. (well, the attempt. Personally I think it's all a bunch of whooie to be honest.)

I myself recommend everybody to study up on witchcraft. Read about it to understand it better instead of just turning a blind eye away from it. It's better to know your enemy isn't it? ;)

And I do apologize for the hypocrite remark. I understand that some people were raised with very strict beliefs and I respect that. I just personally try to understand things a bit more before judging it or them.

[dispatch25]

In my opinion, various forms of magical superstitions were ancient attempts to either understand natural phenomenon or control people through fear. It was never something that was actually tangible. It existed in people's imagination. As scientific knowledge of the earth increased, most cultures abandoned these practices.

We live in the real world. People can't manipulate their environment by reciting some little chant or mixing together some table scraps in a kettle. Why should adults be afraid of having their reality impacted by something written in the pages of a fictional novel?

[Manon]

Yeah, I always find the overly sheltering religious approach kind of creepy.

I had a lady ask for my opinion on a game suitable for her 9 yr old boy. Our selection for the system that he had was relatively low at the time, so I suggest Pokémon, The Hobbit, and Harry Potter. She was visibly appalled that I would do such a thing. Her reaction was so extreme, I thought that she was being sarcastic. I play along and politely suggest that she not allow the boy outside, for fear of him worshipping the wind, grass, and trees. Apparently, she did not find it as humorous as I did, and sternfully told me to sell her a dirt-cheap four wheeler game. I'm glad that kid'll be picking up the useful concepts of "go" and "steer" from his gaming experience.

I don't know. It just always seemed to me that the more sheltered kids were always the more socially awkward ones, putting them at greater risk when it comes time for real decision making due to a lack of experience.

I don't really dig the Harry Potter stuff at all, but anything that'll get a kid to read a book that long is a good thing. I know we read some of Tolkien's stuff during my stint in grade school at Sacred Heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed it drastically more than the Superbook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbook) that was shown repeatedly to us.

[Guru]

Society and the Humanities have undergone escalating change in the years since PacMan. Not picking on Pacman, just an example.
I think of it as the "Quick Restart" or "Re-do" mind set. Reading however is patience. There is a distinct beginning and end, a lovely progression of a journey.
I'd like to hope that parents would give their children the tools needed to recognize the difference in books or anything in life as being either hate-mongering or as just simply good entertainment.
In my opinion our teachers are not allowed the autonomy to hold these discussions with students as they should be able to because they are then subject to ridicule after little Johnny or Susie went home to some frazzled parent and said Teacher "*" said ...
That's another rant but just in my humble opinion, reading is a wonderful thing. It allows any human to develope emotional analytical skills.

[ComputerDude]

Yeah, I always find the overly sheltering religious approach kind of creepy.

I had a lady ask for my opinion on a game suitable for her 9 yr old boy. Our selection for the system that he had was relatively low at the time, so I suggest Pokémon, The Hobbit, and Harry Potter. She was visibly appalled that I would do such a thing. Her reaction was so extreme, I thought that she was being sarcastic. I play along and politely suggest that she not allow the boy outside, for fear of him worshipping the wind, grass, and trees. Apparently, she did not find it as humorous as I did, and sternfully told me to sell her a dirt-cheap four wheeler game. I'm glad that kid'll be picking up the useful concepts of "go" and "steer" from his gaming experience.

I don't know. It just always seemed to me that the more sheltered kids were always the more socially awkward ones, putting them at greater risk when it comes time for real decision making due to a lack of experience.

I don't really dig the Harry Potter stuff at all, but anything that'll get a kid to read a book that long is a good thing. I know we read some of Tolkien's stuff during my stint in grade school at Sacred Heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed it drastically more than the Superbook (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbook) that was shown repeatedly to us.That's really a sign of how society is actually going backwards. Tolkien's work is not only full of wizardry, it's full of violence. For something like to have been acceptable back then, but something as innocent as Harry Potter being shunned by people now really is a testament that people aren't becoming more open-minded, they're becoming less.
Those who think Harry Potter will convert their kids to devil worship, are the same people who won't let their kids trick-or-treat because they consider Halloween a celebration of Satan.

[58ford]

Exodus 22:18 puts a rather clear light on the whole witchcraft issue.

<sup id="en-KJV-2132">18</sup>Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

No ambiguity, or subterfuge there buddy.

[58ford]

Personally I partial to Proverbs 31:6-7

<sup id="en-KJV-17291">6</sup>Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. <sup id="en-KJV-17292">7</sup>Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

[ComputerDude]

Exodus 22:18 puts a rather clear light on the whole witchcraft issue.

<sup id="en-KJV-2132">18</sup>Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

No ambiguity, or subterfuge there buddy.so, just round 'em all up and start killing them?

[Conveyor Belt]

so, just round 'em all up and start killing them?

only if you believe in the bible.

[SoMissTV]

only if you believe in the bible.

and witches.

[Manon]

I was always a sucker for leveticus 26:29

"So that you shall eat the flesh of your sons and of your daughters."

It's part of a list of threats that God makes if people don't obey him.

I find the threat of forced cannibalism fun, especially the sins of the children not being brought up at all.

God was pretty rad back in the day, almost makes me want to convert back to a monotheistic religion from my current level of agnosticism.