THE PROBLEM WITH
HARRY POTTER
..
Could you please tell me why books and movies like
"Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer's Stone" people claim it to
be witchcraft?? Isn't witchcraft evil whereas the magic in Harry
Potter does not look evil. I know the bible condemns witchcraft
but how do they see this as witchcraft.. My point is this is
getting kids to read again and wanting to read, it is just
fantasy. .... So why now are there people out there saying Harry
Potter should be rid of???
Dear
Daryl,.... I'd heard a lot
about the Harry Potter books, how they were filled with the
occult, witches, spells, potions, and more. So, I finally read
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling. Would I
recommend it to Christians to read? Yes, and no. Yes, if you are
doing research on the influence of the occult in today's society,
On the other hand, I would not recommend it if you want to guard
you or your children from the influence of occult principles and
ideas. I'm sorry to say that the Potter book I read was definitely
filled with witches, potions, spells, ghosts, magic wands, flying
broomsticks, and more. It was definitely heavily into the occult.
T he Potter book(s?) do teach things in direct contradiction to
scripture.
In the book,
Harry Potter is an orphaned young boy. His parents were killed by
an evil sorcerer named Voldemort who, for some unknown reason,
couldn't kill Harry when he was an infant. The child is then
delivered to his relatives who are Muggles, people who do not
believe in magic. Harry, who is unaware of his true parentage and
the world of magic, spends 10 years living in dingy conditions
under the stairs of these selfish and uncaring Muggles. Finally, a
giant named Hagrid appears with a startling invitation to study at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course, Harry
attends and is introduced to the previously unknown world of
magic. The rest of the book takes place at the school. The occult
flavor of the book is aptly represented in some of the course
books required for the classes at the school: The Standard Book of
Spells, A History of Magic, Magical Theory, Magical Drafts and
Potions, The Dark Forces: a Guide to Self-Protection, etc.
In the book
several spells are cast and we see the use of an invisibility
cloak, magic wands, and flying broomsticks. Witches are basically
people who have magic skills. Ghosts are helpful. Mention is made
of the need to study the stars and their names, which can affect
magic, along with herbs and fungi which are used in potions. In
all, there is plenty of magic, wizardry, spells, as well as plain
old suspense and drama. The book was written well enough to keep
one's interest. Too bad it was filled with so much dark
occultism. Furthermore, lying and deception were not
condemned. Instead, they were justifiably used to accomplish the
necessary ends of the characters.
As a
Christian, I can't see the influence being a positive one. Second,
biblically, we are to focus on godly things, not the ungodly. As
the Apostle Paul said : "Finally, brethren, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell
on these things," (Phil. 4:8). The Bible condemns contacting the
dead, séances, etc. Therefore, as a Christian parent, I
would not want my children reading the Potter's books because I
don't want them to be influenced in any way towards the occult. I
believe the Harry Potter books and movies to be harmful
spiritually.... from CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS
& RESEARCH MINISTRY