Is it Okay to Watch Potter and Twilight, etc. for research?

[ComeLordJesus]

I am writing a Christian anti-occult religious thriller. My first hand experience with occultism/New Age is over a decade old, I'm happy to say. To update myself about what's current, I'd be interested in watching Potter, Twilight and other movies of their ilk. i've never seen these movies nor have I read any of these books. I want to do it purely for research purposes.

This question isn't to those of you who see nothing wrong with these books and movies. To those who believe these books are evil, do you think I'm justified in watching these movies for the purpose of rebutting them and for understanding the occult milieu of today?

Thanks.

[jadeeyes]

You will have fewer questions like this one if you'll get into the habit of daily spending time in God's word and in prayer and if you'll learn to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. When you ask us or take a poll, you're mostly getting opinions. It would be far better for you if you could learn to read and study your Bible faithfully and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.

[24thchance]

I vote no,because that show is not Biblically based.It,s slanted w/the power of satan to lure you into false conclusions.I just don,t trust myself that at some point in the future I won,t come to a wrong decision w/that show shadowing my thinking.
Now if a good preacher had a show on it,and exposed any good points and all the bad points and why-I would watch.
Be extremely carefull of any movie or tv show that is of hollywood.It will color your thinking w/out you even knowing it.

[MrMannn]

I vote yes. Any sound Christian knows the difference between fact and fantasy. I've seen Potter and turned out OK. I don't think you should even be asking this.

Really this is like eating meat offered to idols. Its not a sin, but baby Christians just converted from those cults had a problem. So the early church's solution: Don't ask, don't tell. You don't need to ask/or tell where the meat came from--just enjoy the meal.

Research your book, have fun. Seriously your grown up now, you don't need input from us.
--If you are still concerned, watch a movie and pray about it. The indwelling of the Spirit will grant you the discernment to make a wise choice.

Just so you know, these are Hollywood fantasies and not based on actual cults.

[Tweety Bird]

Most believers, majority of them, I would say no, should not go near the stuff, and it has nothing to do with age and maturity. I would say it has to do with personal experience. How well really is the average American Christian at coming head on with this stuff, I mean really toe to toe with real demonic power. Have they done it before? How did they do? Ask 5-10 believers who know you very well, ask them honestly if they think you are spiritually able to go this close. They know you, what your strengths/weekness are. We do not. We know the Lord tells us to be as wise as the serpents so we need to get up close and study the enemy, watch, observe, analyze his strategy (it is a war/battle) but - that does not mean every Christian should be marching in, getting up close personal and staring right in the face of evil, wickedness, satan himself. What percentage of us have done a 100% job at keeping our armor on day by day, every second, how many are so confident there is not a spot the enemy can stab us, find that weak spot. Only the strongest should go in close to study I think, only after he has sought counsel, gotten the thumbs up by other Godly men, covered in much prayer. Side note - our sinful pride puffs up, tells us sure you can handle it, you will not fall, but what attitude to be puffed up thinking we will not stumble, fall. Well just adding the cautious coin side here. Believers I know won't watch the stuff of the world and they are strong, long time in the Lord, wise, confident but see no need to get in there and taste it for themselves - why? Like going to a bad resturant where everyone vomits after they eat there, you know the end of the story, don't need to go sample the stuff to learn first hand.

Research - http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles.html, and http://goodfight.org/

[Meg]

I vote no. Whats the point of writing an "anti occult" novel in the first place?

Isaiah 52:11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

[24thchance]

Most believers, majority of them, I would say no, should not go near the stuff, and it has nothing to do with age and maturity. I would say it has to do with personal experience. How well really is the average American Christian at coming head on with this stuff, I mean really toe to toe with real demonic power. Have they done it before? How did they do? Ask 5-10 believers who know you very well, ask them honestly if they think you are spiritually able to go this close. They know you, what your strengths/weekness are. We do not. We know the Lord tells us to be as wise as the serpents so we need to get up close and study the enemy, watch, observe, analyze his strategy (it is a war/battle) but - that does not mean every Christian should be marching in, getting up close personal and staring right in the face of evil, wickedness, satan himself. What percentage of us have done a 100% job at keeping our armor on day by day, every second, how many are so confident there is not a spot the enemy can stab us, find that weak spot. Only the strongest should go in close to study I think, only after he has sought counsel, gotten the thumbs up by other Godly men, covered in much prayer. Side note - our sinful pride puffs up, tells us sure you can handle it, you will not fall, but what attitude to be puffed up thinking we will not stumble, fall. Well just adding the cautious coin side here. Believers I know won't watch the stuff of the world and they are strong, long time in the Lord, wise, confident but see no need to get in there and taste it for themselves - why? Like going to a bad resturant where everyone vomits after they eat there, you know the end of the story, don't need to go sample the stuff to learn first hand.

!00% agreement,especially the armor comment.

[ILoveJesus]

I say Yes. If you know who you are in Christ and know deep down in your faith & heart that these types of researches will not have an impact on your walk with Christ, then I say Yes.

[ComeLordJesus]

I vote no. Whats the point of writing an "anti occult" novel in the first place?

Isaiah 52:11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Unfortunately, many Christians and others don't recognize the occult when they see it or don't understand it's power, and it's being promoted more and more. Even in general interest magazines and news reports, there are articles promoting meditation and yoga. I'm including religions such as Paganism, Buddhism and Hinduism in occultism since it is the root of these religions.

The 2012 stuff coming out is a 'high point' of a New Age cycle started in 1987 with the Harmonic Convergence. Many New Spiritualists are promoting that 2012 is only the beginning of a new mass consciousness, not the end of the world. This is seeping into our culture at a rate which alarms me. As you may know, occultists are already explaining away the Rapture, with Christians as the losers.

I believe the purpose all the witch and vampire books and movies is to make evil seem cute and cuddly to fool people into dropping their guard when demonic activity rises. Or it's to captivate them and take them away from G-d, giving them the idea that they have supernatural power natural to human beings. Such people generally do not see a reason to believe G-d exists, thinking they have the power because they themselves are a part of G-d.

I participated heavily in this stuff for ten years, even to the point of being thought of as 'very spiritual' by some. Like Dave Hunt and others, I see this creeping even into the churches.

If occultists can write novels promoting their worldview, I don't see why Christians can't do it. Even if there are no actual practices detailed in witch/vampire books, I believe they still have the power to influence how people think about the world. I have no intention describing any of these practices to the extent they could entice anyone.

Christians who have written novels in a similar vein for similar purposes are Joel Rosenberg, Paul Maier, and Dave Hunt to name just three.

[ComeLordJesus]

You will have fewer questions like this one if you'll get into the habit of daily spending time in God's word and in prayer and if you'll learn to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. When you ask us or take a poll, you're mostly getting opinions. It would be far better for you if you could learn to read and study your Bible faithfully and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you.

That's good advice. I've been putting off reading the Bible the second time completely through because I couldn't make up my mind which version to read. I guess I'd better pick one.

Maybe I would have have known better. I will take someone else's advice and try to find a Christian account of these works so i don't have to view them myself. i don't want that stuff in my mind, especially since it may bring up old beliefs and practices and confuse me.

[princesstiki]

I just found it sad that in my local Walmart, the vampire/occult/witchcraft books were right next to the Christian books and Bibles. Worst, yet, when you come in from the front of the store, (the entrances), the occult books are BEFORE the Bibles which are on the end of the aisle. I am also at a loss for words at some Christians who think it is okay to watch these evil vampire movies and even let their kids watch Harry Potter and such.I know wordly people don't see the wrongness in movies and books, they are still spirtually blind. Open your eyes people! Watch what goes into your eargates and eyegates. If you don't think its wrong to watch this junk and condone it, you need to pray for a spirit of discernment.

[kim0515]

At my Wal-Mart they have these books in the teenager's section, it made me sick that they are trying to get our children into this as well.

[Southern Lady]

This has been happening for years. Everytime I went to our local Barnes and Noble (now closed) the New Age and Witchcraft books were right next to the Bibles. I think they really belonged in the fictrion section. I just don't understand why some who call themselves Christians think nothing is wrong with these books and think they should be required reading in schools.

[Trance]

Nothing new, I'm afraid. At my local book store, they have the Bibles right next to the 'finding your inner god' type books.

[StarofDavid]

It really infuriates me, but there isn't one thing that would surprise me any more. The world is one huge insane asylum!

[SpaceProg]

I think it's mostly a marketing thing. Stores layouts are based on what will get them the most money. It's that way in supermarkets, so it shouldn't be any surprise that it's that way in book stores as well. Money talks and all that. Just business as usual, I'm afraid.

[6stringedsignseeker]

Well, I remember how just up untill a few short years ago, Wallmart actually had a "Christian" section in their books and magazine isle. With all the pc bullcrap, especially over the last few years, that has been renamed to the "spiritual" section. Well it's been going downhill ever since. I was working for Walmart in overnight receiving and also as a stocker for awhile years ago when Sam Walton died... guess I was about 19 or 20 ( off the top of my head) and I actually remember having the conversation with some fellow employees... we knew things we're going to change drastically for Walmart. Sure enough they have.

[twisty58]

If you think WalMart is bad... try going into some of the "Christian" bookstores. The stuff in there should send us ALL into fits!

[lyngraphics]

If you think WalMart is bad... try going into some of the "Christian" bookstores. The stuff in there should send us ALL into fits!

I know.. in the one place you think SHOULD be safe.... it's an shame.

[OED40]

If you think WalMart is bad... try going into some of the "Christian" bookstores. The stuff in there should send us ALL into fits!

I don't go to Christian stores often, but I finally visited one and I found a lot of bad material there. I even saw copies of The Shack seated on one of the shelves and was completely shocked.