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

[ComeLordJesus]

The problem with fiction is its not accurate in the first place! That doesn't mean much for people trying to learn about evil, but it is absolutely devastating to someone trying to figure out real Christian Spiritual warfare! The solution to the problem portrayals are absolutely devastating. People in trouble at best might run about waving crosses hoping that might do some good, at worst they might go to a Catholic Priest hoping for an excorcism. Its just not fair to offer fictional solutions to genuine problems. There's too much misleading information in the first place, and the damage done is extremely real, without any more confusion being added. I wonder sometimes how many people have killed themselves in desperation and despair...

Please just choose a readable translation of the Bible you are comfortable with, and choose to read it daily, not with the goal of reading it through once, but to read it in such a way as to get to know the Lord. The Bible is not "just a book", It is our portrait of the Living God and what its like to have a relationship with Him...



This quote is from the Gospel Of John, chapter 1, verses 1-4. John was speaking iof Jesus Christ, Whom he knew in person, Whom John saw die with his own eyes, and Whom John saw Risen also with his own eyes...

It seems that John had difficulty finding the right words. It seems from what he wrote that words just couldn't describe what really happened. The following is from the first Epistle of John, known as 1 John, verses 1-4 (these are 2 of my favorite passages BTW)



"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched"

I love those words... They keep me warm deep inside, reminding me that Jesus Christ is real, and that the events described in the Gospels really happened. I hope these Words inspire you too...

Oh no! I wasn't looking for accuracy and truth in Harry Potter, Twilight, just to see what it is people are being exposed to so I can debunk it! And debunk not in a manner that I would give people false ideas about solutions to demonization or sin.

I want to show how participating in the occult can ruin one's life, not to glamorize it in any way or give people ideas about sensationalized exorcisms, spiritual warfare, and the like. My intention is the exact opposite, to show how occultism can be destructive and that God's way is THE way.

As a novelist, I would try not to sensationalize or add to or take from God's Word in doctrine like some novelists do. Does that make sense? I'm not sure I explained what I mean by that.

I think fiction can tell the truth although it's fictional. Stories tell an experience, and I believe I can glorify the Lord by telling stories which illustrate sin, obedience and God's response to them. The parables are true but are also fictional in some sense. They are stories used to teach and illustrate doctrine.

[ComeLordJesus]

i've seen both and i've turned out as a normal teen ager

You do look normal.

[Nightelf]

You do look normal.

I think I've seen him twitch once or twice, but otherwise he seems ok!

[TheRealClarkKent]

To be perfectly honest, I think you're not going to find much to 'debunk' in Harry Potter. A cursory reading shows that there are some very basic Christian themes throughout the stories--the supremacy of sacrificial love, how easy it is to fall into sin and temptation, the importance of mercy, and the horrifying reality of evil.

If you go in with the mentality that 'this is lying to me because it's suggesting that witchcraft is a viable real-world solution to problems' then... well, you're Doing It Wrong. It would be like reading Mark 9 and taking it as a literal injunction to mutilate yourself in response to sinful urges.

Twilight, you're going to find a lot more to dislike, particularly lots of really transparent sexism and borderline worship of The Boyfriend.

[Musclecar1975]

I know this is an old poll, but I voted "you're making too big a deal out of this." I say, Go for it! Read these books to help you write your book, and pray for the Lord to protect you and give you discernment as you read these books. Mr. Mannn's advice was the best.

Christians who write books on the occult read occultic material before writing the book, so they'd have an understanding of the topic they're writing about. I don't think this is any different.

When the book is published, please be sure to let me know......I would love to read it, it sounds very interesting, as I'm a fan of suspense and thrillers written from a Christian perspective (like Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.)

[HopeOfHeaven]

These are some good videos about Harry Potter with a salvation message and teaching at the end of the third. Prepared to be nauseated as this video uses quotes, movie clips and interviews on the 700 Club with a Christian occult expert.

Make no mistake these people and our educational system are after the children. The Church must pray up, stand up and refuse this garbage and send it back to where it came from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIXAhtgb58E

[MidnightCry]

Make no mistake these people and our educational system are after the children. The Church must pray up, stand up and refuse this garbage and send it back to where it came from

Absolutely! Thanks for this important, timely reminder!

[JustGrateful]

These are some good videos about Harry Potter with a salvation message and teaching at the end of the third. Prepared to be nauseated as this video uses quotes, movie clips and interviews on the 700 Club with a Christian occult expert.

You forgot to warn us that Katie Couric makes an appearance.

[SaintTexas]

Yikes.

Thank you.

[HisPrincess]

I'm sorry, but I busted out laughing when they were saying the part about children "taking the 'mark' of Harry Potter". Kinda like saying Trekkies are taking the Mark of the Vulcan if they wear Spock ears?

Occult = BAD, evil awful horrible. BUT - please don't base your opinion on something by watching videos like this. I could easily make one on how evil skateboarding is or why the leprechaun from Lucky Charms is supportive of the antichrist and make it sound equally alarming.

I'm not trying to convince anybody that HP is totally harmless - there are kids out there drinking blood because they are messed up enough to want to be like the teens on Twilight. I'm just saying this video is really over the top.

All that being said, I REALLY pray for JK Rowling. She is an extremely talented writer and just think of the wonders she could do if she were writing for Him!

In my opinion, Christians should be FAR more concerned about writers like Ted Dekker proclaiming themselves to be Christians and glorifying violence, lust and serial killers. I have not once ever seen a Harry Potter book in a Christian bookstore.......yet Ted Dekker's books are usually available for pre-order from most of them. Don't beware the wolf, people, beware the wolf claiming to be a sheep.

[MidnightCry]

Good points, HisPrincess.

[HopeOfHeaven]

Opening the door to the occult in any way is serious business my friend. And I've heard quite a few comment that animals and children are more usually more aware of the supernatural then we adults.
It's not harmless fun. Anytime one takes the speaking of spells, violence, hatred and any other ungodly behavior lighthearted literature they will be in for a big suprise one way of another. Light has no fellowship with darkness.

[JustGrateful]

Opening the door to the occult in any way is serious business my friend. And I've heard quite a few comment that animals and children are more usually more aware of the supernatural then we adults.
It's not harmless fun. Anytime one takes the speaking of spells, violence, hatred and any other ungodly behavior lighthearted literature they will be in for a big suprise one way of another. Light has no fellowship with darkness.

Amen...thank you for saying that.

We cannot continue to think we can keep one foot in the world and one foot on the cross and still be able to honor God. His Word tells us, over and over, to choose...he doesn't give us a third option of being in some "gray area."

Many times, the choice is a hard one....but He calls us to make it if we belong to Him.

[Hootmon]

These kind of threads always end badly.

[IMSAVED]

Satan is after our children.By looking around this world it is obvious.

[LivingbyFaith]

I'm sure the opinions may be quite varied on this type of question. The main question,though, that as blood-bought children of God should be is where do we obtain our wisdom? From man's (or woman's) opinion,or from the Word of God? True wisdom concerning something like this is found only in the truth of Scripture. Anything else can ( & most
often is) t ainted by our sinful,prideful flesh &/or the world's ways of thinking & doing.
~There were two parts of Scripture that I thought of when I read this thead...I hope they help to shed some light on this type of topic. (I Thessalonians 5:12-24 & esp. verse 22) & (2 Corinthians 6:11-18 & esp. verse 17).
Also,if God takes dabbling or practicing in the occult very serious & we know from Scripture that He does,it's made very clear in esp. Deuteronomy 18:9-14.
We also know that He is the same today,He doesn't change. We are living in the Age of Grace but that doesn't change the seriousness of dabbling in or practicing in the occult. Nothing will ever change the truth of God's word concerning this either. If it was wicked & an abomination in the Old Testament,it still is today too. If we are His children,why should we even consider dabbling with these things,even if just a little or as a form of entertainment? Another thing too,is that the spiritual powers behind these types of things really do hold people in a bondage & blind their eyes and harden their hearts to the truth of the person of Jesus and of Scripture-their only hope to be set free. It never could be considered just entertainment,it's a very real thing-no matter how mild or innocent it may seem.

[Raphael]

I vote with Mr Mannn.

Any well-grounded Christian, particularly one with enough intelligence to compose a novel, is not going to be tempted to dabble in the occult by reading a book or watching a movie about witchcraft. Baby Christians, sure - we are first fed with milk and then meat. Baby Christians don't even know what their armor is, much less how to don it. But if a mature Christian cannot, for instance, read passages from the Koran in order to better understand how Islam originated, for fear he may become Islamic, then I would suggest he is hardly a mature Christian, and needs to stick to scripture until the Word is WELL ingrained in his mind and heart.

There have already been similar novels written several years ago in which witchcraft was defeated by the power of Christ. Your mind is guarded by the helmet of salvation and you have the mind of Christ because you have let His mind be in you. Good luck with your research, and your novel.

[Hootmon]

If we are His children,why should we even consider dabbling with these things,even if just a little or as a form of entertainment?

That's just it. How does 'watching a movie' end up being 'dabbling with the occult'?

Ive not read the books, but I have seen all the movies. Entertaining stuff, but I never once felt the urge to wave a wand around expecting something 'magical' to happen, and I doubt anyone who wasnt mentally ill would either.

[JustGrateful]

That's just it. How does 'watching a movie' end up being 'dabbling with the occult'?

Ive not read the books, but I have seen all the movies. Entertaining stuff, but I never once felt the urge to wave a wand around expecting something 'magical' to happen, and I doubt anyone who wasnt mentally ill would either.

God tells us to not have anything to do with false religions....witchcraft (sorcery) is a false religion.

I think that means we certainly don't "entertain" ourselves with things about which God has spoken so strongly!

Is it "okay"....simply for entertainment value...to see stuff like Brokeback Mountain which glorifies sodomy?

We all know what God says about sodomy. He puts witchcraft/sorcery on the same level as sodomy.

Who are we to make things that God hates okay for entertainment purposes?

[Hootmon]

God tells us to not have anything to do with false religions....witchcraft (sorcery) is a false religion.

There is a distinction to be made between 'false religion' and 'fantasy'. It mainly concerns if you believe it to be real or not. People who truely believe that Harry Potter is real magic that they can learn and invoke dont have a firm grip on reality, IMO

I think that means we certainly don't "entertain" ourselves with things about which God has spoken so strongly!

I agree with that statement, but I dont agree with what it includes.

I used to read Tarot cards when I was young and unsaved. I was actually fairly good at it. However, I certainly wouldnt 'entertain' myself with them anymore.

Is it "okay"....simply for entertainment value...to see stuff like Brokeback Mountain which glorifies sodomy?

Strawman, but Ill bite.

Sodomy is a real sin that anyone can (if so inclined) perform. Casting the spell 'Wingardium Leviosa' will never cause anything to fly. Again, its the difference between what is real and what is fantasy.

Who are we to make things that God hates okay for entertainment purposes?

We shouldnt, but overreaction can harm your witness just as badly as not reacting at all, IMO.