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

[millky]

To be honest I can see the appeal of the HP books and films, I enjoyed both. Twilight on the other hand is hilariously bad. I never read any of the books but I was dragged to see the first film, and well that's 2 hours of my life I can't get back now! It's pretty much the literary version of junk food that's been left in the sun for a while.

[Kliska]

How very sad for this little girl. My first instinct as a grandparent of a 6 year old would be to protect and shield a child from darkness. It sounds as though the other grandparents, (the ones who allow hp), need to put her wellbeing first. If she was my grandchild, I think I would arrange a meeting with the other grandparents to discuss what is best for the child...putting all other agendas aside. They can watch hp when this baby is not around. Perhaps you could show them the following information (from chick.com), and let them know how serious and damaging this could be to this child.

You seemed to jump to the conclusion that all HP material and all mention of wizards or magic are "darkness." As you can see, I, and others here don't see it that way, neither do the other grandparents of this child. What is amusing is she knows that the magic in the tv shows isn't real at all and thinks that the grandparents who won't let her watch it have an over active imagination and can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy.

Also, note that I never said she was allowed to watch and/or read all of the HP material or any other show. She's too young to see or read the later books and is limited to what is suitable to her age. I'm in complete agreement that she can handle the material she's shown, and she can explain the difference between the truth of God, and fantasy stories. This particular material isn't damaging to this particular child; but that might not be true for all kids, which is why the parents need to parent their own kids and let other parents make their own choices, and we need to pay attention to what the Spirit is guiding each of us to or away from.

ETA: I do realize that you didn't have all the info, so I can see where you'd jump to those conclusions...just trying to clarify.

[JustGrateful]

Well, I do know one thing for certain....based on what I read in scripture, I'm very happy to be in the minority on this issue!

Isaiah 5:20

Matthew 7:13-14

Luke 6:26

[Amber Lynne]

[Hootmon]

Well, I do know one thing for certain....based on what I read in scripture, I'm very happy to be in the minority on this issue!

Works the same for 'the majority' too.

[Kliska]

I personally feel both sides have been represented in the thread, and scripture has been presented by all perspectives as well (because there are more than two, including a balanced approach). Again, for everyone reading, it should show why a personal relationship with God through Christ and His Holy Spirit is so very important. We need His guidance as we comb through scripture, seeing what His word has to say on these issues, and hearken to the Holy Spirit's convictions in our lives, and to keep praying for guidance.

[N2Jesus]

I vote no. Christians ought to abstain from witchcraft/occult movies like these. Darkness and light cannot co-exist with each other.

[Iruntherace4Him]

With my past involvement in witchcraft its off limits for me.. With knowing Jesus personally, I would say my Lord is not entertained with the Harry Potter theme, nor is He pleased with it.
And since I have a background in the things of the demonic nature I would offer my testimony and warn any Christian having a desire for entertaining anything to do with witchcraft to think on why they are entertained by it.. Its something I feel very strongly about..

[JustGrateful]

With my past involvement in witchcraft its off limits for me.. With knowing Jesus personally, I would say my Lord is not entertained with the Harry Potter theme, nor is He pleased with it.
And since I have a background in the things of the demonic nature I would offer my testimony and warn any Christian having a desire for entertaining anything to do with witchcraft to think on why they are entertained by it.. Its something I feel very strongly about..

Interesting....good to hear from someone with your background.

So, considering what you know about such things as they occur in "real life," and if you know much about Harry Potter, Twilight, etc...how many, if any, similarities are there between the real thing and the books/movies?

I'd appreciate your perspective...thank you!

[DixieChick]

Well what about Gandalf in LOTR? He's one of the very good guys and a wizard. Don't tell me "well that's different" because it's not. He's the same as Dumbledore.

Dixie

[Nightelf]

Well what about Gandalf in LOTR? He's one of the very good guys and a wizard. Don't tell me "well that's different" because it's not. He's the same as Dumbledore.

Dixie

Or the wicked witch of the west from Wizard of Oz..... and the good witch of the North (just as bad) Oh, and we may as well include the Wizard himself.

The evil queen in Snow White....

Mickey Mouse and the Magician's Nephew.....

The 3 witches in Macbeth (apparently they utter an "actual" incantation)

Literature is full of this kind of stuff, because in order to have a "story" you usually need an antagonist (bad person, or situation) and a protagonist (good person). Good vs evil, good usually prevails.

Personally, I find Christian authors Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti just as bad as these secular writers.

[Shawn S]

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.

Harry Potter is based upon real witchcraft, and all the other mentioned titles are of demonic/occultic origin.

I'm is total amazement/shock at professing Christians telling other professing Christian to "enjoy" occult writings/movies.

[Nightelf]

1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

We are all accountable to the Lord as individuals. Our relationship with God is just that; a relationship. We must realize that some individuals are at different points in their walk with God. It is incumbent upon us to pay attention to the guidance of the Spirit in our own lives when it comes to things not specifically and directly covered in scripture; He knows who can handle what, and who needs to stay clear of certain things. Lets be sure to respect one another as well.

This thread has examined both sides of the issue, and I believe served it's purpose. Now that it's just degenerating into judgements and arguing, it's time to put it to rest.

Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

[ComeLordJesus]

I'm not one of them!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj

How Christians Warmed to Harry Potter
As the final movie opens, many ex-doubters now see the boy wizard as a good egg.
By SARAH PULLIAM BAILEY

After praising the "Harry Potter" books in 2001, author Connie Neal said that she opened her inbox to see death threats scattered among the reactions from fellow Christians. The one time the California-based writer found her book, "What's a Christian Got to Do with Harry Potter?," at a Christian bookstore, it was on the occult/New Age shelf.

In its early years, "Harry Potter" was a litmus test of orthodoxy for some conservative Christians, who expressed concern over its portrayal of witchcraft. A Christian lawyer sued a public library for encouraging young readers to check out the series. Texas Pastor John Hagee called the books a "precursor to witchcraft." In 2005 a Canadian website published a letter opposing the books written by Pope Benedict XVI when he was Cardinal Ratzinger. (In 2009, the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano published a favorable review, seeming to reverse course on the series.)...

[Acts5:41]

Witchcraft is always bad.

I got a job in late 2000; and the owner asked me if I liked to read. I said yes. She then asked if I had read Harry Potter. I said no. She offered to bring in the books and I said no thanks.

She gave me one of those "Oh, you're one of THOSE people" looks. I wasn't sorry when they dissolved the business.

[IMSAVED]

I never have or never will read a Harry Potter book.Although I have heard alot about them from the people I work with.NO THANKS.They are in the same catagory as Twilight as far as I am concerned.Even the secular people have said"The books started off rather entertaining but they sure have gotten dark".That is the way Satan hooks people in.

[Acts5:41]

Back when I was backslidden, I started reading the Anita Blake series. It is well written and I found the stories enjoyable. She helped the police figure out crimes, and the whole premise was that our fictional monsters (zombies, etc) were fact. It got progressively raunchier and more explicit, and then one day I'm reading the most horrid thing imagininable and I wanted to vomit.

I put it down and said "I am SORRY Lord!" and got rid of them. I never read another. I view all the "paranormal" books in the same light; offensive things that put disgusting thoughts in your head, and offend God at the same time.

And I'm married, I'm not cloistered.. but it was just AWFUL. I try now, to read books I would read in front of my grandpa. He could ask "What is that, Heather?" - I could explain the plot and hand him the book without shame.

I'm sorry I EVER picked up one of those books, backslidden or not. If I talked about 1% of those books I'd be banned.

[Rei]

This is EXTREMELY difficult for me as a teenager surrounded by people (and 99% of my Christian peers) who think there is no problem. 'Witchcraft' is all I can accuse Harry Potter of, but instead of acknowledging that, they turn it right around and say 'They use magic in the Lord of the Rings and Narnia', which are both more widely-accepted in Christian circles.

I don't freak out when one of my friends reads Harry Potter. I know that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts, and with a deeper understanding of the things of God, my friends -should- begin to notice something wrong with the glorification of darkness and witchcraft. The fact that there is no qualms with Narnia or Lord of the Rings is still a confusing issue with me, but not the end of the world.

I don't need to obsess over a fake world of magic: My Savior died and rose again 3 days later to save me and give me life eternal, and it was through Him that the world and everything in it I see around me was made - that's MORE than enough magic for me.

[RaptureReady_7]

I have seen parts of the movies as I surfed channels. Looked boring to me.

And we don't have to justify why we don't like something, to the world. Just tell 'em they are going to have to get glad if it offends them to not like Harry Potter.

B-O-R-I-N-G

[HeIsEnough]

I don't need to obsess over a fake world of magic

The real world of witchcraft is the problem, or rather someone drawn to exploring it through romanticizing it in popular culture, if that were possible.