Author Topic: Harry Potter (Read 15625 times)

The Warrior · « **on:** December 16, 2011, 11:10:29 AM »

I'm Starting to Read the Harry Potter Series for the first time. What is the general opinion of This Series on this forum?

Please No Spoilers.

oh and

Spoiler (hover to show)

Chronic Apathy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2011, 12:47:19 PM »

I have a highly positive view of the series, having started it two years ago and having read it through three times since then. There's a nice progression from light-hearted innocence to the core of the story and writing, and Rowling really showed her maturity there. I have minor issues with each of the books (mostly the final one - Deathly Hallows), but all the same I love and enjoy them.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2011, 02:01:06 PM »

I would say that the general feeling on the Harry Potter series here on the forum is divided.

There are some people (stereotypically younger and/or more liberal worldview) who love it. Many read it as kids and love how it encouraged reading among many of their generation. They don't view the magic in the series to be significantly different than that of Narnia or Lord of the Rings, and even point to some Christian allegory within Harry Potter as well.

There are other people (stereotypically older and/or more conservative worldview) who dislike it. Most of them have not read it personally, but have read about it. They don't appreciate that the book makes using magic seem cool, and are concerned that it could lead susceptible readers down a bad path. They differentiate HP from Narnia and LotR because the authors of those series were outspoken Christians (and in Narnia's case it is stated to be a Christian allegory), and also because those are old enough that they are considered classics within the Christian community.

Personally I'm rather torn on the issue. I haven't read them. I do know a lot about them. I am in the older/more conservative crowd on the forum. I don't like magic in a book being presented as heroic. However, I have a hard time making a clear case for why it's different than Gandalf in LotR (which I do like). So for me the jury is still out on HP.

CJSports · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2011, 04:35:20 PM »

Quote from: Prof Underwood on December 16, 2011, 02:01:06 PM

I would say that the general feeling on the Harry Potter series here on the forum is divided.

There are some people (stereotypically younger and/or more liberal worldview) who love it. Many read it as kids and love how it encouraged reading among many of their generation. They don't view the magic in the series to be significantly different than that of Narnia or Lord of the Rings, and even point to some Christian allegory within Harry Potter as well.

There are other people (stereotypically older and/or more conservative worldview) who dislike it. Most of them have not read it personally, but have read about it. They don't appreciate that the book makes using magic seem cool, and are concerned that it could lead susceptible readers down a bad path. They differentiate HP from Narnia and LotR because the authors of those series were outspoken Christians (and in Narnia's case it is stated to be a Christian allegory), and also because those are old enough that they are considered classics within the Christian community.

Personally I'm rather torn on the issue. I haven't read them. I do know a lot about them. I am in the older/more conservative crowd on the forum. I don't like magic in a book being presented as heroic. However, I have a hard time making a clear case for why it's different than Gandalf in LotR (which I do like). So for me the jury is still out on HP.

I think the difference in LotR that Tolkien shows magic on so much less of a degree and doesn't have as big of an impact. So when I look at LotR I think of fighting with swords and shields but when I hear Harry Potter I think of Magic. I did like the series very much. I do think that until you are at a mature age that you shouldn't be reading the book without some kind of parent guiding you through it.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:04:23 PM »

I'm old and conservative, but I watched all the movies, and my wife and son have read the books (together, which I recommend). I found the movies entertaining. I may be somewhat biased, though, since I have loved LotR and Narnia for years.

I work at Disney, so magic is a way of life.

browarod · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:41:32 PM »

I have the same basic opinion of the Harry Potter series (the movies, rather, I haven't read the books yet (they're on my to do list)) as I did of the Da Vinci Code: Great, entertaining works of fiction. If you leave it at that, you're fine. It's only if you take it further that you begin to run into problems.

Prof Underwood · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:56:33 PM »

Quote from: CJSports on December 16, 2011, 04:35:20 PM

I think the difference in LotR that Tolkien shows magic on so much less of a degree and doesn't have as big of an impact.

I'm not a big fan of distinction based on degree. If something is wrong, then a little of it is usually still wrong.

Sean · « **Reply #7 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:27:33 PM »

Quote

and in Narnia's case it is stated to be a Christian allegory

Actually, I believe that is false. Lewis' called the Christian aspects of Narnia a "supposition." Lewis always said that Narnia was not meant to be allegorical.

Other than that, I agree with Prof Underwood's assessment.

Put me in the camp of people who do not like witchcraft, real or imaginary. Harry Potter is an easy no for me on that issue. Narnia is still something that my wife and I will question until the Holy Spirit tells us one way or another. (we are currently reading the series) Neither of us have read LotR but I imagine it will be similar to Narnia. For me, the fact the difference of having magic be evil and magic be the center is a big deal.

lp670sv · « **Reply #8 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM »

Never in my lifetime will I understand why anyone can think that Harry Potter can somehow corrupt children. It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.

Warrior_Monk · « **Reply #9 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:44:37 PM »

Magic in LotR is pretty scarce.

Quote from: lp670sv on December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM

It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.

Many rated R movies have those as well, but the junk you witness in the journey is not comforting in the least.

I understand why people don't like Harry Potter, but I plan on reading it before judging it...I've been saying that for the past 3 years though.

inb4pol

TheKarazyvicePresidentRR · « **Reply #10 on:** December 16, 2011, 06:55:22 PM »

Quote from: YourMathTeacher on December 16, 2011, 05:04:23 PM

I'm old and conservative, but I watched all the movies, and my wife and son have read the books (together, which I recommend). I found the movies entertaining. I may be somewhat biased, though, since I have loved LotR and Narnia for years.

I work at Disney, so magic is a way of life.

The irony of HP being in Universal's islands of adventure makes it all the more funny.

Quote from: lp670sv on December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM

Never in my lifetime will I understand why anyone can think that Harry Potter can somehow corrupt children. It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.

I can, even if I do not agree. The people who have talked to me about the evils of magic being in a game or book is that people who truly do use magic can use the harmlessness of magic to lure them into real magic like marijuana leads into harder drugs. This same issue will apply to D&D, MTG, HP, and any game where magic is not inherently evil.

Rawrlolsauce! · « **Reply #11 on:** December 16, 2011, 07:05:20 PM »

Friendship is good. Friendship is magic. Therefore, magic is good.

YourMathTeacher · « **Reply #12 on:** December 16, 2011, 07:07:33 PM »

Quote from: Rawrlolsauce! on December 16, 2011, 07:05:20 PM

Friendship is good. Friendship is magic. Therefore, magic is good.

Magic is so good in Orlando that we named our NBA basketball team after it.

lp670sv · « **Reply #13 on:** December 16, 2011, 07:32:46 PM »

Did someone just say that reading books or playing games involving magic leads to marijuana use? lolwut?

Rawrlolsauce! · « **Reply #14 on:** December 16, 2011, 07:50:19 PM »

No. He suggested marijuana is a gateway drug. Don't you know that it is responsible fo--

Nevermind. I won't go there.

lp670sv · « **Reply #15 on:** December 16, 2011, 08:21:39 PM »

The bottom line here is that the Harry Potter books are about as evil as Disney movies. Less so, Harry Potter teaches valuable lessons, disney movies teach you to marry the first person you see after you wake up just because they kissed you (snow white), making a deal with evil is okay as long as everything works out in the end (the little mermaid), just because someone is abusive doesn't mean you should leave them (beauty and the beast), and it's okay to be different, you just mix with the different people (fox and the hound).

drb1200 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 16, 2011, 08:24:58 PM »

Quote

just because someone is abusive doesn't mean you should leave them (beauty and the beast), and it's okay to be different, you just mix with the different people (fox and the hound).

woah Woah WOAH!!! Totally not true!! Beauty and the Beast is how love triumphs beauty, and fox and the hound is an anti-racist film.

lp670sv · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2011, 08:30:29 PM »

Quote from: Daniel on December 16, 2011, 08:24:58 PM

Quote
just because someone is abusive doesn't mean you should leave them (beauty and the beast), and it's okay to be different, you just mix with the different people (fox and the hound).
woah Woah WOAH!!! Totally not true!! Beauty and the Beast is how love triumphs beauty, and fox and the hound is an anti-racist film.

Really? Let's examine that. The first thing the Beast does to Bell is lock her up in a dungeon. Then when he finally let her out, he spent the majority of the time insulting her at the top of his lungs and almost hit her on more than one occasion. But all of that is just so trivial

As for the fox and the hound, the only reason the hunter let the fox live was when the fox saved his life and even then were the fox and the hound allowed to be together? Nope. The hunter took the hound back home and the fox had to stay in the woods.

Sadness · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2011, 09:49:13 PM »

I have read all 7 Harry Potter novels,but only watched the first 4 movies. The movies greatly left stuff out that was in the books. That aside,I don't watch or read the stuff anymore. At the time,it was all the rage and my better judgement went out the window. If I had known then what I know now, I would have had nothing to do with the books or the movies.

Best advice I can give is this: 1-would you want to be reading that if Jesus was sitting next to you?
2-pray long&hard before you start down this road.

God bless ya whatever your decision is.

SomeKittens · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2011, 10:25:11 PM »

Quote from: lp670sv on December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM

Never in my lifetime will I understand why anyone can think that Harry Potter can somehow corrupt children. It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.

Fiction != harmless.

CJSports · « **Reply #20 on:** December 16, 2011, 10:30:09 PM »

I don't know how this has to much to do with the conversation seeing as that is a real life story. But honestly I I'm kinda balanced on this,like I said if you are mentally mature and strong in your faith I see absolutely no problems with reading a fiction book.

lp670sv · « **Reply #21 on:** December 16, 2011, 10:48:37 PM »

Quote from: SomeKittens on December 16, 2011, 10:25:11 PM

Quote from: lp670sv on December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM
Never in my lifetime will I understand why anyone can think that Harry Potter can somehow corrupt children. It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.
Fiction != harmless.

Are you any less of a Christian having read the Artemis Fowl books? No.

stefferweffer · « **Reply #22 on:** December 16, 2011, 11:06:11 PM »

Still not one verse quoted. Interesting.

I am curious about something. Is it anything in fiction/entertainment that is supernatural that is perceived by some to be wrong, or just "magic"? I mean if you think about it, no natural thing can do something supernatural without the power of God, so does this make things like comic book heroes blasphemous too? Is anything that involves a sentient race besides human beings somehow anti-God? What about movies with animals that speak in human languages? What about movies where toys are actually alive? All these things are impossible, except for God, and yet they are considered OK for entertainment and good for our imaginations, even though only God could make that happen. But if a character suddenly pulls out a wand, says some latin words, and something supernatural happens, then here comes the flood of criticism. Here, the wizards are "born" magical and go to school to learn how to increase those abilities and use them responsibly. In Star Wars, some people are born with an aptitude for "the force" and go to the Jedi Temple to learn how to increase those abilities and use them responsibly. What is the big difference here please? I consider myself a generally "conservative" person, and I have only watched the HP movies, but I never felt like I was being encouraged to go out and start practicing sorcery or witchcraft, and I have never heard of the author encouraging this behavior either. If I am wrong then certainly please cite the sources.

I AM NOT suggesting that anyone watch the HP movies or read the books. It is not my place as a Christian to invite brethren to sin against their conscience, anymore than they can say that it is a sin for every Christian to watch a HP movie. According to Romans 14 and other passages, for the Christian who has doubts already, it WOULD be a sin for them to do so, and they should abstain. I just hope that Christians the world over will so zealously fight the more important theological battles of our time as they have the HP series. The world is not turning into a bunch of witches and wizards. It is turning to Islam, Atheism, immorality, and overall apathy toward God/Christ, His word, and to our fellow man. Let's focus on the big picture.

Just one person's thoughts out of many.

katedid · « **Reply #23 on:** December 16, 2011, 11:21:59 PM »

Quote from: SomeKittens on December 16, 2011, 10:25:11 PM

Quote from: lp670sv on December 16, 2011, 06:37:32 PM
Never in my lifetime will I understand why anyone can think that Harry Potter can somehow corrupt children. It's a completely fictional story, with a lot of good morals to the story.
Fiction != harmless.

That is disturbing and there is a heck of a lot more going on there than someone imitating what they see.

I couple other things:
1. In the HP world, magic is not something that you can get from somewhere and manipulate, its an inborn characteristic that one must learn to control or you might die- not unlike any superhero power
2. Magic is treated more like a science

Minister Polarius · « **Reply #24 on:** December 16, 2011, 11:37:22 PM »

Normally I'd be all over this thread, but all of my views are already represented by someone or another.

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Author Topic: Harry Potter (Read 15625 times)

Chronic Apathy

browarod

Warrior_Monk

Rawrlolsauce!

Rawrlolsauce!

drb1200