Does Harry Potter promote the Occult?

[Lith]

What about Moses striking the rock, and getting a reprimand from God for it?

Your post doesn't really capture the thought of the Christian mind. We don't start from the position that we can't condone magic (because there's an implicit belief there that magic is somehow silly, which is a modern thing- ancient peoples took it very seriously), and then follow through with a justification and an artificial distinction. It's rather more like:

We believe there's only one God. And we believe other gods are false, because other gods can't coexist with our God, and because pagan religions all contradict each other about who did what, so it can't ALL be true.

But these pagans all around us are doing this thing called "magic". They call on their gods, and stuff happens!!! [Remember, this is before science came into its own.]

Where is this power coming from? It's clearly not coming from God, because they didn't call on God, they called on pagan gods, who don't exist. So... what other power out there could be capable of this? It must be Satan, because him and God are involved in a war of attrition, and he'd do anything to break God's heart by leading his people off into false religions. Yep, must be Satan's work.

Therefore, this magic thing's gotta go.

Possibly not the only explanation for these powers, but it's been the dominant one in the church for a very long time.

 

[LyannaWolfBlood]

Harry Potter only promotes the occult in the sense that it's about magic and people generalise to come up with the occult=magic. The fact that the occult is primarily associated with magic causing harm - which HP definitely is not - doesn't seem to come into it.

 

[LJonesy]

I read that religious fanatics last year in the US burnt bonfires of Harry Potter books. Some schools and libriaries have banned the books. Many Christians, although not going that far, have strong reservations about it, in the same way as they do about celebrating Halloween.

But this report on a Moscow investigation from SciFi Wire goes further:

I used to hear similar things about 'Dungeons and Dragons' in the early 1980's; That it was devil worship etc. In actual fact, it had clear distinctions between Good and Evil characters, and playing Good characters was much more fun than playing Evil ones. Similarily, in Harry Potter, it is always the Good character who wins in the end. They learn about "The Defense against the Dark Arts"

If it is because they practise magic, then they will have to ban 'Bewitched', 'I dream of Genie', 'Charmed', 'Sabrina', 'Buffy', 'Star Wars'.... ... it will be a very long list.

On that list would have to be 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and 'Lord of the Rings' books which deal with the occult, but also have strong Christian values.

So, what are your thoughts?

It's JUST entertainment, Rowling hasn't stated otherwise. So therefore it should be treated that way. I'm a Christian but i haven't seen anything bad about the books.

I mean come on, "Eye of newt" and "Fire burn! Couldron bubble!" That's Shakespeare!

I've heard stuff about Pulman purposely promoting Athiesm in Golden Compass. But that's a different story, and should be treated differently to the HP series.

If it's only meant as entertainment, like Rowling is done, then that's how it should be treated. Pulman (apparently) wants something else, so it should be treated as something else.

Just my thoughts, don't act like i'm imposing here.

 

[Wiglaf]

Magic, according to an anthropology text of mine, is manioulation of the supernatural by man. If a miracle is an act of God, asked for or not, then magic and miracles are not the same. Magic is under man's control.
I think part of the objection is the glorification of a culture of magic use with man in control of the supernatural. In Narnia the magic takes place in an aternate reality; God can therefore have given differing natural laws.

 

[Dave]

In Narnia the magic takes place in an alternate reality; God can therefore have given differing natural laws.

So, I take it that you are saying that Harry Potter is an exceptional case because it takes place in the real world? (Ditto for 'Bewitched' and 'I Dream of Genie'.)

Only that there are plenty of tourists at Kings Cross and Charing Cross Road looking for Platform 9½ and Diagon Alley. You would have expected them to have found them by now if they existed.

Despite my sarcasm, your point is a good one, but Narnia is also accessed via a Wardrobe in our world. Though I agree it should be treated differently, in Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy there are many other worlds connected to ours and each does have differing natural laws.

Christians like Narnia because it was written by a Christian and contains allegorical Christian messages. They do not like Harry Potter because it reflects more our society today, and therefore despite the theme of redemption at the end of the series, it also contains much 'new age' mystical references.

Another thing, if magic is under man's control and miracles are acts of God, where does Astrology fit in. Bear in mind that according to Matthew, three Magi predicted the birth of Christ by the use of Astrology.

 

[Lith]

That's a good question, Dave. Reading the stars wouldn't be magic by the above definition, because they are out of the control of man. There are a few ambiguous moments in scripture, and some examples of numerology as well (which is called Arithmancy in HP), both of which are deeply distrusted if not outright condemned by most Christians today.

Only that there are plenty of tourists at Kings Cross and Charing Cross Road looking for Platform 9½ and Diagon Alley. You would have expected them to have found them by now if they existed.

Been there. And the movie got it wrong. AND, some idiot jammed a shopping cart in the entrance, so no one can get in or out anymore. Really you ought to get your government to do something about that. But that would require them to acknowledge the existence of a magical realm...

 

[Purdy Bear]

Since Iv hung out in the metaphysical and spiritual places for over 23 years. It continuelly amazes me that some churches still try to sensor its congregation.

The Potter books have very little real stuff in it. Occult means anything that is hidden. I guess that includes socks you just cant find etc.

I think it still comes down to some churches dictateing what people can do or cant do, just like the medeival times when you had to follow the churches rules cause most were illiterate etc.

Carry on Harry and ever book like it I say!