Comments on: Harry Potter And Witchcraft

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:17:13 +0000

Actually, The first book does not send Harry to hogwarts to “learn to become a wizard”. In the books, wizards are born wizards and the schooling is how they learn the different types of things they can do, and the history of wizards and whatever. Its a fictional world entirely. It doesnt say that people can become-or should try to become wizards. If youve read the books at all you would know that it is very clear that some people are wizards and some people are not. There is no changing it if you are not. So basically even if someone thought the books were real, or wanted to be like the characters in the books, they would know-according the book they aparently believe-that it is impossible.

I just do not think that J. K. Rowling was trying to lure anyone into the kinds of things mentioned in your post.

The books are very against evil, and all about love and goodness and overcoming evil. In the very end when everyone thought Voldermort to have killed Harry, and said that everyone would come to his side or die-what did everyone do? They stayed on their side prepared to fight to the death, because they would not join evil. Isnt that what God wants? That we are to stand up to evil in the face of anything-even death? Arent we to fight evil in the end too?

I think the magic in the books is just there because it adds a lot of fun and interest to the story. It makes the books different, and Im sure it was very enjoyable to write- making up all kinds of spells and a whole imaginary world. I does not seem to be evil in any way to me.

And having read all the books and seen all the movies.. I never once felt that I should “seek” magic. I know perfectly well that here in the real world any form of “magic” is from the devil. But even if I didnt know-I would have probably accepted the stories for what they were-stories. Fictional stories.

Just my opion I supose.

By: MONIQUE

MONIQUE — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:17:04 +0000

No this article is not going overboard. When I was a little girl I saw the movie the Craft. I was only in JR High and after watching that movie I tried witchcraft. I know a lot of young girls who tried. The lie that Hollywood is telling people is that there is Good Magic verse Evil Magic. That lie makes a weak or baby Christian think they could learn about the Good Magic with out being against God. Because the so called good magic fights evil. the lie is that their is no good magic.

See once you dabble you break your shield and once your shield is broken you may fall into the second trap and that is thinking that you can fight demons yourself with the so called good new age magic. Sure not every person who watches that movie will seek not everyone but some might.

Also be aware of this Some of these movies and shows that you think are doing pretend magic are using actual spells. We are called not to watch because if we do we participate. It might not seem like it because of special effects but Hollywood does a lot of research behind things and there is some facts behind it. My mom who is really into new age will sometime watch a movie or listen to a song and she will commit that the show or song is really into the “metaphysical” That the producer or artist really knows about the “energy and magic”

images, symbols, curses/spells and ritual found in some movies and books do have real roots from the occult and are not just fantasy. If you were going to right a book about construction workers you would do research on construction. Make no mistake will it may look like mere entertainment many of the stuff portrayed in the movies are real practices.

I have never read harry potter. I suggest not to but if you are going to. I would further suggest not reading it out loud. Secondly if there are any symbols on the book realize that those symbols may not just be interesting art. Think of it like this. If someone gave you a magic amulet or stone would you take it. Be aware that some of the pictures in some of these books are like taking an amulet.

To further drive my point. I would not make a movie or write a film about Hindus with out learning about Hinduism and using some of it arts and possibly prayers. The same goes about the occult. The writer, editor, script writer, producer, actors, everyone practically did research of the occult to put some sort of truth into this film.

I have been threw some serious crap. You don’t want to open doors.

By: kathy

kathy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:21:25 +0000

OMG What the hell is wrong with you?!?! Harry Potter has opened so many new doors for me and my friends, and I am mormon. I am the president of the Harry Potter club at my school, and I have made so many new friends from it. Harry Potter is one of the best things that has ever happened to me! I have a friend down the street who won’t let her daughter read Harry Potter. It turns out that she thought Harry Potter was demonic, but later that very month she was sent to a home for the mentally insane! I have done research on Harry Potter, and J.K rowling (Who I idolize, by the way) had nothing more in mind than create a book on the adventures and friendships of a teenage wizard! I am a strong Christian, but you, my friend, are going overboard!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:47:19 +0000

I agree, except that I do not believe magic exists in that way. Healing herbs, for example, have actual, scientific medicinal properties, just like aspirin or tylenol. Performance magic is based on illusions and sleights of hand. I have a book that tells you exactly how to perform any trick you know. It isn’t magic, just a trick, and the audience is meant to understand it as such.

By: MadBeez

MadBeez — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:04:40 +0000

First of all, you need you need to get your facts straight. Magic is not all dark and evil. If you were to actually have a talk with someone who has studied the craft or practices it, you would understand that most Pagans or witches DESPISE the devil. Magic is only as “evil” as the holder. It relies completely on the intent, or from within. Magic is also a healer. There have been many cases where potions or herbs have been used to heal an injury.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:57:22 +0000

Well…I do believe in withcraft, I just do not believe witchcraft is the practice of occult magic. Rather, I believe a witch is someone who welcomes in demons and Saitin and tries to get others to let in demons. That should clear that up.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:47:48 +0000

And lastly, I just wanted to clear something up. I do believe in demons. I don’t believe in occult magic. I do not believe in occult magic because I do not believe demons can give you power. They leach power from you. The only power the devil has is that which you give him. That is a basic doctrine of my faith and a doctrine that I uphold very strongly.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:28:57 +0000

Actually, your article tempted me to ‘seek’ occult magic more than Harry Potter ever did. Do not create the evil you seek to destroy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:25:48 +0000

I’m sorry, but I find the idea that Harry Potter will lead people to become witches laughable and absurd. I’m not trying to upset anyone,but rather I am trying to point out that the books are not dangerous. Tshe main point of the books is the power of love and goodness. God is the manifestation of love and goodness, is he not? Countless times Voldemort is roundly defeated by his own lust for power and the emotion of love which he cannot understand. It is a classic novel about good v. evil. The ‘Dark Arts,’ as they are called in Harry Potter, are not promoted in the slightest. Anything ‘evil’ is denounced in the books. Harry himself is of the highest moral caliber in many regards. For example, in spite of Avada Kedavra curses whizzing past his head, he still demonstrates a remarkable reluctance to return fire with anything more powerful than a simple stunning spell. The spell that killed Voldemort did not come from Harry either. Harry cast Expelliamus, the most benign combat spell in the books. All it does is sends one’s wand skittering across the room or to the caster’s hand, depending on the proficiency of the caster. No, Voldemort was killed by his own curse. Even against his nemesis, Harry would not cast a fatal curse.
The main theme is love. Every defeat Voldemort suffers can be attributed to love. The night Harry’s parents died, it was his mother’s love that saved him. The night Quirrel tried to get the sorcerer’s stone, Harry’s mother’s love saved him again. Harry’s fierce courage and ‘love’ for his friends drove him down into the Chamber of Secrets were he single-handedly defeated both the Basilisk and the Diary without the aid of a wand. In the third, he saved a handful of people including Hermione, Ron, Serious Black (twice), Buckbeak, and his past self for similar reasons. In the fourth, Rowling takes several opportunities to reinforce that aspect of Harry’s character. For example, he took last place in the second event in order to ensure everyone got up safely and risked both his life and his chances at winning in the third task to try to ensure the safety of each of the other three competitors throughout the event, and even wasted valuable time in the graveyard to make sure Cedric’s body was returned. In the fifth, it was memories of love that Harry used to force Voldemort out of his mind when Voldemort attempted to assume control of it at the end of the book, and it caused Voldemort a considerable amount of discomfort. In the sixth, his use of the sectumsempra curse against Malfoy resulted in a serious emotional upheaval for him, and in the seventh, he sacrifices himself to prevent anyone else from dying at the Battle of Hogwarts (even though he survived due to tha fact that Voldemort used his blood in the fourth book). Many of the characteristics Harry possesses are characteristics highly prized by God, such as love, loyalty, and benevolence. The fact that magic is involved is irrelevant. It is just the way the idea manifested itself. When you have a good idea as an author, you cannot afford to completely change it or you will lose it. To take out magic would have completely changed the idea that inspired J.K. Rowling. The books are not promoting occult. They are promoting the values of Christianity. I guarantee you they will not turn people into witches. No one reading Harry Potter thinks that the magical aspect of it is actually possible. Also, the values held by true witches are anathema in Harry Potter. I think also that the ‘seeker’ title has no significance. Any significance mentioned in the above article is invented. The term seeking was injected at strategic points throughout the article in an attempt to give the impression that it is an official step in becoming a witch. It isn’t. It was just used because Rowling decided to use the term. Also, Harry got the position because the first time he’d ever ridden a broom he dove about 100 feet and caught a glass ball approximately the same size as a snitch without damaging either himself or it, not because he was going after Malfoy. The ‘Head Witch’ gave him that position not because he is not afraid to experiment. If that was all she thought she would have made good her threat and expelled him. No, she gave him that position because he demonstrated a talent for catching small balls that are whizzing through the air at a hundred miles an hour. That is what a seeker does, and he showed an inherent talent for the position. Seeker also is a position, not an honorary title. Every quidditch team has a seeker.
If you read the entire series, you find the emphasis is not solely on learning magic. The books have two phases that they smoothly transition through. The first phase is the phases that deals with the wondrous wizarding world and the wonders of it. Harry is suddenly introduced to an amazing new circumstance at a young age. The emphasis on things such as the house cup and learning magic is high at this point because these things create a wondrous tone to the books to the audience, which is meant to be about the same age as Harry. As the books progress, they transition from the wondrous and good aspect of magic to the malevolent aspects. It becomes less and less about the introduction to the good and more and more about the responsibility to keep the bad in check. The transition is made complete by the sixth book, possibly the fifth, and begins with the introduction of Voldemort right off the bat.
Finally, occult magic does not really exist. The devil has no power save that of manipulation. He has no power except that which he can convince us to give him. For him to be able to give us supernatural powers requires him to have more powers than we possess. He doesn’t. Don’t be duelist! I explained the faults of that on my post on the thread “The False Doctrine of Universalism.” I challenge anyone to show an example of occult magic being performed (and please don’t try something from the Salem Witch Trials or related events. Those people were innocent, victims of hysteria not witchcraft). Occult magic does not exist. People do have mental issues on occasion, but that is not because they were practicing magic.
(Please do not try a sola scriptura approach. The old testament is not historically accurate. Once again, my post on the false doctrine of universalism deals with that. Also, the old testament was subject to human alteration during the time period at which it was passed down by word of mouth. People from that time had such a limited understanding of science that the vast majority of today’s technology would have been considered witchcraft by them.)Harry Potter is not dangerous. Once again I do not intend to upset anyone, I am solely trying to defend a series I find really good and its author. Rowling is not an agent of the devil. She is simply a struggling single-mom who had a good idea and got lucky.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:06:35 +0000

The problem is that Harry Potter uses his occult magic to engage with the evil. As Christians we are not allowed to use occult magic to deal with adversity. We have to totally rely on God’s strength and anointing, not ours. All occult magic, whether it be white magic or black magic, all comes from demons, it does not come from God.

Mike