 | Ben on Obama’s Healthcare … |
 | Kelseigh on Harry Potter’s Inte… |
 | Oliver Turner on Harry Potter’s Inte… |
| Oliver on Harry Potter’s Inte… |
| Oliver on Obama’s Healthcare … |
President Obama’s healthcare plan is really starting to worry me. Is anybody else afraid of having their taxes skyrocket during this administration? And if you don’t think they will, could you please explain how the government can pay one trillion for universal care without raising taxes? I look forward to your thoughts.
I personally believe the Harry Potter movies are nothing more than an attempt to drive children into witchcraft and idolatry. What do you think?
Based on what? Have you read the books or seen the movies? Have you looked into the redemptive qualities of the books or the very evident Christlike symbolism of much of what happens? Do you also have a problem with Lord of the Rings, because it uses wizards in exactly the same way as the Harry Potter series. “Witchcraft” is an unfortunate word to use for what’s actually going on because it gets people nervous for no reason.
I’m not sure what to think of your comment. You said Harry Potter has “Christlike symbolism”? Really? That comment kind of makes it hard to take you as serious as I would like. Also, Tolkein became a Christian and I know Harry Potter’s author is not, so clearly there are not attempts to symbolize Christ in those books. Thanks for commenting, I just completely disagree.
God you’re stupid.
One can use the figure of Christ as a literary model without, you know, believing that he was real.
You say you “personally believe” this, but on what grounds? Have you read the books and arrived at this position independently, or do you believe this merely because it has been suggested to you?
No doubt you also “personally believe” that “Tolkein became a Christian” but this is absolutely wrong: he was a devout RC all his life (you seem to be confusing him with CS Lewis). You’ve accepted a falsehood as truth without question. Why?
Here you need to make your case that Rowling intends to “drive children into witchcraft and idolatry” – an assertion bordering on libel by the way – based on some kind of evidence. What is it? What proves that the author is trying to make children believe in falsehoods? Where is your criticism of Shakespeare for his ghosts (Hamlet), witches (Macbeth), sorcerers (The Tempest), other gods and their magic (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Was he trying to drive his audience into witchcraft and idolatry… or does the fact that it is plainly fiction exonerate him? If so why not Rowling?
I have watched the movies and I know of people who have read the book. I also have lived an unchurched and unsaved life. As a result of my testimony I know that these books do NOT further the Kingdom of God. They in no way point children or the readers to Jesus Christ. They do, however, allow the reader to open themselves up – even for a moment – to darkness, witchcraft and evil. Any power that is not given in the Name of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and at the direction of the Father is not of God. Thus, the “power” dictated in these books and movies is not of God.
I would like and example of an “attempt to drive children into witchcraft and idolatry.” My dd15 reads fast.A friend got her hooked on the books before I realized it.She has read all of the books this summer.Her friend just took her to the movie. I need facts. Do you have any?
First of all, this is an opinion blog. And in my opinion Miss Rowling is trying to blur the line between Christianity and witchcraft. And if successful it would undoubtedly damage the opinion of the Bible in the eyes of children. It would become less a Book to be followed unequivocally, and more a book of just a few good ideas. This makes the Harry Potter books dangerous in my view. You must remember the anti-God elements in our society have stopped trying to disprove the Bible, because it can’t be done. Instead they are simply trying to bring it down little by little until it is minimalized into just another option for a person to accept or not, rather than a difinitive truth that holds the key to eternal life. Do you not think this is what HP is trying to do? If not, why not?
“First of all, this is an opinion blog”
OK… but is it reasonable to have *any* opinion? The claim that “these books do NOT further the Kingdom of God” is just bizarre: does the absence of a Christian message in “Where’s Wally” indicate satanic intent on the author’s part?
Perhaps as a pastor you should engage with this kind of nonsense constructively: Suzanne plainly believes that it’s rational to fear fiction; why not reassure her? You know that there are no such things as wizards or dragons, and if you’ve ever watched Disney’s Sleeping Beauty you’ll know that you can tell stories and make films about them without damaging children’s minds… so why not be honest and say so?
Ah… I see: it’s because “in my opinion Miss Rowling is trying to blur the line between Christianity and witchcraft”. How? Where can you show her doing this? Again you cannot – rationally anyway – have such an opinion unless there is some kind of evidence for it.
“Do you not think this is what HP is trying to do? If not, why not?”
No. *You* make the assertion that Rowling is trying to “preach” witchcraft, *you* back it up.
“First of all, this is an opinion blog”
Does that mean you can just say any fool thing without backing it up? You have an unusual definition of “opinion”.
“And if successful it would undoubtedly damage the opinion of the Bible in the eyes of children.”
Why? You don’t say. Seeing as it doesn’t mention the Bible at all, how is this different from any other piece of fantasy literature? How is this more dangerous than Where the Wild Things Are or Horton Hears a Who?
“Do you not think this is what HP is trying to do? If not, why not?”
Because it’s a simple work of fiction that doesn’t address the Bible or Christianity in any way. If Christianity is threatened by a series of clearly fantasy novels, it is a very weak faith indeed.
How much of an impact does it make on you when someone takes the time to encourage you? Do you feel truly blessed, or do you just wonder why they care so much?
What is your favorite kind of blog?
Favorite kind of blog:
Spreading and teaching the Truth about our God, Our Country’s History and Founding…
Ben and 
Oliver are discussing. 
Nemo, and 4 others are discussing. 
Elaine are discussing. 
Oliver 10:39 am on August 8, 2009 Permalink |
The US govt currently spends *more* on its healthcare system than any other industrialised nation and yet contributes the least to the cost of patient care. This means that right now your tax is being *misspent*.
If the system is overhauled – i.e. the insurance companies are prevented from profiteering – the *same* money will go far further to giving people proper healthcare.
The only way to do that is to force competition on price – i.e. for there to be an alternative provider who isn’t trying to maximise profit. The only alternative provider there can realistically be is the government.
Of course, one other way to fund improvements – and the Christian thing to do – would be for churches to give up their tax-exempt status and thus contribute to the physical (as well as spiritual) health of the nation. But you may not agree.
Ben 6:27 pm on October 20, 2009 Permalink |
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
…but your “Christianity” is a bit different, isn’t it? I have no idea how you can call yourself a Christian at all.