Did you wait line for the recent Harry Potter Book?

What comments do you have regarding this fantasy novel which many have deemed dangerous? Would Tolken have purchased this book?

lol, i bought it for my mum because i know how much she loves the series but when you think about it, it wasnt such a smart choice eh? i wont read it, nor will anybody else in the house. she's a very fast reader so she was finnished it in 5 days, tops, whilst managing the household (what a legend, heres a tribute to mums!) but the content is less than appropriate to be filling your head with. she doesnt tell us about the story, but i cant say that she doesnt meditate on it as any good book makes you do! and i use the term 'good book' loosely because good is relative to the individual. ohh and to be literal, no we didnt wait in line, we ordered it and had it delivered to our door.

nope i didn't wait in line for hary potter 6, i did read the first 5 though before i was saved i got into them after book 4 was released but didn't buy book 5, i just borrowed it, the 5th one was rubbish anyway not a patch on the 4th, i doubt even if i wasn't saved i would read the new one, but as for should we agree with the whole harry potter phenomenon or not, ill quote a preacher for Northern Ireland it's long sorryI'm referring to Harry Potter - surely it's an innocent story, it's an innocent novel for children? Well, if you even look at Harry Potter and look at the hype that is around about it at the moment, I think even that would put a question mark on it. The fact of the matter is, in our society today, whether it's through Harry Potter, or through horoscopes, or through Satanism, or Paganism revived: the Devil wants everything in society to be under his control, and he will stop at absolutely nothing. He is ingenious in his methods and in his organisational skills.I want to say tonight, publicly, that Harry Potter is an evil book. Be under no illusion about it. You don't have to go into it too much - and we'll not have time this evening to go into it - save to say that the author herself, J. K. Rowling, researched into occult, into paganism, into spiritualism, in order to be as authentic as she possibly could in the book. She incorporated these things into this book, so that they could be believed. If you looked at this woman's life history, J. K. Rowling, you find out that as a student she studied Mythology at Exeter University in England. The philosophies that she found in paganism, neo-paganism, and Satanism of the past centuries, she has incorporated into the story of Harry Potter. Now, the reason I'm telling you this is to warn you about this book, and to warn your children about it - but more than that: I want you to see the ingenuity of the devil, the cleverness of how he brings a society round under his control and under his influence.Do you know that the publicity of this particular book has brought together three of the biggest companies in the world? Maybe you don't know that Coca-Cola are sponsoring this book. Mattel that makes most of the toys that you see advertised on the television screen with regards to films, that relate to films, they are also a co-advertiser of Harry Potter. Then you have WB - Warner Brothers - they're looking after the film side of it. So this is not just a Christmas fad and faze that we are going through, it's not like the Teletubbies, that after a few months or a year this will be off our screens. Three of the largest companies in the world have committed themselves to continue to bombard us with Harry Potter memorabilia and advertising. One hundred million of these books have been sold already - in 200 countries and over 40 languages. You've seen it on the news, that children all over our world are devouring these books - some of them are 700 pages long! Now in the computer age that we are living in, that is nothing short of supernatural - in my opinion - how you can get children today, who wouldn't read a comic, to read a 700 page long book! It's nothing short of magic.This book has now been recommended to schools in the United States, and they have recommended that it be read by the teacher audibly. The reason why it can be recommended in schools in America is because Scholastic, the organisation that publishes this book in America, is the biggest seller of educational books to all schools in the United States, and has been for over 80 years. It is using its influence to get this book into the schools. It's ironic, isn't it, that you aren't allowed to pray in a school in America? You aren't allowed a Bible-based message in any shape or form, or lesson, in a school in the United States - but children are allowed to be taught witchcraft through this book.I was horrified recently to find out that from the Harry Potter website, you can be linked to other websites that teach you occultic practices, spells, divination, and all manner of evil. I was further horrified to find out that the Pagan Federation of America has now appointed a youth officer - why? They claim it themselves: 'Because of the flood of enquiries since Harry Potter was published'. Children, boys and girls, contacting the Pagan Federation, being led to it from this book. 'Oh, but it's innocent. It's just fantasy'.the whole message can be found here http://www.preachtheword.com/transcripts/ezek18.html

nope. i think this book is dangerous. matter of fact if you disagree im sorry) i don't see a whole lot of difference betwixt Tolkiens, lewis or Rowlings fiction. Jesu ws able to use allegories without incorperating bizaree and occultic fantasy, why can't we?

KrispyHow many Harry Potter books have you read?

I haven't read the books but you'd be surprised to know that I've seen all the movies. More out of interest than anticipation. She weaves an interesting story. I wasn't as taken back by the open occultism in the movies as I was in the subtle worldly undercurrent that is in all of Hollywood.The amoralism of men finding their own way--I believe that the Bible calls it, "Doing what is right in our own eyes,"--is much worse and is very present in Harry Potter and in all movies. If I could use the term, "The Devil's in the details", that would be a good way to describe it.But what do you expect from something that's earthbound? The best way to preach against Harry Potter is to preach Christ crucified and raised from the dead. And then LIVE it.

I have never read one of the books but seen about 15 mins of the movie. I was over at my aunt's house watching her children (my cusins) and they were watching one of the Harry Potter movies. I thought it was compeltely demonic. He was making spells using foriegn words. The two boys would hear him say the spell and they would repeat it! It was killing me inside. They did not watch much more of the movie. I don't remember if I asked them to turn it off or if they just did. Its very possible that kids will go around saying these spells and not even know what they are doing. Whats going to happen when they start saying these spells and something (demonic) happens? A complete turn to witchcraft? Demon possesion? Oh I long the super natural power of God to sweep children! How would children be if we taught them the word of God? If one of their friend's fell and hurt themselves and he laid hands on him to be healed, and he was! Possesion? No! but possibly a bond-slave to Christ!

I have read all the books, even the latest one, and seen the DVDs.

I am someone who has the chronicles of narnia on tape and in england the amount of witchcraft items in bookshops in tremendous.In the old testament we are told to stay away from suchlike !! Advice On Readingby Richard Baxter (1615-1691) [Reprinted with permission from the Banner of Truth, Issue 11, June, 1958, p.1]"Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy scriptures ever have the pre-eminence, and, next to them, those solid, lively, heavenly treatises which best expound and apply the scriptures, and next, credible histories, especially of the Church . . . but take heed of false teachers who would corrupt your understandings."1. As there is a more excellent appearance of the Spirit of God in the holy scripture, than in any other book whatever, so it has more power and fitness to convey the Spirit, and make us spiritual, by imprinting itself upon our hearts. As there is more of God in it, so it will acquaint us more with God, and bring us nearer Him, and make the reader more reverent, serious and divine. Let scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it. The endeavours of the devil and papists to keep it from you, doth shew that it is most necessary and desirable to you.2. The writings of divines are nothing else but a preaching of the gospel to the eye, as the voice preaches it to the ear. Vocal preaching has the pre-eminence in moving the affections, and being diversified according to the state of the congregation which attend it: this way the milk comes warmest from the breast. But books have the advantage in many other respects: you may read an able preacher when you have but a average one to hear. Every congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful preachers: but every single person may read the books of the most powerful and judicious; preachers may be silenced or banished, when books may be at hand: books may be kept at a smaller charge than preachers: we may choose books which treat of that, very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day. and hour; when we can have sermons but seldom, and at set times. If sermons be forgotten, they are gone; but a book we may read over and over, till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good books are a very great mercy to the world: the Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve His doctrine and laws to the 'Church, as knowing how easy and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of mere verbal traditions.3. You have need of a judicious teacher at hand, to direct you what books to use or to refuse: for among good books there are some very good that are sound and lively; and some good, but mediocre, and weak and somewhat dull; and some are very good in part, but have mixtures of error, or else of incautious, injudicious expressions, fitter to puzzle than edify the weak. Baxter's Guide To The Value Of A Book While reading ask oneself:1. Could I spend this time no better?2. Are there better books that would edify me more?3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God, kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?source The ArticleI personally think it should be banned that book I do not think there is not an ounce of christianity of in the books!!One thing I have heard is that those who read evil become evil!! Here is another few articles from what I have heard of the books that it introduces witchcraft to the younger generation as the books by c s lewis intorduce them to our lord jesus it is all to do with world views!! Harry Potter

Mar 16:18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. This doesn't mean that I'm going to willingly handle serpents and drink any deadly thing.This is for me and my family, so I speak for only myself here. Potter is a NO go in our household. Bro. Daryl

the lord of the rings series and the hobbit, the silmarillion and his various other works about middle earth are based on christianity or atleast thats what i heard, ohh boy, im not trying to include hearsay here, but, even though the stories are of the fantasy genre, tolkein himself claimed that the story was a metaphorical representation of pieces of the bible, i remember hearing that last year, perhaps you'll want to check up on that but i could have sworn that tolkein declared himself a christian and his stories having subliminal christian ethics woven into them. funky way of reaching the lost eh!? hmm, most of the names in harry potter that i found in the first 4 books were made of silly little anagrams and the like.eg Diagon alley, -'diagonally', a direction. and the spells are latin words i think. they certainly sound latin. she does write well, although i couldnt stand the 5th book, it just threw me off with the way she introduced it, and i couldnt stand her style of writing again. but i think there are worse books to be filling your head with, the davinci code..., and most fantasy you'll find is demonic by default, it goes hand in had with the genre. but if you have to read something imaginary, but with every chance that it could happen try reading something that will really hit you like ted dekker, and i cant remeber the name of this other author, but i read a book by him where there was a charachter called 'brandon' who was hitting a town called antioch and the main character a former pastor was left to work through the situation and arrive at a conclusion that just catches you offguard, but you put the book down swearing you never want to mislead another soul...a couple of times i had to put the book down and wait to catch my breath beause of the conviction and fear of doing something wreckless against the Lord grips you, see, much more benficial! lol, the book's called 'visitation' get some of that into you! anyway, i'm going to read another of his books starting with the letter 'o' soon, but i've lent my ted dekker books to a friend and am dying to read them again! i'm a sucker for phychological thrillers, they get me every time! these guys are good christian authors whith serious christian convictions in their books, they havent actually happened but its so possible some of the things i've read, it kinda sacres you!guys, i have resolved that i'm gonna start reading things that feed my spirit, not my flesh, because the last thing i want is to have my flesh override my spirit when i really really need to hear from God, Practise makes perfect!

Todd Friel (who is hilarious) of Talk the Walk Ministries has a great article about Harry Potter:http://www.ttwministries.com/articles/The%20Truth%20About%20Harry%20Potter.pdfMy personal opinion is that it is obviously steering kids toward witchcraft. Just as modern media steers kids towards alcohol, pre-marital sex, etc. So it's nothing new.But, man. I tried watching a Harry Potter movie on a flight just to see what all the fuss was about. It was so incredibly boring! It reminded me of when I was stuck at my grandparents house as a kid in front of the TV, so I would just pick the best bad show on, and watch that. Potter ranked right up there with 'Too Close For Comfort.' I couldn't get all the way through it.I used to be big into fantasy, and at least Tolkien was interesting. Potter is just boring. The draw has to be the mystery of the occult.

the lord of the rings series and the hobbit, the silmarillion and his various other works about middle earth are based on christianity or atleast thats what i heard, ohh boy, im not trying to include hearsay here, but, even though the stories are of the fantasy genre, tolkein himself claimed that the story was a metaphorical representation of pieces of the bible, i remember hearing that last year, perhaps you'll want to check up on that but i could have sworn that tolkein declared himself a christian and his stories having subliminal christian ethics woven into them. Tolkein stated quite definitely that his writing were not allegories or metaphors of the Bible. He said that because he himself was a Catholic it was inevitable that his mores would present themselves in his saga, but that there were no parables or allegories. His writing certainly does have 'catholic ethics' underlying it, but this was not his conscious intention.

I used to be big into fantasy, and at least Tolkien was interesting. Potter is just boring. The draw has to be the mystery of the occult.I am not advocating that anyone should go out and buy Harry Potter books, although I do think it is a bit steep when folks begin their mails with 'I have heard that ...'. I am interested in eye-witness accounts and in personal convictions, not the echoes of other voices.However, I don't personally, having read them all, think that the Potter books are really occult. The 'magic' in them is actually very mechanical. In fact, it is computer magic. You put in the right prompts and it does certain things. 'Apparating' is just 'Star Trek' transportation. Owls are emails complete with 'flamers'. Magic maps are just 'tracers'. Wands are just 'star trek' phasers set on 'stun' or 'kill' as appropriate. It is the struggle between good and evil, but using magic rather than science-fiction or the western as the vehicle. Lewis and Tolkein both use 'magic' and fulfillment of ancient prophecy as their narrative tools too. Why do I say Harry Potter is not directly 'occult'? Because there is no 'fellowship' between the the magicians and an evil spirit. This is not an evil communion but a contest between but an evil use of magical technology and a good use of magic technology. If you say why use 'magic' I would say just because it is the story teller's choice. I don't believe in Potter magic anymore than I believe in a talking mouse called Mickey, and I think most 10 year olds will feel the same.There is a case for the avoidance of all works of fiction. This would eleminate most of ancient and modern literature. It would include 'Left behind', 'the Robe', the Passion of Christ, Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Jack London, Tolkein, Lewis, Star Wars, Star Trek, Laurel and Hardy, West Side Story; in fact almost everyone and everything you can think of in the media world. It would also eliminate street theatre as an evangelistic tool, and every sermon illustration that was not grounded in absolute fact. The puritan parliament of the 17th century tried to ban theatre because, be definition, an actor was a liar. The Greek word for actor is hypocrit. I repeat there is a case for this and I would have more sympathy with those who held it than with those who want to demonise Harry Potter.I used to be big into fantasy, and at least Tolkien was interesting. Potter is just boring. The draw has to be the mystery of the occult. Not necessarily, it could simply be the art of a good story teller. I would love J K Rowling to do some Agatha Christie who-dun-it type stuff; I think she would be brilliant at it.Having said all this there is a darker side to J K Rowling. The one-death-per-book formula, I suspect, is her own way of making people face up to the sorrows of life; of which she has experienced a few. The problem with all fiction is that it can never adequately include the grace of God in its narrative, so consequently all fiction is atheistic, even 'Christian' fiction. It cannot include God, full size, in its canvas. So all you get is a tiny human view of a corner of life.There is a theme to Harry Potter books which has run throughout and is a much more noble theme than that present in some world classics. It is the philosophy of Professor Dumbledor that the 'greatest magic is the magic of self-sacrificing love' as was seen in the voluntary life sacrifice of Harry's mother for one she loved. Harry Potter, fictionally, is the creation of a love which sacrificed itself for the benefit of another; seems like I heard that theme somewhere else. :-)

I have read some Grishom. He is my son-in-laws favourite too. BTW there is an English author who is much more ominous. Philip Pullman. This man's writings are very popular in the UK among 10 year oldds but his intention is quite plainly to create an alternate spiritual history of the human race with the demons as the good guys. This is a deadly mixture of 'creative' theology, magic and occult practice and is much more dangerous than the comic strip world of J K Rowling.