I for one will go on record for being against shows like this, I guess I will be the first. No, I am not an 'occultist', 'Satanist', nor am I a 'Witch'. Harry Potter is make-believe, as in fantasy, meaning that it is not real. While 'Book Burnings' such as the one that took place in New Mexico are real, when people gathered together to burn 'Harry Potter' books. This, I believe, is the real threat and danger to our American way of life. Read or don't read the book, watch or don't watch any or all of the movies. But to go back to 'Book Burnings' is to go back to 'the McCarthy era' of closed minded censorship.
21 Reviews
Dreadfully ignorant, unintentionally hilarious.
smithr5524 January 2004
People like this just don't get it. If you're going to make an argument, back. it. up.
This is nothing but an hour of ranting, grandstanding, Christian circle-jerking, blanket stereotyping, straw-man arguments, and immature, desperate insults.
My Freethought group purchased this solely with the intention of making fun of it, and we were not disappointed. It was simply mind-boggling the number of unsubstantiated fallacies they threw down, and their characterization of pagans is malicious at worst, just plain lunacy at best.
But sadly, I know there are some of you who either have already, or are about to watch this, and will cry tears of joy regarding your discovery of the masterpiece of Harry Potter-focused apologetics. Have fun, just to remember to bring an extra large box of tissues.
This is nothing but an hour of ranting, grandstanding, Christian circle-jerking, blanket stereotyping, straw-man arguments, and immature, desperate insults.
My Freethought group purchased this solely with the intention of making fun of it, and we were not disappointed. It was simply mind-boggling the number of unsubstantiated fallacies they threw down, and their characterization of pagans is malicious at worst, just plain lunacy at best.
But sadly, I know there are some of you who either have already, or are about to watch this, and will cry tears of joy regarding your discovery of the masterpiece of Harry Potter-focused apologetics. Have fun, just to remember to bring an extra large box of tissues.
This is the most ignorant crap I've ever had to sit through! This is stupid, and horrible, and I hope JK Rowlings and WB SUES these hate-mongers!
lisamonalisa23 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This is given and stated as my own opinion and in no way stated as fact. There, now that that's out of the way...
I had to sit through this crap-fest at church! They forced us to watch it on Youth Night! I think it's stupid and horrible how they sit there and just LIE about Mrs. Rowlings and Harry Potter! Everything they say is a lie! And then I come here to say so, and 33 people have given this pack of lies a TEN!?! WTF?!
When I came home and told my mother about it, she went and rented it. We had to try six different video stores to find it, but we finally did, and when we DID find it, it was a FREE rental just to "get the word out about Harry Potter" the guy behind the counter told my mother conspiratorially. She was like "Whatever!" and we left. About half way through it, she turned and hugged me and said she was sorry for making me go to that church and that we'd find somewhere else.
It's an obvious attempt to brainwash people, she said, and she's right. They just outright lie and lie and lie. They take scenes from the movie and they twist the meaning to fit their own ends. It's horrid!
I would love to know how to get in touch with Mrs. Rowlings so I could send her a copy of this hateful bunch of lies. Bet they would sue THEN!
Mean, detestable, horrid liars!
This crap don't get a rating.
I had to sit through this crap-fest at church! They forced us to watch it on Youth Night! I think it's stupid and horrible how they sit there and just LIE about Mrs. Rowlings and Harry Potter! Everything they say is a lie! And then I come here to say so, and 33 people have given this pack of lies a TEN!?! WTF?!
When I came home and told my mother about it, she went and rented it. We had to try six different video stores to find it, but we finally did, and when we DID find it, it was a FREE rental just to "get the word out about Harry Potter" the guy behind the counter told my mother conspiratorially. She was like "Whatever!" and we left. About half way through it, she turned and hugged me and said she was sorry for making me go to that church and that we'd find somewhere else.
It's an obvious attempt to brainwash people, she said, and she's right. They just outright lie and lie and lie. They take scenes from the movie and they twist the meaning to fit their own ends. It's horrid!
I would love to know how to get in touch with Mrs. Rowlings so I could send her a copy of this hateful bunch of lies. Bet they would sue THEN!
Mean, detestable, horrid liars!
This crap don't get a rating.
It's people like this that give Christianity a bad name
stevetseitz20 April 2002
It's too bad that the folks who will assuredly condemn "Harry Potter" books and films will probably never read a word J.K. Rowling has written or see more than a preview of the excellent "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone". The book was fun, imaginative and taught lessons about courage, bravery, snobery, competition and discipline. Like Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" or "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Potter is quality escapist fantasy for kids. Much better than the P.C. garbage that they will experience watching Nickelodeon. The books are also far less commercialized than most Disney fare. The kids in these books are rewarded for good deeds and punished for bad ones and there is an overall moral and ethical goodness that is reinforced throughout. Sure, there is a bit of mysticism and mention of spells and such, but this could be any school. Harry is a noble person, he continues to do the right thing in the face of adversity and is a good kid. I defy any person to prove to me that the lessons from "Harry Potter", the film or the book series, go against basic Christian dogma.
So much in the world to worry about,...but this?!
NED-103 February 2002
If one is going to issue a criticism of a book and a film under the guise of a documentary, one needs to do his/her homework. A failed argument by people who apparently feel that they need something to criticize or burn in order to feel that they have moral importance and impact. There are so many real problems in the world and so many constructive answers to them. I wish people would spend as much time and energy working on the real problems instead of things like this.
People simply can't BE this stupid and still be allowed to walk around in public!
FiendishDramaturgy26 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
The local video store where I have My membership has a section of self help, travel documentaries, religious ramblings, and so forth; free for rental to the video store members. It was there I was first introduced to this video. I saw the title and I thought, "No way!" and picked it up. Being Pagan, naturally I was interested in what they had to say connecting Harry Potter to real Witchcraft.
First off, let Me start by saying that Harry Potter IN NO WAY contains Witchcraft. The books (and subsequent movies) have nothing whatsoever of any use as far as spell casting, weaving, or actual information. You will not find ONE GRAIN of Magickally factual information in these works.
Secondly, let Me also state that this "mocumentary" also contains footage of an A&E Biography report done on Ms. Rowlings which I can only hope is prosecutable. I cannot believe A&E OR Ms. Rowlings would allow this interview to be used in this fashion. I would like to think this is a blatant case of copyright infringement (or downright plagiarism, but if not, it's yellow journalism at its ugliest) and that we will all be reading the details of the upcoming lawsuit in the very near future.
Thirdly, I do not always number what I say. *LOL* Next, they take the words said by Ms. Rowlings out of context, dub over her voice as she's answering the interviewers questions and ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR THEMSELVES all the while, showing HER face! It's downright inflammatory!
Throughout this blight of yellow journalism, they misquote Ms. Rowlings, dub over her own answers, and blatantly put words in her mouth. They have outright lied, in My opinion, in several places in this video, and I would like to see them prosecuted for this piece of garbage they've generated.
They quote what they claim are "real witches" endorsing Harry Potter, stating that "...it's so much like the real way..." and that "...it's perfect truth..." blah, blah, blah.
While Ms. Rowlings naturally DID study and research materials for these works, these works ARE her own invention, and NOT something taken from any single branch of Paganism (of which Wicca is a path). The generation of information in the prewriting time is said on this video (again, dubbed over her own answer and in the voices of these extremists) is said to have been gleaned from Wiccan texts. However, I have studied Wicca for years, and, quite honestly, there is nothing whatsoever Wiccan about anything in these works. If Wicca is the source for her creativity, sobeit, but there are no Wiccan teachings to be found here.
The BASIS for Magick, be it Wiccan, Rosicrucian, xtian, or any other, is visualization. You pray to your God, and you "see in your mind's eye" the trait or blessing you would receive. That's all spellwork IS, folks; prayer. Anyone who says differently is trying to sell you something (even if it's just to get your tithe money for their own gain). These works fail to even teach THAT; the most fundamental of Pagan (Wiccan or otherwise) philosophies. I'VE JUST taught you more about magick in this single review than Ms. Rowlings "teaches" in all her works. So these people are just ... WRONG. Opinionated, loud, obnoxious, and ignorant.
This video is a personal attack on a very generous and talented individual. It is a typical Christian purist's spin of hatemongering, name-calling, and trite inconsequential drivel. It's christians like these who give them all a bad name. Too bad they don't feed them to the lions anymore when they get out of line.
Don't rent this. Don't see this. Don't buy this. Don't support these defamers in their unholy and self righteous trifles.
This crap doesn't deserve a rating.
the Fiend :.
First off, let Me start by saying that Harry Potter IN NO WAY contains Witchcraft. The books (and subsequent movies) have nothing whatsoever of any use as far as spell casting, weaving, or actual information. You will not find ONE GRAIN of Magickally factual information in these works.
Secondly, let Me also state that this "mocumentary" also contains footage of an A&E Biography report done on Ms. Rowlings which I can only hope is prosecutable. I cannot believe A&E OR Ms. Rowlings would allow this interview to be used in this fashion. I would like to think this is a blatant case of copyright infringement (or downright plagiarism, but if not, it's yellow journalism at its ugliest) and that we will all be reading the details of the upcoming lawsuit in the very near future.
Thirdly, I do not always number what I say. *LOL* Next, they take the words said by Ms. Rowlings out of context, dub over her voice as she's answering the interviewers questions and ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR THEMSELVES all the while, showing HER face! It's downright inflammatory!
Throughout this blight of yellow journalism, they misquote Ms. Rowlings, dub over her own answers, and blatantly put words in her mouth. They have outright lied, in My opinion, in several places in this video, and I would like to see them prosecuted for this piece of garbage they've generated.
They quote what they claim are "real witches" endorsing Harry Potter, stating that "...it's so much like the real way..." and that "...it's perfect truth..." blah, blah, blah.
While Ms. Rowlings naturally DID study and research materials for these works, these works ARE her own invention, and NOT something taken from any single branch of Paganism (of which Wicca is a path). The generation of information in the prewriting time is said on this video (again, dubbed over her own answer and in the voices of these extremists) is said to have been gleaned from Wiccan texts. However, I have studied Wicca for years, and, quite honestly, there is nothing whatsoever Wiccan about anything in these works. If Wicca is the source for her creativity, sobeit, but there are no Wiccan teachings to be found here.
The BASIS for Magick, be it Wiccan, Rosicrucian, xtian, or any other, is visualization. You pray to your God, and you "see in your mind's eye" the trait or blessing you would receive. That's all spellwork IS, folks; prayer. Anyone who says differently is trying to sell you something (even if it's just to get your tithe money for their own gain). These works fail to even teach THAT; the most fundamental of Pagan (Wiccan or otherwise) philosophies. I'VE JUST taught you more about magick in this single review than Ms. Rowlings "teaches" in all her works. So these people are just ... WRONG. Opinionated, loud, obnoxious, and ignorant.
This video is a personal attack on a very generous and talented individual. It is a typical Christian purist's spin of hatemongering, name-calling, and trite inconsequential drivel. It's christians like these who give them all a bad name. Too bad they don't feed them to the lions anymore when they get out of line.
Don't rent this. Don't see this. Don't buy this. Don't support these defamers in their unholy and self righteous trifles.
This crap doesn't deserve a rating.
the Fiend :.
Truth????
GrumpyOldMan607 July 2002
The folks that made this seem to have an odd idea of what "truth" means - apparently, to them, it means " whatever you do, don't think for yourself ". They do far more damage to "impressionable minds" than the material they criticize.
Very Narrow-Minded View
skorpeo20043 January 2002
Have you heard of the one where a group of Christians burned the Harry Potter books and yet they have never read them? Yeah, and that is not a true Christian. These books teach about life, love, friendship, family, and bravery. By releasing this, you have told your own children that witchcraft is indeed real. Why not tell them it's not, and let them read these fabulous books that are full of what Christian ideas are really about. And one more thing. I saw a ad type thing for this and it was talking about how bad paganism is. Do you know that we got our Christmas day, Dec. 25th from the pagans? Before you go and trash this great piece of work, you need to exam it more closely and get out of your little bubble you seeem to have surrounded yourself with. :)
Pointless.
HauntedSideshow20 June 2002
The fact the anyone would actually waste their time believing this drivel amazes me more than the fact that someone actually wasted the time to make it!! To each his own,...but if the filmmakers are this completely narrow-minded and obtuse... then I guess they deserve to live in fear of EVERYTHING.
I think I've never been so outraged, and yet sad.
tributarystu13 February 2003
Warning: Spoilers
Talking about cursing, I really wouldn't mind if someone cursed the ones who made this "show". A lot of talk trying to prove one damn thing: Harry Potter is evil! Not "Can be" but "is". It's clear that's what the producers wanted to show.
I feel rage because I can not believe with what people waste their time. I will not say it's all senseless...yet, we face the following problem: I see HP as a piece of modern literature. We can ask ourselves, which do we want: our children to remain at the level of animals, who can not read, and do not read, or do we want children to "risk" witchcraft contamination?
Sadly, the problem is delicate...small children can not reason about the meanings of the books. All they say is because that's what they feel. What the heck, that's what being a kid means! Sincerity! Believing in everything...being naive. Now some people come and tell us that! Incredible! They come and tell us what all should have known for centuries.
Yes, there are quite many "similarities" with "modern" witchcraft. So? What do I care? I am 16 and I started reading HP when I was 14. Yet I am still here, I still strongly believe in God, I didn't burn anyone's house, or any puppets, didn't make any voodoo dolls, didn't dance in circles, didn't cast spells on anyone. Strange, isn't it? Well, yeah! According to the lady and the "successful" writer who commented on the story. How can one be so shallow? This is a book about the beauties of the world, about friendship and about the most fundamentalist of issues. Not a book which has the purpose to teach us witchcraft. Actually, if you read the books, you see that JK doesn't put the accent on the spells and lessons. She puts it on the action and on characters. So you complain about bewitching? What about the damn guns?!?! What are those?!? I feel like jumping out the window...this is what stupidness can do to one's mind.
And about the lying...hmmm...Hermione gets accepted because she lied. I do not think that was why she gets accepted. She gets accepted because she does a brave and responsible thing. She protects the two boys, she protects other people. I doubt God is outraged by such a lie. I mean, I believe He is somewhat smarter than us. He is not a robot who can only follow the rules. That's what I feel.
And what the heck did the movie "The Craft" had to do with HP??? Please someone tell me. Maybe one of the over 20 persons who gave this documentary a ten. A TEN!! This, despite breaking my principles, is worth a one! It jerks a beautiful story. A story which makes you feel happy, which makes you feel love, which makes you feel all there is good on this world. Well, I guess we got people at the "command" of my country which think like the people present on this show. Copy-paste. Don't consider that it isn't the same thing...
I have nothing else to say. Oh yeah...forget to tell you:SPOILERS!
I feel rage because I can not believe with what people waste their time. I will not say it's all senseless...yet, we face the following problem: I see HP as a piece of modern literature. We can ask ourselves, which do we want: our children to remain at the level of animals, who can not read, and do not read, or do we want children to "risk" witchcraft contamination?
Sadly, the problem is delicate...small children can not reason about the meanings of the books. All they say is because that's what they feel. What the heck, that's what being a kid means! Sincerity! Believing in everything...being naive. Now some people come and tell us that! Incredible! They come and tell us what all should have known for centuries.
Yes, there are quite many "similarities" with "modern" witchcraft. So? What do I care? I am 16 and I started reading HP when I was 14. Yet I am still here, I still strongly believe in God, I didn't burn anyone's house, or any puppets, didn't make any voodoo dolls, didn't dance in circles, didn't cast spells on anyone. Strange, isn't it? Well, yeah! According to the lady and the "successful" writer who commented on the story. How can one be so shallow? This is a book about the beauties of the world, about friendship and about the most fundamentalist of issues. Not a book which has the purpose to teach us witchcraft. Actually, if you read the books, you see that JK doesn't put the accent on the spells and lessons. She puts it on the action and on characters. So you complain about bewitching? What about the damn guns?!?! What are those?!? I feel like jumping out the window...this is what stupidness can do to one's mind.
And about the lying...hmmm...Hermione gets accepted because she lied. I do not think that was why she gets accepted. She gets accepted because she does a brave and responsible thing. She protects the two boys, she protects other people. I doubt God is outraged by such a lie. I mean, I believe He is somewhat smarter than us. He is not a robot who can only follow the rules. That's what I feel.
And what the heck did the movie "The Craft" had to do with HP??? Please someone tell me. Maybe one of the over 20 persons who gave this documentary a ten. A TEN!! This, despite breaking my principles, is worth a one! It jerks a beautiful story. A story which makes you feel happy, which makes you feel love, which makes you feel all there is good on this world. Well, I guess we got people at the "command" of my country which think like the people present on this show. Copy-paste. Don't consider that it isn't the same thing...
I have nothing else to say. Oh yeah...forget to tell you:SPOILERS!
Only a retarded Christian would make this.
Meven_Stoffat11 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter world. I have seen the movies, the books, and I am really looking forward to watching the newest movie, The Goblet of Fire (in IMAX 3-D!).
Having just rented this documentary the other day stupidly thinking it was an in-depth look on the Harry Potter Books and Movies, I am seriously offended. I, myself, am a Christian, and I couldn't believe what these "Christians" were doing.
Firstly, they mispronounce words (Hagard, Voldermort {or sometimes "Voldemore"}, Diagnon Alley), which is really irritating. I don't think they even read the books or seen the movies.
Secondly, I'm going to tear down the whole "Wiccans = Evil" thing. Wiccans do not worship false gods. The five points of the Wicca Pentacle (If I'm not mistaken) are Earth, wind, water, soul, and body, Not "Evil, Satanism, 666, etc."... sheesh, I wish they'd do their friggin' homework.
Thirdly, I do NOT number everything I say (LOL)! Anyways, the whole thing with their "knowledge" about Rowling is wrong. They use A&E Biography footage of her, which they should be sued. They show interviews with her, and they answer for her when she's already speaking! Talk about cheap motherf***ers who won't listen. They just put words in her mouth, dub her answers, and hate on her.
Fourth, They get so many things wrong. For example, they say that "Hermione's head turning into a cat's head was OK in Narnia but not in HP". That's not true, because in one of the Narnia books, someone gets turned into a dragon by a witch! So if you're looking forward to wasting your time, see this.
Having just rented this documentary the other day stupidly thinking it was an in-depth look on the Harry Potter Books and Movies, I am seriously offended. I, myself, am a Christian, and I couldn't believe what these "Christians" were doing.
Firstly, they mispronounce words (Hagard, Voldermort {or sometimes "Voldemore"}, Diagnon Alley), which is really irritating. I don't think they even read the books or seen the movies.
Secondly, I'm going to tear down the whole "Wiccans = Evil" thing. Wiccans do not worship false gods. The five points of the Wicca Pentacle (If I'm not mistaken) are Earth, wind, water, soul, and body, Not "Evil, Satanism, 666, etc."... sheesh, I wish they'd do their friggin' homework.
Thirdly, I do NOT number everything I say (LOL)! Anyways, the whole thing with their "knowledge" about Rowling is wrong. They use A&E Biography footage of her, which they should be sued. They show interviews with her, and they answer for her when she's already speaking! Talk about cheap motherf***ers who won't listen. They just put words in her mouth, dub her answers, and hate on her.
Fourth, They get so many things wrong. For example, they say that "Hermione's head turning into a cat's head was OK in Narnia but not in HP". That's not true, because in one of the Narnia books, someone gets turned into a dragon by a witch! So if you're looking forward to wasting your time, see this.
Maybe Marx was right! Or, we're back to the Middleages.
benjaminredcloud28 January 2006
It appears to me, when I watch this kind of nonsense, that Karl Marx was right when he said the religion is people's opium. How can they be so blind? Harry Potter teaches so much about values. Bravery, friendships, anti-racism, fight for freedom... Maybe they are afraid of the fact that values can be taught outside religion too. Sometimes even better. The level of tolerance Harry Potter shows - he befriends mudbloods, house elves, half giants, giants, werewolves,....- is much higher than that of activists from certain churches. If you think about it, it was Christians who burned witches, not the other way round. And it was Christians who massacred a great number of Native Americans, both North and SOuth of the Equator. And it was Christians who killed 6 million Jews and 6 millions Muslims, gays, political, Jeovah witnesses opponents around 60 years ago. And I take Christians as examples, because every big religion has been intolerant of other ideas. Harry Potter is a nice movie to watch with kids - I'd say- 10 and up.
Oh Brother
germanstudent24 March 2003
I'm a good Catholic and I go to school with classmates who are witches. I've had long discussions with them about the bible and magic. In reality, real witches can't do any magic. No witch has ever flown on a broomstick or turned a person into a toad. Harry Potter has absolutely nothing to do with real witches. The only thing J.K.Rowling is guilty of, is teaching children that reading can be fun. Every child that reads her books, knows that its make believe. There is nothing wrong with having an magination. Imagination created Disneyworld and the invention of the airplane. The shortmindedness of Christains and Catholics makes me embarrassed to be one. You would think they would've learned after hanging all those innocent farmers in Salem MA circa 1692.
boo
superhippy789019 May 2006
This film, if anything, shows how some adults are unable to tell the difference between real life and make believe. I have a feeling that most people who would say that this is true have never seen or read any of the books. If these people did, they would see that it is teaching the values that they say America is lacking. Jack Chick loves this movie!I also think these so called "Christans" should focus less on children's books and more on what Jesus ACTULLAY SAID! I saw this movie more as a attack against Wiccans! This can be seen in there portrayal of pagans as Satanic baby eaters! Ask any Wiccan and they will tell you that they believe in White Magik which is used for healing! so my advice to the person who made this film, READ THE FREAKING BOOK!
Stupid
BlueRuins1611 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Harry Potter Is not evil. Whoever thinks it is really needs to sort things through.
Half the things this video says about Harry Potter are lies, all things made up to make harry potter look odd.
I hope no one watches this, they would be very stupid if they did. Its like saying brushing your teeth is evil.
Harry Potter is fine. I hope someday you stupid people will realise how stupid you actually are.
I won't talk much longer. I just want you to know, if you watch this and believe it, you are just as stupid as a dummy. Bye!
Half the things this video says about Harry Potter are lies, all things made up to make harry potter look odd.
I hope no one watches this, they would be very stupid if they did. Its like saying brushing your teeth is evil.
Harry Potter is fine. I hope someday you stupid people will realise how stupid you actually are.
I won't talk much longer. I just want you to know, if you watch this and believe it, you are just as stupid as a dummy. Bye!
Pathetic attempt at justifying fears
pacifiquesea14 October 2005
This movie cannot possibly have been made by people who read the books. There are Christian ideas strewn throughout the Harry Potter series - intentionally or not. There is no logic employed, simply bad footage of people dressed in black cloaks around a cauldron while a voice-over person makes an argument that has no basis either in the Bible or in logic.
If you tell your children that magic does not exist in this world, then of course that is a lie. However, if you are raising Christian children and want to be sure that they understand what is going on, you must tell them the absolute truth, and make clear the distinctions between the kind of magic used in Harry Potter and the occult magic that is used in our world. Your job is to be honest about the distinctions between occult magic, forbidden to Christians, and incantational magic, used in Harry Potter, which can symbolize our own abilities.
If you tell your children that magic does not exist in this world, then of course that is a lie. However, if you are raising Christian children and want to be sure that they understand what is going on, you must tell them the absolute truth, and make clear the distinctions between the kind of magic used in Harry Potter and the occult magic that is used in our world. Your job is to be honest about the distinctions between occult magic, forbidden to Christians, and incantational magic, used in Harry Potter, which can symbolize our own abilities.
Sadly over thought...
lilwhiteram198627 July 2007
Truly sad that one can even think Harry Potter is to enlighten kids to "evilish"/"satanic" ways by such an inspiring story of a kid who was raised wrong and became the most powerful person ever and by his heart let it be for the greater good of everyone over himself. If that's evil than your wrong on life itself. The whole idea of Harry Potter is to realize that any single person can make a huge impact on the lives of others...Without even knowing it. I couldn't stand the idea of Harry Potter until I too read it and realized how great the idea of a boy sought after by all evil, and wished by all good to help save was just an ordinary kid who had no idea even talking to snakes was out of the ordinary. Harry Potter should put joy in your stomach and if that's not the case walk away with your ideas and use them usefully somewhere else rather than putting down the hard work of another person.
Hilariously Terrible
Jibberjabberwocky16 December 2013
I gave it an extra few stars for the comedic qualities, all unintentional, mind you.
We watched this in a Religious studies class on media perceptions of Wicca. Not only does it misrepresent Harry Potter, but is offensive in its portrayal of Wiccan religion.
It is a good demonstration of religious paranoia and how new myths are created in modern society. Unfortunately it's not informed on modern witchcraft practices or children's fantasy books.
It also makes evangelical Christian theologists look uninformed and uneducated in other religions.
We watched this in a Religious studies class on media perceptions of Wicca. Not only does it misrepresent Harry Potter, but is offensive in its portrayal of Wiccan religion.
It is a good demonstration of religious paranoia and how new myths are created in modern society. Unfortunately it's not informed on modern witchcraft practices or children's fantasy books.
It also makes evangelical Christian theologists look uninformed and uneducated in other religions.
What A Load Of Crap
CWCampbell14 June 2004
I guess next that we should not read or watch The Lord Of The Rings movies..
This just goes to show that there are people out there that are so weak in their own faith that they have to attack anything that gets the kids attention. Why is it that if it gets more attention than their religion that it has to be 'Satanic'?
Since logic, reason, and historical precision play no part in Christianity, these disciplines are useless in discussions with Christians.
"Theology is never any help; it is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't there. Theologians can persuade themselves of anything." --Robert A. Heinlein
This just goes to show that there are people out there that are so weak in their own faith that they have to attack anything that gets the kids attention. Why is it that if it gets more attention than their religion that it has to be 'Satanic'?
Since logic, reason, and historical precision play no part in Christianity, these disciplines are useless in discussions with Christians.
"Theology is never any help; it is searching in a dark cellar at midnight for a black cat that isn't there. Theologians can persuade themselves of anything." --Robert A. Heinlein
No Magic, or maybe not...
tyna_8131 July 2002
As many parents have told their children relentlessly that magic does not exist, how would they know for sure? There is, undoubtedly, more magic in the world than any of us presume. So before you parents start telling your child that Harry Potter and his silly little world does not exist, take a good look at yourself and see whether it is time for you to read those books and start believing in something bigger than yourself. For that is what J.K. Rowling is doing, she has created a world bigger and bolder than any of us would have dreamed or imagined.
Has anyone actually seen this?
nick_brown8 November 2002
I agree with the comments made previously about the underlying Christian values of Harry Potter, but I notice that no-one who's commented so far has actually said anything about the content of this video. Given its provenance we can guess the contents, or think we can, but ought we not to see it before we condemn it? Otherwise we commit the same error as we accuse in the makers.
From reviews elsewhere by people who have seen it, I gather that it states that J K Rowling has (in the past) been a practising witch but no evidence for this is offered and she has explicitly denied it.
Apparently it also gives an inadequate account of the Biblical authority on witchcraft. The Bible refers to witchcraft or magic in 29 separate verses. Some are neutral, for example where King Saul approaches the Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of the dead Samuel (which she does, although he isn't pleased to be summoned) or when the King of Egypt's magicians try to replicate the plagues (they actually manage the first two but not the others). The other references are mostly hostile but it's interesting that nowhere does the Bible say that witchcraft is dangerous (I personally think that's true, but I'm just pointing out that the Bible doesn't say it). The basis of the condemnation is that magic and witchcraft rival the worship of God and it's usually bracketed together with the worship of idols.
Nowhere does the Bible condemn (or even mention) the use of magic in fantasy and imaginative literature. In fact Christians have produced more than their fair share of such literature e.g. C S Lewis (Narnia), JRR Tolkein (who was a Catholic), William Horwood (Dunction Wood) and Stephen Donaldson (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - which has a surprising level of violence from a Christian pacifist).
Lewis and Tolkein were friends and saw the revitalisation of fantasy literature as a Christian contribution to art. The sort of literature taken seriously in academic circles in the 50s and 60s was generally "realistic" and increasingly sexually explicit (e.g. D H Lawrence). Lewis and Tolkein wanted to show that "escapism" could explore themes like honesty and heroism and open up the world of the imagination, to adults as well as children. They certainly started a trend although their colleagues weren't too impressed.
I suppose there must be an argument that some of the appeal of Harry Potter is the idea that we might have hidden special powers and this might be a bad impulse to foster, but it's surely pretty thin and no-one criticises other literature that's open to the same charge.
There's obviously publicity to be had by attacking something that's popular and it satisfies the fundamentalist persecution complex which is a noted feature of their psychology, but this is mere supposition and I still think we all ought to see the thing (or at least talk to someone who has) before we go too far with our comments.
From reviews elsewhere by people who have seen it, I gather that it states that J K Rowling has (in the past) been a practising witch but no evidence for this is offered and she has explicitly denied it.
Apparently it also gives an inadequate account of the Biblical authority on witchcraft. The Bible refers to witchcraft or magic in 29 separate verses. Some are neutral, for example where King Saul approaches the Witch of Endor to summon the spirit of the dead Samuel (which she does, although he isn't pleased to be summoned) or when the King of Egypt's magicians try to replicate the plagues (they actually manage the first two but not the others). The other references are mostly hostile but it's interesting that nowhere does the Bible say that witchcraft is dangerous (I personally think that's true, but I'm just pointing out that the Bible doesn't say it). The basis of the condemnation is that magic and witchcraft rival the worship of God and it's usually bracketed together with the worship of idols.
Nowhere does the Bible condemn (or even mention) the use of magic in fantasy and imaginative literature. In fact Christians have produced more than their fair share of such literature e.g. C S Lewis (Narnia), JRR Tolkein (who was a Catholic), William Horwood (Dunction Wood) and Stephen Donaldson (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - which has a surprising level of violence from a Christian pacifist).
Lewis and Tolkein were friends and saw the revitalisation of fantasy literature as a Christian contribution to art. The sort of literature taken seriously in academic circles in the 50s and 60s was generally "realistic" and increasingly sexually explicit (e.g. D H Lawrence). Lewis and Tolkein wanted to show that "escapism" could explore themes like honesty and heroism and open up the world of the imagination, to adults as well as children. They certainly started a trend although their colleagues weren't too impressed.
I suppose there must be an argument that some of the appeal of Harry Potter is the idea that we might have hidden special powers and this might be a bad impulse to foster, but it's surely pretty thin and no-one criticises other literature that's open to the same charge.
There's obviously publicity to be had by attacking something that's popular and it satisfies the fundamentalist persecution complex which is a noted feature of their psychology, but this is mere supposition and I still think we all ought to see the thing (or at least talk to someone who has) before we go too far with our comments.
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