Thu-15-May-2008 - On Harry Potter & the Twilight Series
On the right side of my blog I had two links about Harry Potter, Harry Potter? and More on Harry Potter. The second one is broken, so I need to figure out if Voddie Baucham moved his blog about it or what.
I have these links because as a follower of Christ, I often wonder where to draw the line. I have on my wall a cross-stitch that says "Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely . . . " You know the verse? I have never read Harry Potter. Is there really some benifit to reading about witches and wizards and things?
I find little squares blinking on blogs : GOD IS MY KING
and a little ways below it:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Does anyone else not see any sort of incompatibility here????
What about if we had:
GOD IS MY KING
and,
BAAL TEMPLES ROCK
The latest craze that I have become aware of is the Twilight series. It's about a vampire who falls in love with a human girl. It sounds quite riviting - so much so I have to guard myself. It really pulls at my emotional, romantic, female side. Is there not anything troublesome that a Christian could devote so much time into reading about something that is not, cannot be a godly topic - a blood drinker's romantic life - to the point that there are a bunch of CHRIST-FOLLOWERS that wish people that drank blood (vampires) were real???
That have "I love Edward Cullen" next to "I love Jesus Christ".
How can this be? The more I think about it the worse a taste I have in my mouth. No one seems to notice, no one seems to care. No one seems to recognize the incompatibility.
The vampire - Edward Cullen - is so smooth. He always says the perfect thing, of course, because he's scripted to do so and edited and when they put out the movie they will go over and over each sceen until it's positive to make every female in the audience swoon. In his "devotion" to this human girl he has to constantly "retrain" himself - it all sounds so courageous and impressive. I watched a clip yesterday -he says he is the "Ultimate preditor - everything about me, my voice, my looks, my smell, attracts you to me" or something along those lines.
I'm sorry, that's satan's line about sin. Everything about sin looks attractive to us and wants to draw us in.
So what will it be next? A demon that is so smooth and powerful and good looking that every reader wishes he were real and in love with them? (Hmm, wasn't there one on that Buffy show a few years back?)
What about a "well-written" book about two men or two women falling in love? If it's a "well-written" book we can read it and enjoy it anyway, right? Even if we don't agree with the premesis of the book?
Where do we draw the line? As a follower of Christ?
Is there really nothing out there to read besides this type of thing? I can hear people say "it's so well written" . . . is that to be our guide? Would it not be better to stay away from these types of things and read poorly written things? How often do we read the Bible - a HP book is huge! Surely as Christians we should read the Bible several times through while in the process of reading this series, right?
No, I fear that while everyone waits on pins and needles for the next book about spells and wizards and magic, the Bible is not read with the same eagerness.
Where do we draw the line????
Comments
Thu-15-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by seventhheaven
I agree. Sometimes satan can paint something very beautiful and we miss that is it sin. I have to watch this the most with my daughter. She would like to watch these kinds of shows if I'd let her. Its so very hard to guard our hearts and not let the world in. Like you said... where do we draw the line.
Thu-15-May-2008 - Interesting
Posted by wstoller
We choose not to watch tv -(other than a few PBS shows for the kids which we monitor - and that will soon go) - so I'm not actually aware of this stuff. It's kind of nice -although I'm clueless when people discuss it. I feel a little sheltered as we don't really know about these things, but I do think it best to steer clear of them. Sometimes I wonder about fairy tales - but since it's part of the classical style of education (which we do not follow - we do eclectic and dabble in old fashioned/charlotte mason/classical/traditional) we do read some. But I try to guard the witches stuff with our children. I appreciate your blog! :0)
My hair is past my waist. I havenot cut it for several years. I have trimmed of approx 12 inches, and 6 inches once on 4 previous occasions in my Married Life of 12 yrs. My ends aren't really split - but my hair is currently thinning out (stress maybe?) :0) Ijust use a natural organic type shampoo and conditioner - wash almost every day. I asked a beautician once what the best thing to do for hair health was. I fully expected her to pull an expensive product off her shelf and hand it to me. She smiled and said, "What you eat!" :0)
Edited by wstoller on Thu-15-May-2008 at 11:09
Thu-15-May-2008 - Great post
Posted by Anonymous
Just wanted to say hi! I enjoy your blog so. Lily has been sick with the mumps for about a week. She is better but is so so tired. Poor girl. I also made the enchilada sauce you posted a while back and it was sooo good. Actually I have made it a couple of times. We love it! Take care! Jennifer
http://familyofthreefornow.blogspot.com/
Thu-15-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by gabbie427
I have never heard of the second series you mentioned yet. As for Harry Potter and his friends, I agree with you. My brother thinks there is no harm in watching "made up" stories such as this and refers to them as the same as Star Trek and the like because they are just made up. I disagree.
Honestly, I have watched every single one of the Harry Potter movies that have come out, but have not read the books. The reason is because I know several schools in my area are putting the books on their required reading list for their classrooms at school, and I wanted to know exactly how bad these stories were when friends of older children were complaining. After watching them I am disgusted at how anyone could think these are harmless movies about magic, casting spells and turning people into animals, etc. It isn't a cute movie. It is full of evil and a child watching or reading the stories could be interested in the dark magic. Now why again, would I let my child watch this type of thing I ask my brother.
Thanks for posting this.
God's Blessings,
Amy Jo
Thu-15-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Citygal
I have to agree with you on this. It always baffles me too! I always remember my mother saying to me as a child that I should always think about Jesus standing next to me looking over my shoulder when I go to do anything or read something, and think about whether I would be embarrased to read it knowing He was there.
I have never read the HP books either. I am a lover of literature too, and I have heard some debate over the HP books and whether that just because they are popular and a good story, does this make them good literature?. A popular, non christian radio talk host here in NZ has raised this very question about the HP books and he believes that they are not good literature - but that is a little off the topic here - just thought it was an interesting point.
Rachel from NZ
Fri-16-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by PrairieSunrise
Amen for proclaiming truth, Ashley. You have such an excellent way with words... and what a great post. The same thing has bothered me a lot.
Fri-16-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by gokings13
Oh, how I wish I lived closer to you!!
You are wise beyond your years my dear!
Laura
Fri-16-May-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by tami
AMEN!!! i try but i never understand how christians can accept harry potter who gets his power from the evil satan as an ok thing for christians to read and watch!!!! it absolutely shocks me!!! they have let the world influence them.
http://www.xanga.com/A_Godly_Homemaker
Tue-20-May-2008 - Found the Voddie blog link.
Posted by Anonymous
Here it is: http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2007/7/20_Harry_Potter%2C_Anyone.html
Rebecca ~Mom to 8 under 10
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