RiseUp! discussion

Here you go Abby, Ill let you start this off.

Can I???
Thank you.
What problem can you possibly have with a work of fiction?!?!?!?!

"First of all, ITS FICTION!! Yes everyone, its not real!"

Well, I still have a problem with the bible...

It could be. I just couldn't resist.

Paigetwo *Caitlyn* wrote: "Here you go Abby, Ill let you start this off."

Okay. So I have heard mixed views on this series. Yes it is fiction. But some people are uncomfortable with the whole witches and wizards thing. Because there is magic in the world and it usually is by Satan worshipers. On one side, people think "Harry Potter is the best book ever!" and the other side is like "Harry Potter is evil." Now, Rowling had some Church background and I think the books are wholesome with outstanding morals on friendship. And yet most of my friends are not allowed to read them. What are your guys' opinions? Please, don't get to judgmental of others, and let's try to keep this civil. =)

For a start, let's be clear on this. MAGIC DOESN'T EXIST.

Yeah, I know. But people who attempt magic do. And I'm not talking phony magicians. I mean real people who try to talk to the spiritual realm. They exist. And there can be supernatural occurrences with the Enemy. So that is why some are against Harry Potter.

The people who do that would do it just the same without H.P.
The books and films have no influence on that...

Whoop!
A theist agreed with me!

The Phantom wrote: "Whoop!
A theist agreed with me!"

I realize that you were probably joking, but can you please refrain from comments like that? If you don't want to agree with us and don't want us to agree with you, what's your purpose of even being here?

Bill wrote: "The Phantom wrote: "The people who do that would do it just the same without H.P.
The books and films have no influence on that..."

I would have to agree. I am not going to start worshiping demons..."

Of course not. But some people are sensitive.

I want you to agree with me, of course. It's just a rarity, and one that I took the time to acknowledge.

It's just a story. Intended to be fictional. Why would you have a problem with it?

Not anyone or you just like a person. I didn't mean phantom

I tried to like this but there's just way too much witchcraft in it. I read the four books, just to see what they were about, and I prefer The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia much better because the characters actually go through a physical and emotional journey instead of just sitting around practicing witchcraft. You can get mad at me but this is my view. And I doubt that Rowling had a Christian background.

Why?
Christians are allowed to write stuff that is not focussed on God, or an allegory of Christianity.

BTW: I started liking Chronicles of Narnia less and less when I had it de-allegorised.

The Phantom wrote: "Why?
Christians are allowed to write stuff that is not focussed on God, or an allegory of Christianity.

BTW: I started liking Chronicles of Narnia less and less when I had it de-allegorised."

Ok. You keep thinking that way,and I'll keep believing in God. Have a nice day.

Amen!

Huh???
That was a strange thing...

Maybe to you.

Saddleseat Sammi wrote: "Maybe to you."

I agree with Sammi.

"Christians are allowed to write stuff that is not focussed on God, or an allegory of Christianity."

Do you at least accept this bit?

Yes

Good then.

By the other bit I didn't mean to insult your religion (though it seems I must have). I only meant to say I preferred it as a simple work of brilliant fiction, in a purely fictional sense.

The Phantom wrote: ""Christians are allowed to write stuff that is not focussed on God, or an allegory of Christianity."

Do you at least accept this bit?"

It's ok for authors to do that. It's ok to still do some secular things as a Christian, God doesn't expect us to be completely buckled down. The difference is choosing the right kind of secular, stuff that's still entertaining but that's still clean and doesn't go against his word. I have no problem with what you said, I just choose to view it in a Godly context.

Yes, as long as the fiction does not go against His word or teach bad things about Him, it is fine for Christians to write things that are not centered on God.

Saddleseat Sammi wrote: "Yes, as long as the fiction does not go against His word or teach bad things about Him, it is fine for Christians to write things that are not centered on God."

Absolutely.

Seems rather totalitarian regulated to me.

Sounds like respect to me.

Saddleseat Sammi wrote: "Sounds like respect to me."

Yep

Of course it must.
It seems only right and proper to slay the heathens, to those indoctrinated into Al-Qaeda.

Why read it?
Entertainment, culture, respect for literature...
And respect for the fact that it is fiction, and nothing more. I don't think it says writing a book about witches and wizards is offensive (though I may, of course, be wrong)

My opinion: It doesn't matter if you read it. What matters is that you know that it's not real. And when I say not real I mean it's evil and you shouldn't literally try to be a sort of wizard or witch.

Let me use that in another light. Why do you like How to Train Your Dragon? It's got DRAGONS in it. Dragons = Fantasy = Fiction = Evil. It's entertainment purposes. You know they're not real, but that's called an imagination. Imagination then stemming from a child-like lifestyle which God says to have child-like faith.

@Brenda

Just to check, you do realise that magic does not exist, never has existed, and never can exist.
Furthermore, there are stipulations of sorcerous dragons... Take the Warhammer Fantasy Chaos Dragons. They can be a right sorcerous hazard. And trust me, very evil. XD


On another point, I've just been to London Comicon. If reading it is evil, is cosplaying Harry Potter just as evil/less evil/ more evil?

Finally noticed this conversation (hey, I can be slow)

The Phantom wrote: ""Christians are allowed to write stuff that is not focused on God, or an allegory of Christianity."
Do you at least accept this bit?"

As a writer and a reader, I can accept that. However, there is a difference between reading/writing something that is focused on God, and reading/writing something that glorifies things that God doesn't like –– such as witchcraft. You can't scold me for not reading HP, though. I read the first 5 books (*just* the first 5), reread most of them many, many times, and loved them to bits, but as I went deeper into the series, things got darker and darker, and I realized something.

HP treats witchcraft as something casual –– something that's "okay," and even expected. Now, before you scold me, let me give you some background on my family. Long before I was born, when my dad was a kid, and maybe before that, my grandmother was into the occult/witchcraft. She simply had questions that the Catholic church didn't like to hear, and she pursued spiritual things on her own. She eventually got out of it, but ever since I *really* listened to her story, I have had an uneasy feeling in my gut when it comes to certain things. There were details in HP that kind of freaked me out, to be honest –– especially in book 5. Now, I'm not about to go on a book burning tirade –– I respect Rowling for the skill with which she wields a pen –– but I'm also not about to add books 6 and 7 into the repertoire of literature I have read.

Tolkien treats magic much differently, as does Lewis and a slew of other writers.

As for dragons and mythical creatures... I have used them in my writings, but not usually in the way that most fantasy writers would. I'm a little hesitant to toss unicorns in there, though. Not sure why... haha.

Because unicorns are the least respected of all the universe's imaginary creatures...


Also, Harry Potter does that with the expectation that people have the sense to distinguish between fiction and reality. And so what if some kids try it because they want to be like Harry, Hermione or Ron? Nothing happens, because magic - or witchcraft as you seem fond of labelling it - doesn't exist, doesn't work, never will exist, never has existed, never does work, and never has worked.

I'll try to put this in sensible terms, but I may ramble.

Magic, in and of itself, is nonexistant. Really, what people call "magic" is one of three things: sleight of hand, consorting with demons (whether people are aware of it or not), or the power of God –– which actually ought to stand on its own as something other than "magic." Sleight of hand never impressed me, for some reason. If that doesn't make sense, sorry. I'm trying to think of a way to word it without being confusing.

Many Christians don't accept the demon bit either - no atheists do. I've yet to bear witness to anything that can't be considered the former of those; slight of hand.

Don't accept what?

"consorting with demons"
As something that ever works.

It isn't about whether or not is works, Phantom. It's the fact that people will seek darkness out in the hopes that will work.

Are we debating whether evil stuff like that exists?

Mojoboy31 wrote: "It isn't about whether or not is works, Phantom. It's the fact that people will seek darkness out in the hopes that will work."

So what if they do?

Caitlyn ~No Man is an Island~ wrote: "Are we debating whether evil stuff like that exists?"

Dunno.