Debates discussion

Is Harry Potter Good? Bad? Why?

Be nice!!

HARRY POTTER IS AWESOME!!! but I can see why some people don't like it.

Eh

I don't like it. It shows magic as a good and saving thing, and witchcraft as oh look this is a fun thing. God clearly says in the Bible witchcraft and magic is an abomination. I also know a lot of kids who are like it's just a book, it's not real and then they go around pretending to cast spells and such for fun, and saying oh I know it's not real. But the more you do something, the more you get used to it and normalize it. Besides, my aunt is into talking with spirits of the dead and stuff like that and calls it a "Gift from God." So...like yeah.

I read it for the story and despise witchcraft, but I totally respect the fact that people don't want to read it because of the magical elements.

If we get entertained by something God says is an abomination, and just shrug our shoulders at it...that's just wrong.

Okay, but I'm not entertained by the fact they use magic, there are good elements to the story as well.

I suppose, but there was also good elements in Hunger Games and I didn't like it very much.

I didn't like the Hunger Games period. Well, the first book was okay, but the sequels were kindling.

Exactly, but it still had some good elements in it. Doesn't mean I like it. Poisoned cake can have a good taste, but still gonna kill ya

Yeah, what were the good points of the hunger games? I'm not sure I noticed.....

Like standing together against the stupid evil people who wanted children to fight to death

Let's put this in a Hunger games chat.

I see how lots of folks are entertained by HP, but as Kara said, the whole thing just centers around something that is very clearly not biblical.

It has good morals.

Okay, cool. Good. It's just that witchcraft and/or wizardry is a huge part of the franchise, is seen in a positive light, and neither are biblical.

Why did Elizabeth L. delete her account? She was a mod!

Concinnous wrote: "Why did Elizabeth L. delete her account? She was a mod!"

I'm not sure, but she has a new one.

Isabelle wrote: "Okay, cool. Good. It's just that witchcraft and/or wizardry is a huge part of the franchise, is seen in a positive light, and neither are biblical."

Correct.

everything can have "good elements" but that doesn't mean it's something we should read or watch or be entertained by. Ya know?

Are we saying that you'll be cast into hell because you enjoy the hp franchise? Of course not. It's just something you want to look out for and discern.

Isabelle wrote: "Are we saying that you'll be cast into hell because you enjoy the hp franchise? Of course not. It's just something you want to look out for and discern."

Exactly! I'm glad someone understands my babbling logic XD

Never read them

yeah. well it's your option to read them, i just don't recommend

Kara wrote: "Isabelle wrote: "Are we saying that you'll be cast into hell because you enjoy the hp franchise? Of course not. It's just something you want to look out for and discern."

Exactly! I'm glad someone..."

I totally get it lol

Kara wrote: "yeah. well it's your option to read them, i just don't recommend"

I don't like magic so I don't plan on reading them>>>

⁓ Gracel ⁓ wrote: "Kara wrote: "yeah. well it's your option to read them, i just don't recommend"

I don't like magic so I don't plan on reading them>>>"

Yeahhh.....same

I personally LOVED Harry Potter! It was such an interesting series with lots of good parts to it.
Yes, it showed witchcraft in a good light and centers around the use of magic, which is unbiblical. But I think that it's fine to read it as long as we know that witchcraft is bad, and as long as we don't go around practicing it ourselves.
But aside from that, there are many positive elements to Harry Potter as well. It shows the power of friendship and love, and teaches us about having the courage to do what's right. Every character gives us a lesson, all of them good ones.
Harry Potter is filled with magic and I get why people don't read it, but there's a lot more to it than just the use of magic.

I suppose, but again. Poisoned Cake can have frosting, and sprinkles and yummyness. but it's still poisoned

Yes Alison!

I understand that, really. I just don't know if good characters justify witchcraft.

Isabelle wrote: "I understand that, really. I just don't know if good characters justify witchcraft."

True.

Alison wrote: "I personally LOVED Harry Potter! It was such an interesting series with lots of good parts to it.
Yes, it showed witchcraft in a good light and centers around the use of magic, which is unbiblical..."

Agreed, Alison!

it's just a story! Lord of the Rings justify wizardry which is the same as witchcraft!

Sure it's just a story, but it's intent and maker in no way glorify God. There's lots of things you could say are just stories and yet.

Isabelle wrote: "Sure it's just a story, but it's intent and maker in no way glorify God. There's lots of things you could say are just stories and yet."

True

Kara wrote: "I suppose, but again. Poisoned Cake can have frosting, and sprinkles and yummyness. but it's still poisoned"

I get what you mean, but I think it's a bit much calling the series 'poisonous' is a bit much. It think it really depends on the mindset you have when you read the books. If you're easily swayed by what you read, then maybe Harry Potter isn't the best choice. But if you know that witchcraft isn't a good thing to practice before you start reading, I think you will be okay.

Alison wrote: "Kara wrote: "I suppose, but again. Poisoned Cake can have frosting, and sprinkles and yummyness. but it's still poisoned"

I get what you mean, but I think it's a bit much calling the series 'poiso..."
yeah

Isabelle wrote: "Sure it's just a story, but it's intent and maker in no way glorify God. There's lots of things you could say are just stories and yet."

does the selection, hunger Games or Percy Jackson glorify God? Percy Jackson is about false gods! Hunger Games is about killing people which definitely goes against God. The selection is like the bachelor TV show, girls trying to win a guy!

...The author said that The Selection is based off of Esther and Cinderella, Rick Riordan treats it as fictional outside of his writing and the books are also based off of history, so at least they have a bit of educational value. It's also brought up several times how odd and weird it is for them to be crossbreeding and things. As with the Hunger Games, the main character is against the murder and ends up destroying the sytstem which created the torturous entertainment of slaughter.

And it seems that your logic is that because if those series were, you know, unholy or whatever, that it means Harry Potter is fine because it's just as bad as other bad things?

I'm just saying, your reasoning for disliking Harry Potter isn't very valid, because plenty of the books you love (I love them too, ngl) are "unholy" as well.

They all (I dunno about the selection, never read that) have good morals as does Harry Potter.

...Except Harry Potter doesn't have good morals, he and many others practice witchcraft? It's put out as a tale of good versus evil, but it's just bad against worse. It's plenty valid, as I said, let's all say that every single book/series you mentioned is immoral. That doesn't make any of them okay, and this one would still be awful, even if others are awful too. The discussion was is HP good or bad, not whether or not all the flipping books in the universe are Biblical. My argument is that interesting characters and plot don't justify witchcraft, and yours is that there are other sinful books, so it doesn't really matter. Please pardon my aggression, you've said that my stance (which is just be careful, HP isn't quite correct) is invalid because there are other things in existence just as bad.

Have you read Harry Potter to know it does not have good morals?

Witchcraft particularly is an abomination. I'm not saying one sin is worse than others, but still. In LOTR, when Gandalf uses his magic he gets weaker. In Traitors Game Simon says the magic is bad, it's like a maggot that eats its way into people until there is no good in them at all and all thats left is evil.

You see, the book we like aren't like magic. Magic..they don't get weaker, and its a "saving" thing. Which it's not.

Elizabeth L. wrote: "Have you read Harry Potter to know it does not have good morals?"
Definition of morals:
1. a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience

2. a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do

I have a friend who's obsessed with them and a simple Google search fills you in. I get the plot and story. As I said last night, the main point is that good triumphs over evil in the end, but it isn't "good," as they regularly and with no qualms practice acts which are literally an abomination to God. They claim that there is good magic and bad magic.

Leviticus 20:6 “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Micah 5:10-12 And in that day, declares the Lord,
I will cut off your horses from among you
and will destroy your chariots;
and I will cut off the cities of your land
and throw down all your strongholds;
and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.

After seeing the literal definition of morals, no, the Harry Potter franchise does not have good morals according to the Bible. Before you go on and say that there are other messages in Harry Potter such as face your fears, people aren't always what they seem, etc., these awful ideas are still promoted and accepted in the series, and I will not be participating in anything which is blatantly going against the ways of my Lord. I read books containing magic as long as it is made clear that magic is on the wrong side of things, as there is good and evil in the world. The book would be a bit boring if there wasn't a "bad guy." My issue with HP is that those portrayed as "good guys" are evil according to Scripture.
Would there be anything in the Bible that supports or says that God looks well upon entertaining yourself with a tale condoning a damnable offense?

Isabelle wrote: "Elizabeth L. wrote: "Have you read Harry Potter to know it does not have good morals?"
Definition of morals:
1. a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or prudent, that can be derived fro..."

Wow, you literally said what I was about to say XD

If you read the books, it isn't just about good vs bad or whatever.

It teaches friendship, standing up to bullies, teamwork, responsibility, bravery. J.K. Rowling even said, I don't believe in the kind of magic I write in my books, I believe in the kind of magic that happens when you read a good book. Like how Rick Riordan treats his books as fictional.

But just because it "teaches" those things, is not an excuse of it's magic. It glorifying witchcraft. If someone donates a lot of money to Homeless Shelters and such, but isn't a Christian, that doesn't mean they're a 'good' person. Just because HP has some good stuff in it doesn't pardon the fact that it glorifies Witchcraft

Isabelle wrote: "Would there be anything in the Bible that supports or says that God looks well upon entertaining yourself with a tale condoning a damnable offense?"

it is not condoning a damnable offense, it's an author who wanted to write something interesting, while teaching kids GOOD lessons. If a kid takes 'magic is real and good' out of reading Harry Potter, they read and took the wrong lesson out of it. I would not encourage them to continue reading it. That's not the books fault. That's the kids fault. They are obviously not mature enough to know that what they are reading is entirely fiction and they should not be allowed to read it, I get that. But if the kid (like me) knows that magic isn't real and the story does not encourage it as real then I think it's fine.