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The Book Nook
Welcome to The Book Nook. A place where you can share your feelings about books. Read along with us on our current book, or post about a book that you like and that you are reading. Feel free to share your heart and your opinions!
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12 comments:
Wow! What a great review. Thanks to the anonymous poster for that. I've never read the HP series, but now, I just might have to check that out.
Ya know, it funny. I used to listen to the Focus on the Family radio broadcast on the way to work in the mornings. Now, I can barely stand to listen to it. So the first thing that makes me weary is "anonymous" posting a review from, "'Plugged In' a newsletter from Focus on the Family for Christian parents.'
Honestly, this is classic sensorship. "Don't read this because the religious right said not to". Find me the nearest bin to puke that advise in.
Would someone please tell the "Plugged In" reviewer that this book is FICTION. Last time I checked, everything I read doesn't have to be about GOD.
My kids made me a card the other day and failed to mention Jesus or God in it. I'll bet they're possessed!
dk, you're in top form today! Glad to see it:)
I have not read the HP series, but it's only because I haven't made time for it.
I guess I have to say ditto to much of what Alanna, dk, and Paul posted. The 'anonymous' person seems angry and scared (characteristics that I keep seeing over and over again with "Focus on the Family-types"). Personally, I think it is Satan that keeps us from engaging in culture. He knows that God's power is supreme. An effective way to keep us sterile is to keep us too scared to live in the world while not being overcome by it.
I also agree that dk is in top form! i guess we can always count on him to just be him! LOL!!!! I also agree with everything that has been posted on both blogs. I am glad that I posted about HP. Hopefully our conversations can change someones heart.
Well i must start by saying i must be spoiled by the culture at New Hope. We are in the buisness of meeting people where they are at spiritually or not at.
Because once we get ourselves out of the way and truly live a life like Jesus, which means walk the path of the common and feed the poor even if it came from a bad section of town it is still given in love. Do we judge because we can or because its right? I pray that some how we as christ followers do break down the walls of the church building and truly meet Jesus's people in the streets. So all that being said:
I LOVE HARRY POTTER But i love God too!
Great now I'm in trouble for capitlizing HARRY POTTER
I have not read this book either, but have read the first 3 books. I found them to be enjoyable works of fantasy fiction. I don't think the author intended any part of this book to be christian/non-christian. This whole attitude that christians should be seperated from all culture is not biblical. We should be immersing ourselves in modern culture. If this book is an avenue to connect with "the world", then by all means - use it. If you just want to read it for pleasure - why not?!
Stacy
I feel a need to clarify here. I'm not condemning, judging, or trying to censor anyone or anything. I am asking a question that I honestly want an answer to. I certainly don't feel that everything must mention God in some form, but I do have a hard time understanding how a book all about sorcery & witchcraft can be seen as entertainment to a believer. The Bible says thou shalt not suffer a witch to live, yet it's OK to put a series revolving around sorcery on a pedestal?
I am all for being an approachable Christian to non believers, but I won't compromise my beliefs to do so. Would you have an affair to reach those who are adulterous? I know that's an extreme analogy, but the meaning is the same. This is a classic example of how we are to be in the world, but not of it.
You say we're not to judge or censor anyone, but isn't that what you're doing to me? All I did was ask a question. I feel I am being attacked for a wanting an explanation. Some of your responses were vitriolic, and hurtful. I am neither angry nor scared, and calling me a "focus on the family" type person I'll take as a compliment. James Dobson, while not perfect, is a licensed child psychologist, so anything he has to say about effects of movies on children (which is the purpose of Plugged In) is his job, not his opinion. 2nd, he is a Nazarene, following the doctrines of the Nazarene faith, which is the affiliation of New Hope correct?
I think it's wonderful to think outside the box in order to relate to non-believers, and let them see we are normal people too. However, when do you draw the line from relating to those around you, and becoming one of them? Isn't is harder for someone standing on the chair to pull someone up, than it is for the person on the floor to pull the one on the chair down? It's a slippery slope, and the question has to be asked: Who is leading whom?
Please understand that I'm not out to offend anyone, or cast stones, I just truly am trying to understand how this series is of worth to believers. It seems to me that saying it's to reach non-believers is a convenient answer.
Anonymous - I understand your struggle with this and appreciate your conviction on it very much.
The one thing that stuck me in your response was wondering how something like this book has value to believers. GREAT QUESTION
It really has no value in your personal relationship with God (I believe), but the value it has is with your relationship to non-believers. If we label it as inherently evil and refuse to read it and discuss it with non-believers, we alienate ourselves from the cultures around us.
The immediate counter-argument is the argument you already made with the adultery example. And you're 100% right with that extreme example. So you have to weigh this and ask, "Is it inherently evil or immoral?" Its INTENT is entertainment, not a book about witchcraft. And the entertainment methods it uses are very much in a fantasy world (as opposed to a book that promotes cop killing say).
I think it's our faith that helps us to recognize good and evil in pop culture and helps us participate in conversations about it. Like if someone were to cross it over to reality with "Wouldn't it be cool if WE could cast spells and get what we want?" Our knowledge of God's word allows us to appropriately respond.
So for me, this comes down to personal conviction. If God is convicting you that participating in this book is evil and stands to do harm, then I would follow God, and avoid it. Much like if you wanted to build relationships with alcoholics at a bar. If you yourself had a history of alcohol problems, then you would not want to pursue that type of ministry. God will call you elsewhere.
So I would also encourage you to examine the intent and your intent with it AND PRAY ABOUT IT. God will lead you right.
Listen to me carefully. I love to read. I find nowhere in these books, does JK Rowling say anything that would make me feel that she is saying, "be a witch instead of a Christ follower..." Or...."there is no God". In fact, she has come forth and said that she is a Christian. (Vic, can you please post that link to the article that you sent me.) I feel that I answered your question in saying that I read them and talk about them becuase I find them extreemly entertaining. I do NOT read them to relate to non Christians. I read them because I like them. I read them for the same reason that I watch Will and Grace on TV almost every night. I guess you would want to know why I decided to mention them on this "Christian" blog.... I could ask you why you decided, out of everything that I posted on here, to only respond to that ONE post? I am not trying to be hurtful or mean. I guess I feel some frustration with this whole idea that being a Christian comes with a list of DO NOT DO'S....and that that list keeps so many people from wanting to come to know Christ.
I did a bit more research, as I have to admit that not having read the stories I suppose I am biased in my thoughts of this series. I was going based on the "Plugged-In" review, but today I find an article in Christianity Today, that gives a positive review of the books. I have to say I am confused. It's not often I spout off about something with which I have no personal knowledge, and it seems this bears more in depth study.
My feelings on this, however, are not unfounded. My concern comes from personal knowledge of how entertainment in the form of sorcery can be damaging whether it seems obvious or not. I used to be an avid fan of the series "Charmed" and have first hand experience with the effects it can have on ones life. It may not always be obvious, but any form of witchcraft, even in simple things like entertainment can have a negative effect on your life.
So my original post was 2 fold, to try to understand the draw of Christians to "Harry Potter" as well as to warn to be careful of what you put in your mind.
I wouldn't want anyone to deal with the negative effects that plagued me from simply wanting to be entertained. It wasn't worth it.
My opinion is for you to try and get past the thoughts that you might have about the books, and try to read them. I understand your thoughts on what we feed ourselves and how that affects our thoughts, more than people might know. I think that that is why pornography is soooooooo bad. It is what the images do to our inner selves. There are a lot of aspects of this book, that while I was reading, made me think about God. (Briefly for example: Harry Potters loyalty to Dumbledore, even though he was not there, The plight of good vs. evil with (spoiler) one persons knowing sacrifice to save the world, the fact that Dumbledore was not afraid of death because it was the beginning of a new life, Harrys parents gravestone actually quotes the Bible...) I also think that at times, we can take other peoples opinions and let them feed our own thoughts. I am guilty of this too. Not about these books, but just in general. I really really truely appreciate your views on this series. Believe me. However, God is so much bigger than these books. He can show us His love through anything! And, if we are prepared, as Christ followers, to talk about these things, maybe we can stop people who might take the books as a calling to deny Christ, and show them the truth through love. If we boycott the books, maybe we are not quite as prepared to defend our beliefs? However, I truely love these stories. I think there is a book out called... Looking for God in Harry Potter, by John Granger.....and there are others as well. I have not read it myself, but maybe I will.....
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