Friday, August 3, 2007

Since Most of You Said No...

When I asked if the people who banned Harry Potter would ever learn to respect J.K. Rowling, the majority of voters said no.

Does this mean you think it's impossible for people like that to change? Or is it because you think the books don't have the same values I think they have?

6 comments:

Chaotic Hammer said...

Well, for me, I think it's because there are simply a lot of people set in their ways, who have their minds already made up beforehand about such things. (Even if their minds are primarily made up by others.)

I can't say I totally fault them, as a general principle. For example, I don't have to look at pornography to know that I consider pornography wrong. My mind is already made up on the matter, and it's not really open to debate.

Likewise, I understand that some people will automatically associate any fantasy fiction involving "the occult" or "witchcraft" with the biblical ordinances against such things.

In this specific case, I happen to think that they are wrong, and that they are doing this primarily out of ignorance -- both ignorance of what true "witchcraft" really is as it relates to biblical teaching, as well as what role reading fantasy fiction really has for those who enjoy it. They are hearing negative things from others in the evangelical subculture, and simply accepting them as true.

I would say that the bashing of Harry Potter is just the latest bandwagon or "bus" that folks are riding on. Please see this article for an excellent discussion of what I mean by that statement.

Amy said...

Thanks for the link. I feel much the same way. It is frustrating, but being the optimist I am, I always hope things will change. But I think you're right. While some may change, most won't.

FancyPants said...

When the first Harry Potter came out, I was in college. Before I read the books, the church I went to at the time gave us a video on how the books were Satanic. I was skeptical that such a widely read children's book was of the occult. So I read the first one, and I was hooked after the first chapter. Harry Potter is about good vs. evil, loving others vs. loving yourself, embracing death vs. fearing it. I didn't find it Satanic at all. The magic in it is stuff we all wish we could do. Disappear and reappear...fly...fight against depression or despair (what would your patronus be?)

I've heard people wondering if Rowling is a Christian. I haven't read anywhere that she is. Have you? She could be. I hope she is. But then again, I think it safe to say there are authors who use "Christ figures" who aren't Christians, strange as it sounds. I'm pretty sure it's a literary norm.

All that to say, that whether she's trying to get a Christian message across or not, it's definitely a book that celebrates good over evil, with a Christ figure, in a non-existant world of Invisibility Cloaks and Whomping Willows.

And I hope that people would see for themselves before blindly following a sub-culture that is blindly following some moral right created by men.

FancyPants said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amy said...

What would my patronus be? maybe a golden retriever.

I have read that J.K. Rowling is a Christian. In 2000, she gave an interview in which, when asked point blank, she said yes I am. Then she said, people never really asked her about it and that was fine, since if they did, they would know what was going to happen in the books.

She's not the sort of Christian who tries to convert everyone she meets in overt ways obviously, yet she still has managed to stir up the longing in the hearts of millions for truth.

If you are interested...you can check out John Granger's site, Hogwarts Professor and read his many theories, some of which I can buy and others seem to be a bit of a stretch, on how she "smuggles the gospel" in the books.

but I'm with you...many authors write Christ figures into their stories, without knowing Jesus, because it is in our hearts to want that truth.

Chaotic Hammer said...

Interesting article here:

J.K. Rowling, a Christian?

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