Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 09:45:54 PM |
Age 24, TX |
Jo Rowling says that she always considered the character of Albus Dumbledore to be gay. As a longtime reader, I can understand why she felt the need to make this statement. In the first few books it's not necessary to understand the character. Having read book seven (published in July in case someone managed to miss the hype) I can understand why she's now making the claim. It really does explain the last book so much more clearly now. Whether you like the books or not, you cannot make the claim that it has no place in the story. It does in the final book, and helps explain everything Dumbledore does throughout the series.
I understand how many(most) Christians feel about the issue of Harry Potter, and the issue of homosexuality in general. I am 100% for parents teaching their children what they believe is right and wrong, and what the Bible says is right and wrong. However, there comes a time when people have to make the choice for themselves. Personally, I wouldn't touch the books until my pastor, who was so bogged down with questions by parents about the books finally sat down to read them himself. The third book had just been published and he read them in order to answer the questions put forth by the congregation. His verdict? It's up to you. He presented the facts - what the books teach, what they don't teach. He said that he would not tell anyone in the church to read or avoid them. He did, however, say that he enjoyed the books, and would read them with his family - keeping the last book aside until his daughter (10 at the time) was old enough to understand the changes. Because of this response, I made the decision to read the first book. I haven't been able to stop reading them since. I adore the series. I love the characters, the story, the life lessons that can be pulled from them. If I ever have children, they will be exposed to Harry Potter. They will understand that the books are a story, a fantasy, no different than Narnia, or Middle Earth. I'm sure that statement will be met with displeasure, but it's the truth. Rowling did not set out to turn all of the world's children into Wiccans. She did not set out to beautify the occult. The books are not about those things. The books do not condone those things. When a child tells Jo Rowling that they've been practicing the spells in the book, she responds, "Don't bother. They aren't real." So she wants to promote peace and tolerance in her books. I don't understand why people get so upset about a fictional character's closet outing and they cannot get upset about the genocide going on in the Darfur region of Sudan. Get up in arms about something real. Stop sitting at your computers and griping about an author and her story and do something that will change the world - or at least help a little bit. Dumbledore is gay. Let it go. Don't read the books, don't watch the movies. But if you feel the need to have a fit about something - have a fit that can save lives, not one that merely feels like a mosquito bite.
|
ABOMINABLE MEANS FILTY
| Posted On: 10/25/07 08:00:00 PM |
Age 64, OH |
We are not to have anything to do with witchcraft because it is an abomination ( filthy). We are not to eat food that is an abomination. The scripture about the vision of Peter about the sheet was not about eating animals but about not calling gentiles, that God had filled with the Holy Spirit and made clean, unclean. If you think all food is OK to eat; do you eat manure, or cats. The death of Jesus on the cross did not change the law but fulfilled the sacrificial law. Jesus said not one letter of the law would pass away and it has not. We are not saved by the law but it is profitable to follow the commands of God Almighty. Lou
|
Re: Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 07:48:20 PM |
Age 64, OH |
Mary Poppins was not a good movie. Anything that portrays lies as truth is evil. Mary Poppins was not shown as a sinner and was a lie and therefore evil. I never took my kids to Disney Movies for this reason. God is light and there is NO DARKNESS in Him. Anything GRAY is not neutral but evil. Lou
|
WHAT DEFINES WITCHCRAFT
| Posted On: 10/25/07 07:15:33 PM |
Age 64, OH |
It is not "magic" that makes witchcraft what it is. Someone could call the miracles of Jesus Christ "magic". But Jesus is not guilty of witchcraft. Witchcraft is using "magic" or miracles for your own purposes. Some professing Christians claim to have gifts of the Holy Spirit and do "miracles". If their power of miracles does not come from God and it was their idea to do the miracle and not God then it is witchcraft. All the miracles done in C S Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" are by the power of the Lion ( a symbol of the Lion of Judah)and not of humans. The whole story is about submitting oneself to God Almighty and not have your own way. That is not witchcraft. I gave the Chronicles of Narnia to a lot of my students and they came to me after they read them and asked to give their life to Jesus Christ. Jesus said to judge by the fruit. Do you think a work of the Devil would lead people to Jesus Christ. Lou
|
Re: Re: Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 06:45:05 PM |
Age 36, TX |
Gentlemen (or ladies as it may be): 1) I do not attend Joel Osteen's gathering (I hesitate calling it a "church" for a number of reasons). 2) In my earlier post I was presenting a conditional statement that might better have been presented as a question. I am not REMOTELY suggesting that sorcery or witchcraft is acceptable in God's eyes. Scripture makes that abundently clear. 3) Let me state the matter a different way:
a) God said witchcraft and sorcery are ABOMINABLE (Deut 18:10-13).
b) God said homosexuality is ABOMINABLE (Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13).
c) God said idolatry is ABOMINABLE (Deut 7:25).
d) God said eating pork, shellfish, and other unclean animals is ABOMINABLE.
e) God said He does not change (Mal 3:6, James 1:17, Heb 13:8, etc). So......................................................................................In light of this is my earlier statement "If Jesus fulfilled the Law..." true? Not even remotely. That was my point: to expose the flaw of traditional teaching that "Jesus fulfilled the Law so we don't have to". What was abominable to God 3000 years ago is still abominable to Him today whether it be sorcery, homosexuality, adultery, or eating unclean animals. Hopefully clearer?
Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1 that we are to be holy "because it is written, 'YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.'" Where is that "written"? In Leviticus 11 (what we should eat), Leviticus 19 (don't practice idolatry, sorcery, divination), and Leviticus 20 (various forms of sexual immorality). Read the chapters and find out more about what God considers "holy" and what Peter was exhorting us to do in regards to our personal holiness.
|
Re: Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 10:57:46 AM |
Age 19, MN |
Even if it didn't come up in the books, what sort of impact would this have on people? Think of all the younger (and more impressionable) kids who read about Dumbledor and then find out he's gay...what sort of conclusion (considering what his character is supposed to be) are they to come to? Perhaps that homosexuality is ok? Take this into account with other resources and keep in mind that J.K. Rowling has recieved letters (quite I few I've heard) asking to be admitted into Hogwarts school...so...yes, it is fiction, but the fiction is leading the kids to perhaps ACCEPT something that shouldn't be accepted.
|
Re: Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 10:51:37 AM |
Age 19, MN |
So are you implying that witchcraft is permissable now? Then explain Galatians 5:19-21 if you are implying this...
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 09:36:12 AM |
Age 43, TX |
I totally agree with this article. Deut. 18 is very clear about God's heart toward witchcraft and magic. It saddens me how many christians don't apply His word to some of C.S. Lewis' writings or The Lord of The Rings as well as Harry Potter. I believe witchcraft is witchcraft, even in entertainment. His word stands on its own, He doesn't need stories or analogies based on witchcraft. :)
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 09:09:03 AM |
Age 44, NE |
This article brings up a point that I have been pondering for some time. "Are novels, or movies for that matter, neutral?" Just as Christianity Today touted the Potter books as an example of good versus evil, many Hollywood movies are quoted by pastors on Sunday morning. The dilemma is that by looking through what the world has to offer, we are sifting through garbage trying to find something of value. Christianity is not "good versus evil". It is that mankind is sinful, sin leads to death, and all of the good in the world will not save us. Jesus was not a "good" man. Jesus is God, perfect in every way, and died to destroy sin. When we dig through the garbage, we may find something that looks appealing, but closer examination will show that it has been tainted by its contact with the other garbage. As a pastor, I am extremely reluctant to quote from literature or movies, as it will be seen as an endorsement. There is tension between being Holy, and being relevant. While Jesus was willing to rub shoulders with sinners, he remained sinless. (when you work with sheep, you end up smelling like sheep) We need to stop looking through the garbage for our daily bread. None of the world's best literature, movies, or music can give us a good example of what the Bible so plainly tells us. We should not be shocked when we find it contradicts Christianity. It started out flawed (tainted). I am not saying we should be ignorant of what is going on around us. But don't try to bend it, twist it, or otherwise make it conform to scripture. It isn't going to happen.
|
response to age 30 GA
| Posted On: 10/25/07 06:09:36 AM |
Age 50, AUSTRALIA |
One of the respondents stated, "A book, standing against our almighty God, is not going to be the tool used to lead your children down the path of witchcraft!"
They then proceded to pronounce such actions as "moronic."
I am sorry, but friend you have no Biblical support for making such a statement. Perhaps you do not use the Bible as your final authority.
That would be a different story.
|
Re: Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/25/07 01:49:41 AM |
Age 52, CA |
I noticed that you are from Texas. Do you attend Joel Osteen's church? Your insight into the Scriptures lends credence to that idea.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 09:36:40 PM |
Age 35, MD |
Very well written. Thank you for reminding us to hate what the Lord hates and to stand for truth. Ephesians 6:10-20.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 08:53:17 PM |
Age 18, WA |
I like how the writer refers to Dumbledor's homosexuality as a central element to the character, when it doesn't come up AT ALL in the books.
Woops, facts suck, don't they?
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 08:15:00 PM |
Age 41, SD |
Thank you for this article. I have never
purchased a Harry Potter Book nor seen a movie. I've just geared my children's attention elsewhere. None of them are big fans. They just don't think about it.
I was tempted a few times to pass it off as just fun fantacy for those who were into it. But now when the opportunity arrizes,
I will tell what is WRONG with Harry Potter
Entertainment.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 08:13:41 PM |
Age 36, TX |
The author of the article quotes Deuteronomy 18:10-13 to point out how "God takes a very dim view of all forms of Witchcraft...". The author should note, however, that the same Hebrew word translated as "abomination" in this verse (Strongs #8441 transliterated 'to-ay-bah' ) regarding divination, witchcraft, and sorcery is the same word used in Deuteronomy 14 where God says "You shall not eat any abominable thing". If Jesus fulfilled the Law so Christians today no longer have to follow God's commandments regarding FOOD then obviously the same "abominable" concerns regarding witchcraft and sorcery would no longer apply. We are saved by grace and not by works lest any man should boast.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 08:10:17 PM |
Age 20, KY |
I never got the vibe that Dumbledore was a homosexual. I just thought he was a nice kind guy. Honestly, I don't have to believe that crap Rowling put out about him being gay if I don't want to. My worldview is not going to be changed because the author wants to support a homosexual agenda.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 07:31:26 PM |
Age 53, IN |
We already knew who she was working for, so now, how many more will now be lead into the darkness now?
Warn others.
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 06:30:02 PM |
Age 31, CA |
Thank you so much for your honesty and research. Most importantly, standing up for and exposing the Truth!! What is wrong with a world where Christians support Harry Potter?!! I have never supported it and never understood how Christians could rationalize their support for it.
I am now a mother of a 3 year old, and as far as I know, she has no clue about Halloween. That day in and of it self makes me sick. How can they make and title an evil day as holy? The only good thing out of it, is for the past few years, when kids come to my door for candy, I print out Bible verses about Jesus, that they can understand, and tape them on Reeses Peanut butter cups. They are just the right size, and I feel like I am contributing to the gospel instead of the sinful world.
|
Trying to love God and the world
| Posted On: 10/24/07 04:23:28 PM |
Age 42, SC |
"He who loves the world and the things of the world, the love of the Father is not in him" 1 John 2:
The above verse seems so appropriate to this. There are many who believe they can be faithful to Christ and enjoy the things of the world. Satan is not called "the deceiver" for nothing. So a decade of "churched" kids have been spoonfed the mush of the world. And now one of their "heros" turns out to be gay.
And their parents thought they had the love of the Father in them... it is not possible. And this generation of young people have been sacrificed on the alter of Entertainment.
Etimology of Amusement:
'a' = no/ not
'muse' = to think
a + muse = to not think
|
Re: Harry Potter and the Gay Wizard: The Secret Behind the Story
| Posted On: 10/24/07 04:06:07 PM |
Age 20, NC |
If there is anything good to come of this announcement, it's that this should be the FINAL nail in the coffin of the "It's an allegory compatible with Christianity" fallacy.
|
|
|
|
|
