Posted on 04/02/2006 2:51:59 PM PDT by peyton randolph
A former Episcopalian priest claims reading Harry Potter during a mid-life crisis led him to eventually decide to become a Wiccan priest...Haney is now a practicing minister of the Sacred Birch Society, a Wiccan group that meets regularly in the Lapeer Michigan area.
Claiming that he does not proselytize, Haney hopes nonetheless to be a resource for enquirers into his new found faith. Wiccans claim that their system of beliefs is compatible with other religions, even while they deny Christian teachings as to the identity of Jesus Christ.
According to the Battle Creek Enquirer, Haney says that it was during this crisis of faith that he began to read the “Harry Potter” series of books to his children. The magic depicted in the books aroused a curiosity in Haney that led him to Web-searches and other readings. This led finally to a Wiccan group in nearby Flint, Michigan where he and his wife were welcomed.
Having since become a Wiccan minister (which has chaplains in the US military), Haney leads worshipers in thanksgiving for what they have been given “not from a sense of spiritual duty as part of a life that leads to heavenly rewards.” ...
(Excerpt) Read more at speroforum.com ...
I s'pect there aren't a large number of Wiccans un the US military.
I suspect that the fact that he was probably a fruit loop to begin with had more to do with his conversion than anything.
Who cares...?
I think this is the problem, not Harry Potter.
Fixed the headline. Freaking illiterate journalists these days.
What is he, a four year old?
"during a mid-life crisis
I think this is the problem, not Harry Potter."
And this may be more recoverable - God will be there ready to forgive him when he comes to his sense whereas for men who have mid life crises and leave their wife for a stripper they may find the wife not so forgiving.
LOL! Or like Vickie Jean, another guy...
I currently work in Federal Civil Service at a major U.S. Army installation. The fastest growing service conducted on this installation is the "Wiccan" one. This information was provided to me by one of the many Chaplains on the post, who happens to be a good Christian friend.
So, I can confirm some of the truth in the article. However, I seriously doubt that reading "Harry Potter" had anything to do with this. The HP series is fiction or fictional allegory to teach basic moral principles (just like Tolken or Lewis). It has nothing to do with true "witchcraft."
Probably. They're known for voting republican. That gives them some political capital.
I thought reading Hairy Potty led one to reading more trashy, badly written, cliche ridden (7 per page by somebody's count) literature, but now this!
Is that anything like the John Birch Society?
bada bing!
The irony is, only God know how near to mid-life such a crisis is.
Like the guy said when he was asked, "Lived here all your life?"
"I sure hope not."
Once "c" or two?
Ha ha
This is the so called religion started by a retired British civil servant so he could get laid. (faked a story about some non-existent covent and then duped a few of the ladies into sex as a sacrement)
Seems this priest is following in the footsteps of Mr. Gardner.
"
I suspect that the fact that he was probably a fruit loop to begin with had more to do with his conversion than anything."
Exactly, Now he can sqeeze out another fruit loop attention getter by pulling in Harry Potter.
"Is that anything like the John Birch Society? "
I think God falls short of the level of perfection the Birchers are searching for.
With the way the Episcopals are going these days, I wonder if there will be much difference...
Actually the magic in Potter is quite similar to occult practices. So much so that it could not be an accident. I have no problem with true fiction, but fiction based on real occult magic is just going too far for my tastes and conscience.
He's an apostate...someone chop off his head. :)
Note the irony. The ex-Episcopalian's former religion was started by a British "civil servant" (Henry VIII) so he could get laid.
I think being an Episcopalian probably made him turn Wiccan.
If "Harry Potter" can lead a middle aged "priest" to wicca, what do you think it's doing to all the children who read it?
You mean aside from entertaining them and inspiring them to read?
A former weak willed, noodle spined, wussified Episcopalian who thought he was a priest claims reading Harry Potter during a mid-life crisis led him to eventually decide to become a Wiccan priest.
At first when I read this, I balked as some of the best fiction plays off the facts of life. But in this case I think your make a very good point. One could be more creative and committed to a Christ consciousness or God consciousness and write about Harry Potter. A great fiction writer can make up practices that don't touch on the evil of the Wiccan practices and place the biggest emphasis on the struggle between good and evil. I always pray for God's guidance and protection when I read much of anything these days. It allows me to see what is out there in popular culture, but also be guided in a Godly way.
That man needed a good Christian counselor. My money is on the influence more from the counselor, rather than the books. The books could have been a forum to explore some of these issues that were welling up, if he had either a Godly counselor or counselor that believed in Christ. I would be curious about what sort of person he worked with.
Especially for those children whose parents have never sent them to a church or for the children whose parents take them to church, but really don't believe themselves. If I was a child without Godly guidance, I would be absolutely intriqued and taken by Harry's magical world. Remember the parents, they have a responsibility to guide the children. Too bad many just allow them to be taken by evil. Child abuse for the 21st century.
Ah...so he jumped from the frying pan into the frying pan.
Why not? R.L.Hubbard did follow some of Crowley's teachings.
My son's reading of Harry Potter, has lead us to include the Chronicles of Narnia in his selections. Soon, we'll pull him away from the fantasy books for a bit. And later, he can read others, if he wishes. We just want to broaden his choices.
If there are any Wiccan chaplains (which I doubt), it is to support troops who are Wiccan, and I've met quite a few. This "nonsense" would support those fighting for you. Do you wish to deprive them?
It had been going on long before him. Nobody dared go public due to the Witchcraft Act.
"I s'pect there aren't a large number of Wiccans un the US military."
You would be surprised. I ran into many of them during my career.
Oh, you'd be surprised. The military is, for better and for worse, a cross section of the United States as a whole. Every race, creed, ideology, religion, sexual preference, perversion, peculiarity, bad habit, virtue, vice and whatnot that is found in the civilian world will be represented in the military (though maybe not in equal numbers and not necessarily with approval).
There is nothing in the Harry Potter books that relates to Wicca. This is bogus.
U.S Episcopalian to Wiccan ani't that big a jump.
I have to ask, have you read the books? Because most people who claim like you that the magic in Harry Potter is the same as "occult" magic turn out to have only read other claims that this is so. When they come up with support from the book, it is taken out of context.
I'm not attacking you, just genuinely curious. I have yet to meet anyone who was lead away from Christianity by Harry Potter, or started talking to demons or whatever, and I've read the books and don't have a problem with them.
You'd be surprised. I knew 5-6 wiccans in the USAF, and I've been out of the service for 16 years. I also ran into a number of Aesirtu as well.
Yep. Followers of the NORSE GODS. . .
My point: not ALL pagans are out and in your face about things. . .
The nut doesn't fall far from the tree.
If only all theists were similarly considerate.
And here in CT Route 2 will lead you to a casino. That doesn't mean you have to lose your house at the blackjack table.
Utter and complete BS. The magic in Potter is indistinguishable from advanced technology.
The magic in Harry Potter is indistinguishable from the plot devices of any fantasy story. When magic is needed to advance the plot, there it is.
Harry potter does seem to function as an IQ test, however.
LOL
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