Harry Potter and the Paganization of Children's Culture

Catholic Culture ^ | April, 2001 | Michael D. O'Brien

[discostu]

No, we've actually read the books and know what's in them, and what's in them is not something casting the occult in a good light, not something that entices kids to evil, and not something any person needs to fear.

[Coleus]

So, you're just posting this 2001 essay now? What the heck? >>>

what? I just found it, so I posted it. It must have caught your eye since you responded.

[Mr. Mojo]

Well said, LH.

[murphE]

Once saved always saved" is a slur on the actual belief,

I apologize for the perceived slight, I meant no insult. I know many non Catholics who believe in eternal security, if that is the term you prefer, and not one of these people believes that they are free to do as they please. Most lead very moral lives, in fact. I just meant to point out that I as a Catholic, do not hold the same belief as you do.

[JenB]

Sorry for jumping on you since you weren't being insulting. My misunderstanding.

But I still don't think someone who really is a Christian is going to "lose their faith" because of Harry Potter. I think that's silly.

[Coleus]

FORMER OCCULTIST IS CONVERTED BY MARY AND WARNS ON NEW AGE IN THE U.S. CHURCH

Infiltration of the New Age into the Church is usually subtle. There is the attempt to introduce a feminine aspect of God (paving the way for a goddess), an inclination to acknowledge ecological spirits (which makes way for worship of sun, moon, stars), or a tendency to view the Lord not as a Person but as a neutral cosmic force. There is also the noticeable and curious attempt to avoid mention of the devil.

Don't worry about anything, is the credo of the New Age; there is no sin; there is only Heaven; there is no hell.

Sometimes, the attempts are not so subtle. A while ago we posted a prayer to nature spirits that appeared inside a diocesan website in California. Fortunately, it was immediately removed (and probably got there in the first place without the bishop's knowledge).

But problems persist, and they are strikingly, fascinatingly pointed out in a highly readable book by Moira Noonan -- a California woman who spent twenty years with the New Age in many different roles, including direct involvement with psychics, hypnotherapy, reincarnation, Reiki, channeling, crystals, clairvoyance, and other occult practices. In fact, she herself was once an occult instructor, a psychic, and a hypnotist before becoming a Catholic evangelist -- her mission exposing precisely what she once practiced!

The book is Ransomed from Darkness, and in it we first learn that while raised a Catholic, Moira, like so many others, was never properly instructed in the dangers of the occult. "In Deuteronomy and elsewhere, God makes it very clear: Stay away from mediumship, sorcery, and fortune-telling of all kinds," she writes. "The Bible makes it clear, over and over: Don't go to these kinds of places. That was a message I never received."

It is something that has afflicted countless Catholics: a lack of instruction about the occult.

As a result, Noonan traversed deeply into this dark territory, and when she came back to the Church -- when she reverted to the faith of her childhood -- she couldn't believe what she saw:

"In the process of rediscovering my Catholic faith after a 25-year absence, I was often shocked to see how the Church had fallen prey to New Age influences I thought I was leaving behind," says Noonan. "That's one of the reasons for this book: I want to help Christians, especially clergy, recognize how New Age thinking has infiltrated the Church. It's an ultimately destructive presence that needs to be addressed whenever it appears."

Usually it starts with a church group that embraces Eastern-style meditation, or something like hypnosis or the enneagram -- which seem harmless, even beneficial, on the surface. But in reality, such techniques can be Trojan horses for the wrong kind of spirits. "For example, much of the miracle merchandise sold in Catholic stores now -- angel stones, affirmation books and so forth -- are designed to change our way of thinking," the author warns.

Noonan relates the time she attended a conference at Xavier University in Ohio and found that the student bookstore featured vampire books, astrology titles, goddess manuals, and even The Dictionary of Satan.

"In my own parish, I learned that the Friday night program for divorced, single, and separated Catholics was using A Course in Miracles as one of their textbooks," she reports, alluding to an occult bestseller that has ensnared countless Christians. "I've had priests from all over the country contact me to inquire about the Course. Make no mistake. This book is the dictated pronouncements of a demon, transcribed by a Columbia University psychologist in the 1960s and 1970s."

Noonan points out that New Age infiltration is particularly prevalent at Christian retreat centers. One in northern California hosted a workshop with a former nun who had made a pilgrimage to India and was now presenting the ideas of the "Nine Gates Mystery School," a teaching on "Earth-based" spirituality. "The course focused on 'medicine cards,'" says Noonan. "These are tarot cards, divination tools. They are a form of shamanism."

In San Diego itself -- where Noonan ministers -- a Catholic center for spiritual direction offers courses in telepathy.

In Arizona a convent retreat center offers "contemplative prayer" taught by a monk who is not Christian.

"I'm aware of a convent in Minnesota, and there are others in California and Massachusetts also, where nuns offer Reiki healing workshops," says Moria -- whose own daughter went to a New Age pre-school. "I was trained as a Master Teacher in Reiki, which means I was authorized to perform initiations as well as teach methods. Reiki is definitely an occult practice."

In this time of disorientation, we are called, yes, to respect other religions, and to love everyone, to dialogue with others and realize that God is bigger than any single religion. At the same time, there are instances when love has to take the form of correcting those who may be endangering themselves by wandering back to the paganism that Christ came to defeat. Especially, our bishops need to be aware. In California, near San Francisco, a prominent witch has instructed dozens of priests at the behest of a cleric who has now been defrocked.

Fortunately for Noonan, the Blessed Mother intervened during a visit to Medjugorje, where Moira was "delivered" Magdalene-style from a series of evil spirits. Her conversion was also connected to an instance where she was involved in a table-tilting seance.

Suddenly Moira felt drawn back from participating. And as this occurred, she heard a voice. It was an exquisitely gentle but powerful voice, and it pulled Noonan from the dark. The words were simple. "I am the Queen of Peace," the voice said, and Noonan never turned back.

She had asked the Lord, "Could you please show me the truth?"

"My prayer was to be answered," she writes, "as Mary patiently guided me back to the garden of faith."

[report any New Age involvement in your own parish by clicking here]

[see also: Goddess religion?] [resources: Ransomed From Darkness and other spiritual-warfare books]

[print this and send it to your pastor and bishop]    E-mail this link directly

Return to home page

[discostu]

I think what Jen's saying is that a real Christian strong in their faith will find no temptations in HP. The only ones who could really find anything are the completely lost and totally randomized seekers, but these people can find temptation in just about anything a Dilbert calendar could lead them down a path no sane person would understand because these people are following random impulses.

[murphE]

I'm curious what you believe about demons,...

I think this is an excellent topic for a whole thread. (Not my beliefs, but what the Church teaches). Perhaps when I have time I will start one.

Briefly, demons are fallen angels and like angels they have no bodies. They are superior in intelligence to humans, but they are not omniscent like God. There is a really good book by Peter Kreeft about angels and demons, but I will look for some information online and post a thread when I get a chance.

[Professional Engineer]

Hmmm. Mary Poppins, a witch, good. Harry Potter, a witch, bad. Go figure.

[biblewonk]

Yes it is, but it's still a great series.

[biblewonk]

Wait! what do you mean Catholics aren't supposed to believe in witches, demons and lesbians?

[TomSmedley]

Most fantasy and sci fi are anti Christian. If any Christianity is in a sci fi book, you can bet it is promoted as backward and bad.

I am embarassed by the fact that the only big-name writer who present Christian characters in a favorable light is the Mormon Orson Scott Card. Theodore Judson's first novel Fitzpatrick's War also presents Christians who act and think in terms of their faith. Strongly recommend. Clifford Simak was a practicing Christian. "Cordwainer Smith" a high-church Anglican.

OTOH, a contemptible affectation among some writers (Ben Bova, John Barnes) is to spell the name of Deity with a lower-case g. I usually rectify those snide and petty sneers at the eternal transcendent order when I come across them.

[r9etb]

Such as, seeing devils where no devils exist. There is not a boogeyman under every bed.

I disagree -- I think the devil makes it a point to be everyplace we look for him. And he's especially happy when we put him in places where he wasn't before.

That is, in fact, Rowling's whole point about the characters in her book not saying "Voldemort" -- they grant a power to his name as if it had the power of Voldemort himself, and it's self-fulfilling.

[the lone haranguer]

Your point re: The Screwtape Letters is well made; however, it also bears repeating that Satan is not now, nor has he ever been omnipresent, omniptent, or omniscient. Using the logic that evil is everywhere is an alarmist and extreme view which is incorrect. Evil IS present in the world, but as faithful Christians, we need not fear it. Not fearing a thing and not believing a thing exists are radically different notions. I don't fear Satan, but I believe he and his demons exist. Don't fall prey to those who would have you believe that evil must be feared. That's what Satan wants. Luther once said (at least I think it was him) that the one thing that Satan cannot stand is derision and laughter. The devil desperately wants to be taken seriously, and if we fear everything because of its potential for evil use, then it seems to me that he is winning. But, on the other hand, if we ridicule Satan because of his powerlessness over us, he loses. All of this must be done by God's through us, lest I be accused of preaching synergism.

[MacDorcha]

"All sci-fi that I can think of is dogmatically naturalistic, if religion is mentioned at all it is in the context of some anachronistic practice of a backward people."

Watch Omega Code, Left Behind, or Lord of the Rings.

Very Christian.

[MacDorcha]

Wizard of Oz is just a story.

Red Planet...

Where the Wild Things Are...

Ramayana (in my opinion)...

Twentyone Balloons...

Lloyd Alexander's books (Black Cauldron, Book of Three)...

Beowulf...

Do any of these make one think they can run into and defeat supernatural beings? Or find more advanced societies than our own on remote and desolated islands?

No, because it is understood that to most they are "just stories" (with the exception of the easily "touched")

It isn't hard to put a book into context of reality. You look at the book, then you look out the window.

And a simple answer to us doing things without examining our reasons: Examine them. God gave you a brain, ask questions with it.

[kjvail]

Omega Code

Never heard of it, I'll check around.

Left Behind,

No thanks, if I want screwy theology and anti-Catholic bigotry I'll turn on the 6 o'clock NEWS.

Lord of the Rings.

I think the above article directly addresses Tolkien's work and I consider one of the greatest masterpieces ever written - a deeply Catholic piece of work.

[MacDorcha]

"There is little room for error, for the stakes are eternal."

I believe Jesus established that faith in Him was the pinnacle of importance for the soul.

Reading other books is not condemned, and having a fantastic imagination is not going to send a follower of God to Hell.

[MacDorcha]

"No thanks, if I want screwy theology and anti-Catholic bigotry I'll turn on the 6 o'clock NEWS."

I'm going to come right out and tell you now: I'm Protestant. I think the Pope is fallible and that giving money to a church will not save your soul. You can't chant Hail Mary and get in to Heaven. It is with a personal (not via a bishop) relationship with God that one gets into Heaven.

I didn't read the entire article after I noticed the number of misquotes about HP there were. Observations of LOTR were overlooked on my part.

[MacDorcha]

On a more friendly (sorry if the first one rubs you wrong) note: the Omega Code (and Omega Code 2)is a fantasy movie(s) about the book of Revelation.

Good vs Evil in a very Christian setting. Complete with red demons getting their butts kicked in CGI glory :)