Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged (Who's Behind Harry Potter?)

Jeremiah Films ^ | October 2001 | Pat and Carol Matriciana

[strela]

I haven't read a single "HP promotes witchcraft" article that wasn't full of similar errors. It has to make me wonder if half the people writing diatribes actually read the books.

Right in one, sir or madam. The basic factual errors and misspellings in the plot 'synopsis' I documented sure indicates a second-hand retelling of spoken rumor to a Web Person/typist to me.

Inside Kook Central

"Blast and balderdash! Our petty cash fund is running low - I had to threaten to excommunicate the pizza boy to get him to leave the bread sticks this time! OK, here's what we do: This "Larry Patter" thing is popular now, right? My second cousin's brother's milkman's kid once read one of those books, and I saw him with an OPEN safety pin around his nose the other day. So, that's how we spin it - Larry Patter is Satan returned, the stories tell the kiddies how to turn Mom and Dad into snail darters, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda. The marks'll eat it up and its cha-ching! time at the bank!

OK, bring in that little wastoid and get him to give us a quick synopsis of the Patter books. I'll pay the bill so we can put up the web page again ... damn it, WHERE'S THAT PHONE NUMBER?"

[VietVet]

"Satan is a *Christian* invention, witches (wiccans and pagans) don't even believe in the existance of Satan."

This is why I separated witches and wiccan/neo-pagans in my statement.

First, Satan is not a Christian invention. The idea of a specific adversary to God is found in pre-Christian Judeism. It is also found in Persian Mithraism, and a number of other religions and folklores around the world. It is not found in Graco/Roman mythology, where the gods fight among themselves, but in Germanic myth, the gods are opposed by the giants, and Loki (Logi, Ignis) one of the Asgardians (and a firegod) sides with the giants at Ragnorok, making Loki a Satan cognate. (Many North European folktales about encounters with the Devil have parallels to Old Norse folktales about encounters with Loki) Irish Celtic myth has the demi-god-like Tuatha da Daanan fighting with the demon-like Formorians. So the concept of a once devine being or creature turning away from good to become the leader of evil is not a Christian concept only.

Wiccans may not believe in Satan (or they may, it depends on the cult), but none deny that there are Satanists out there, whom they may regard as deluded or evil or both. And the 'witches' that were persecuted in the 14th through the 17th Centuries were persecuted because they were (or were believed to be) a Satanic cult. Thus witchcraft is a religion which worships the Devil in return for the granting of certain magical powers. (I have never understood why the wiccans adopted the term for themselves, and then tried to deny that 'witch' really meant what it has meant in the English language for over 1000 years.) On the other hand, wiccans and some neo-pagans also attempt to gain magical powers through the worship/performance of religious rites in honor of supernatural beings. Since in the theology of some Christians, the supernatural is divided into God and his Angels on one hand, and the Devil and all his works on the other, any worship of supernatural creatures other than God is at best mistaken veneration of Angelic beings, or devil worship, by definition.

All of which is irrelevant to the Harry Potter fictional universe, because I have yet to hear of an example of an occasion in the books when Harry (or any other character) *worships* a supernatural entity to gain magical powers. (Invoking a subernatural spirit, and binding it to one's service via spells, doesn't count. That is a completely different brand of wizardry) So the books have nothing to do with witchcraft, save for the use of the word to describe the curriculum at Hoggwarts.

[~EagleNebula~]

any more quotes from MONTY PYTHON????

[strela]

Pythonnet has a ton of 'em.

[~EagleNebula~]

RE: post #150...... It is stated. What is to argue with? Moses declared it a rod, and not a snake to turn into a stiff snake, and back into a hungry one! I wonder what / where that person's source was, anyway! Hmmmm! I would think that if it had been a snake in his hand he would have answered God accordingly! There will always be nay-sayers, eh, RnMom?

So what "trick" was it that turned the water to blood? Someone killed a dinasour upstream? and then went around adding dye #4 to everyone else's drinking water? ::giggle:: sorry, but that really was an absurd attempt to explain it away. (re. snake / rod) If they want to believe it, it is, of course their choice! God has given them free will.

[~EagleNebula~]

You see, behind your back would be via private e-mail....

AH! now there is a revelation! OOPS! someone let that slip in the first 50 posts! "Check you FReep mail" /sarcasm

[~EagleNebula~]

Do you sincerely believe the Pokemon are part of some sinister plot to brainwash our kids?

now that you have a grip on yourself...... i think you under-estimate the subtlety of the enemy. in so doing you open yourself up to easy attack.

[Nataku X]

Anyone who is on welfare (and takes a cruise while on welfare!) gets a slap from me, but if you really think that you can get a job while having a degree in French (or most other liberal arts majors like "philosophy" or "music"), you're deluded!

"Son, have you thought about your career plans?"
"Yeah, Dad, I want to be a rock music star."
"Son, you know that's not very realistic."
"I know, if it fails, I want to be a model."

[~EagleNebula~]

define CALIVINIST.

[~EagleNebula~]

That's just what the fundie hellwishers say when they see the souls of Harry Potter fans entering the pearly gates along with most everyone else who ever loved their neighbor.

Putting words in someone's mouth? I don't recall reading a post that put Harry Potter readers either in hell or heaven. Did I miss a post on this thread?

[~EagleNebula~]

Thanks for catching the mis-information, and straightening it out.

[Udycus]

I really have only 2 words to say. THANK YOU!!! Harry Potter is a witchcraft bottled up in what is seemlessly a harmless fashion. I for one am boycotting the books and the movie. I invite any of you who care to join me.

[~EagleNebula~]

ROFLMBO!! Re post #191!! It is late (or early, depending on your perspective!) and I saw the pics before I read the connection. I was puzzling, and then read "spiritual ties"! OOOOHHHH! LOLOLOL Loved the humor in it!!! But then, I like word plays and puns.

[~EagleNebula~]

"those in Wicca, take great joy out of seducing Christian children into Wicca is really aggravating, as it simply is not true."

Seriously? Then how is it that a woman who started a Wicca church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, came and spoke to a group of people about how the Christian youth is lured, or seduced into it? Or are you arguing and aggravated at the use of the word joy? Just wondering what your perspective is on it.

[~EagleNebula~]

It is your choice to make, and you may choose to justify it any way you like.

[col kurz]

Huh? Up Harry!!!!LOL

[Da_Shrimp]

I posted:

"She is well-educated, having studied in both France and England"

You posted:

On another thread, a poster seemed to be implying that Rowling must have had rich parents (or implied financial backing from some unamed organisation) to afford to attend Exeter, when in fact University education in Britain at the time was completely free.

Who is distorting?

I wasn't quoting you though, was I? I was talking about another poster on another thread who was on about about Exeter University and how Rowling could have afforded it. England is part of Britain, at least for now.

I assume Rowling studied in France after her degree was finished: this is something quite common in language students, you know.

[col kurz]

Ah, how many of you brave Christian warriors opposed to Harry are going up aginst the Talaban and Al-Quida? Ha, you cowardly pukes, seek out the real enemy of mankind and Christianity, Islam.......Semper Fi

[Da_Shrimp]

Seriously? Then how is it that a woman who started a Wicca church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, came and spoke to a group of people about how the Christian youth is lured, or seduced into it? Or are you arguing and aggravated at the use of the word joy?

Just wondering what your perspective is on it.

A Wicca church? Could you clarify further? We don't have Wicca Churches in England. Wicca in England is based on small groups of people and the idea of a 'Church' would be a complete anathema and anyone who tried to start one would be the laughing stock of the entire Wiccan community.

I've certainly never heard of the event you mentioned, more info would be appreciated.

[Nataku X]

I think Scholastic is a liberal commie group who decides the absolute worst trash to give to kids.

However, Scholastic does not own Pokemon, Nintendo does. And Pokemon was created in Japan. Japan isn't Christian, but they're not specifically anti-Christian in nature. That's another whole discussion, though. Besides, Pokemon has been banned, not encouraged, in schools.

I've said over and over on these threads, "realistic" TV shows and books that encourage "realistic sins" such as cussing and premartial sex and gay acceptance--like Judy Blume books, Dawson's Creek, etc., are the ones to fear. A child is much, much more likely to grow up to be a cussing whore exploring "his sexual identity" than to fly on broomsticks.