Harry Potter: 3 More Things I Learned

ExileStreet ^ | 8/1/07 | John Mark Reynolds

[ParsifalCA]

I am warning those who have not finished the series . . . and there must be still a few of them by now. . . that there are spoilers ahead. I have just finished the last book . . . having spent an enjoyable evening with it thanks to Sam’s Club and an indulgent wife.

I am done with Harry Potter and enjoying the literary aftertaste the way one enjoys a fine meal almost as much after it is done as when it is being consumed . . . though it is a bit sad that the series is finished.

And it is really finished . . .

Will one be able to re-read the books with pleasure?

I think the answer is only a tentative “yes.” If one knows the “puzzles” and “the secrets” of the book, it will not take away the charm of the characters or the fun of a good Quidditch match, but the first read will always be the best.

The strength of these books is in the plot and the second read, when everything is known, will be satisfying for finding all the clues to what happens . . . but I am hard pressed to know if I will want to re-read them a third or fourth time.

A really great book is as good on the fourth read . . . and some children’s books (Little White Horse) are better.

I deeply enjoyed the last book and thought the ending satisfying. For those who found them quite Christian, they will find much in this last book to give strength to their idea.

[TalonDJ]

Next thing you know he’s gonna try to say that Monty Python lied about the whole grail thing.

He's already got one.

[discostu]

It’s not about the dabbling though, the reality is the vast majority of gamers, heavy metal fans, and Potter fans will never have any dabbling in the occult, and the ones that do were gonna do it anyway and aren’t statistically more significant than in any other entertainment demographic.

[Politicalmom]

That is a load of lies.

People who try to argue the evils of Harry Potter while LYING are pretty pathetic.

[wagglebee]

Go back and re-read EVERYTHING I wrote on this thread. They are accurate regarding children’s books that deal in the occult, I offered no opinion either way if this applied to the Harry Potter books or not.

[Corin Stormhands]

Corin, you make fun of all this.

No, at this point, I'm pretty much just making fun of you.

As a Christian, don’t you believe that some occultists have real powers?

Yes, I believe in, and quite frankly have seen evidence of (fodder for another thread), the powers of the occult.

But, unlike you, I have read the Harry Potter books.

And I know the differnce.

[maryz]

one could say all fiction is a pack of lies.

If you ever read L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables, etc.), lots of the older people portrayed thought that very thing. It actually has been a widespread attitude. I think the same attitude is shown in some Louisa May Alcott characters, but those who hold that view are clearly narrow-minded and ill-educated.

[null and void]

These women, unless the repent, will open their eyes in hell the moment after they breath their last breath.

So the male witches I know are safe?

[js1138]

I don’t think you and I would exactly agree on the point of the book, however, there is a fundamental difference between justice and vengeance.

The word justice usually implies working within the law. At any rate, neither Dumbledore nor Harry would have approved.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“Actually you should consider being quiet because you’re embarrassing yourself.”

I’m not embarrassed. I have not lied - nor have I misrepresented anything I believe. Occultism is real. It is an abomination to God and HP has turned it into morally-neutral entertainment for kids.

“was that you say you don’t have time to waste reading the Potter books, but you’ve been here the better part of the afternoon talking about the Potter books.”

Why would I need to read the books when I’ve seen the movies? I don’t need to read her description of automatic writing - it is a black art. It doen’t matter whether the film does it justice or not.

[MarkL]

My oldest came home from kindergarten and told us that the "South Americans killed Abraham Lincoln."

Those Bas**rds! We MUST close the southern border NOW, before they kill again!

Mark

[DelphiUser]

Occultism, and occultic power is VERY real. Harry Potter, for the most part, is not the real thing - but it exposes children to the occultic world and can create in them a desire for the real thing.

You know, I faced this kind of an argument from my mother way back in the day over D&D, I pulled an article for her about a guy who started believing he was a chess piece.

People do dumb stuff, if you are going to do something dumb, no one can stop you by forbidding you to read a book, or play a game.

Show me one instance where HP lead to the occult, surely you can find one, right?

Don't bother us with trying to prove a negative until you have some evidence of a positive, OK FRiend?

[Corin Stormhands]

Why would I need to read the books when I’ve seen the movies?

I give up.

[Charles Martel]

My wife could read them three times. But I turned her into a newt.

I've been tempted to turn *my* wife into a newt many times, especially when I return home and see that she's got that danged grail-shaped lantern lit. Alas, I just can't stay mad at her... ;-)

[TalonDJ]

It’s not about the dabbling though, the reality is the vast majority of gamers, heavy metal fans, and Potter fans will never have any dabbling in the occult, and the ones that do were gonna do it anyway and aren’t statistically more significant than in any other entertainment demographic.

As a Christian that enjoys all three I would have to disagree with you on the heavy metal thing. Not that everyone that listens is a satanist, just that there is probably a statistically higher percentage. My point is some of the most screwed up kids I have met were trying hard to run toward from everything everyone told them was bad just because. Spending all their time in the oxymoron of trying to fit in with the crowd they thing does not fit in. This is not a commentary on you. It sounds like you have already seen the risks of this path. Not that it takes blame totally off the holy roller types for being that way but running the other way just because can be risky. Kids don't have to get into a cult to have problems from this.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“...It has no reall connection...”

It needn’t be real - just close enough. The author took liberties - but she is referencing real stuff.

[discostu]

Way to doge the point. Harry is a wizard whether or not there’s a Hogwarts or he ever goes. Harry, like all the other wizards, has innate powers, innate power that were the story written by Christ Claremont would have been called “mutant powers” but instead it was written by Jo Rowling so she called them “magic powers”. The powers are there invitation or no, he can learn to use them invitation or no.

Then of course there’s the whole lie that one must be “invited” into occult groups. You’ve seen the books in the book store, people can learn all about the occult without ever getting any invitation, then they can make their own group.

[Steelerfan]

That is why it is the official beer of the Steelers. If you are tough enough to drink IC Light in any quantity, you are sure tough enough to play football.

[Neoliberalnot]

Bingo!! Be prepared for the potterites to savage you for such comments.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I have an aversion to IC in any form. Probably comes from living near Pittsburgh in the 70’s and being a Redskins fan.

It doesn’t get much worse than that.

[Neoliberalnot]

I agree the books are ok for young children. For HS and beyond they are more akin to comic books.