Please go here, and read this article: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/577876/posts?page=11
I think you will find the views of several religions informative. I think the information your getting (and believing) is naive and hypocritical. It doesn't serve any useful purpose to condemn something you don't even know about. It just shows an ignorance bias (meaning, lack of knowledge regarding the subject).
There are much more important issues that need attending. I admit I skip by most of the Harry Potter threads, because I find them ridiculous. But after seeing the movie, I know how poorly slamming this movie is serving Christians as whole. And as a Christian, I resent being piled into the stereotyped Christian who would judge this movie or those attending it without really knowing what I'm talking about. There are quite a few Christians who have seen this movie and know that LIES are being spread around about it.
It's as innocent as all the other movies listed above, and the scores of others that are great family entertainment!!
In closing, your analogy about the apple, has nothing to do with anything I mentioned in my response to you. I will repeat, God must have had one heck of a great imagination to have "created" this Universe.
To deny creative thought, imaginations, and enjoyment, is a sin in my opinion. They are gifts from God. I'm sorry you can't see that. But would rather argue about something you've never even witnessed firsthand. Thats extremely closed minded.
Trust me, there are issues we discuss in this family that DO require us judging, to the extent that we say and TEACH they are wrong. Things like Homosexuality, Abortion, Murder, stealing.
We know that we can love a Homosexual as a person, but we must always admit and advocate that Homosexuality is a sin. We have to constantly try to help them know God. They can be forgiven and should either abstain (be celebate) or be the way God intended them. We don't say they are going to Hell, that isn't OUR job. We leave that, the judgement, to the Father.
We KNOW that Abortion is the murder of innocent helpless babies,.. but we can still love, and try to turn to God and Jesus the mothers and fathers who had abortions. They can be forgiven.
All murderers can be forgiven, there is NO sin that cannot be forgiven by the Father.
There are just so many issues, that require our time and energy. We deliver food to the Homeless on a routine basis. We do Christmas with them. We dont' buy a lot of material things for our kids and grandkids ( I made embroidered pillow cases this year for the wee ones, and homemade goodies will be made for the parents and the kids to share). We buy things for Foster kids and for the homeless.
I mention all that, because so many who proclaim to know so much, to condemn such innocent things like the show in question, sit so judgemental on such ridiculous things. Profess to be so all knowing.. and yet don't follow the word of Our Father. They don't help those less fortunate. They don't LEAD people to God, but rather turn people away from God by acting so pious. Its the old "Holier than thou" attitude. I personally think it repulses people. "Love" and "examples of caring, loving and giving" are what bring people to God. Not this judgemental hateful diatribe that has followed this movie. Its just ludicrous!!
I know that movies like this one, and the others I mentioned above are innocous. They are good family fun. That anyone see's evil in it is a stretch of the imagination. But then again, the loudest naysayers, haven't even seen the movie. Nuff said!!
Yes I did. To me there is a big difference between a fantasy that is good against evil,and one that teaches REAL spells..and talks about REAL people involved in witchcraft
I do not need to read HP to know what the word of God says about witchcraft..
We had very firm rules about what was allowed in our home...no sexual material (like playboy),no "new age" material eithor books or music,no heavy metal....and no witchcraft (Horoscopes etc.) no tatoos. We had lots of rules that were best summerized as "garbage in garbage out". Put in those things that are pleasing to God..and you raise a Godly family (which we did)
Have you sat down and read the entire bible with your children? My guess is not.But you seem to be expending alot of energy to defend HP.Do as you like with your kids..but you need to know that all things are not spiritually neutral.
I attend a Nazarene church..the denomination would leave it to you...our Pastor doesn't let stuff like HP in his home..nor do his kids "celebrate" halloween....Yes I would consider myself a fundamentalist..