RANT Re: Christians and Magic. Read at your own peril!

[Melody <Malady579@hotmail.com>]

Derannimer ranted:
> I'm sorry, this isn't really pertinent to the question, but:
> I have heard this argument before from some Christians; you know,
> the: "Well, magic's okay when *Christians* do it," and I must
> confess that I absolutely cannot fathom it.

Amen, sister.

Ok, I have never hidden that fact I am a Christian from the site.  I
say it with pride, but what I do often kind of hide is the fact I was
raised Southern Baptist.  I adore my home church to death, but
sometimes...well lets say the church body can be a bit pigheaded and
stubborn.  Luckily though, my parents taught my brother and I that
just because the church people say something does *NOT* mean it from
God.  People have a way of twisting the scriptures to fit their own
purpose sometimes.

My whole family adores the series.  They introduced it to me in fact,
though I have now become more obsessed with it than any of them.  We
all grit our teeth when someone in church says something against the
series.  We each have our own ways of dealing with it though.  In the
case of my brother, he is particularly quick to jump down those that
curse HP for "religious" reasons.  I tend to avoid the subject but if
someone speaks out against I am right along beside him defending HP.
(yeah, I am a defender type.  Didn't you know?  <grin>)  Generally the
conversations my brother has ends once the HP curser say they like
LotR or the Chronicles of Narnia.  The point is proven that they are
being bias.  Sometimes he can get them on Star Wars alone.

If they are persistent, then he goes to "Well, have you read HP?"  The
answer is almost always "No", so he says "Fine, then you do not know
what you are talking about.  Read the books and get back with me with
your point."

Once he did get the above argument Derannimer.  He looked the person
in the eye and said "Tell me.  When did the words from a Christian
writer mean they were more sanctioned by God?  If magic is so wrong,
then how is it that *anyone* can write it proper?  I think you need to
go reread _The_Bible_ closer and you will see that just because
someone is Christian does not mean they are more in tune with God.
And besides, who are you to say JKR isn't a Christian?"

The person stormed away, but it was funny...and true.  See - to be
honest, people want to be right.  They want to trust the word from
their "church" as manna from heaven almost.  They want to say *that*
is right.  *That* is from God.  Often times, they do not read closer.
 It is easier to listen to someone on a soapbox and say they are
right.  That they know what is going on.  They take their word as
gospel, and never study for themselves to find out if it is in fact
gospel or not.

So when some pastor (or any respected person in a church) decides to
say HP is bad because it has witchcraft, then people just nod and say
ok.  They tend to not think past it to whether it is in fact good or
not.  --I mean he/she has studied _The_Bible_ a *long* time.  He/She
*must* know what is right and wrong if anyone does.--  (ok, my sarcasm
is off now.)

Now, why that respected member says that?  Well, I have had my own
conclusions on the matter being raise with some interesting things
told to me in church by people that "meant well," but I will not go
into it here.  Mostly it is because they were told something once a
long time ago on something not even related to JKR's books, and then
feel they are "in tune" with God, and thus think their "impression" or
conclusion is what God tells them as right.

So when you point out that they like other forms of "witchcraft" in
their literature, well they get defensive.  Strike back with the first
thing that comes to their head.  That "well Christian writers can
write it from a Christian perspective" crap that makes no sense.

So really, Derannimer.  Some people will never get it.  They take a
person at their word and never investigate it further as to whether it
is backed up by scripture.  Then they think they have a "good" defense
to their views, and they never do.  If anything, be gentle back.  Show
them what they are missing.  Show them how they are being
shortsighted.  After all, one does not have to confess on the grand
stage that they are Christian to be one.  How are they to say she
isn't?  Really, it is none of our business.  That is between her and God.

And if I offended anyone with what I said here, or someone has issues
with something I made in comment, please feel free to email me off
list.  I truly did not mean to offend anyone by my statements, but if
I did, I would like to apologies and amend what I said.  For I myself
can be a bit shortsighted too.


Melody
and if I type your name Derannimer a few more hundred times, I might
just be able to get it right the first time I type it.  :)