Harry Potter and the Bible: The Debate So Far

[Horst or Rebecca J. Bohner]

No: HPFGUIDX 17616

Richard Abanes wrote (among other things):

>  Very clever, but also painfully stupid.
>  How ignorant and judgmental.

Richard, I've been following this discussion since the beginning without
having time or opportunity to comment, but I was interested to see what you
might have to say.  I am, after all, a member of your avowed "target
audience" for your book -- a Christian (not a nominal religionist, but a
child of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ) who enjoys fantasy
literature in general and Harry Potter in particular.

I was willing to consider that perhaps there were some valid points to be
made against the HP books which I had not previously thought of, and thought
that perhaps I might even pick up your book and read it (I'm sure it's
available at my local Christian bookstore, or soon will be) to be sure that
I was not dismissing anti-HP arguments out of hand.  After all, just because
virtually every article I have read that was anti-HP misrepresented the
contents of the books and/or failed to demonstrate any understanding of the
difference between fantasy-magic and Satanism, didn't mean that your book
was guilty of such carelessness as well.

However, I have been deeply disappointed in your attitude toward those who
disagreed with you.  Even if in your estimation your remarks were being
misrepresented, and even if you felt that some of the remarks made were
personal attacks, does not justify your responding in kind or even more
harshly than your critics.  In 1 Peter 3:15 believers are exhorted to
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your
good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."  But where is the
"gentleness and respect" in your replies?  And what cause have you given
anyone to be ashamed of speaking ill of you?

You say that you are not well versed in communicating on the Internet and
that your sense of humour doesn't come across well, but what is humorous
about calling someone "painfully stupid" and "ignorant"?  Adding a thousand
smileys to that sentence will not make it anything less than an insult and a
personal attack.  I am reminded of Christ's words to his disciples in
Matthew 5:22 that "anyone who says [to his brother], `You fool!' will be in
danger of the fire of hell."  Admittedly, the majority of those here are not
your brethren in the faith.  But if it is wrong to say such things to a
fellow believer, is it not all the more wrong to say them to those who do
not know Christ as Lord and Saviour but whom you would wish to persuade that
He is worthy of their trust?  Is it not a very serious thing to bring
reproach to the name of Christ and the reputation of your fellow believers
in the course of claiming to serve and represent God's truth?

I would have said these things to you privately, but your remarks have been
made in public to a large general audience, and therefore I feel that a
public affirmation that your speech and behaviour are *not* in accordance
with the teaching of God's Word is necessary.  Please, consider how rude and
condescending many of your remarks have sounded, and how much your messages
have made it appear (regardless of your actual intent) that you are here to
defend yourself and your reputation, rather than to represent the truth
without thought of yourself.  1 Peter 2:23 says of the Lord Jesus Christ,
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he
suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who
judges justly."  Surely His example is the pattern for all of us to follow,
regardless of how others may inadvertently or deliberately insult us?

Yours sincerely,
--
Rebecca J. Bohner
rebeccaj at pobox.com
http://home.golden.net/~rebeccaj