Another rant :-), was Harry Potter and the Bible

[Lyda Clunas]

No: HPFGUIDX 17628

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Becca" <rboswell at m...> wrote:

<wonderfully articulate, purposeful post snipped, but bravo Becca!>

>>and I have a documented study that I forgot the name of, again, 
that was presented in my Science class in a video, "Psuedo-Science".  
It was that one man, a retired magician, offered $1,000,000 to anyone 
who could provide solid proof that they could do any supernatural 
act.  It has been 25 years, and nobody has been able to fly, predict 
the future, or cure diseases by the touch of a finger.<<

The magician-turned-skeptic you refer to here is none other than 
James Randi. :)
  
>>I believe in miracles, but these acts are just imagination.  People 
like believing that there are cool things to do...like talk to dead 
people in their workplace.  It's fun, and it brings out a very 
valuable tool. Imagination.  Imagination is everywhere...including 
politics, but that is yet another topic. ;-) Magic's a thrill ride, 
and it's not evil.<<

I personally think that such phenomenon such as clairvoyance and 
other psychic occurences do exist... but they are products of weird 
abnormalities in the brain, and cannot be controlled by the person 
who has the ability. An imbalance of sorts. I don't think 
that "psychics" are real, because I don't believe that true "psychic 
energy" (for lack of a better term) can be used at will. I'm just 
rambling on, aren't I? OK, I'll stop my OT nonsense now...

>>If evil is what some people are suggesting exists in the books of 
Harry Potter, then I suggest they take a look at their Bible.  The 
Bible denounces evil as well, as does Harry Potter.  There is nothing 
wrong with the Harry Potter books or the Bible, and frankly, the 
people that see something wrong with these books are conspiring to 
create a disturbance.  If you see something wrong with the Harry 
Potter books, then there is something wrong with Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, 
Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, and most Science Fiction or Fantasy  
writers.  In fact, if there is a problem with the morality of Harry  
Potter, then there is a problem with the morality of every single 
book that has a good against evil plot.  Want to debate with the  
readers of the world?  You'll lose miserably.<<

I (a devout Roman Catholic, by the way, in case anyone might wonder) 
personally see NO cause whatsoever for religious institutions and 
such to be so overwhelmed and insulted by the HP series. For, as you 
so wonderfully pointed out, they are simply the tales of Good vs. 
Evil, with Good and Love triumphing over Hate and Evil. The inclusion 
of magic, witches, broomsticks, numerology, divination, astrology, 
and the miscellaneous other 'evils' that supposedly adorn the series 
are nothing more than the great and enticing embellishments of a 
realm of fantasy. FANTASY, folks. It's not real, it doesn't encourage 
children to go out and consult/worship Satan (or even Lord 
Voldemort). In fact, I'd say the most kids really want to do is dress 
up like Harry Potter for Halloween. It is the story of Good against 
Evil that truly dominates the stories, and it is this plot that more 
influences child readers, IMO, than any anount of spells or potions 
or whatever.

>>Wandering off to finish Calc homework after a really long and 
mostly off-topic post...<<

Geez, can I ever relate to that. You know, if you want to talk about 
things that are related to Satan, it is my firm belief that Isaac 
Newton was the Devil Incarnate. Therefore, Calculus is the Spawn of 
Satan... ;) *snort*

Lyda