Harry Potter...

[andwhat]

Vrai, the thing that Jimmy is trying to get at i think, and what he's been trying to get at since the start of this forum is simply why Pmoney doesn't want to see it or believe thats its appropriate. Thats how all of this started, but so far all Pmoney has said is they Harry Potter is voodoo. So we were trying to figure out their opinion on other things such as Narnia, Disney etc. to try and understand and also to find out if Pmoney ahd actually even looked at the books at all and had any experience with them. To come into a forum that says reviews of a film and then just say I will not see that film and not let my kids see it and justify it by saying I'm a christian is kinda dumb. You come into a forum to talk about it and voice your opinions on a subject and to discuss and figure out why you liked it, didn't like it whatever. But someone who makes a judgement on something which they have no knowledge of or experience with and make a moral/value statement such as its bad(such as Pmoney has apparently done) is what got Jimmy all riled up. It would be like me saying that the Dali Lama is an evil human being if I had no experience/knowledge of the Dali Lama. Its an arbitrary value judgement that is not supported at all, so why go onto a forum where people come to discuss subjects and explain to others their feelings and then not discuss it at all but simply say I'm christian like its some kind of catch all answer is what has left us all wondering what the hell Pmoney is talking about and why they even came into the forum in the first place.

[PmoneyandTT]

For the sake of amusing Jimmyrich - I will entertain his thoughts - because its a holiday week - and we are slow right now.  First I would like to say - I have many reasons why I make my decisions for my family.  Neither you - or anyone has to understand "why".  Once you have your own children then your able to make decisions for them.  And if you choose to train your children a certain way - that is your right as a parent.  This is going to be long and drawn out - but I got the time right now.

One thing I have learned in my walk through life is -
You are what you think.

I need to continually purge my thoughts because I become what I think. It is not just the lust that I must clean out, but also pride, arrogrance, hidden jealousy, and much more.  To use a medical metaphor, the mind is the "placenta" of the spirit man.  It holds and nurtures the seeds it has been impregnated with until their time of delivery.  If you have the seed of a thought in your mind and you don't want the thought that the seed will produce, your only recourse is to abort it before it is carried to full term.

If you don't want depression, why do you continue to rehearse those same sickening thoughts that led you there in the first place?  I don't need a famous minister to lay hands on me to win the battle over my mind!  What I need is the inner discipline required of all disciples to resist evil thoughts before they become evidence in my life.  Abort those seeds that are causing me to miss the mark and press on.

With that - Magic - and sorcery in the harry potter books and movie is telling my children (who are very impressionable because they are children) that its ok - its all in fun.  Well since I read my bible every single day - study God's word - I don't need no minister to tell me anything - that its not ok to practice Witchcraft - sorcery - magic - it goes against what we believe in as a family.

My chidren are very involved in the church - they love going - they love knowing they are chidren of Christ.  They stand out from other children - what part of that don't you understand.. I am different - they are different..

My reasons aren't for you to understand - or comprehend.  My life doesn't revolve around your logic - or anyone else's logic..

This book - christy asked me about - No never heard of it.. But that also includes all the million other books I haven't heard of or read..

Just because my walk in life is different then yours - doesn't mean I haven't learned a thing or two.. Thats why we are different - we experience different things - we learn things in different ways - I enjoy being different - I enjoy being ME.. And I enjoy knowing I am very much content in everything I dO..

So with that - I refuse to gratify your impulse of continuing this "getting nowhere debate".. Its an endless satisfaction that you will never have from me - its impossible - and really - how I live my life - doesn't effect who you are as a person..

Not one time - have I pointed my finger at anyone who chooses to see this movie or read the books.  Personal preference I always say.. I don't consider myself a bad person - My children are going to be leaders -  

My children are allowed to express themselves always - when they have a question - I teach them to ask and not be afraid.  Doesn't matter if I agree with them or not.. I teach them to stand up for what they believe in - no matter if I believe it or not.  Im not from the old school - saying kids are to be seen and not heard.. That's so 19th century..

But as a parent - I make the decisions on where my money will be spent.  They don't have jobs - they are way to young.. So I believe the movie is about witchcraft - I am not paying money for my kids to go see it.. With all these reasons pick one - all of them fall under "my reasons why"

[Jimmyrich]

TT,

Thanks for indulging me there.  I think I've got a good handle on your reasoning and I've drawn my conclusions. So, let's part here on this topic.  Sounds like you are a good parent and you care about your children.  Bottom line:  it's good to see someone take an active role in parenting.  I may not agree with your reasoning or direction but your motives are pure and that's what counts.  

[Christy]

If anyone out there is wondering what in the world I'm talking about when I bring up C.S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia", here's a good website to bring you up to speed. #It's brief and informative.

http://www.narnia.com/sevenchronicles.html

http://www.cslewisclassics.com/books.html

(Edited by Christy at 10:26 am on Nov. 20, 2001)

[valentino]

I just have to add a few things for my sake and sanity.  I really do not care if you read the books, or watch the movie, I have not done either, and while I would like to, I probably will not be in a rush anytime soon.  I would like to comment however on the beginning post, and some of the latter ones.  I myself feel that it is wrong to not allow a movie to be out, or music to be made.  I also think that many of you are way off, when comparing wiccans to satan worshipping baby killers.  In fact it was the christians who invented satan, in the true wiccan's mind, there is no satan, and there is not sacrificing of anything.  I have a very dear friend, well maybe more, that is completely against any mistreatment of any animals for any reason and she is wiccan.  While she does not go out of her way to let everyone know, she does not do things herself that would hurt animals.  Enough about that, but I was just giving an example.  My real point is the parents and other people these days are so quick to blame others for their kids problems, that they cannot see the reality.  I watched scary movies, and listened to bad music when I was probably too young to be doing so, but my parents had instilled values and morals that I could follow, and for the most part I stuck to when it came to real life situations.  It is not fair that parents should have to defend themselves for doing what they think is right, but it is also not fair for parents to say that a movie should not be out there.  We have freedom of choice here in america, and if people could just see that, then I think that the worlds problems would not be so extreme.  Who cares what anothers religion is, what movies they watch, what music they listen to, what they have for dinner, as long as you know that you and the people you care about are doing the best they can to be the best people they can be in family situations and beyond.  I will not be eating Turkey on Thurs. but that is my choice, eat it if you like, or do not, I will not look down on you in any way.  Have a good holiday all.

[AnonymousPenguin]

TT,

I am glad to hear of some of your thought pattern... eventhough I don't know if I agree w/ you as I have not seen this movie. #Personally, I don't know why this is such a big deal.... So, I am going to see this movie and judge for myself. #It seems like an interesting and controversial movie.... I don't feel like I can take a stand for whether I would allow <b>my</b> children (if I had any) unless I judge the movie <b>myself</b> for <b>my</b> children. #I can't take someone else's views when it would come to raising <i>my</i> own. #I completely support parents being involved in what their children see. #At a certain age, they can evaluate the idea and form their opinions. #At other ages, they need guidance and can be easily influenced in the wrong direction. #Continue to play an active role in the upbringing of your children ...

I do have to say that...if I had children....I would keep them away from images of sex/violence/obscene language/drugs b4 considering witchcraft. #After all, I don't see too many children engaging in witchcraft. #I definitely do see many many children engaging in sex, violence, drugs, and/or obscene language. #So, I would be concerned about those type of things influencing my children at this age and time.

With all that said, I hope to see this movie soon. #TT, maybe you can come check it out w/ me if you haven't already seen it. #I know that you are an adult who won't be influenced my images on a movie screen... so, no harm done in <i>you</i> seeing it.

After I see it, I will have to post my review... since I have no opinion on the matter now... :(

[vraiblonde]

My girls will probably see Harry Potter and get it for keeps on video.  I could care less about it and wouldn't see it, left to my own devices.  My middle daughter is prone to "manias" and she was just moving away from Harry to Spongebob when this movie hit.  Now we're back to Harry and I'm thoroughly bored with him.

[PmoneyandTT]

My final answer

Contentment comes from within.  It destroys jealousy and celebrates success in others.  It doesn't matter what you accomplish, if you never master contentment you will die miserable.  Whether you are famous or infamous, educated or illiterate, if you never learn contentment, you will never be free.  The great gain of the Bible is godliness, which is to continually be my goal; and contentment, which must become the nesting place where greatness is spawned.  To be content is to be appreciate what God has already given me.  Then my gift will bud and blossom.  We are all students now in the school of life.  Heaven is my only diploma.  I will learn from everyone.  The discerning person learns wisdom from the idiot and folly from the itelligent.  I must have the perception to look deeply into life and then apply what I see.  I will see that every incident, every feeling, every fear is a class.  I'm encouraged to learn all that I can.  At the same time, understand that I must learn from others without losing the core of who I am.  My essence may be cultivated, but I do not allow anyone to mutilate the women I have been created to be.  I need to find people that enhance me rather than inhibit me.  I will surround myself with those persons who celebrate me.  When I have been with people of quality, they will leave my sails full of air.  Nevertheless, I realize that I am not exempt from challenges and distresses.  I'm prepared for life's little unexpected events.  I am strong and creative, endowed and enabled.  I will never allow anyone or anything deplete my confidence in God.  His love is not contingent upon my performance.  He loves me without restriction.  And that love I am perfectly content.

So leave my answer as NO thanks - and Im very content with my decision.

[Hessian]

Narnia Vs Harry Potter...
One written by a Christian, the other not.
One devoid of satanic symbols, the other has them.
One has a boy going astray, realizes he was deceived-then begs for forgiveness from one who gave his life for him...the other has a boy defying authority, deliberately breaking rules  and getting rewarded for it (and putting pressure on a peer to do the same)
One has battle of good vs evil and good wins, the other has a muddled world or evil and partially evil.
One had children fleeing what is evil and seeing the consequences of evil. The other has evil being elusive, ill-defined, relative...
One does not have children casting spells, making potions, and placing curses on peers- the other does.
One does NOT use curses in a positive light, the other does.

oh, gee...Potter's just like C.S Lewis! BULL! For crying out loud don't even bother trying to say they are the same!
You shrink in horror when you hear of a kid blasting a gun at peers at school...but think its funny if kids try conjuring up curses and potions to get revenge on a classmate. Oh, and I suppose you believe curses are harmless right? Ask a frustrated adolescent who felt their curse fell flat...what do they do? Start searching the net/libraries for more on the occult and the hidden arts so they can do real damage. Now they have an example to follow...
and its fun!, gets kids to read!, opens up discussions! Yeah, let's all have fun with witchcraft!!!
Unbelievable. What a great role model.

Walt Disney gave us Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Escape to Witch Mountain etc...not the right timing, didn't catch on (1960's+)...we have to wait for a generation who won't resist and is too blind to see the threat.---NOW.
Veritas.

[Hessian]

Hey Daniel...
Spelling/capitalization test (nitwit):
1) hessien
2) rediculous
3) christian (capitalize...its the shift key)
4) harry potter (you figure it out)
5) christs sake
6) arguements
7) i
8) librarys

And when you spew the hatred of everything conservative and lump it all together in a jumbled pile of frenzied outrage...you certainly are laughable.
No graduation to 3rd grade newbie for you. You've got to work on that spelling, punctuation, and general mechanics before we can approach your disfunctional logic.
See ya in summer school...don't miss the short bus!