how do you feel about harry potter and twilight?

Josslyn - posted on 04/12/2010

WATCH THE MOVIE "UNIDENTIFIED" and it will clear up alot of things for you, watching and believing in it are two different things!! I love the fact that people can use their imagination but definitely do not believe it.

Sheryl - posted on 03/28/2010

i am one not for it. i think alot of stuff today just sell to much sex even to young kids and it just sad. i am not even for the 2012 movie. cause i belive god is going to come when he comes i belive will see sign but like i have heard and read we well not know the min its going to happen. but that just me plus i think the guy they are talk about who said this. i think what he protest what witch craft. but that just my point of view.

Good Day! - posted on 03/27/2010

Because there are so many other options. And gambling is considered a "serious sin" in my culture. And most people don't go for the food. They go to gamble. At the pub, I'm assuming most go for the food. It's not a sin to eat on the riverboat or in a pub. But you have to consider what others around you think. And I know people who have been influenced by seeing a deacon enter a riverboat. **Sorry my example got us so far off track of the topic*** It is important to follow what is says in Romans 14 about the weak and the strong. That is what I was trying to say with my example and apply it to reading secular books.

Darcel - posted on 03/27/2010

"However, if someone who is weaker than you sees you getting on the boat, what are they going to think? "

That should not effect anyone else depending on where you are located. Lemme explain:

When I was visiting Boston on business a group of librarians arranged a meet & greet at a local resturant. So I agreed to go, excited even. Come to find out it was a pub & resturant. I am angry because I was convicted about being in a pub and I didn't have my own way home. The next morning when I left my hotel I asked three different locals where I can get a good hearty New England breakfast for under $10 and they all told me Po' Boys. When I get to Po' Boys I start to get angry again because it is ANOTHER PUB! Then I figure it out, and say to myself it's 8am dummy! Apparently In Boston some pubs serve food all day. I'm not going to Cheers bar. When I walked into the pub, I saw families drinking virgin mary's with breakfast kids in tow, college students at the bar with coffee and books and I was at ease.

Moral of the story: A Christian in Boston should not be concerned to see me in a pub famous for steak dinners at 6:00 pm or in a well known pub famous for breakfast at 8:00 am. So if River Boat Casino's are well known for good economical food where you live, why would one be think ill of another for going?

Good Day! - posted on 03/27/2010

This is such an interesting topic. And everyone is convicted completely differently. How great is our God that knows us so perfectly!

I personally love fantasy and love finding parallels in secular books and movies to the gospel. It's a great conversation starter with non-believers. The Chronicles of Narnia have a very blatant gospel message and they are full of magic and fantasy. If you look hard enough you can find it in Harry Potter as well. Harry also sacrificed himself, yet lived. It's even more of a stretch in Twilight, but you could relate the Christian life to the Cullen's vegetarian lifestyle. They live foolishly in the eyes of the other vampires, but they hold each other accountable to do what is right. You can relate almost any movie or book to something in the Bible.

BUT....

Like Maggie said though, we have to be careful that we do not cause another Christian to stumble and fall in their walk because of what we do. If you feel it is okay for you to read the books and watch the movies, by all means go right ahead. But think about who may be watching you.

Here is an example of causing someone to stumble: Around here river boat casinos serve very inexpensive gourmet meals. As a Christian, it is more than okay to get on that boat and eat the meal. However, if someone who is weaker than you sees you getting on the boat, what are they going to think? They may be confused and say, "Well, she is a Christian and she goes to the casinos! So is what she says about God true?"

Like others have said, pray and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Nina - posted on 03/27/2010

I would like quote some scriptures that have been a help to me in understanding what to do concerning these movies ..
1John2:27 says But as for me, the anointing ( the secred appointment, the unction) which I received form him abides in me:(so) then I have no need that anyone should instruct me. But just as His anointing teaches me concerning everything is true and is no falsehood, so I must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him(being rooted in Him, knit to Him), just as( His anointing) has taught me (to do)..Psalms139:23-24 says Search me, O God and know my heart: try me , and know my anxieties and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting..And finally a scripture that sold the deal with me and God is found in Deuteronomy 18:9-12. Which says "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to the following abominations of those nations . There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you.
And as it says in Ephesians 6:12 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood , but against pricipalities, against powers. against the rules of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of god to be able to withstand in the evil day...Now why would he say that !! Because his and our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour..Resist him!! Just ask your self would Jesus be happy to sit down and watch the movie with you or do think he would be sad to see that his people conformed to the world and worlds way of thinking and doing ...God says Be holy as and I am holy ...in everything you do ask yourself would this be something that I would be proud to watch,read ,engage in with my heavenly Father ...

Janessa - posted on 03/26/2010

Great topic i am only 21 years old. I remember when i was in grade 7 when the first movie came out. Everyone in my my school grade 4-7 went to see the movie except myself and my 2 younger sisters. My parents would not allowed any of us to see it or ready the book. I was really piss because everyone was allowed not us looking back my parents did the right thing. As a person from Haiti which our culture is influences are voodoo and catholic. I have a hard time letting go of the voodoo because i think it is part of my african hertiage but at times i feel in my heart it is very bad i know it is. So my point is black magic is not nothing to laugh about and think it is ok to read books like that and that stuff happens all around me as a child in Haiti it is very scary. I used to have dreams i would scream and scream and my parents in haiti would wake me up to make sure i was ok and the next morning there would ask what happened and i would never remembered. This also continued when i was adopted to Canada thankfully my parents prayed now i do not scream anymore.

Pilar - posted on 03/26/2010

On my part, I don't read it because of my personal conviction. However, I cannot shield my children from the reality that these books are bestsellers and are also worthy of literary recognition. But, I do encourage open discussions on these topics at home in the same manner I discuss topics that concern every Christian family. We talk about these things in a very light and open atmosphere. They respect my opinion and I respect theirs. But most importantly, we always go back to what the Bible says regarding these things. In the end, I tell them that whatever they do and believe in will be between them and God. Better ask yourself: Will I please my God if I read Harry Potter and Twilight? Will I become a better Christian by reading it? Will I bring other people closer to God by reading it? Then decide.

Maggie - posted on 03/25/2010

I think we need go no farther than 1 Co. 8 and Romans 14. Basically we as Christians are to give deference to our weaker brethren. If I know someone is going to be offended by my choice of reading material or movies I would watch, I don't tell them about it. What I read and watch at home is my business, it's between me and God. It is wrong for me to go around and flaunt that I read these books or watch these movies if I know a brother or sister has a problem with it. It isn't my place to defend my right or try to convince them they are wrong. If asked about it or confronted about it, I would say it is my liberty to like those things and apologize if it offends them and assure them I won't speak about it to them. However, we do run into a problem when we try to be "in their face" about our freedom. We will be held accountable for any stumbling block we put before a brother.

Deborah - posted on 03/25/2010

Evelyn,
I agree with you concerning us get affected by what we watch. We definitely have to listen to the Holy Spirit on what to do and not do in our lives and for our children.

Deborah - posted on 03/25/2010

Hi Desha,
The reason I'm against Harry Porter is because it deals with sorcery which is a form of witchcraft and the Bible speaks against witches and witchcraft.

Alina - posted on 03/25/2010

I worked in an office and there was a petition going around to ban Harry Potter. I'm one of those people who researches everything, so I asked to read the book before signing the petition. To me they were no different than Disney movies. That being said, I have read Harry Potter, and only seen one of the movies. I won't let my children watch them b/c they are too young and the subject matters are too serious. I've never watched or read Twilight and have no intention to, not because of the vampire, but because it just doesn't interest me. Personally, the Holy Spirit will convict you if it's wrong for you. I know nothing about being Goth so won't comment. Listen to the Holy Spirit - He is your best guide. I grew up in a church where big earrings, nail polish, dominoes, spades, basketball, bowling and going to the movies was considered wrong, so again I say - LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND READ THE WORD!! GOD WILL GUIDE YOU. Listening to too many people might confuse you.

Evelyn - posted on 03/25/2010

At the age of 8 or 9, I watched a movie titled "Poltergiest". I don't know how many of you watched or heard about the movie; 28 yrs later, I still have flashes of the movie which leaves me slightly frightened.

Truth is, the devil works in subtle ways to take our minds off God unto something else, which magic is all about, whether real or fantasy. Gradually the line between "...yea, hath God said..." Gen. 3:1 becomes blurred.

My point is, we get affected by what we watch. I personally think that we should endeavour to involve our minds on things that will build us up spiritually. My little knowledge of Harry Porter is about a young man with supernatural abilities to do all sorts of things, I'm sure a lot of young (old!) people will love to have the same powers Harry does, and what if, consider this, what if they were offered these powers.

Will they need God? Will they know God? Will they believe in God?

Movies like Harry Porter do not exalt God, I think they were produced to do the opposite, take people's mind away from God and focus it on their own abilities.

God works miracles not magic, please lets not expose our children to movies like these, we will be endangering them if we expose them to spiritual activities like this, children love to fantasise and be like their role models, lets give them a better role model.
And as for being Goth, I dont think it makes you evil, it just doesn't show your real beauty. God bless you...

Alyssa - posted on 03/24/2010

My husband and I love Twilight and New Moon and have seen all the Harry Potter movies at least twice. Our philosophy is that these movies are no different than watching Snow White or Kung Fu Panda. They're all fantasy. But as most everyone else has already stated, it's all a personal conviction.

Stephanie - posted on 03/24/2010

Sure the writers of herry potter and twilite are not Christian i have also heard from afew ppl who beleived that even chronicles of narnia were evil. (i do not) tho i have never been intrested in reading Herry potter(the story never seemed intresting) i dont just push it aside and say its evil. tho i would probably want to read it first befor allowing my son(tho hes only 2 now~ ha) There are parts of storys that are good for children to read that are full of fantasy(like most of childrens storys and movies) like friendship and true love and to be watchfull of evil things/doers.
And as for You Vicroia =) i think its great you are listing to God. soo glad You have taken care of any stumbling blocks in Your home.
=)

Victoria - posted on 03/22/2010

Before I got saved I was into witchcraft....so called white magic, I was in vampire books by a writer called Anne Rice, Interview with the Vampire and the Vampire Chronicles. When I got born-again, God had me get rid of all my witch craft stuff, then a few months later He had me get rid of all the vampire novels. God abhors magic, and He doesn't want us polluting ourselves with things that are impure, unholy and of the world.

Jas 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Personally I choose not to be a friend to such things, and I certainly won't allow my children to either.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/22/2010

I have been a christian all my life and I do my best not to judge others and their opinions and I won't now either. I honestly enjoy both of the series. I am an avid reader and while I can't read as much as I used to now that I have a two and three year old, I still try to read everything I can. I enjoy different genres and have read every genre that is available. I guess what I think is this, the stories are fiction, completely make believe just like Pirates of the Carribean or Cinderella. There is not one thing in those books that would make me not want to be a christian and practice magic. But, there are some good things in the books. Harry Potter has fictional ideas true, but nothing about sex or drugs that I feel could influence my girls when they are older. And what I mean about that is, I feel that I will raise them to know what is true (God loves you) and what is false (there are no such things as monsters, magic or fairy god mothers), but I would rather them read make believe than stories about teen pregnancy that might show it in a "oooh that might be fun" light or talk about people having a good time drinking and doing drugs that might make them want to try it too. I think that the story lines of Harry Potter strengthen ideas on strong friendship and the principles of good conquering over evil and good morals. Now Twilight was just a fun, silly book. No premarital sex, no drugs, or teen pregnancy outside of marriage. Edward was actually spritual in his own way worrying about eternal damnation. I guess I don't begrudge anyone on whether they like them or do not feel comfortable reading them. But the post was about how I feel about Harry Potter and Twilight and this is it.

Darcel - posted on 03/22/2010

You ask: "if you know that vampires are not real and don't believe in magic what is the problem?"

My answer: Literature and television effect people differently. To explain I’ll use another genre of literature: Urban lit.

Urban lit glamorizes and glorifies prostitution, selling/using drugs, murder, crime; the worst of the worst of the underbelly of African American society with pride.

Although some can read and enjoy these stories and they are just that; entertaining stories. Their values and lives do not change. However the stories also effect people in a negative way. Some people who read them become callous to murder and crime. It is possible for a young person to read these books and want to become a criminal because they view the lifestyle as positive.

In my opinion based on my religious convictions Urban lit is a genre that is pure evil because of the lifestyle it promotes. But this is based on my religious convictions, another will say ‘ Darcel your reading too much into it, they are just stories.’

The phrases: Never judge a book by its cover, never judge a person by the outside appearance do have merit. On one hand, people generally know better than to judge other people based on appearances alone and will try to get to know that person. On the other hand books do not have that luxury. If you see a title and read the back cover or inside flap jacket that is the book’s introduction to what it is all about. Based on spiritual convictions and religious viewpoints we must make that value judgment.

Anne - posted on 03/22/2010

Hi Desha, I do agree with Heather that God does not convict every one about the same things. For me the one and only time I have ever even touched a harry potter book was when they first came out, I had a co-worker that was reading the book. She asked my opinion what I thought of the book because she knew I was a Christian. I felt like my fingers were on fire. AS soon as I put the book down my fingers were fine. Because of this I would not allow our daughters to read these books. I have not seen the twilight books, however when ever a commercial advertising a these types of movies are on I feel like the room has become very small and stuffy. Needless to say I do not watch them.

Can I tell you that if someone else reads or watches these books or movies, I am not God or The Holy Spirit. I can not say what is wrong for you. However because of the verses Heather used (Acts 19:19, and Philippians 4:8 I would encourage another Christian to stay clear any thing that has to do with these areas. That said I would not or could not judge you or any one else for liking them.

Heather - posted on 03/22/2010

First let me say that God convicts everyone with different things at different times. I know many Christians that do like Harry Potter and stuff, but for me, I do not. The Bible tells us that magic is evil, and that we should focus on things that are pure and holy. So for me, it would be a sin to watch those shows or read the books, because I believe it is wrong. Just because you are free to do so does not make you a "bad Christian" or an "evil person". I also do not believe it would be very Christian to blow up Harry Potter...



Acts 19:19

And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.



Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.



As far as being Goth... to me that would depend on exactly what you meant by that. God doesn't care about external appearances, but only about the heart. If you seek His truth, and love Him more then anything else, then that's what matters. However it is important to remember that we represent Him... So I wouldn't wear any shirts that curse Him, or support evil... Does that make since?



1 Peter 3:3-4

Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.



Basically God cares about our hearts. If you are trying to please Him, you should continue to grow in your relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit will lead you and convict you of the things that are important in your walk.