Christian Forums

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:31:12

Quote from: caldwelljr11 on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:27:27

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 18:29:14
The Lord of the Rings is about sorcery and so is Narnia.  So ifn's you let your kids watch these, but not other stuff, than you just might be a hypocrite.

The difference is the underlying truths in the stories.  Good vs evil in a moral aspect or God vs evil (secular allegory vs Christian allegory).  I don’t have a problem with the use of Gandolf by Tolken, or Narnia by Lewis.  I do object to some shows that I have seen (ie. Evil is ok if it is for the moral good, or that there is no evil, just choices so what we call evil could also be good, etc.)

I finished The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker, which would also fall into the fantasy realm.  One of the demonic characters asked a man if he found something they did to be offensive.  The reply was “no”, to which he responded something to the effect that he should be offended, but men chose blindness.

I haven’t seen Twilight, so I can’t speak on aspects of the movie that may be offensive. But I have noticed that there is much on the airwaves that should offend the Christian, but often goes unnoticed (myself included).

In short, I could allow my son to watch The Lord of the Rings or Narnia, but object to The Golden Compass or Twilight without being hypocritical, depending on my reasoning for objection.

Harry Potter is good vs. evil as well.  Did the scriptures say stay away from witchcraft only if it doesn't have a good vs. evil storyline where evil loses?

That was OT.  The NT is silent so grab a few bat wings and eyes of newt...

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:31:12

Quote from: caldwelljr11 on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:27:27

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 18:29:14
The Lord of the Rings is about sorcery and so is Narnia.  So ifn's you let your kids watch these, but not other stuff, than you just might be a hypocrite.

The difference is the underlying truths in the stories.  Good vs evil in a moral aspect or God vs evil (secular allegory vs Christian allegory).  I don't have a problem with the use of Gandolf by Tolken, or Narnia by Lewis.  I do object to some shows that I have seen (ie. Evil is ok if it is for the moral good, or that there is no evil, just choices so what we call evil could also be good, etc.)

I finished The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker, which would also fall into the fantasy realm.  One of the demonic characters asked a man if he found something they did to be offensive.  The reply was "no

Quote from: farouk on Tue Dec 01, 2009 - 10:18:08
When I was a kid, youngsters often read, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C S Lewis.

(I never read it; I've never been part of a bandwaggon against it, either, since it's something I know little about.)

It's a Christian allegory.  (The witch is bad, but the lion talks!)  We had to read it in school.

Bad witches and talking lions, oh my.

(It's kind of like a juvenile story along the lines of the Screwtape Letters – but fun.  I thought it was actually good).  But you'd have to be of a mind to accept stories based on the Bible.  If one thought offensive Christian allegories they'd find it offensive, it'd fall into a category with Pilgrim's Progress – but for kids.

The more I think of it, this is extremely silly.  Upon vast biblical research (Old and New Testament) I have failed to find a reference to vampires.  Perhaps they are a product of fantasy?  No, that can't be it.   They must be real and they must be evil.  If they were fantasy, then an author could make "good

I think some guy wrote a book against the Potter series. It sold to a certain audience.

I read somewhere that the guy now says he has no further comment.

Haven't read or seen these, but a month or so ago I was introducing a book to the seventh grade class I teach.  A student asked if it had witchcraft or sorcery in it, and I said no.  She said that was good, because if it had, she wouldn't be allowed to read it.

She had one of the Twilight books on her desk during this conversation.

Quote from: farouk on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 20:41:32
I think some guy wrote a book against the Potter series. It sold to a certain audience.

I read somewhere that the guy now says he has no further comment.

They put a spell on him.  He knows to "keep quiet". 

Quote from: marc on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 20:44:31
Haven't read or seen these, but a month or so ago I was introducing a book to the seventh grade class I teach.  A student asked if it had witchcraft or sorcery in it, and I said no.  She said that was good, because if it had, she wouldn't be allowed to read it.

She had one of the Twilight books on her desk during this conversation.

I guess everyone draws a line somewhere.  

Is it a boy who rides a flying horse and tries to save his father, a man who comes from another planet with superpowers, a Babylonian king seeking immortality?  

We have to live as we feel commanded, but it does seem some are too often easily offended by trivial issues (but I'm not saying there isn't a line to be drawn).

Quote from: zoonance on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:34:58

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:31:12

Quote from: caldwelljr11 on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 19:27:27

Quote from: Bocephus on Sat Jan 02, 2010 - 18:29:14
The Lord of the Rings is about sorcery and so is Narnia.  So ifn's you let your kids watch these, but not other stuff, than you just might be a hypocrite.

The difference is the underlying truths in the stories.  Good vs evil in a moral aspect or God vs evil (secular allegory vs Christian allegory).  I don't have a problem with the use of Gandolf by Tolken, or Narnia by Lewis.  I do object to some shows that I have seen (ie. Evil is ok if it is for the moral good, or that there is no evil, just choices so what we call evil could also be good, etc.)

I finished The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker, which would also fall into the fantasy realm.  One of the demonic characters asked a man if he found something they did to be offensive.  The reply was "no

I find it ludicrous that anyone could view the Twilight Saga as "occult".  It is simply a fantasy story set in an alternate reality where vampires and werewolves exist.  I have read the books, and the only thing wrong with them is the fact that they are poorly written.  But, hey, it's a guilty pleasure.  If I had a daughter I wouldn't let her read this until she was around 16 at least.  I don't think it's suitable to let younger children read anything that is classified as "romantic", and Twilight is as much romance as it is fantasy.
As far as the Harry Potter dispute goes, anyone who criticizes the series obviously knows nothing about them.  It is sheer ignorance that fuels any controversy surrounding both of these series.

Quote from: WordNerd on Mon Jan 11, 2010 - 19:32:43
I find it ludicrous that anyone could view the Twilight Saga as "occult".  It is simply a fantasy story set in an alternate reality where vampires and werewolves exist.  I have read the books, and the only thing wrong with them is the fact that they are poorly written.  But, hey, it's a guilty pleasure.  If I had a daughter I wouldn't let her read this until she was around 16 at least.  I don't think it's suitable to let younger children read anything that is classified as "romantic", and Twilight is as much romance as it is fantasy.
As far as the Harry Potter dispute goes, anyone who criticizes the series obviously knows nothing about them.  It is sheer ignorance that fuels any controversy surrounding both of these series.

Are you saying werewolves are not real???!!!  They got 'em in London.

Oh snap! You totally just called me ot on that one!

Ms WordN:

Quote from: WordNerd on Mon Jan 11, 2010 - 19:32:43
I find it ludicrous that anyone could view the Twilight Saga as "occult".  It is simply a fantasy story set in an alternate reality where vampires and werewolves exist.  I have read the books, and the only thing wrong with them is the fact that they are poorly written.  But, hey, it's a guilty pleasure.  If I had a daughter I wouldn't let her read this until she was around 16 at least.  I don't think it's suitable to let younger children read anything that is classified as "romantic", and Twilight is as much romance as it is fantasy.
As far as the Harry Potter dispute goes, anyone who criticizes the series obviously knows nothing about them.  It is sheer ignorance that fuels any controversy surrounding both of these series.

Joanna Rowling was influenced in the Potter series by C S Lewis's 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. This is what lots of kids were reading when I was a youngster.

Anything that glorifies the demonic is unheathly and dangerous. God gave the death penalty for witchcraft. Why? Because the devil is real and so is his power. He destroys lives. Give him access to people and places and that's what he does. He doesn't just randomly going out causing people to suffer with no authority. People give him authority.

I finally saw the movie.  Didn't realize that was what was on (so of course, I just caught the last half).  I thought it was silly.

I suppose one could somehow figure that vampires, werewolves, superman...and anything else that is produced for entertainment but void of Christian doctrine could distract from relevant issues - which would be the real issue.  It'd probably be somewhat ignorant to call everything derived from secular fiction for entertainment as witchcraft. 

I dislike the Harry Potter series/movies because it glorifies witchcraft, and I was told the books portrays Christians and Christ as weak.  

I tried to see the movie but never could get into them....couldn't watch past the first 15 minutes...

I saw the first Twilight movie before I read the book or knew it was from a book.  I thought it was boring, and that the girl who played "Bella" couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.  When I found out it was from a book series I started reading the books, and found them interesting.  I think the movies have improved greatly as well as the books.

I don't agree with all that is proposed by the books/movies however it is fantasy and entertainment.  I would project it as role-model material and would have a serious conversation with my teenagers if they were "into it".

Blessings!

When vampires become real, I'll worry about people listening/reading/watching movies about them,  until then, whatever, fairytales are fairytales and let's face it, witchcraft is fake. Yes, it is mentioned in the Bible, doesn't make it literal, I think the reason why God told people not to do it was because it teaches people to love other things but God. If it worked, I'm sure most of the "witches" out there would have better jobs, make lots more money every year, and wouldn't be on those psychic commercials trying to con the average citizen out of money. They could just ask whoever or do whatever spell they wanted and get money.

Needless to say, people worry too much about Satan's influence on the world and not enough about how to love others. We shouldn't be trying to tear each other down by what we read, we should be trying to build each other up in the Lord.

Quote from: silentthunder on Wed Aug 18, 2010 - 22:44:11
When vampires become real, I'll worry about people listening/reading/watching movies about them,  until then, whatever, fairytales are fairytales and let's face it, witchcraft is fake. Yes, it is mentioned in the Bible, doesn't make it literal, I think the reason why God told people not to do it was because it teaches people to love other things but God. If it worked, I'm sure most of the "witches" out there would have better jobs, make lots more money every year, and wouldn't be on those psychic commercials trying to con the average citizen out of money. They could just ask whoever or do whatever spell they wanted and get money.

Needless to say, people worry too much about Satan's influence on the world and not enough about how to love others. We shouldn't be trying to tear each other down by what we read, we should be trying to build each other up in the Lord.

Please understand I share your opinion of the twilight series, but feel the need to respond to your opinion of witchcraft.  Witchcraft is real and it is demonic.  Witches make money not by casting spells for it to magically appear.  They cast spells for other people who pay them.  Most of the time the spells are dark in nature - sickness, accident and death in some cases.  I am sure you can see why a witch or warlock would not want to publicized such action. 

Unfortunately many of the fairytales we've been told as well as some of the irrational fears earlier Christians have had suceeded in muddying the waters when it comes to witches.  There is a good bit of misunderstanding surrounding them.  However, such misunderstandings do not mean they are fake, nor does it less the evilness behind them.

Bond

I find it interesting how that if the writer was published to be a christian of some sort or some kind of paralell is drawn between them and christianity, christians are drawn to it .
I love movies believe me but as I have taught my children these are fanticy , a lie.
enjoy them for entertainment not for information. Having taken my kids to universal studos they undrstand movie magic, having taugh them photography , with chemicals and enlargers, they understand trick photography. when they can perform the trick them selves it is no longer magic.
  Having a clear understanding just what movies are brings a very healthy aspect to view.
As for the subject matter, some third world countries face real dangers every day , more horrific grotesk and heart wrenching. they get to live wit the smell of death at their door step, and no door.
Wich craft is practiced world wide, so even though you do not observe it , it's there.
knowing the power of Jeus name against demonic influence is one thing Being obedient to God, in the use of Jesus name dealing with al these issues, is another.
Matthew 7;21,22,23,
  Play your self in the movie , where would you stand , How might God make a difference in the situation if you were obedient?
  You listen to the pastors message , do you emptyheadedly agree with every thing or do you discuss it ?  Dad taught me to challange things that were taught, prove it or move it.
Never underestamate a childs understanding of right and wrong, and healthy repsonses to evil or good. they will watch you, and act accordingly. and they know genuine from phoney acting parents. A parent genuinely afraid of spiders will transmit that fear to watching children.
food for thought
 

Quote from: Lady_Ashanti on Sat Jul 10, 2010 - 18:24:50
I dislike the Harry Potter series/movies because it glorifies witchcraft, and I was told the books portrays Christians and Christ as weak.  

I tried to see the movie but never could get into them....couldn't watch past the first 15 minutes...

I saw the first Twilight movie before I read the book or knew it was from a book.  I thought it was boring, and that the girl who played "Bella" couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.  When I found out it was from a book series I started reading the books, and found them interesting.  I think the movies have improved greatly as well as the books.

I don't agree with all that is proposed by the books/movies however it is fantasy and entertainment.  I would project it as role-model material and would have a serious conversation with my teenagers if they were "into it".

Blessings!

"Act her way out of a paper bag"

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Quote from: His Princess Grace on Fri Nov 27, 2009 - 23:12:06
I am perplexed as to how and why bible-believing Christians can justify and reconcile that goth romances containing occultic themes, vampirism, werewolves and the like are healthy fantasies/entertainment!  All of the girls in my sons youth group are Twilight crazy??!!!!

If anyone shares my concerns/views and knows of any dvds that I can purchase to give out to educate Christian parents/teens re the dangers of the Twilight series I would be appreciative. Having said that, I am in the middle of composing a video to place on You Tube that I will burn and give to people would be appreciated.

In His Grip, xxxx

I am perplexed that you don't allow your kids to watch it, it's entertainment.  If your kids can't decipher between a movie and reality here on earth. You have failed as a parent.  You go on creating your socially inept kids who walk around in a Christian bubble.  In the mean time I'll raise a kid who can think for himself.  Good luck with their future rebellion, when it happens you will blame the devil, but you should blame yourself.