Sorry for the provocative theme title. Just trying to get your attention!

I was reading this review of Harry Potter today, and the thought sprang to mind that, at least some Christains, are really clueless about what their religion actually says. (I know that many Christians do get it, and that Harry Potter has even been used to expound Christains ethics in a positive way. But the most vocal elements certainly don't get it.)

Oh, yes, they know that, as the reviww says, "sorcery is completely prohibited", but they seem to miss some of the broarder considerations. For example, how about the fact that Christains, like Harry and his friends, are supposed to fight against Evil?

There are many subtle lessons in the series to, themes that take volumes to play out; such as "judge not, lest ye be judged," which applies so terribly well to Professor Snape and his motives. Or themes of repentence, of making amends for past wrongs, which are, similarly, things that Christains ought to take to heart.

Or how about the whole, "greater love hath no man than this; that he lay down his life for his freinds"? That seems to elude them with great regularity -- strange that it didn't elude the supposedly humanist and pagan (although the two are not the same thing, at all) Harry Potter.

So, why is it that so many Christians are missing this?


"Be seeing you..."

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Grassaf, Eolas

The reason there are so many different churches under the umbrella of Christianity. There are as many different interpretations of many translations ascribed to, as there are readers. Every time enough people have a different opinion of what's being preached in their church, they start their own. Naturually, we want to be around others that agree with us.

The reasons there are so many different interpretations is because everyone wants theirs to be the right one and everyone elses is wrong. This applies to the secular as neatly as it fits dogma. We, by and large, see, accept and apply what suits us. PERIOD! To H**l with context and the big picture. We, as a species, are still looking out for "Number One".

That's changing of course, especially with the help of Forums like this, but it will still be millenia before our selective thinking process is part and parcel of the minority.

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Only Love Prevails,
Don

I know what you're saying, Eolas. I've thought alot about this myself and my take on it is that there are alot of reasons why many Christians don't have that kind of insight. First of all, the Bible (as wonderful as some of it is) is a confusing and contradictory text. People rely alot on ministers to interpret things for them. If something doesn't "compute" (like a God that can hate and love at the same time) there's a tendency to ignore it or chalk it up to one's own lack of understanding.

Also, there hasn't been much alternative in the past to spiritual life/literature in the west, so I think people have settled for less rather than going out on a limb in search of another way. It's not easy to go against one's church, family traditions, etc....

I think things are changing, though, which would definitely be a good thing. There will always be the stragglers of course - and they're probably the one who will yell the loudest when their dogma is questioned.

Im so glad you pointed this out to me, here i was, obeying God, when i should of been twisting and comprimising my beliefs to say that any film has a christian aspect to it, im gonna go watch nightmare on elm street,the craft, saw, and scream trilogy and tell evryone its ok for me to watch, i can see that the person doing the killing is misguided and is evil and the police are the christians trying to stop the killer doing wrong.
How wonderful to have my eyes wide opened!!!!!!

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" No sir, i don't like it!" Mr. Horse

...some people wouldn't want someone to try and stop evil, would they? Much better to go and pray and wait for the Rapture.

Lovely system of ethics!

"Be seeing you..."

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Grassaf, Eolas