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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Lord of the Rings	James	Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Question: I'm unsure about some elements of the Lord of the Rings movies... there seems to be a lot of magic and whatnot. But yet I've heard that these movies are not only okay, but recommended to watch as they reflect Catholicism. Is this true? If yes, how so? Why is LotR okay when Harry Potter's not?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear James: The difference between Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is that Harry Potter was written from a witchcraft worldview. Lord of the Rings was written from a Catholic worldview. One can talk about "magic and whatnot" and include it in stories. That is not the problem. The problem is telling the story from the point-of-view of witchcraft and magic as Harry Potter does. Lord of the Rings actually teaches about Catholicism if one chooses to look deeper into the stories. On of the central keys of a civilized society, and certainly of Christianity, is that the "ends DO NOT justify the means." Although Harry Potter may have a good "end" (that of defeating evil), the "means" to accomplish that end is witchcraft (which is a moral evil). We cannot do evil to accomplish a good end. Lord of the Rings has a "means" within a Catholic worldview and an "end" within a Catholic worldview. Thus Lord of the Rings is to be recommended and Harry Potter is not to be recommended. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Lord of the Rings

James

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Question:

I'm unsure about some elements of the Lord of the Rings movies... there seems to be a lot of magic and whatnot. But yet I've heard that these movies are not only okay, but recommended to watch as they reflect Catholicism. Is this true? If yes, how so? Why is LotR okay when Harry Potter's not?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear James:

The difference between Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is that Harry Potter was written from a witchcraft worldview. Lord of the Rings was written from a Catholic worldview.

One can talk about "magic and whatnot" and include it in stories. That is not the problem. The problem is telling the story from the point-of-view of witchcraft and magic as Harry Potter does.

Lord of the Rings actually teaches about Catholicism if one chooses to look deeper into the stories.

On of the central keys of a civilized society, and certainly of Christianity, is that the "ends DO NOT justify the means."

Although Harry Potter may have a good "end" (that of defeating evil), the "means" to accomplish that end is witchcraft (which is a moral evil). We cannot do evil to accomplish a good end.

Lord of the Rings has a "means" within a Catholic worldview and an "end" within a Catholic worldview. Thus Lord of the Rings is to be recommended and Harry Potter is not to be recommended.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum