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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Good reading	Abe	Sunday, December 30, 2007
Question: After reading your posts and hearing Christians complaine about Harry Potter for years I decided to read them for myself. They are well written and could conciveably become childrens classics much like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The books are about good vs evil and comeing of age. The only reason guys like you must hate them is most likely because your bitter. So thanks for pointing me in the direction of seven really good books! Ill BE CHECKING OUT tHE gOLDEN cOMPASS BOOKS NEXT!
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Abe: There is no comparison between the Rowling's writing and that of C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien . Rowling is a hack compared to them and it is unlikely that her writing will become a children's classic in the same stature of two of the greatest writers in literary history. The long and the short of it is that regardless of Rowling's talent as a writer, she cannot compare to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or to the Lord of the Rings. In any event, the reason why the Catholics, and most Christians with any intelligence, condemn the Harry Potter books (and movies) is that while the theme is good vs. evil, the worldview of the Potter books is witchcraft. The worldview of the Lewis and Tolkien books is Christianity. That makes a HUGE difference. One of the central tenets of morality is that the "ends do not justify the means". Even though the Potter books has a theme of good vs. evil it is the "means" that is the problem. We cannot fight evil with witchcraft. Witchcraft is an evil unto itself. We are not to fight evil with evil. Evil must be fought with goodness. This point is not negotiable. Witchcraft is called an abomination to the Lord in the Bible. It is resolutely condemned and is, in fact, a violation of the First Commandment. That is the reason the Potter stories are problematic and why Christians should have nothing to do with them. This is an intellectual analysis based upon settled theology, not some emotional reaction to the stories. To suggest that I or others oppose the Potter stories out of some sort of bitterness is not only stupid but constitutes the grave sin of rash judgment. I do have to say that I am surprised to see a person of your age (your report your age as 34) reacting like a 13 year old to be gleeful to "check out" the Potter books or the Golden Compass (which is far worse than the Potter books) merely because we oppose them. That is childishness and is behavior that can get you into trouble. Rather than react like a child, perhaps you ought to evaluate these books from the maturity of an adult grounded in his faith (you claim to be Catholic) and wanting to please God. We will certainly be in prayer for you. 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

Good reading

Abe

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Question:

After reading your posts and hearing Christians complaine about Harry Potter for years I decided to read them for myself.

They are well written and could conciveably become childrens classics much like The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The books are about good vs evil and comeing of age. The only reason guys like you must hate them is most likely because your bitter.

So thanks for pointing me in the direction of seven really good books!

Ill BE CHECKING OUT tHE gOLDEN cOMPASS BOOKS NEXT!

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Abe:

There is no comparison between the Rowling's writing and that of C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien . Rowling is a hack compared to them and it is unlikely that her writing will become a children's classic in the same stature of two of the greatest writers in literary history. The long and the short of it is that regardless of Rowling's talent as a writer, she cannot compare to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or to the Lord of the Rings.

In any event, the reason why the Catholics, and most Christians with any intelligence, condemn the Harry Potter books (and movies) is that while the theme is good vs. evil, the worldview of the Potter books is witchcraft. The worldview of the Lewis and Tolkien books is Christianity. That makes a HUGE difference.

One of the central tenets of morality is that the "ends do not justify the means". Even though the Potter books has a theme of good vs. evil it is the "means" that is the problem. We cannot fight evil with witchcraft. Witchcraft is an evil unto itself. We are not to fight evil with evil. Evil must be fought with goodness.

This point is not negotiable. Witchcraft is called an abomination to the Lord in the Bible. It is resolutely condemned and is, in fact, a violation of the First Commandment.

That is the reason the Potter stories are problematic and why Christians should have nothing to do with them. This is an intellectual analysis based upon settled theology, not some emotional reaction to the stories. To suggest that I or others oppose the Potter stories out of some sort of bitterness is not only stupid but constitutes the grave sin of rash judgment.

I do have to say that I am surprised to see a person of your age (your report your age as 34) reacting like a 13 year old to be gleeful to "check out" the Potter books or the Golden Compass (which is far worse than the Potter books) merely because we oppose them. That is childishness and is behavior that can get you into trouble. Rather than react like a child, perhaps you ought to evaluate these books from the maturity of an adult grounded in his faith (you claim to be Catholic) and wanting to please God.

We will certainly be in prayer for you.

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