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Subject: Re: Harry Potter, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien


Author:
Donald
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Date Posted: 10:45:36 05/28/04 Fri
In reply to: Vince 's message, "Harry Potter, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien" on 06:43:32 05/27/04 Thu
 Vince,
I don't think you need to disagree with Ostling about his central argument in order to maintain that Harry Potter may prove a opening for some to the occult. But more startling than isolated stories of people developing an interest in the occult after reading Harry Potter is to turn it on its head. Why has such an amazingly popular book, which is all about the very practicies you have mentioned, prompted so few of its readers to develop an interest in the occult? Ostling's answer is inciteful, and thought provoking. He suggests that the subtle message of Harry Potter reflects the disenchantment of the west outlined by sociologists such as Weber and Durkheim. Rowling has taken the wonder out of magic and replaced it with modern conceptions of rationalism and consumerism.

I will give three of the examples from the article:

1. Traditionally magic was seen as an inate ability which certain people had. Rowling eschews such a view and her book contantly promotes the idea that magic is a skill to be learnt through hard work and practice. The supernatural is supplanted by hard work and study. The one teacher at the school who insists upon the traditional view that magic is an inate ability and cannot be learnt in a text book is made fun of and thought to be a fraud.

2. Even their broom sticks are spoken of like gadgets and technology rather than as supernatural instruments: with names like 'the super 2000" and things like that.

3. The reader is led to believe that Harry Potter could talk to his parents, but then that idea is dismissed as fantasy and a rational expalanation is given for a message that Harry Potter hears from his father.


>I would most certainly disagree with Ostling.
>
>I know Christians who warn against Harry Potter are in
>the minority (even with some other Christians!) but I
>stand by saying that these books do influence young
>people into real occultism (see list of actual occult
>practices contained in HP below).
>
>I believe one of the main differences between the
>likes of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien is that of ‘focus?
>The whole focus of Harry Potter is on Witchcraft and
>occultism. Harry and his friends go to Hogwart’s
>Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, all the people who
>teach him are accomplished occultists. In the lessons
>he attends he learns, and is exposed to, real
>occultism. Here is a list of just some of the actual
>real life occultism found in the Harry Potter books -
>
>Alchemy
>
>Arithmancy (a Chaldean and Greek method of divination
>by numbers)
>
>Astrology
>
>Auras
>
>Charms
>
>Crystal ball gazing (Scrying)
>
>Curses
>
>Demon possession
>
>Divination
>
>Fortune telling
>
>Incantations
>
>Numerology
>
>Palmistry
>
>Runes
>
>Spiritualism (Contact with the dead or Channelling)
>
>Tea leaf reading
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Subject Author Date
Harry Potter and AcademicsVince05:03:50 05/29/04 Sat

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