http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:49:46 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-612322 Zyra, I also am a Christian and I was deeply saddened to hear about how the people in your church have treated you over reading the books. I myself was struggling with whether or not it was good to read these books and watch these movies or rather if the Lord would approve or not. I love God above all else and I only want to do what is acceptable to my Savior. I was praying about it just this morning and then I found David's blog article and I felt peace and I also thought of the scripture Romans 14:1-4 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."....which amazingly enough David quoted in one of his responses above....coincidence? I think not! One thing that is crucial for you to remember is that the Bible says that "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world"(1 John 4:4). The Spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who lives in our hearts is more than able to defeat any spirit of fear or darkness that is trying to make you afraid. You pray and ask Jesus yourself what He wants you to do. He is faithful and He WILL answer you. To all of you who do not share the faith that Zyra and I do please do not feel the need to tell me that anything I said you do not agree with. I am not here to debate you or to promote my faith, but rather to comfort another believer. The church (some factions)can abuse the power that they hold over others. That is why I truly believe that you have to "test every spirit" and hold fast to the Holy Spirit, God's Word and what He speaks directly to you. You have direct access to Him and His thoughts and heart and NO ONE not even a pastor has the right to tell you that what the Lord has allowed you the freedom to do is evil or wrong. They can have their opinions. I am not speaking of direct clear instructions of what not to do such as listed in Scripture and I know you know the things that I am talking about. I agree with David when he says that the witchcraft in these books are not the same as the witchcraft spoken of in Deuteronomy. That is the conclusion I have come to WITH prayer and what I feel God has said specifically to me. One other note...if your mother does not want the books in her house and you live under her roof than I do think that is her right and you are obligated to respect that. The Bible does command us to honor our father and mother...BUT that does not mean that you can not agree to disagree. You can have what you want in your house when it is yours ;) I know that is hard especially when you are 19...but such is life eh?! Anyway..... Don't get me wrong I am not saying like many of these other Christians that it is okay to be a witch in God's eyes. I am not open minded and I am proud of it. I am not tolerant of what I allow in my life due to past experiences with the occult, but I do believe that as a Christian I should not be known for "telling people off" or judging them. It is not my place to do. I am only concerned with living out the faith that Jesus Christ has put in my life and obeying my God. That is my conviction and if you are reading this and it is not yours than that is your right and choice. No one can take away that right and that is the same way God is. He allows us our choice. To know Him is by choice. By the way I love Harry Potter and glean all the good that I can from him and all of the characters. I think that it is exactly all of the things that David said in his article about love, forgiveness, family, friendship, faithfulness...etc. Hope these words help you Zyra. That was truly my ONLY intent for writing this. God bless you and you are in my prayers! 612322@blogcritics.org Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:49:46 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-601949 Thank you so much! i am both a Christian and a major Harry Potter. You have completely refleected my thoughts on the series. What some peole don't realize is that the book does have true morals and values, but the book itself is still fiction. Thank you agian! 601949@blogcritics.org Fri, 15 Jun 2007 07:59:06 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-595492 im a christian..(i need someone who can understand my point of view) but i really cant help reading harry potter books..i dont have intention that this book is evil..ever since harry potter starts...im one of the fans before i watched the movies i need to read the book first,,..and when i read,like now im reading the 5th book..its like im picturing out what thescenes is..since i was in college i keep on bringing the book and when i have free time i read it...but yesterday in the church of all my church members shocked and keep on asking who owns the book and when they find out its me...they told me its not a good book! by the way im still 19 and so childish in mind..i keep on reading any kind of book..i also love the chronicles of narnia i watch the movie thrice...that time i was in a catholic school and our school recommends to wtch the narnia...im a born again christian..ok lets go back what happend yesterday,after they found out it wqas mine they put a bible aboveon the book and i left that book on our church office because that time where still having our service..and then after our service i ask one of my elder whats wrong with the book..then she answer me wait and i called our pastor to explain it to you...and then our pastor callled me and my mom..he explain it to us whats on the harry potter..he said its a witchcraft and its in the bibile its forbidden...but what i amazed most is that when he said all the powerful witch did not denied that there the one who made the harry potter book and when they made it they made some rituals...he said they used harry potter to enhance the mind of the people whos reading on it especially the youths whos a vivid fun on it..and one of my co-church members said she also have a harry potter book in there house where shes working and the moment the kid reads the book she can now see different kind of spirits...after she said that to us what she experienced..my mom also felt same with her..my mom wont believe in ghost coz she believes that ghost cant harm us coz we have cjesus christ in our hearts...but she said she never felt that theres something in our house already since i brought that book..something she cant explain...a cold air...and like past midnight she saw a dark thing past by at her back... i was so freak out i dont know how to explain the moment i heared my mom what she experienced...and then our pastor wants to burn the book as what they did before they burn the harry potter books with one of my church members...i was so confused im already in the half page of ther 5th book..so my mom also dont wnat to bring it back in my house...im so confused yesterday...i dont know what to do..i keep on bringing the book in my office..in the bus stop..coz im thinking when im free i read it.. and then yesterday my pastor prayed for me..and she asking me to research more about the books... i know i loved God and i believed in God..i have a strong faith in God...and it never came up in my mind about the book...and then last night when i was sleeping all alone in my room but last night the i did not put the book beside me as i always do ever since im reading the harry potter book..i admit i felt scared last night i cant sleep properly...i keep on opening my eyes as i counted it around 5 times i think...but before i sleep i prayed to God... it made me so freak since today..im still bringing the book until now...and what im doing is researching about the book...thanks for reading my comments hope you can give a point of view about what im writting in your blog. thanks so much and God bless.. zyra 595492@blogcritics.org Sun, 27 May 2007 22:29:46 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-595486 thanks 595486@blogcritics.org Sun, 27 May 2007 22:02:55 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-592176 Mykel, I think the message to your friends and fellow students is in Romans 14:1-4 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." Thanks for your comments and I hope to hear from you again sometime. Regards, David 592176@blogcritics.org Sun, 20 May 2007 00:47:49 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-591849 Thank you so much fo writing this. All of my friends and fellow students believe that these books are completely horrible and to read the meant that you are automattically not a Christian. Reading these words finally bring comfort to an unsettled soul. Again, thank you so much. Regards, Mykel 591849@blogcritics.org Fri, 18 May 2007 17:57:43 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-589301 Sally: I do think that is interesting and yet I'm also not surprised. At the same time, while Christians have had some very heated debates regarding the Harry Potter series, there have been some very well known Christians who have defended the series. Personally, I enjoy a good debate and I think this debate is good for Christians to have. Trashing an author for his or her work is the wrong approach, but debating the material is fine. And I think a good example was the almost universal disagreement with so-called "facts" laid down in the book "The Da Vinci Code." Most Christians were fine with the book as a work of fiction, but for the author to begin to claim that there was a lot of truth behind the book so that he could sell more of them, well, that called for an informed response, such as an investigation of some of what the author claimed were "facts" written into his fictional story. Personally, I think the controversy behind the book was much more interesting than the book itself. ;-) Regards, David 589301@blogcritics.org Mon, 14 May 2007 10:14:04 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-589297 Shannon: I definitely know what you faced. :-) And I like your advice to your daughter. As someone who has been married for sixteen years with two daughters of my own, those are very wise words. We'll have to chat about the last book when it finally hits the store. :-) Regards, David 589297@blogcritics.org Mon, 14 May 2007 10:01:15 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-589291 I agree wholeheartedly with what you originally wrote re the Potter series. I try not to talk about the books very much as I have so many friends who have chosen not to read them, or to allow their children to read them. One interesting thing, however. I read an article in the C. S. Lewis fans magazine quoting some articles that appeared in Britain when "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" first appeared. At that point it was not generally known that Lewis was a Christian, and the book was savagely attacked by Christians until the knowledge of his Christianity was well broadcast. There was a virtual 180 degree turn almost over-night in the approval/disapproval feelings of the Christian community. Interesting, eh? 589291@blogcritics.org Mon, 14 May 2007 09:37:55 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-589124 David, haha...so you went from Catholic to Evangelical? So you know exactly what I faced! I really feel that everyone feels close to God in different ways, and what's right for me isn't necessarily what's right for my neighbor. The most important thing is to find peace in your heart and to be kind. My youngest is getting married next month, and she asked me if I could tell her one thing about being married, what would it be? I said it's the same thing in any relationship. Be kind. Even when you're angry, be kind. Sometimes that means shut up and take a walk and think about what you really want to say. Words are like toothpaste. Once they're out, no matter what you do, you can't get them back. I feel that's what Christ taught. Anyway, tolerance is not something that we've got a lot of in this world right now, and it's up to us to teach tolerance. The Harry Potter series certainly teaches that. These kids, all from different worlds, different situations, all have learned to love and accept their differences and even use their differences to help one another. What a wonderful message for children. Pagan, Wiccan, Christian, Hindu, Muslim. Let's use our differences to make the world a better place. Yes, I look forward to reading the last book! I just love the story! I will, however, like you, be kind of sad to see it end! It's really raised my standards for reading (I'm a SERIOUS bookworm!) The Best, Shannon 589124@blogcritics.org Mon, 14 May 2007 00:16:37 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588994 Sean: I forgot to mention that I agree with you wholeheartedly. Its great to hear how kids are streaming to the bookstores to buy a book because they're excited about reading. Kudos to Rowling for that and the fact that her book will spark the same kind of love of reading that the Chronicles of Narnia did for me. Regards, David 588994@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 15:05:25 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588991 Lots of great comments from everyone. Thanks so much. Let me answer a few that were directed my way. Athiest: I certainly am not offended by your challenges to me. Quite the opposite; I appreciate them. And it's not my goal to offend you, but to challenge you right back. Secularists/Atheists often criticize Christians for arguing from faith rather than logic or science. Some Christians do, but not all. I'm firmly founded in my faith while, at the same time, I understand I can't just tell you that something is so because "the bible says it's so." So let me just say that one thing age has taught me about human beings of all types is that they are all different. Even among a community of Athiests, I bet there are some pretty big differences. Definitely, there are huge differences within the Christian community. For that reason, not all materials will be acceptable to all people. I accept it because I believe that people have the right to be different in that way. If a fellow Christian does not want to read the HP books, then I'm okay with it. You should be too. Who are we to tell someone that they MUST read something that we think they should read? It might just be that you and I are wrong and the other person is right. You never know, which is why I think there's an old saying which is highly pertinent to this kind of debate. It goes like this: "Keep your words soft and sweet in case you have to eat them." I think someone on this board taught me that one. Olytanis: I wanted to say that my one friend who is a High Priestess believes herself to be a Goddess. Perhaps she believes she has "Goddess" in her. Of course, I believe that God is a separate entity, but not distant. You and I are distant because we have no relationship, but if we were to develop a friendship like I have with my other friend who is active in her Wiccan beliefs, then I wouldn't be distant. I know, I'm sounding rather simple here, but my point is that I have a relationship with my savior. I know him and he knows me, not because I'm special -- just the opposite -- but because he is special. And I say he, but God is neither male nor female, and the Bible is clear on the fact that there shall be neither male nor female in heaven. I could say much more, but I'll save that for later perhaps. Thanks again for everyone who has taken the opportunity to leave comments. I very much appreciate it. :-) Regards, David 588991@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 15:02:29 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588968 David thank you for a fair and well written article. Like you said, I think it's important to remember that the series is fiction and not to take it too seriously. I think the best thing about Harry Potter series is has made millions of kids around the globe excited about reading. That's what I call magic! 588968@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 12:52:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588961 Thank you for a well-reasoned article. As a practicing pagan (you can read Wiccan or witch, if you like), I often hear my religion dismissed by Christians as occult, anti-Christian, and evil. I consider it none of the above. You can be anti-Christian without being a pagan, and definitely pagan without being anti-Christian. Paganism is as valid a spiritual pathway as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc. It's just not Christian. And it doesn't have to be. Don't judge a book about witchcraft by Christian standards, any more than you would judge a book about Christianity by Wiccan standards. We are all working for good over evil here. We are just doing it in our own way. Of course (as Kevin pointed out), being a work of fiction, the Harry Potter books are not really about witchcraft as it is, just Hollywood witchcraft as you would see in "Charmed," "Bewitched," or "The Craft." Some elements are right, but many are not. Witchcraft is not really about flying brooms around the castle (doggone it!), but it's about changing yourself to make your world better. It's more exciting to read about Hogwart's, of course. Regarding David's response to Kevin in comment #16 about "...the powers that Wiccans claim to have, even if such power did exist, Christians cannot and must not pursue it. To pursue personal power is to turn our backs on God and that we cannot do. Our victory does not come from us, but from God." Wiccans do not draw power from themselves as such, but from God and Goddess. The power does not emanate from ourselves as much as it is from our connection to the divine that is in and throughout everything. A Wiccan that is in it for personal power is practicing for the wrong reasons and will get his/her butt kicked by karma (whatever you do comes back to you-or you could say you reap what you sow; same thing). The reaching for power thing is definitely a Slitherin thing! The difference is more subtle: that Christians believe God is a separate entity, perhaps watching from a distance, while Wiccans believe that God and Goddess (recognizing a female aspect of Deity) is within us all. By the way, I like the comment by Kellie, especially the new word she invented (I assume; I've never heard it before): "disaperate." Kind of a cross between "disappear" and "evaporate." It's cute! Can I keep it? The comments are also right on with a basic theme: love and tolerance are the way to heal this poor world. Let's follow Harry, Dumbledore, and friends and love each other. If not, whatever our intentions, we are following Voldemort. Is that what we really want? I don't think so. So thanks for the tolerance! 588961@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 12:25:05 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588957 Right. Sorry if I came off as non-tolerant, I didn't mean to and when I read it now I don't think that I wrote anything to suggest it, but okay. My experience with christians isn't all that good, you see here no one cares about other beliefs than christianity. Being not christian, that affects me a great deal. I think that I am tolerant of others, what I said wasn't that you're not allowed to believe differently, or that you're not allowed not to read the books. Of course, be my guest. My point is just that I think some takes it too far (and pay attention: I'm adding "I THINK"). But think about this: Were you really tolerant to my views in your reply. Ironic, huh? I say that I think people need to be able to read about stuff which doesn't follow their beliefs, but are you being tolerant of that? I offended you in no way, we both love Harry Potter and we both know it's a story. Still you accuse me of being non-tolerant, even though you know nothing about it/me. Now that's an insult! And are you really comparing Harry Potter to child molesting? Harry Potter is a story, child molesting is the horrible, horrible truth. It has nothing to do with one another. Please don't take this insulting in any way, I'm not trying to insult you or your beliefs, but the world doesn't develop without critisism... 588957@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 12:08:19 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588948 Shannon: Thanks for your comments. I know how you feel in regards to the way you sometimes can be treated when you convert. I left the Catholic Church while I was in grad school and joined a local Evangelicaly Presbyterian church here in Annapolis. My parents, to say the least, were quite upset. But then they saw that I lived a normal life, loved going to church and reading the Bible, didn't shave my head and start singing on the streets, etc. :-) So, after a while, they were okay with things. But it did take a while. At the same time, I have an Aunt and Uncle who are still big in Catholicism with a faith that I admire. Your denomination matters little. Anyway, thanks again for your comments and I'm sure you, like myself, look forward to reading the last book in the series. It is very exciting to be so close to seeing all our questions answered, don't you agree? Regards, David 588948@blogcritics.org Sun, 13 May 2007 11:05:24 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588810 Amen! Amen! Amen! May I say it again? Amen! I do not understand why so many of my fellow Christians forgot the most important lesson Jesus taught us...."Love one another as I have loved you". Most articles and blogs I have read that are written by Christians who hate the book (and even the author)and it is shocking to me that a Christian can justify hate. My father's mother was a Southern Baptist, then I married a Catholic. WOW did I see hate come from my fellow Christians! I ended up joining the Catholic church, and when I hear a hateful Catholic specifically or a hateful Christian in general, I always think "You missed it. Somehow, in reading about Jesus' life and his message, you missed." It's so very sad to me. I was taught that we will be known by our works. NOT our words, and there's a reason for that. Our words are worthless. It is our works. To be intolerant and hateful is NOT what Jesus told us. He told us the opposite. I am a HUGE Harry fan, and as the mother of 2 grown children, I wish terribly that those books had been around when my kids were growing up to encourage them to read, to think, to dream, the way kids are supposed to. I promise, I will make sure my grandchildren (when I'm so blessed) will own The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe series AND the Harry Potter series! AND I will take them to Mass! 588810@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 23:46:36 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588708 Kevin: I'm not saying that witchcraft I described in the Bible is the same stuff we see in the HP series. I think, as many here have also expressed, that the magic of the series is simply a backdrop to the story. And I certainly do not think that my friends who are practicing Wiccans do the things that the ancient Caananites did. Instead, what I'm trying to help readers understand is why Christians react so strongly sometimes to this kind of story. And yes, sometimes they react in an overly strong manner. But, as this is a free country, I think it's perfectly okay for them to disagree with you or with me on this issue. They have a choice and so do we; I'm just trying to make a case for why I chose the way I did. And let me say, though I do not believe in witchcraft, or the powers that Wiccans claim to have, even if such power did exist, Christians cannot and must not pursue it. To pursue personal power is to turn our backs on God and that we cannot do. Our victory does not come from us, but from God. Wouldn't it be ironic, then, in the final book, if Harry had to lay down any thought of using his own magic and instead relied on the power of love to win final victory? Just a thought. :-) 588708@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 18:06:02 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588699 A fellow Christian Harry Potter fan agrees. I used to be a Harry hater but I've reformed, running a blog called Fantasy Fiction for Christians. Check it out. 588699@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 17:31:47 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588678 There are many good people in the world that are not Christian. And not all Christian writers produce Christian literature. Narnia and the Lord of the Rings are excellent examples. The Narnia books are truly enchanting, in the most delightful sense. Aslan sacrifices himself for one person, not for all as the myth of the Christian resurrection tells, and is 'resurrected' based on a loophole and not by devine plan. Tolkien's LOTR is more problematic, having been written more for adults and based on Anglo-Saxon myth and story, good and evil in battle, which sounds a lot like the eternal battle between heaven and hell, until the story of Ragnarock is considered. Rowling's story of a child that will lead them seems more Christian than either Lewis or Tolkien. It is well and good, I suppose, to find Jesus where Jesus isn't, but is it well and good to find diabolism where it isn't? I think the Harry Potter books have been maligned terribly based purely upon guilt by an imagined resemblance to such. I think Rowling's crime is that she is not obviously a Christian, as if only Christians may be good people in this difficult world. Best wishes, and thanks; bb, -jb 588678@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 16:11:14 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588655 David, thanks very much for your reply to my comment regarding the confusion of HP fantasy magic with biblical witchcraft or real-life Wicca. I'm not entirely sure how I'm "reinforcing your point," though, since for much of your piece you seem to suggest that they're all one and the same. In the essay you ask "what could be clearer than this" and proceed to lay out the biblical argument against witchcraft. That's fine, but I don't see where you've drawn a clear distinction between that and the magic in HP. Yes, you've cited plenty of other excellent reasons that Christians might enjoy HP, but you've left their main objection with the series basically unaddressed, and even give a pass to those that believe that the books are dangerous and evil by suggesting that their beliefs be "respectfully disagreed with." This despite the fact that you seem to agree that the foundation for their objections about the series is built on a misconception. Sorry, but I don't think it's responsible or intellectually honest to promote misconceptions about the issue or to imply that Christians with religious objections to the series may be correct in some way. And I'm afraid that it seems to me that that's what you've done. 588655@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 15:15:45 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588637 Very well-written, balanced and positive article. The only reason the Harry Potter series has been surrounded by so much controversy is that it has been so spectacularly successful. There's a vast amount of fiction - especially children's fiction - that features magic and witchcraft, and it's just as likely to be used on the side of good as of evil. The character of Mary Poppins is a witch in all but name (and not an entirely pleasant one either, in the books at least), and I haven't seen any Christians going into conniptions about her! To those who charge that Rowling doesn't address Christianity in her books: well, neither does the vast majority of fiction. I would say that some parents' concerns are legitimate, in that the Harry Potter books' themes are often dark and not suitable for the very young: parents (of whatever religious stripe) should consider carefully before letting their kids read them. On a related topic that was touched upon in the article and on the thread: because Tolkien was a devout Christian, it's striking that there doesn't seem to be any organized religion in Middle Earth. It's such a completely realized world in every other way (historically, geographically, culturally) that it seems a curious omission. 588637@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 13:27:49 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588581 Kellie: Thanks for the scriptural verses. I think they are very relevant both to the books and the debate regarding the Potter series. I wholeheartedly agree regarding the fact that Dumbledore shows the kind of love espoused in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Some have mentioned that Harry may ultimately do this as well. For that, we'll just have to wait and see. :-) Regards, David 588581@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 07:40:57 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588580 Kevin: Thank you for reinforcing my point. I agree with you that comparing the witchcraft of the HP books and the practices of Wicca are quite different. I'm sure someone could point out some superficial similarities, like the concept of dark magic vs. what Wiccans call "white magic," but that's probably about it. The fact is, Rowling's world is fictional, which is why so many Christians are fine with reading these books. Atheist: I would recommend you learn a bit of tolerance. The fact is, there are things that some people can do, and some things people can't do. For example, since becoming a father I have had difficulty watching movies, reading stories, or even listening to news that discusses the topic of child abuse, or the death of children. Becoming a parent made me very protective, not only of my own children, but of all children. So when I hear of children being harmed, it upsets me far more than it used to. In the same way, some people can watch slasher movies all day and night and they are fine. Some can't do that. I used to be able to do that, but now I can't any longer. I count that as a good thing in my life though others might call me "weak" or a "weany." You need to understand that there are different people in the world, with different beliefs, and that it is okay for them to be different, act differently, and want different things. If you can't do that, then the problem is yours and no one else's. Thanks! David 588580@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 07:31:48 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/05/11/183825.php#comment-588575 I second Daryl D. I'm an atheist, and it's hard for me to understand why some christians can't read a book just becauseit goes against what they believe in. It's called "opening you mind". I can read the bible, and still have my own opinion about it. I can think it's all a fairy-tale if I want, but I can enjoy the fairy-tale because it's a nice story. Harry Potter is a great book, a wonderful book, but it's a book. Harry is not a real person, performing wizardry. It's fantasy. 588575@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 May 2007 05:33:02 EDT