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“Weak-kneed muggles may recoil from
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’ Dubbed ‘Scary Potter’ in the
British press, the latest screen adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s
increasingly dark books is the first in the franchise to be slapped
with a PG-13 rating.”[1]
Spiritual transformation… is
mediated through a person’s religious imagination.”[2]
Lancaster Theological SeminaryThe world of imagination and fantasy
can help pass on to the child cultural and social messages [and]
function as a way to experience vicariously things an individual
could not do first-hand.[3]
International Journal of Adolescent
Medicine & Health
As the movie begins, Harry Potter is
dreaming. A large serpent slithers out of the darkness, and Harry hears the
cold, hissing voice of the murderous Voldemort. This evil wizard — whose body had been decimated during a futile
attempt to kill Harry thirteen years earlier — is instructing his groveling servant
Wormtail. Their deadly plot would require Harry’s life. “I will not disappoint you, my Lord,” Wormtail
promises.This nightmare introduces a major
theme of the story: Voldemort is planning his return to a physical body
through a blood sacrifice involving the 14-year-old student wizard.Compared to Voldemort’s wicked plans and
heartless brutality, Harry’s magical training seems downright good.
So when the dark scene above is replaced with Ron Weasley’s fun-loving home
(where Harry and Hermione are finishing up their summer break), all seems well. Who cares if these friendly folks are all
witches and wizards? Here paganism seems normal! Never mind that the
supernatural forces they manipulate correspond to those of Satan rather than
God. In this enticing setting, the occult realm feels good to the
unthinking audience. .Those affirming feelings are
important. They help the audience identify with the “good” wizards and —
through the imagination — participate in the action. When Harry triumphs,
the viewers share the exultation. When danger threatens, they feel Harry’s
anxiety. This emotional bond silences the moral reasoning
that should warn Christians that this plot is displeasing to our Lord.Led by Mr. Weasley, the group hurries to a
hilltop “portkey” which magically transports them to the celebrated Quidditch
World Cup festivities. But the popular event is interrupted by an invasion
of Voldemort’s Death Eaters. As this ruthless horde
spreads fire and destruction, the spectators flee for their lives.The students return to Hogwarts School for
Witchcraft and Wizardry. They are greeted by a new, less gentlemanly version of Professor
Dumbledore, who introduces the Triwizard Tournament. Like the real-world Olympics,
this international contest is supposed to build peace and co-operation between
diverse pagan groups.Its three contestants are magically chosen by the
Goblet of Fire. Surrounded by what looks like a ritual “sacred circle,” this
“sacred” goblet spews out three names that are read by Dumbledore and cheered by the
crowd. But the goblet has a surprise in store. A fourth name appears:
Harry Potter. Some complain that the famed wizard is too young to qualify,
but the
goblet’s choice prevails.Mad-eye Moody, the new Defense of the Dark Arts, helps Harry prepare the spells and curses needed for victory in the
upcoming tournament. But this undercover agent for Voldemort is no true friend.
Though he teaches Harry defensive strategies, his classroom instructions
expose his
values and puts these shocking suggestions into young minds:“Reducio,”
said Moody softly. “You don’t need thumbscrews or knives to torture someone
if you can perform the Cruciatus Curse…. Anyone know any other [spells]?Hermione’s
hand shook slightly as, for the third time, she raised it into the air.“Yes?”
said Moody, looking at her.“Avada
Kedavra,” Hermione whispered. …“Ah,”
said Moody, another slight smile twisting his lopsided mouth. “Yes, the
last and the worst. Avada Kedavra… the Killing Curse.”[4]I’m not saying that the movie would drive its
audience to actually torture or kill anyone. The effects of these
suggestions are far more subtle. They fit into the
dialectic process
— conceived by occultist Georg Hegel and embraced by Marx and Lenin and
other revolutionaries. This process calls for social change through continual
exposure to opposing beliefs and values (thesis versus antithesis). The
tension or conflict created by those contradictions prompts traditional
thinkers to
compromise and conform to an evolving consensus (synthesis).
Christians are not immune to this mind-changing
process.The goal of this revolutionary process is to
change the way most people think and relate. The contrary suggestions will gradually
“free” minds from the old absolute truths and values of the Bible. After a
while, people will no longer react negatively to the evils that God abhors.
Their consciences is desensitized. Everything
becomes tolerable except Biblical truth, which exposes sin
and draws a politically incorrect dividing line between what God calls
good and evil.
Human nature naturally delights in occult or violent entertainment! In
ancient Rome, the thrill-seeking masses flocked into the huge Coliseum to be
energized by gory gladiators and Christian martyrs torn by hungry lions.
Centuries later, during the anti-Protestant Inquisition, the crowds gathered
to watch the bloody spectacles of hanging, burning, beheading and
quartering. Only a few decades ago, the evil Darth Vader became the most popular
Star Wars character. Today the public’s growing thirst for blood
and gore is partly quenched through vicious games and movies. Do you wonder
what will satisfy that craving ten years from now?
Knowing our weaknesses better than we know ourselves, God rebuked his
rebellious people long ago with these words:
“You love evil more than good….”
Psalm 52:3“All those who hate me love death.
Proverb 8:36“Woe to those who call evil good, and
good evil….” Isaiah
5:20-21The final showdown with Voldemort demonstrates
most of the forbidden “abominations” listed in Deuteronomy 18:9-12:
witchcraft, sorcery, spellcasting, spiritism, and necromancy (communicating
with the dead). “All who do
these things,” warned Moses, “are an abomination to the Lord…”That list of timeless occult practices is a
warning, not only to those who actually participate in occultism, but
also to those who merely imagine these things. Jesus
explained this principle in the context of immorality: You have heard that
it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery. But I say
to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28The transformational power of the
imagination
is documented in a study by International Journal of Adolescent Medicine &
Health:The world of imagination and fantasy
can help pass on to the child cultural and social messages [and]
function as a way to experience vicariously things an individual could
not do first-hand.[3]
International Journal of Adolescent
Medicine & HealthIn light of these warnings, ponder this last
scene:“…suddenly, the sparks emanating from the cauldron were
extinguished… Through the mist in front of him, he [Harry] saw, with
an icy surge of terror, the dark outline of a man, tall and skeletally
thin, rising slowly from inside the cauldron…. Whiter than a skull,
with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake’s with
slits for nostrils…. Lord Voldemort had risen again.” (643)“He knew he was facing the thing against
which Moody had always warned… the unblockable Avada Kedavra curse —
and Voldemort was right — his mother was not here to die for him this
time.” (660)“Voldemort’s
dead victims whispered as they circled the dueler…. And
now another head was emerging from the tip of Voldemort’s wand….
Harry, his arms shaking madly now, looked back into the ghostly face of his
father. ‘Your
mother’s coming…’ he said quietly. ‘She wants to see
you…. When the connection is broken, we will linger for only
moments…. you must get to the Portkey, it will return you to Hogwarts.’…“Harry…”
whispered the [dead] figure of Cedric, ‘take my body back, will you?’…
“‘Accio!’
Harry yelled, pointing his wand at the Triwizard Cup. It flew into the air and
soared toward him. Harry caught it by the handle. He heard Voldemort’s
scream of fury at the same moment that he felt the jerk behind his navel that
meant the Portkey had worked — it was speeding him away in a whirl of wind and
color, and Cedric with him…. They were going back.” (667-669)The movie mentions Harry’s choice “between what is right and what is
easy.” Harry had supposedly chosen what was “right.” At least, that’s how today’s
pluralistic, amoral world would see it. But would Harry’s choices be “right” for Christians?
Of course not!Today’s emphasis on group conformity and consensus builds an ever-changing moral and spiritual understanding. An
important part in
that process of change is cognitive dissonance — mental or
emotional confusion. It occurs when people think or act in ways that may
feel right but clashes with their Bible-based conscience. The natural or most
comfortable way to resolve this confusion or dissonance is simply to
adapt their moral understanding to the new situation.For
children tutored in paganism by popular authors, movie producers, and computer programmers,
there may be no turning back. The images they imprint on their minds cannot be
erased by the human will. Aldous Huxley summarized it well in
The
Doors of Perception: “The man who comes back through the Door in the
Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.”[5]We would be
foolish to ignore the restless cravings stirred by imagined experiences in
forbidden realms. A little dabbling in the occult usually fuels urges to
explore other practices. It doesn’t matter whether seekers pursue
Eastern pantheism, Western witchcraft, or create their own personal blend.
In our times, these all fit together.
[See The Rising
World Religion]
Whether packaged for our youth as D&D, yoga or Hogwarts
School for Witchcraft or Wizardry, they desensitize their captive fans to the dangers of
occult forces. And all too often they become irresistible to the enthusiastic
victim.[6]On the other hand, each
time
we say “no” to the ever present temptation to accept the world’s counterfeit gods, idols, thoughts and ways, we honor
God and strengthen our will to resist. When
we set our minds to know, love, and follow Him, He gives us the power and
perseverance to triumph over the world’s counterfeit promises, tempting
deceptions, and painful persecution.“For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into
captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ….”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Endnotes:1. Rebecca Louie, “Goblet’
brims with fear,” New York Daily News,
11-13-05 at
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/story/364708p-310544c.html2. Lancaster Theological
Seminary, USA, UMI Order number: AAM9822985 Dissertation Abstracts
International Section A: Humanities & Social Sciences. 1998 Jul. 59
(1-A): p.02013. Aminadav, C.,
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine & Health, April-June
1995.
4. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Scholastic
Press, 2000); page 215.5. Aldous Huxley, The
Doors of Perception (Chatto & Windus Ltd., 1954).6.
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/rising-religion.htm
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