Seriously, you sound unhinged with talk like that. Especially when the author of a book series on an imaginary Wizard school is being attacked by radical sex agitators.
For being too intolerant!
Calling J.K. a Satanist is not helping your credibility. Why? Wizards? Tolkien had Wizards, and he certainly wasn't.
I don't defend her weirdness in tweets about her work. I think she's read too much porn fan fiction. I don't get the Dumbledore was gay business, inappropriate in children's books. And had to laugh at her "admitting" that of course boarding school students are shagging like minks. That's a British cultural heritage we don't have much of here. Thank Baal. I don't read Brit adolescent fiction so I just suspect it's another taboo subject they're hypocritically aware of.
you might even have a point on the underage sex part. Although the Satanic cult stuff seems better documented in American Ivy League schools.
And belief that the New Testament erases older biblical laws may be valid! You're not the first to tell me that wearing a wool-linen blend is no longer sending me to Hell.
Which is Great! One of my favorite 12th century embroidered tunics is such an abomination. But I don't need the forgiveness, since I didn't feel the need to obey old Jewish laws anyway. I'm not Jewish, just old.
Ditto, your belief that it's cool to eat pork has no influence on those who use a different book.
I won't argue about your sect being "real" and Catholics not being Christian. Obviously the Mother Church predates yours. They can make the same claim with temporal authority. I just don't care.
As a buddy says, "I respect your delusions, I don't share them" That's mostly a political politeness, but he'd be thrilled to sit down with you and a Bible and discuss. He cheerfully does so with door to door proselytizing folk.
Heck, we can probably agree on the evil of the Warlord Mohammad, and profitably discuss the Tao of Pooh.
But I won't proselytize, or try and change your mind with quotes from a Book you don't respect.
That Candy girl thing is infuriating. I can't tell at first look if it's sick S&M pornography, or a good reason to visit vigilante justice on powerful, respected men.
And that's a serious problem discussing these subjects.
It's a given that the Left ( and Democrat Party Leadership, & many other evil groups through history ) uses the strategy of blaming their enemies for crimes they themselves commit. This attacks their enemies, covers up their crimes by letting them say counter claims are fake, and desensitizes the public to those crimes, so when/if the truth comes out, they can say "everybody does it" and get away with serious evil.
So your claim Donald is a pedo monster, following rumors hotly denied that there is a pedo dungeon in D.C. attended by the rich and powerful, loses credibility. Especially after Epstein was murdered in Federal custody, before he could testify against the many He was apparently blackmailing while supplying them with underage sex slaves.
I'm not saying Donald is innocent. I have no idea. I'm pointing out that it's certain by the timing and the sources accusing him, that others are not.
And since the other's are know to bear false witness knowingly and as a standard operating procedure....
Merry Christmas to all (even though I'm ultimately an atheist)
Thanks! Merry Christmas to you, too. Or winter solstice, or whatever you heathens celebrate!
I agree, disagreeing like civil adults is supremely important (it keeps my neck out of a guillotine). I'm thankful we have that luxury here in the US of A.
Harry Potter is inappropriate children's books if you believe God's Word. Harry Potter based in the Occult or Wicca. J.R.R. Tolkien "Lord of the Rings" based on Norse Mythology. Both are Paganism according to the Bible.
About 5 years ago I stopped about 10 kids ages 6 to 13 from preforming a Satanic killing of a 4 year old in the field behind my house. Each of them was going to take a turn stabbing the 4 year old until he was dead. One said they seen it in a video and looked like it would be fun to do. I could not talk them into giving me the knife before they run off. This is why you do not teach Children the ways of Antichrist. Amen
I used to love Norse mythology, and Tolkien's fantasy. Slowly God showed me that I shouldn't be mixing myself up with pagan things like that. It routinely got Israel into worlds of trouble. I still watch shows and read books that include witchcraft, I just separate the good from the bad. I don't fantasize about magic like I did when I was young,
I burned through the entire Witcher series on netflix in 2 days. I don't like the witch craft part, I do like the medieval fantasy setting, and the (hollywood) fighting scenes. And I like that Geralt is a heartless bastard who routinely finds himself in moral demises and usually chooses the best option considering the circumstances.
I don't let my son watch Harry Potter. He loves it and hates that I won't let him, but for him it's only about magic. casting spells, magic words, summoning supernatural energy. He can't separate the good from the bad.
I haven't seen any of the Harry Potters but I wouldn't mind. I'm an adult, well sort of. I know right from wrong. Watching things like that are just fantasies. Nothing real, just a story. Nothing in these would make be denounce Christianity. In these matters though, children need guidance.
Thanks for all who kept on topic, the one about free speech, not the gay marriage baker issue.
Be careful Patrick. You'll get me to picking on your reasoning. :~)
You don't throw out the baby with the bath water. You don't deny that good steel exists for the discovery that some steel is no better than pot metal. It's not logical reasoning. There may be an infinite number of wrong solutions to most mathematical problems. That in no way excludes the truth of the correct solution(s).
Same goes for world views and holy books.
But that's for another topic, if you're interested.
China had a problem with pot metal, during the "great leap forward", when Mao Zedong declared that farmers should stop farming, build smelters, and start making metal, so that China could become an industrialized nation.
Instead of producing high quality steel, the farmers produced total crap. And stopped producing crops. Which caused all kinds of problems. Worthless goods, no food, and that's only a small part of the plethora of problems that Communism brought to China.
Thank God I live in a constitutional republic. Although it's looking less that way, every day.
J.k.Rowling is a free speech issue. The radicals don't just disagree, they seek to silence her. And her "controversial" triggering statement was in defense of a women fired for stating a biologically true, but politically incorrect " blasphemy" that there are men & women.
Truth speakers deserve defense even if they are wrong on other issues. J.K may deserve your ire for her opinions on other, even closely related topics. Doesn't change that she is, in this topic, a victim of intolerant people, whose motivation may, indeed be to legitimize behaviour we both can agree is freaking wrong. Like pedophilia. Or even if those attacking her have pure motives ( which I doubt ) their methods are evil.
I'll leave the question "can you accomplish good by evil deeds?" to the theological thread that's sistered to this one.
I also have to defend a writer of fantasy against ad hominem charges of Satanism.
I've seen no evidence of that in Rowling's case. Messed up on other topics? Sure.
Crowley didn't invent magic or wizards, he exploited old tales. He stole his crud from multiple sources, like Karl Marx. They just wrapped their copied ideas in a shiny box of bull crap. Both can certainly be considered Satan loving evil monsters.
J.R.R. Tolkien was a fine scholar of language and mythology. The Lord of the Rings was his creation meant to be the missing mythological English tradition. He certainly knew Norse mythology, but did not copy it. In fact deliberately did not. He saw that the English mythologies had been over written by the waves of invaders over thousands of years. Even King Arthur is a tale traced back to immigrants. The older stories are gone. So he created them, yes, drawing on other European tales, but set it long before they existed. As Fiction. He knew well they weren't real. Calling Tolkien satanic just because there are imaginary creatures and magic is ignorant. In fact, the true hero of the saga is Sam the Gardener. Who was directly inspired by Christian principles. But there's no mention of the Hebrew & Christian diety, because the story pre dates both. You wouldn't put Star Wars in a Medieval knight & princess story. ( which is what Star Wars is, with glowing swords and magic chariots )
While Tolkien and Rowling may not have intended to honor satan with their writings, I believe they did so inadvertently. Wizardry is stated to be an abomination to God several times in the Word of God. The same goes for women who commit abortions, or guys like me who get drunk, or guys like me who break the speed limit. We all sin, most us of don't think, "Praise Satan!" when we do it. But he's the great deceiver, it all goes back to the original sin. I mean the one commited in heaven - when Lucifer sought to be like God. Oh yeah, it also goes for when Eve wanted to be like God. It also goes for when we decide we want to be above God's law - you know, on the same level as Him where we can decide our own right from wrong. Elevation of creature rather than the creator. It's all a ruse, sin is all about deceit.
This is primordial, elemental stuff. Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but both will be destroyed. With fervent heat, so hot that even elements cease to exist. You can decide morality for yourself, but it doesn't change anything. "If you're living like there's no God, you'd better hope you're right".
I know I'm a vile sinner. I need a get out of jail free card.
Patches, any religious differences we have are just that. I see no need to convert you. You have little chance of converting me. We can still be civil and learn from each other.
I am NOT a biblical scholar.
My Unhinged criticism is that I feel you lose credibility with a statement like, J.K. Rowling teaches Satanism and is a Reprobate Devil Antichrist
You can then quote the entire Bible, which actually hurts your point. Better to focus on directly related quotes.
I'm NOT calling you crazy. I am saying that calling a silly author the Antichrist makes you LOOK crazy.
Heck, you might be right that she has serious emotional issues. She apparently is far too immersed in the toxic Social Media insanity. And her comments on sex at Hogwarts? How many weirdos have asked this uneducated, but obviously bright, lady, who was having homosexual sex in The Room Of Requirement in her head when she was writing about magic plants? After a few thousand that can mess someone up.
On one hand, I agree Patrick that most people quit listening when all they see/hear is a list of bible verses from a book that is centuries old and boring.
On the other hand, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
I think, for most humans, you've got to talk to folks who don't believe, in terms of logic and discussion and maybe even some quick wit and catchy phrases (i'm not quick witted so I suck at debate and apologetics). Once you've got a believer on the line, you can lay out verse and chapter.
While Tolkien and Rowling may not have intended to honor satan with their writings, I believe they did so inadvertently. Wizardry is stated to be an abomination to God several times in the Word of God.
Tolkien's wizards aren't human. Metaphors for fallen angels? And Sauruman is a corrupted wise guy, seeking too much... Misled by Sauron.. A Lucifer metaphor himself.
There are reams of papers written on the hidden Christian teachings in LOTR.
And that it's an anti war story told by a very smart man traumatized by WW1. Evil and madness on an industrial scale.
Gandalf's magic is basically fireworks and light shows. Other than advice, he's kind of useless. There's a nature living wizard hiding in the forest, that pulls a rescue but otherwise, impotent. Galadrial is tempted by absolute power, ( awesome scene in the movie ) but turns away. To fade away to the afterlife...
Heck, you'd think Tolkien was packaging morality in a form to appeal to those disillusioned by modern society who'd given up on Faith.
Including, btw, that magic has consequence and power is corrupting.
Otoh... I'm sure someone has written about Harry Potter and hidden meanings. But in our cynical era, it's overshadowed by editorials on how it's an attempt to reclaim Colonial Glory, and billions in merchandising. Rowling is no Tolkien.
Can you imagine Tolkien's reaction to 10,000 tweets about Hobbit sex?
Glen Schunk converted from Roman Catholicism in 1943 at the age of 25. Six months later he was inducted into the army. Being on the front lines, often in foxholes, with bullets flying overhead, he would take out his New Testament for consolation. During those experiences Glen won many fellow soldiers to Christ. Glen was wounded in action and sent to a military hospital in Naples, Italy and placed in a ward with 1,000 men. There the Lord moved in Glen’s heart as he saw the spiritual need of the men, and concluded that God wanted him to preach. As a result of his converts there, over 400 men were in attendance at the Bible study classes. Many of those men went into the ministry.
Including, btw, that magic has consequence and power is corrupting. In "The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth" by Anton Szandor LaVey, the seventh rule is, "Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained." I wonder how many people Anton has helped to hell with the lying book he copyrighted in 1967.
I finished the first "Witcher" book, "The Last Wish". I was rather disappointed in it. It was OK, just not very satisfying, like the author only partially developed the geography, history, etc, and then rushed into writing. Plus, the chapters are not chronological. It's like the author wrote chapters on playing cards and then shuffled the deck before publishing them.
My favorite fantasy author is Robin Hobb (pen name). It seems like she spent years of her life developing the backdrop of the Seven Duchies before she decided to come up with an Assassin named Fitzchivalry and then devote 9 books to his life. I also find it interesting that a female wrote 9 books about a man, in first person. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good of a job she's done thinking like a man.