Harry Potter fans warn against dangerous effects of Bible
February 7, 2002 1:15 AM Subscribe
Harry Potter fans warn against dangerous effects of Bible A number of concerned British Harry Potter fans have spoken out against the Bible, claiming that the holy text of the Christian Church can cause serious damage to children.
While I initially found this amusing, because of the idiocy of parents who wanted to ban Harry Potter, this sort of thing gets old fast. I really wonder about atheists who feel the need to be evangelical.
Now, I don't even call myself a Christian, but I don't think juvenile jokes, especially those found in dagny's article (hah, it says Eve was made of spareribs) contribute anything to our understanding. If nothing else, don't make the mistake the extreme Christian fundamentalists make and interpret everything in the bible as fact; look at it as stories and metaphors and you'll find it's a rich sourcebook of interesting ideas which have shaped Western Civilization.
posted by dagnyscott at 6:35 AM on February 7, 2002
Now, I don't even call myself a Christian, but I don't think juvenile jokes, especially those found in dagny's article (hah, it says Eve was made of spareribs) contribute anything to our understanding. If nothing else, don't make the mistake the extreme Christian fundamentalists make and interpret everything in the bible as fact; look at it as stories and metaphors and you'll find it's a rich sourcebook of interesting ideas which have shaped Western Civilization.
posted by dagnyscott at 6:35 AM on February 7, 2002
If nothing else, don't make the mistake the extreme Christian fundamentalists make and interpret everything in the bible as fact.
If this is a suggestion to your fellow MetaFilterians, I think you're wasting your breath. Is there anyone in this community who believes in literal interpretation of the bible? I kind of got the feelings most folks were atheist or agnostic.
I really wonder about atheists who feel the need to be evangelical.
There's nothing to wonder about. I think athesists are sick of the lunacy they hear every time they turn on the tv and hear a clearly deluded televangelist telling them how to think, or in an everyday sense, tired of getting strange disapproving looks whenever they tell a co-worker that they are atheist. It's a feeling of being outnumbered, and having your culture be disrespected. Your comment was akin to saying, "I really wonder about minorities who feel the need to complain." And before you question the analogy, I have been shunned at jobs before by people who knew I was atheist, not unlike a feeling of getting sent to the back of the bus.
posted by Karl at 7:10 AM on February 7, 2002
If this is a suggestion to your fellow MetaFilterians, I think you're wasting your breath. Is there anyone in this community who believes in literal interpretation of the bible? I kind of got the feelings most folks were atheist or agnostic.
I really wonder about atheists who feel the need to be evangelical.
There's nothing to wonder about. I think athesists are sick of the lunacy they hear every time they turn on the tv and hear a clearly deluded televangelist telling them how to think, or in an everyday sense, tired of getting strange disapproving looks whenever they tell a co-worker that they are atheist. It's a feeling of being outnumbered, and having your culture be disrespected. Your comment was akin to saying, "I really wonder about minorities who feel the need to complain." And before you question the analogy, I have been shunned at jobs before by people who knew I was atheist, not unlike a feeling of getting sent to the back of the bus.
posted by Karl at 7:10 AM on February 7, 2002
Fundamentalist Christians are not a monolithic block who all denounce Harry Potter. I have a number of devout friends who have encouraged their kids to read the Potter books and have stood up to people from their churches who have tried to condemn them for doing so. There are also debates going on within many churches over the apparent hypocrisy of embracing J.R.R. Tolkien while at the same time rejecting J.K. Rowling.
And Karl, there's a lot more diversity of belief within Christianity than TV evangelism might suggest; they're just the loudest, most obnoxious part and therefore receive the lion's share of the attention.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:29 AM on February 7, 2002
And Karl, there's a lot more diversity of belief within Christianity than TV evangelism might suggest; they're just the loudest, most obnoxious part and therefore receive the lion's share of the attention.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:29 AM on February 7, 2002
Karl: I do.
But, no, I don't see anything wrong with Potter-- except for that snore of a movie.
posted by tsitzlar at 8:22 AM on February 7, 2002
But, no, I don't see anything wrong with Potter-- except for that snore of a movie.
posted by tsitzlar at 8:22 AM on February 7, 2002
I thought that this was just a fun, "Onion-type" article devoid of any deeper meaning and not seriously addressing the religious/atheist/agnostic dynamic. I just forwarded it to my daughter who's also eternally grateful for whoever first intoduced kitty.jpg to this group.
posted by Danf at 8:44 AM on February 7, 2002
posted by Danf at 8:44 AM on February 7, 2002
Well, the article may be of the onion variety, but that second link sure isn't.
I find it hard to believe the one-sidedness of the argument. While the author is fair enough to state the 'why' of the bible, he/she does it in a mocking way, while holding the Potter series in reverence. The author basically denounces all Christians as 'bible-thumpers,' or all Muslims as terrorists.
i have not seen the Potter movies, and probably won't. Not because I'm a Christian, which I am, but because it's kid's stuff, from what I understand. I certainly won't try and stop others from seeing it, or from reading the books, if that's what they want to do.
posted by schlaager at 9:11 AM on February 7, 2002
I find it hard to believe the one-sidedness of the argument. While the author is fair enough to state the 'why' of the bible, he/she does it in a mocking way, while holding the Potter series in reverence. The author basically denounces all Christians as 'bible-thumpers,' or all Muslims as terrorists.
i have not seen the Potter movies, and probably won't. Not because I'm a Christian, which I am, but because it's kid's stuff, from what I understand. I certainly won't try and stop others from seeing it, or from reading the books, if that's what they want to do.
posted by schlaager at 9:11 AM on February 7, 2002
Touché.
I'm not much of a Christian myself, though I'd be the first one to offer a defense of Christianity if I thought it was being attacked maliciously. But this article has enough qualifiers and determiners to slip by under the radar.
Didn't seem so much a scathing criticism of Christianity as it was a tit-for-tat satire of a particularly ridiculous belief that happens to be held by a small number of Christians. And after all, they're not doing anything that wasn't done to them beforehand, and much more viciously.
posted by Hildago at 9:16 AM on February 7, 2002
I'm not much of a Christian myself, though I'd be the first one to offer a defense of Christianity if I thought it was being attacked maliciously. But this article has enough qualifiers and determiners to slip by under the radar.
Didn't seem so much a scathing criticism of Christianity as it was a tit-for-tat satire of a particularly ridiculous belief that happens to be held by a small number of Christians. And after all, they're not doing anything that wasn't done to them beforehand, and much more viciously.
posted by Hildago at 9:16 AM on February 7, 2002
nothing more than satire people. if you get offended by it, the joke is complete.
posted by th3ph17 at 9:42 AM on February 7, 2002
posted by th3ph17 at 9:42 AM on February 7, 2002
" I just forwarded it to my daughter who's also eternally grateful for whoever first intoduced kitty.jpg to this group."
tell her i said "the smiles make it worth it. thanks."
posted by jcterminal at 10:36 AM on February 7, 2002
tell her i said "the smiles make it worth it. thanks."
posted by jcterminal at 10:36 AM on February 7, 2002
I kind of got the feelings most folks were atheist or agnostic.
I am a Catholic of the Roman Rite, and you are right, most folks here of atheist or agnostic thoughts. I know there are a few others out there who also speak out for Christianity, but I think the (or part of the) reason you don't hear from us "religious people" is because MeFi is so far to the anti-xian side (not necessarily ANTI christian, just not of the same beliefs). Often times, I have seen the same rhetoric from believers and non-believers alike to the point where there is nothing left to say...I know i could give some response to defend my faith, but I already know who will say what.
You point out that you are sick of evangelical people telling you what to think. By the same token, it also gets old where I am told what to do all the time. A Church can't display Christmas decorations on their lawn where i lived because someone who drive by was offended by the decorations.
I consider myself a fairly liberal and open minded Christian and am not for pushing religion down anyone's throat, but while atheists or agnostics get tired of the religious right telling you what to do, I also get tired of being what I cannot do in public.
posted by jmd82 at 12:48 PM on February 7, 2002
I am a Catholic of the Roman Rite, and you are right, most folks here of atheist or agnostic thoughts. I know there are a few others out there who also speak out for Christianity, but I think the (or part of the) reason you don't hear from us "religious people" is because MeFi is so far to the anti-xian side (not necessarily ANTI christian, just not of the same beliefs). Often times, I have seen the same rhetoric from believers and non-believers alike to the point where there is nothing left to say...I know i could give some response to defend my faith, but I already know who will say what.
You point out that you are sick of evangelical people telling you what to think. By the same token, it also gets old where I am told what to do all the time. A Church can't display Christmas decorations on their lawn where i lived because someone who drive by was offended by the decorations.
I consider myself a fairly liberal and open minded Christian and am not for pushing religion down anyone's throat, but while atheists or agnostics get tired of the religious right telling you what to do, I also get tired of being what I cannot do in public.
posted by jmd82 at 12:48 PM on February 7, 2002
I always loved those blow-by-blow tallies of acts of violence in books and movies put out by Christian fundamentalist groups concerned for our wellbeing. None of them beat the Bible.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:40 PM on February 7, 2002
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:40 PM on February 7, 2002
Harry Potter vs. Gandalf, an in-depth analysis by Steven D. Greydanus
"Lord Of The Rings" Based On Christian Beliefs? by Craig Bird
Transcript for "Making Sense", Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 with Alan Keyes
A discussion on Harry Patter vs Lord of the Rings
posted by aaronshaf at 2:42 AM on February 8, 2002
"Lord Of The Rings" Based On Christian Beliefs? by Craig Bird
Transcript for "Making Sense", Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 with Alan Keyes
A discussion on Harry Patter vs Lord of the Rings
posted by aaronshaf at 2:42 AM on February 8, 2002
Karl: I do too.
And as for obiwanwasabi's link, I think it must be iterated that Christians believe God's wrath is just, while humans judging and murdering other human beings is an entirely different issue of sin.
posted by aaronshaf at 3:00 AM on February 8, 2002
And as for obiwanwasabi's link, I think it must be iterated that Christians believe God's wrath is just, while humans judging and murdering other human beings is an entirely different issue of sin.
posted by aaronshaf at 3:00 AM on February 8, 2002
Is there anyone in this community who believes in literal interpretation of the bible?
I do.
posted by gd779 at 6:52 AM on February 8, 2002
I do.
posted by gd779 at 6:52 AM on February 8, 2002
My point, Karl, is that extremist atheists and extremist Christians are a lot alike in that they're the only people who care about looking at the bible as a source of fact. It's all too easy to attack it on that basis. But why should you? The bible is a source of truth, not a source of fact, and it's a great source of inpsiration, just as the Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies are, just as the Buddhist and Taoist texts are, and to dismiss them outright because they are written as something besides scientific journal articles is outright foolishness.
posted by dagnyscott at 7:24 AM on February 8, 2002
posted by dagnyscott at 7:24 AM on February 8, 2002
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posted by dagny at 1:33 AM on February 7, 2002