www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Harry Potter - Any readers here?

As I indicated earlier, I think the fundamental flaw in witchcraft is the assumption that objects have magical powers and that people can control spirits. I don't believe they can. Spirits, or as I believe they actually are, fallen angels, work to their own purposes and are not under the control of people. Harry Potter books are a good yarn, but I don't find them to be much more than that.

Dear ByzanTN,

The devil works through whomever wishes him to. In other words,if you wanted something strongly enough, he will approach you...internally of course. The choice will be yours. You can subjecate yourself to him and get whatever you little heart desires...be it wealth, power over others, fame or what not. I believe it was found that one out of 25 people in The Netherlands hear a voice speaking to them, comforting them and what not.

Anyway, demons work through evil hearts. Frankly we are surrounded by them, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We are also surrounded by angels for protection, that is of course if we need it depending on the state of our soul. The more pure the soul, the greater the demonic attacks.

Someone told me a story recently about a saintly bishop that had attended a liturgy at a monastery. The elder in the monastery, seeing that the bishop did not have a full beard, but instead had it rather neatly trimmed as was customary in the theology school he taught, asked him not to serve so that the monks would not be scandalized.

The bishop meekly did so. Later on, someone asked who the man praying in a corner of the church was. The man said that he saw him being attacked by demons, while angels kept coming to his protection. Okay, this is one story among hundreds that I've heard and read. You can believe it or not. But then again, there are many in Britain I heard, that do not believe in the resurrection any more either.

As for witches flying, etc., who knows. After reading the story by the Exorcist of the Vatican, and how someone was able to change himself into a cat, and enter the room of a nun he lusted after, I do not doubt for one instance that anything is possible. As for miracles, I have seen many. But then again, life itself is a miracle.

God Bless,

Zenovia

Dang, another reason I am not fond of cats. Witches and broomsticks are stretching it a bit, however.

Dear ByzanTN,

There is no assumption that objects have magical powers. The power that controls an object is a demon. Nor can people control spirits. The spirits have control over those that give themselves over to them. In return, the spirit gives that person whatever they want.

In other words, if I am highly envious or covetous, I can summon a spirit, (through a spell, hex or what not), to give me what I desire. Or maybe the spirit itself will approach me. The spirit will then give me what I desire, but by me summoning him to do so, he will acquire complete control over me. I have, through my free will, completely subjecated myself to him and to his whims.

I don't like cats either.

God Bless,

Zenovia

ByznTN,

As Zenovia noted your "objects have powers" argument doesn't apply. I don't think that New Agers, et. al. claim this.

Words do have power - immense power. Think of this when you are at the Divine Liturgy this Sunday. Your words are transcending time and space and being heard by the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The words you speak do affect the world.

A problem with these books is that they lead young and impressionable minds to something quite malevolent. Here's a short excerpt from a recent news item I found of note:

"Leading Mexican exorcist priest: Harry Potter may help devil enter kids' minds"
The Associated Press, Friday, July 20, 2007
MEXICO CITY: The leading exorcist of Mexico's main archdiocese said the popular Harry Potter book and film series could allow the devil to enter children's minds, and does "a lot of damage."

The Rev. Pedro Mendoza, a Roman Catholic priest and exorcist coordinator of the Archdiocese of Mexico City, made the comments at the end of a five-day exorcism conference in the capital. "If you put all these ideas in a child's head, that he can become a wizard, the child believes that, and that is opening an avenue through which the devil can get in," Mendoza said Friday � the eve of the release of the series' final book.

He said that Harry Potter "doesn't interest us," but "unfortunately, it does a lot of damage." Without strong, faith-bound families, which he said allow individuals to see God's work in everyday life, people lose touch with God and seek "magical solutions" to modern problems. "There are many demonic influences, infestations, curses, witchcraft," he said. "And it's in that field that the devil is working."

And what about where Satanists use a consecrated Host for their black mass? Would it be the case that only a sacrilege is being committed there, or does their perverted rite dive deeper than that?

Some new agers I know claim their crystal collections have power. Of course they don't, but these folks think they do.


I would make a HUGE distinction between the power of the Divine Liturgy and a superstitious person babbling mumbo-jumbo (that's not a form of Carpathian chant, btw)


You know, this doesn't surprise me. Some areas of the world seem to be more given to superstitious belief, for whatever reasons. I have noticed a few such things coming out of Italy as well.



I teach school and my elementary school students tell me Harry Potter is not real. If the 8-year-olds know that, I am not so concerned about it.

Actually Fr. Amorth, of the popular An Exorcist Tells His Story states that some of the most powerful demonic oppressions/possessions are tied to cursed objects which must be found and destroyed, via questioning the demon, before the exorcism will be successful. He also stated some of the worst casess of possession and opression are the result of the voodoo/santeria of Latin Amercia.

Fr. Deacon Lance

Thank you Fr. Deacon. I had forgotten about this. You are correct.

No, byzanTN....I don't think your argument pertains to "objects". Your argument as quoted above is that the angelic world (or spiritual realm) doesn't exist. You deny what Paul called "the principalities and powers". You believe that this spiritual realm was a construct of the human mind by people who didn't have the scientific method. This idea is patently false.

One of the greatest arguments I found against this idea were the accounts of reporters in Rwanda and other war-torn areas. They often describe what they call "winds" of evil.

On another subject, thank you for the crystals example. You are correct that they think this. I forgot about this.

I am beginning to think you may be one of those folks who has to have the last word, so go ahead and have it. I will not respond to any more of your posts. I suspect we will have to agree to disagree.

So Anhelyna, have you picked the book up yet?

It's a question not of the last word but of the Truth.

Now that that interesting side-venture is done, anyone else who was or is eager to learn about what finally happens?

I can say something without spoilers. As long as you've read Book 5 you are safe. I'll still put it in white just in case. Who was it who was supposed to die but was given a reprieve? Highlight here: Rowling was going to kill off Mr. Weasley in book 5 but she couldn't bear to do it to him.

I don't know if you saw it, but Rowling has been on morning TV this week answering such questions. I think it was "Today" but those morning shows are all alike and I frequently forget on which one I saw something. BTW, she did answer your question but we can't tell Anhelyna any of the plot yet.