The Dangers of Harry Potter

The Dangers of Harry Potter
By Mike Bradley

The Harry Potter book has just been released in the bookstores this week. This book is the sixth book in a planned series of 7 books.

I’m sure you have all heard that these books have been a huge success and there are millions of kids throughout the world hooked on these books as well as quite a few adults themselves. The publishing industry has never seen anything quite like this. What is the fascination with these books and now the movie? Why are so many children and some adults drawn to these books?

There have always been movies and fiction books on witchcraft, wizardry and sorcery – but none of them have ever obtained the popularity that this series of books has. What is so different with this line of books? Why are they so much more popular than anything else that has ever been written?

Many of the major Christian ministries are up in major arms about these
books and now the movie. They say these books are a lure to lead children and adults into witchcraft and the other dark occult arts.

However, we have always had these types of movies and books coming at us. Why all of a sudden are so many Christians coming out against these books where they have really not done this in the past with all of the fantasy movies Hollywood has come out with in the past.

I’ve always felt in my spirit that there really was something different with these series of books – but I never bought or read any of them. I went ahead and rented the very first Harry Potter video and watched it in its complete entirety to see if these Christians were right in their criticism of this movie and these books or if they were just getting too carried away on what at first glance just seems to be harmless fantasy
entertainment.

After watching and reviewing this movie very carefully, it is my personal opinion that the Christians who are up in arms over these books and movie are right! This movie, and especially the series of books themselves, is a definite lure from the dark side to entice and trap people into not only witchcraft itself – but other occult arts, which are expressly forbidden by God the Father in the Bible.

There is no question that Satan is the one orchestrating the way that these books have been written up and how they have been so cleverly marketed to a mass audience who have no idea what is really lurking behind all of it. Satan has very cleverly put a major spiritual secret in these books and movies that is in operation in the spiritual realm that will draw some of the more ignorant and naive into the real world of
witchcraft.

That spiritual secret is the law of seeking. The Bible tells us to seek – and then we will find. This spirtual principle not only works in God’s realm – but it also works in the realm of Satan where he and his demons roam seeking next who they can devour.

And Harry Potter is coincidentally given the official title of a seeker in the very first book. And what is a seeker going to find if he starts to research the subject of witchcraft and sorcery after reading these kinds of books and having the seeds of desire implanted in them as a result of reading these kind of books? Hundreds and hundreds of books on the subject of witchcraft – all with specific titles on how to actually become a witch, how to form out a coven, how to actually cast spells, etc.

Go to any major Borders book store – and you will literally see several hundreds of books in their metaphysical section – all dealing specifically with the subject of witchcraft and how to get started and progress further into it. And once that person decides he is going to try out some of this occult activity – he has now officially crossed over into enemy terrority and he has now given the demonic realm full legal right to come into him and his life.

And all of this can be started by just a few seeds of desire that can planted into someone by just imagining and fantasizing what it would be like if they could obtain the kind of supernatural power that Harry Potter has in all of these books. And with many of the readers of this line of books being our younger children – it doesn’t take much to see what a deadly combination this could be for a very young, innocent and highly suggestible mind.

All Christians, especially Christians who have younger children who are wanting to read and really get into these books, should be warned about the spiritual trap that is being laid with these books.

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible knowledge commentary and teaching. They currently have over 100 in depth Bible articles. All free of charge. You can sign up for their free newsletter which will alert you of new articles, which are being added on a weekly basis.
The full article can be found at
Harry Potter and the Bible

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The Occult is Enmity with God

Biblical Perspective on Witchcraft and the Occult

The Occult is Enmity with God (Occult practitioners are God’s enemies)

The Occult is of Satan. Whether you wish to believe it or not. Satan has thousands of “religions” to confuse people. Back in bibical days (and in some places, still do) they used graven images (Idols – statues of these false gods)

Satan does not require a religion to be “dark” (few people would go for a truly evil religion) he only cares that it distracts you from saving faith.

Deu 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
“For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

Lev 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

Exd 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

What is the difference between the occult and Christianity?

What is the difference between the occult and Christianity? They are both supernatural.

In the occult, the wielder of the supernatural power does so at his own will (at least he/ she thinks so) The Christian is led by God, and does not use their “own” power. God does the work.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19 KJV)

The occult practitioner practices their arts for their own purposes. God leads the Christian to use their supernatural gifts for the edification of other people.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matthew 4:3 KJV)

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.(1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV)

What Witches Believe

What Witches Believe

First of all, people tend to get witchcraft and other occult religions mixed up. So, below, is what one ex-witch writes. Permission to reprint this was kindly granted by www.exwitch.org. An organization of witches who have come to Christ.

What she writes is true. I know firsthand.

Visit their site! They are an excellent source of information. They also have a forum.

What is Witchcraft?

Written by Kathi Sharpe

Let’s start off with what modern Witchcraft is NOT:

Witches do not believe that Wicca has anything to do with the devil. Most Witches do not believe in “evil.”
There are no Shakespearean curses involving boiling frogs in cauldrons.
Witches do not practice bloody sacrifices (human or animal). However, followers of some other Pagan religions (such as Santeria) do practice animal sacrifice. There are some groups who claim to practice things such as human sacrifice, and evidence of other illegal activities (such as grave robbing). This is not typical of American Pagans, and stories involving these practices should be carefully investigated.
No one really flies on brooms.
Rituals are usually not ecstatic sex orgies.
I’ve never met a green-faced, warty-nosed Witch.

We’ve written this article because many people within the church have entirely the wrong idea about Witches, Wiccans, and Pagans. It is unfortunate that misperceptions and even outright lies have circulated amongst us, as Christ’s commands to “love thy neighbor” and “Go… make disciples” apply to Pagans (just as much as to anyone else). Furthermore, by and large people within the neopagan movement are some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met, and the lies that people have about them are just plain – wrong.

Followers of this religion are often gentle, spiritual people who are concerned with the environment, human rights, and happiness. They usually worship one or more ancient goddesses and gods. Religious rituals range from solemn, with candles lit and incense burning; to ecstatic, with dancing, chanting, and singing.

Witches do cast spells, although most say they only do so for positive purposes. They do not hex or curse, nor do they generally interfere with the will of another. Magic (many Witches say “magick”) is often called “The science and art of causing change to occur in conformity to Will”. In fact, many Wiccans will tell you that magick and Christian-style prayer are really the same thing. Unlike Christian prayer, Wiccan rituals usually include the use of props (candles, incense, altar tools, herbs, etc.) and the request goes to whichever god or goddess the Witch worships, or more often to the “forces of nature” as a demand rather than a request. Witches also employ divination, such as tarot cards and astrology, to determine likely outcomes of decisions, or to get in touch with their “inner selves” or their gods. However, do keep in mind that some do NOT practice divination, and a few do not practice magick.

There is no Witch’s “Bible”. While is widely felt that wisdom comes from within, not from a book or even from “On High”, some have no problem with transcendent views of deity. There are sacred texts in several Pagan traditions, such as the Egyptian Book of Coming Forth by Day (commonly called the “Book of the Dead”). Witches tend to believe that Jesus was a great teacher (and so were Buddha and Mohammed). If they believe in the existence of the devil at all, they’ll tell you that he’s simply “another Christian deity”. While Pagans invoke a number of deities (female and male) and entities such as elementals, and believe in beings such as tree spirits and faeries, most say that there are no “demons” anywhere: this is also a Christian concept, and they’re not Christians. Their deities are considered to be “imminent”, or within each of us, meaning that everyone is actually deity. A common phrase at rituals is “Thou art Goddess.”

Leaders among Pagans tend to be strong, powerful, self-assured people. However, most are not overtly power-seeking, overly charismatic, “follow me” types. In fact, because covens are generally autonomous, often led by everyone equally, the rules are flexible, and there is seldom money exchanged, Witches can argue very effectively that they are not a “cult”.

Although moral and political views are certainly not universal among Pagans, it is safe to say that most support neo-tolerance (there is no truth/what’s true for me is not necessarily true for you/everything is true (just pick one)), women’s rights and matriarchy, sexual “freedom” (including homosexuality, polyamory, non-monogamy, sexual activity by teens), abortion, and the abolition of Christianity from public life, especially in schools and governmental functions. In recent years there have been lawsuits filed by Pagans against such things as “In God We Trust” (which appears on our money), student-led prayer in schools, the Ten Commandments, and Christian symbols, such as the Cross, in city and county seals. However, many are active in getting the schools to teach the Wiccan holidays (such as Halloween and Winter Solstice), pagan elements of “Earth Day”, and Pagan symbolism.

There is no concept of sin or need for forgiveness in Pagan traditions. There is no need for salvation, as there is “nothing to be saved from.” The main tenet of Wicca is called the “Wiccan Rede”. It states “An it harm none, do as ye will”. Basically, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, anything goes. Views of what actually causes harm vary from person to person. However, as most feel that you will be paid back three times over for everything you do, it pays to be careful. However, some argue that causing harm is occasionally acceptable, if you are willing to be responsible and accept the karmic consequence. A few groups have a more legalistic set of rules to follow, upon which they will ultimately be judged, although there is rarely any mention of what one is to do when those rules are broken.

Views of death and the afterlife vary widely among Pagans. Many do not have any concept of a literal heaven or hell. Some espouse the concept of karma and endless reincarnation. They insist that living once is a ridiculous concept and point to “evidence” and “memories” of past lives. Others believe that everyone (good, bad, and otherwise) will go to the Land of Apples or Heaven after their live(s) are over. Some combine the two theories into a reincarnation-until-enlightenment philosophy. Many do not even have a clear concept of what will happen after death, proclaiming that they’ll find out when they get there.

Keep in mind that this is only a brief summary of what most Wiccans and other Pagans believe, and that there is great diversity within the Pagan movement: not every Witch will agree with every statement on this page, but most Witches will agree with most of it.