• HARRY POTTER: SEDUCTION INTO THE DARK WORLD OF THE OCCULT - PART ONE

  . . . by Kathy A. Smith

  
  Murder, blood sacrifice, body mutilation, violence, revenge, death, bodily and demonic possession, divination, witchcraft, evil charms, consulting with familiar spirits, magic, hexes and curses, wizardry, necromancy, spell casting, sorcery, ghosts, and new age doctrine. These are only a few of the dark satanic themes communicated from cover to cover in the popular children's book series Harry Potter.

• CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS

  
  "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Most every thing taught in these Harry Potter books exalts itself against God by using occult practices that God has clearly forbidden in His word.
  
  Compare the above list with the following verses from God's word. The Bible teaches that these kinds of things are abominations to God.
  "When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee" (Deuteronomy18:9-13).
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  The Hebrew word for "abomination" means "wickedness, detestable or disgusting". God does not make witchcraft an option; to Him it is nothing but wickedness and these Forbidden Practices must absolutely be avoided by Christians. In these books, Harry Potter is looked at as a good kid who tries to do all the right things while using these forbidden magical powers. The books persuade the reader (a child) to enjoy and exercise these ungodly practices. The works of darkness are seen on nearly every page, teaching children to desire to become just like their hero, Harry Potter. Children are highly influenced that it is ok to take pleasure in and rely on magical occult practices to get all things accomplished, not just in times of trouble, but also in every day life. In these books, magic is not looked at as something bad, but something that is relied on. These books are read over and over by children in the same way the Bible should be read.

   

• A CURSED THING?

• The Bible teaches in Deuteronomy 7:26; "Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing'. According to God's word, these Harry Potter books are an accursed thing in God's eyes, and will bring a curse on those who bring them into their homes. You may be thinking "be real, these books are only a story". Well this "only a story" is teaching children that practicing witchcraft, wizardry and magic is the "cool thing to do". Not merely make-believe, many of the principles and themes in the Potter books have been declared by experts to be historically and traditionally accurate portrayals of magical lore. Millions of children all over the world are being pulled into the world of death, darkness and occult deception.
  
• Read what a 10-year old child wrote:
  "I was eager to get to Hogwarts first because I like what they learned there and I want to be a witch." Gioia Bishop, age 10. [1]

• HEED GOD"S

  The Bible teaches that we should have no pleasure in evil things (see Romans 1:29-32). These verses boldly proclaim that taking pleasure in Satan's devices (which we have just seen in the Potter books) is just as bad as actually doing them! Witchcraft is one of the sins that will keep a person from inheriting the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21), if not repented of and stopped. God wants us to have nothing to do with any of these things at all! Not only is a parent allowing their children to take pleasure in the occult, but they are also supporting it by spending their hard earned money on it! This goes for any ungodly entertainment involving these types of things; (TV shows, movies, games; music; etc.). Harry Potter is just another example of one of many in popular entertainment that is adding an acceptance of witchcraft and magic to society, while at the same time is turning children away from the truth of God's word.
  
• Christian reseacher Berit Kjos writes:

  God gave us His Word that we might know Him. The Bible reveals His heart, will and ways. It alone can show us what is truth or error; not current opinion. Compromise is a gradual process, so slow that it isn't obvious at first that belief is drifting toward non-Biblical doctrines. Eventually, the two become so intertwined, it becomes impossible to distinguish genuine belief from the new substitutes. (2)
  

• It is up to each individual if they will heed to God's warning or will allow their precious children to be sucked into Satan's abode. If you allow your children to read and reread Harry Potter books and constantly watch other occult related entertainment, you can expect to see a change on how they may feel about God and his word. Dwelling on these things may draw many children into the occult world. Books on fantasy such as Harry Potter can be very dangerous because children blur the line between what is fantasy and what is reality.
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  IS EVIL INNOCENT?

  This book has done a very good job of indoctrinating children. Our children are the next generation, and Satan's goals are to destroy their lives and condemn their souls. He will surely succeed if parents fall into the trap of believing that these books "are only a story" and are just innocent evil. There is no such thing as innocent evil! This is the worst kind of evil, because it has deceived so many Christians and non-believers into accepting it. "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21).
  We must decide whose side we want to partake in, God's or Satan's? Magic, witchcraft, murder and violence have nothing in common with God, because He says it is wickedness. If we love God, we are to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5:11). Instead, think on pure things: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
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  We must always remember that God gave us these special commandments because of His tender love for us. He is not being strict or cruel by telling us to avoid these things, but He informs us because He knows that witchcraft and sorcery can severely hurt or destroy us and our children both physically and spiritually. So you must decide who are you going to believe, God the creator of the universe, the media, or your own feelings?

  Read Part 2

Meet the Lord and Creator of the universe. Meet the one who loves and cares for His creation.

Notes:
(1) "What Readers Think About Goblet?" San Francisco Chronicle, 7-26
(2) Berit Kjos, "Harry Potter Lures Kids to Witchcraft", www.crossword.to

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