Newspapers / Montreat College Student Newspaper / Sept. 8, 2011, edition 1 / Page 7
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TOPIC AND DISCUSSION Imari Scarbrough Montreat’s President Struble praised Generation Y’s magical pop icon in his Opening Convocation address on Tuesday, August 23. Struble gave a speech entitled “Harry Potter: Good or Evil?,’’ touch ing on a topic that, especially at a Christian college, is somewhat controversial. irsA FAMILY i BUSINESS While acknowledging theological debates about Harry Potter—such as the use of sorcery—Struble said that magic is used primarily as a literary device in the story. He compared Harry’s “good” charac ter and willingness to sacrifice to Christ, extolling Harry’s virtues. Struble said that the biblical analogy is very visible. He especially considered Harry s unselfish love for his friends, comrades and even enemies throughout the series, comparing it to the description of love in Corinthians 13. For a generation that grew up with Star Wars, South Park, Family Guy and the Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series has a debatably significant place among the pop culture lineup defining Gen eration Y. Arguably centered in America’s popular culture—as billions in total sales may suggest, according to TheNumbers.com—Harry is a household name, often regarded as either a childhood friend or a antigodly sorcerer in many circles. Whether students agree or disagree with Struble s positive “despelling” of popularly-employed biblical criticism is irrelevant in its significance to their generation. As suggested by the total books, movies and other paraphernalia sales, whether stu dents like it or not, J.K. Rowling seems to have worked her magic and firmly entrenched her fantasti cal creation in Generation Y’s culture. Joshua Van Dine I feel compelled to respond that I disagree with IS view that because it’s a good story, it is not evil to read. Harry Potter is detestable to the Lord because e practices sorcery, engages in witchcraft, and casts spells. Philippians 4:8 lists and encourages activities a please the Lord. Harry Potter has none of ose attributes, therefore Harry Potter should not be a part of our lives. nof Fotter series was compared to the Gos- I The Gospel writers and Jesus If th ’ Harry Potter for the evil It is. p ®ny connection between the Harry RovaT ®nd the Gospels, it’s because J.K. «°wling has perverted It. Enmanual Medrano I feel compelled to address an opposing argu ment that the Harry Potter series is a work of the devil. i-God finds magic detestable, but what does that have to do with a fictional book series about a boy who fights the dark forces of magic? If Harry Potter is of the devil and detestable by God, I must say that God doesn’t understand the con cept of fun. -Philippians 4:8- The love that Harry and his friends have with one another and the sacrifice that his mother made for him fits into that cat egory. hThere is also no mention of situations that indicate Harry being a devil worshiper, except for the fact that he practices magic, like a lot of important characters in literature^(fe^Merli^^ For a full articles, visit mcwhetstone.com. I l>eptcmbr K, ZOl 1 | Page 7
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