Allegory #2 - The Serpent and the Lion
Submitted by J on December 12 2001 04:18:31
In reply to Re: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone submitted by Splash! on December 10 2001 15:45:04
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Dear Splash! Thanks for your comments and feedback. Your point that the books and movie should not be a problem “as long as the parents are in touch with their kids” is well taken. This point that you bring up several times is very important and perhaps sometimes overlooked. I too dabbled in the dark side for a time, not through reading fantasy, but through the overtly satanic music I was listening to when I was a kid (Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Venom, etc.) And thanks to God and His power, I was set free of all that. That Harry Potter has many flaws I do not deny (see my post entitled: “Allegory #1 – The Love of Harry’s Mother” for one example). I don’t know if I agree with the conclusion that Harry lied to win and keep the philosopher’s stone, though he certainly lied to protect it from Quirrell and Voldemort, which could be considered the right thing to do under the circumstances (cf. Exodus 1:15-21). Again, I don’t know if I agree with the conclusion that the book is not about good versus evil, as I tend to see that thread quite predominantly. Below is another example of Christian allegory in the victory of Gryffindor over Slytherin (with scriptural footnotes included): He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent [1] vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion [2] took its place. [3] pg. 222 [1] The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Revelation 12:9 [2] Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed… Revelation 5:5 [3] …I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. Genesis 3:15 I absolutely agree with you that anyone here who knows a YF who enjoys Harry Potter should be sharing with him the true power available to believers through the Holy Spirit. Your citation of Proverbs 22:6 is interesting since I actually understand that particular verse (properly translated from Hebrew) as rhetoric wisdom not to train a child up in his ways (which are evil – cf. Genesis 8:21), but I understand and accept your point when one adheres to the traditional understanding of the passage. More of your comments and feedback on any of the issues I’ve raised in this post are most welcome. Take care and God bless, J |
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