Cults
The occult today is gaining popularity in many ways such as through books, film and television. Of particular interest even among professing Christians and religious church people is Harry Potter.
Since 1997 Harry Potter books have sold more than 44 million copies making it one of the best selling books in history. Other books exceed these sales but not in such a short amount of time.
According to the Wikipedia "since the release of the first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on 30 June 1997, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide.[1] The series has also had some share of criticism, including concern for the increasingly dark tone. As of June 2011, the book series has sold about 450 million copies, making it the best-selling books series in history and has been translated into 67 languages,[2][3] and the last four books consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history."
An unidentified study in 1997 predicted that there were 100,000 practicing Neopagans in the United Kingdom. The Pagan Federation in the UK reported in 1999 that they were currently receiving 100 inquiries a month from potential new recruits. Kate West, vice president of the Pagan Federation and a practicing Wiccan said: "Spiritually, people want more than the paternalistic 'I will tell you what to think and what to do' attitude. As a race we are maturing. We want to make our own decisions about our own morality. We don't believe in indoctrination." 3
It would be interesting I thought to see if there were any correlation between the increasing number of pagan and Wiccan practitioners and popularity of the Harry Potter series. In fact this is exactly what appears to be the case.
The Australian census reported that the number of Wiccans had grown from fewer than 2,000 in 1996, to almost 9,000 in 2001. The number of Pagans more than doubled to 10,632 in 2001. Druids, animists and pantheists also increased in numbers.
Wicca relative to other religions:
The 408,000 Wiccan adults in the U.S. would then represent the 7th largest organized religion, and the 10th largest religious grouping, in the United States. The adult population who identify with the largest religious classifications, according to ARIS are:
Christianity: 159 million adults,
"NOTAs" (None Of The Above; persons with no religious affiliation): 27.5 million
Judaism: 2.8 million,
Islam: 1.1 million,
Buddhist: 1.1 million,
Agnostics: 991,000,
Atheists: 902,000,
Hinduism: 766,000,
Unitarian-Universalism: 620,000 adults.
It appears that Wiccans have already surpassed in numbers of American adult followers of such established faith groups as: the Society of Friends - Quaker (217,000), the Baha'i Faith (84,000), and Sikhism (57,000).
References:
"American Religious Identification Survey," by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, at: http://www.gc.cuny.edu/studies/
The main theme of the Potter books is death according to author J.K. Rowling. It should therefore come as no surprise that Halloween is her favorite celebration. Many Wiccan witches claim that J. K. Rowling is a witch although she's never come out of the closet to admit that she is. Nevertheless her knowledge of the occult and witchcraft leads one to wonder.
The Harry Potter series come under children's literature and cross many categories such as fantasy, mystery, and thriller.
First let me say that I've never read a Harry Potter book or ever picked one up nor do I desire to do so. It should not trouble the reader in the least to think that because I haven't read one or several series of Potter books that my criticism is any less valid. A man does not have to thumb through a salacious novel to know that such reading material is forbidden and unprofitable to one's spiritual growth as a Christian. The nature of any reading material will determine if a book or magazine is sufficiently wise to merit our perusal or careful meditation.
The apostle Paul tells us in Holy Scripture "To prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
To capitalize on the popularity of the Potter books Hollywood has produced several films which serve as a seductive kind of commerical and propaganda for witchcraft. These films are very popular with teenagers and young people. The images are a kaledeiscope of Hollywood make up magic and special effects designed to mesmerize and capture the hearts and minds of millions of children, teens and young adults. It seems to be working as evidenced by the growing numbers of people leaving off their traditional religious beliefs and opting for something more daring and exciting, magical and non-conforming to Biblical teachings.
The problem with Harry Potter from what I've read of the reviews is that it is filled with the occult in such a way as to make it appear harmless and good and attractive especially through a skillful writer like J. K. Rawlings.
Now what is the occult?
According to the Watkins Dictionary of Magic:
Occultism is the term used to describe the study of occult practices including (but not limited to) magic, alchemy, extra-sensory perception, astrology, spiritualism, and divination. Interpretation of occultism and its concepts can be found in the belief structures of religions such as Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Theosophy, Wicca, Thelema, Satanism, and Neopaganism.
A broad definition is offered by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke:
OCCULTISM has its basis in a religious way of thinking, the roots of which stretch back into antiquity and which may be described as the Western esoteric tradition. Its principal ingredients have been identified as Gnosticism, the Hermetic treatises on alchemy and magic, Neo-Platonism, and the Kabbalah, all originating in the eastern Mediterranean area during the first few centuries AD.
WARNING: No Christian should waste their time, money or energy on such diversions and abominations as these Harry Potter stories. The practice or delving into the occult is forbidden by the people of God in Deuteronomy 18:9-12
"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. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do."
Harry Potter isn't just a harmless fantasy story for children or teens. It is clever indoctrination by the forces of darkness because Satan is behind all such devices.
I've gone to the you tube video sites of Harry Potter and posted many warnings against this film and any involvement and you should see the anger and opposition of those who love this occult and demonic exercise of the evil imagination.
The Bible says as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the coming of the Son of Man. During the days of Noah the imagination of men's hearts was only evil continually.
Can we see the evil imagination at work in such books and films as Harry Potter? To me the answer is an obvious yes.
I trust you are not naive and ignorant of Satan's devices. Flee these types of books and films for the sake of your soul and in obedience to God's commandments.
Harry Potter is just one more test of our faithfulness to God and His word. The question for professing Christians is whether they will hold fast to the truth of God's word in avoiding the occult, sorcery, witchcraft and related phenomena or will they seek to satisfy their curiosity about that which God forbids and so incur His wrath?
Choose you this day whom you will serve.
Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching.
See his videos on http://www.youtube.com Type LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at Carlton2061@gmail.
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Thanks Carlton, for a very informative article that stresses the seriousness of this satanic deception and how widespread it has become. Thanks for your comment on my article.
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