I am curious as to something, and would like to know if watching things like Harry Potter or Lord of the rings can influence someone into becoming a pagan or to get them involved with the occult?.

I was just watching on TV the release of the new Harry Potter book, and I noticed some of the kids wearing Pentagrams, which is a pagan symbol representing nature, and life, and the 5 elements earth, air, fire, water and spirit.

I am sure that things like Harry Potter and lord of the rings have gotten kids and even some adults into paganism and magic (which is a good thing in most cases in my opinion) but I was wondering how common it is, as some religious extremist groups say its common, so I want to try and establish how common it is, as you cant trust statistics from religious extremists, as its there nature to lie, so I would like to know the following…….

Has watching Harry Potter or Lord of the rings caused you, or anyone in your family or friends to become a pagan, witch, Druid, Wiccan ect ect ?

Has watching Harry Potter or lord of the rings got you or anyone in your friends or family interested in paganism or magical beliefs?

Also can I ask if you are aware that although the Harry Potter and Lord of the rings is myth and fantasy that most of it is based on actual ancient beliefs?

If watching these films or reading the books hasn’t influenced you or others you know to become a Pagan or Wiccan please still say if it has at least got you a little more interested in the spiritual side of magic and pagan spirituality.

This might also apply to people that have been influenced into interest of occult type beliefs from watching paranormal based documentaries such as Most Haunted.

I would still be interested in your opinion on this even if you do not know anyone that has been influenced by these things.

Thanks for your help

Faeden

Yes it is true that Harry Potter has aspects that are based on actual believes, but the writer just picked up bits and pieces from everywhere, things that just stuck in her head.

I am a huge Harry Potter fan and I am also a bit familiar with the wiccan and pagan believes. I looked into the pagan way of life many years ago and though I agree with a lot of it, it just wasen't for me so I am not practicing, but I still know quite a bit and I can not see how the books or the movies could influence some one to get into any of those believes. And even though you have seen pentagrams, that is something that the directors have thrown in, it isn't even mentioned in the movies and no where in the books is religion of any kind mentioned.

This is just how I feel about the matter and I respect that others may feel differently.

So you where into Wicca before you knew about harry potter ? And your Wiccan interest had nothing to do with harry potter or lord of the rings?



I know but it got me thinking, did them being Harry Potter fans get them to look into pagan beliefs online, or read books about it, which is why they are wearing the pentagram? I doubt the TV program owners made kids wear pentagrams just for effect, as like you say Harry Potter has nothing to do with religion.

I am aware that religion is not mentioned in Harry Potter or even Lord of the rings, but the movies are based on magical ideas, that are apart of ancient religions, and spiritual practices and beliefs.

All the best
Faeden

Yes, all of my experiences with wicca came years before I had ever heard of Harry Potter.

I can't say anything about The lord of the rings because I have never read the books and have barely seen the movies, but I know that J.K. Rowling was influenced by mythical things she had heard about, but also made a great deal of it up herself.

Thanks for your posts Myth and religion go and in hand, as most things in religion are supposed to be symbolic, not literal

I wasn't really trying to say that it dosen't have anything to do with religion because it was based on myth, I was actually agreeing with you on that part, the point was more that she made alot of it up herself.

Yeah I was agreeing with you lol

You were agreeing with me, I was agreeing with you, I'm not sure if I know what we are agreeing on.

Faeden,

I've watched Harry Potter with my daughter and son and we haven't been influenced by it. I look at it as pure fantasy and that's the way I explained it to my kids.

At first I was hesitant to watch it, as our pastor said it was glorifying witchcraft and the occult. But being the curious person I am I went ahead and rented them.

All I saw were movies about friendship and sticking together through thick and thin. I am not personally into paganism or anything like that, so maybe that's the reason I didn't read more into it. Hope this helps you out!

Oh, forgot to add...haven't seen the Lord of the Rings movies but read the books back in high school...some of my favorites!

Thank you for that. I wish more people would realize that that is all that it is. It was put to a magical theme, probably to make it more interesting for the kids, but it really is just about life, it is something that everybody can relate to and it just shows witchcraft in a fun way, nothing serious.

Thanks tcgram

That helped a lot, I am glad you went ahead and watched it, and did not deny your daughter enjoyment.

All the best
Faeden

to tell the truth honest! my gf loves the harry potter stuff! I really dont give a damn about it! most final fantasy games are better written in my opinon!

if there any occult stuff it propably super water down!

I'm in love with Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, but you dont see me rushing out to go join a cult. I have enough sense to know that that stuff isnt real. They're just books. Fantasy. They help you to escape the real word and go off into another for a bit. Harry Potter got kids to read again. They seem to do more good than harm I believe.

Hi madeyepixie



I asked if you or anyone you knew had become interested in pagan type beliefs after watching Harry Potter or Lord of the ring, as they are both based on ancient pagan beliefs, not if you where going to join a cult.

All the best
Faeden

Both of my daughters are very much into Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, and so too are their circles of friends. I've been to every movie with them as well. No one that we know has become involved in paganism or the occult because of these books/movies. I really think most people, including children, think of it as nothing more than a fun fantasy. Even those kids who are wearing pentagrams probably have no idea as to the full meaning of them, thinking of them as symbolizing Harry Potter more than anything else. It's no different than, when in my younger days, we watched Bewitched on TV and try to emulate Samantha by wiggling our noses.

Really, the only time I have ever heard anybody say that Harry Potter is bad and supports witchcraft and dark magic and all that other bullshit have been people who have never read the books or saw the movies. My mother was one of those people, she would not let my little brother watch the movies and said it was because she didn't want to put the idea of witchcraft in his head, but as soon as we finally made her watch the third movie, she fell in love with it and realized that it is just fun make believe.

I have not been influenced by Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings in any religious or spiritual aspect.

Lord of the Rings was a wonderful tale of courage, heart, and of course action, and it influenced my ideas and writing more than anything. Harry Potter hasn't influenced me at all, and although the stories are a bit childish, I think Rowling is brilliant.

My venture into learning about the Occult, Paranormal, etc, is simply something I was born with. I used to believe in God and feared what God could do, but still believed in unexplained forces. What really gets you to believe or be interested in anything Pagan is experiencing it first hand, regardless if your perception of the event was warped, or the truth of the event was warped. The power of the unexplainable dominates all other human interests, and it is fueled by hope and desires.

I can really see how Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings can influence people, and although I cringe at the thought of the kids wearing pentagrams because of "teen wicca" spreading like wildfire; sure it's good kids are interested in this but what is called "teen wicca" seems just to be an abuse of it, and kids just begging for guidance.

And Faeden, I thought you had left the forums? I hadn't seen you in awhile and I heard people say that, in any case, I'm overjoyed to see your presence again!

Well yes i think it can, Some people are looking for something to believe in, and they may miss understand, what it means to do witch craft, Its not all fun and games, And they can get into something they may not be ready to handle, In the books it looks so cool, they do not tell you about the real meaning of being a wicca , or a warlock, or even a black witch, so it is kinda miss leading to kids.!

That's because the books have nothing to do with wicca or any of that stuff, J.K. made most of that stuff up herself. I am very familiar with wicca and paganism and I have not seen any reference to either in any of the books.

Both books have strong Christian elements. Neither have anything particularly satanic about them (unless courage, love, faith, honor and the defeat of evil is somehow satanic?)

As for witchcraft. Well, the whle witches and wizrds thing in the Harry Potter books is just a device to give the hero's 'super powers'. Nowt to do wuth 'real' witchcraft.

I wouldn't think many would be influenced into pagan beliefs thru Harry Potter. Potter doesn't say anything at all about paganism. I agree with the others that most just see it as fantasy and only misguided fundamentalist Christians think its evil. Personally, I was interested in all that stuff prior to Harry Potter existing, though I do not practice the craft. (should that be capitalized?)

From what I have learned about the pagan religions, people don't go around waving wands and shouting strange words to unlock doors and the like anyway.

Watching a prepubescent boy going through fictional adventures has not caused me to become a pegan...lol.

Hey Faeden. I understand you curiousity towards this subject. Often time with books like harry potter you see some religious fanatic on the t.v. preaching to the poor masses about how this book will lead to satanic beliefs or an interest in the occult ect. In my experience I cannot say I know anyone who has adapted a belief in the occult or paganism etc, after having read this series of books, or any other work of fiction. Most of the people that I know who have read the books had an interest in this type of belief system previous to reading the book. The few christians I know who like the harry potter books are aware of the pagan/occult symbolism but enjoy the books at face value; a fun story about a boy who goes to wizard school. I think that people who fear there children will be misled by a fictional book, or that evil rock and/or roll music, are only afraid becuase they are easily misled.

Right, well my mistake. Let me rephrase myself. You dont see me rushing out to join the occult. The books havent made me or anyone I know desire to do so.

Random Fact: JRR Tolkien was catholic.

Hi all

Thanks for all your feedback on this, its been fascinating to read

I disagree that Rowing made it all up, she obviously knows somewhat about witchcraft, here are a few things that are directly from the craft.

The broomstick aka the Bensom

You do not pick a wand, the wand picks you

Celtic mythology and mythical monsters

The philosophers stone

Phoenix

Faeries

Cauldrons

Owls symbolising the wise

Black cats

Herbs aka herbalism

Book of shadows aka a spell book

Theirs many more, but I have not read the books or seen all the moves so I do not know, but I am sure there are others.



Yes he was, but he was fascinated by Celtic mythology also, which is why Lord of the rings and his other books have strong druid undertones and plots. I have been to Stonehenge on the summer solstice on many occasions, and its almost like being in lord of the rings

Just for the record some pagans do use wands, but magical glitter doesn’t come spraying out, its used as an extension of your arm to direct energy and spiritual power. Also the words occult and cult have nothing to do with each other, in fact most cults if you look are based around Christianity and Hinduism, and in some cases Buddhism

Thanks again all

PS: I did leave for a while, and thanks for your welcome back I have not gone back to the spirituality section as that is the only reason why I left, it was because Christian extremists where sending me viruses via E mail, and I had a number of Trojan attacks on my PC

Faeden

Of course reading JK Rowling and JRR Tolkein can lead you into the occult. So can reading Dante, Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, or even the Bible! Why? The occult in all its manifestations is fascinating. For the most part, it's also harmless. The only people who get in a twist about the occult are the jealously religious.

The occasional sick person commits crimes in the name of satan or some supernatural force, but rational people attribute abberent behavior to the perpetrator's psychology, not the devil.

No one I know has been practicing pagan beliefs after being introduced to Harry Potter. Although there is some little facts that pertain to ancient beliefs in the book, it's kind of shrouded in the fiction and storylines. I was studying different religions, wicca being one of them, but that was because I wanted to get away from the stranglehold of Catholicism and Christianity, but this was before before Harry Potter. The book didn't influence me in being interested in the occult either, I had already been interested in such things.

All in all it's just an entertaining read to me, nothing more.

Faeden J.K. Rowling is a girl, a very rich girl.

Tis just a book, and tis just a movie. I worry that people will remove imagination from everything.

Well the only problem with it is as a mother i have watched my little girl and her friend all want to become witches, they keep talking about how cool it would be to work spells. Now i keep telling them it is only make believe, but it is hard you never know what will take hold in the mind of a child.





Hey Tia! i see you! ha! ha!

Although I find the pure lack of knowledge on the subject of witchcraft in the younger community terribly annoying and repetitive, you shouldn't try and hide it from your child, and I personally think you should tell them the truth.

The beliefs of a different religion may conflict with your own, but it's up to the individual to make choices in what they believe. Just like believing a lie, or the truth. I don't think anything bad would come from telling your child the truth about witchcraft, and let them learn about it if they feel the need to, but I wouldnt advise letting them do ANY of it until they know the truth and know the facts -- one of them being that it's not pretty, colorful magic like in Harry Potter.

Holding back information is just going to get someone even more curious, and if their friend finds a Wicca website, for example, your child will be caught between believing you or learning the truth behind the fantasy. Loyalties can crack when desire comes in the way.

Hi Kismit



Oh !!! Where did I say she was a boy? LOL I know she is female, i seen her enough times. I said Tolken was a he though.

Hi Isis



Witchcraft is not make believe to millions around the world, but people thinking the witchcraft in Harry Potter is real is worrying

All the best
Faeden

[quote=isis-999,Jul 17 2005, 05:04 AM]
Well the only problem with it is as a mother i have watched my little girl and her friend all want to become witches, they keep talking about how cool it would be to work spells. Now i keep telling them it is only make believe, but it is hard you never know what will take hold in the mind of a child.


I am a mother as well and have no problem with my daughter watching the Harry Potter movies, in fact, I encourage it. It demonstrates alot, making the choices between right and wrong, the importance of family and friendship, over coming hardships in life, not blaming yourself for the hard times in life that you have no control over. My daughter knows perfectly well (and she is only 5) that the movies and magic in them are just make believe and explaining to your children the difference between movies and the wiccan and pagan believes are something you need to do as a parent, not leave up to movies. I can't imagine what life would be like constanly sheltering my child from things because I am afraid of how she will interprit it instead of letting her step out into the world and explaing things to her and helping to see the real world and get a real understanding of life.

It's the old argument of parents actually taking some responsibility and teaching their kids that X is real and Y is make believe.
As long as parents teach their kids that distinction, I think the kids will turn out alright. Anything they dowould probably be taken on with good sense.
If the parents don't teach their kids those distinctions, then those kids are in trouble, as are the adults who don't know either.

I'd rather have my daughter--if I had one--want to be a witch than a fashion model or a porn star. There are far worse role models out there than Harry Potter!

Hello Faeden I have read the six harry potter books seen the movies.Read lord of the rings.Also the hobbit and silmarillion.Pluss the lord of the ring movies at least 6 times each I can tell you firmly that the only thing i want to do after reading or watching them all is to explore the earth more and grow things... for some reason.I currently am looking at my pumpkin patch out my window .

Also i have a greater interest in herbs if that would make me a druid? I do grow and make teas from herbs. !TASTE! Hope it helps

Well dude, I dont think theres any pagan or wiccan connections in Harry Potter. And those kids you saw on TV, how old were they?? They'd probally dont know what the pentagram means or symbolizes. Anyways dude, how I became aware of pagan stuff is through music and books. The Da Vinci Code and other books really opened my eye about pagan stuff. So I started researching about pagan stuff and began to have an open mind about other religions. And then theres music, there are lyrics that expresses the musician's beliefs about stuff. That is probally how most people became aware of the occult.

Well yes..... I'm more interested in magic now... But I still do'nt understand why its evil according to the church. -_-;
Can you explain what exactly paganism is? Is it evil? =/

Damn people, it's just a phase, if they were into being princess and dreams about having their body wrapped inside a prince's arms kissing and living in a castle you wouldn'r mind anything about it. It's just that it is centered around something frowned upon that makes people worried. Seriously. And if they do not get out of the phase, it's the parents' fault that their kid thinks that way. It seems more and more around present day everyone is blamming stuff on the media, when they should be blamming it on parents. They are the ones not sitting their kids down and saying that violence isnt right, or that wicca is a bad thing that shouldn't be praticed.