I also had a hard time with some of the scenes of Lord of the Rings, even though I liked the movie. For the most part, it was well done, though there were two major places where I didn't like them breaking from the book. As far as HP, I agree with Ava.
kbabe I can't watch Lord of the Rings either, even though I know its meanings and all that, I still can't watch it its just too .. yuck and yikes to me! lol,
well ya, they would have if I had been closer to thier age haha, My son likes the movies Frodo plays in too. lol.
T'mom, I was thinking Amie's comment sounded as if Rachael's 15yo friends had made it, lol!!! (And, after watching Kingdom of Heaven and Pirates, I've decided that I'd be swooning over Orlando Bloom if I were 15, too, lol!!!)
ya, Lol, me too if I were a young gal... ( yadadadada dadadada) hehe, but then theres guys like Johnny depp too out there that span ages kinda like Robert Redford did with my parents generation and mine.... kinda funny how that is LOl I was more the Tom Cruz, Tom Hanks generation I think? And a few other gusy whose names I forget at the moment, Lol, back when I worshiped idols, man I can remember when I was 10-13 I was gonna marry every actor my age! lol wht a dreamer heheh
ROBERT REDFORD!!! YES!!! But hey, My "pirate in hand" is sure worth a hundred in the Caribean, lol! Wouldn't trade him in for ANY of them!!!
<I don't think I'd let her start in the middle (which Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are). If you're going to read the "Chronicles" you should start at the beginning.> I read this and just wanted to clarify that the book, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was the first book written and the second one chronologically. Magician's Nephew is the first book chronologically, but was written last because C.S. Lewis was asked by at least one child to write a book explaining how Narnia was created. It is actually my favorite book and a beautiful picture of a world being created. It also gives so much explanation of where the wardrobe came from, who the professor is, why there is a lightpost, the White Witch, etc. I would love to see it as a movie, but most of it would have to be CGI. (Any Christian bookstore could direct you to books explaining the imagery in Narnia.) I have come to accept that people will have differing opinions and that for a lot of things in life that is ok. If someone else doesn't want to read these books, it does not prevent me from reading them (unless they try to force laws to be made to ban such material). What frustrates me when I hear or read many opinions against things, particularly by Christians, is that they do not accept facts or they quote incorrect facts. I also think it is unfair to form an opinion about something when you don't REALLY know anything about it. Christians are good at jumping on bandwagons because some Christian leader or preacher said to. The Bible says we should question our leaders and make sure they are speaking truth. Just a comment on Disney. I totally understand the concern with some of their movies. Just because something is a cartoon does not make it appropriate for young (or old) children. I read a book that pointed out some of the messages that are conveyed in these movies. I think we need to preview material and discuss things with our children. Sometimes I am completely different than others in what I believe is appropriate. But, as for the homosexuality issue. If we are going to boycott a company for supporting homosexuality I am afraid we would have to ban most companies. Sometimes we are so quick to draw a moral line that we draw ourselves into a corner or we come off as hypocrites.
I have already read the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. I read it as a child. It didn't scare me. I will have to check out a christian bookstore to see if there is a book to help me out. In my family, we don't "ban" anything. When you are open to experience everything in the world, you make better decisions for yourself and what you believe in. My kids are welcome to watch Harry Potter and every Disney movie ever made. But if you think that they notice the undertones in the movie, I would have to disagree. And can anyone point out specific things in any of these movies? I would love to see what is considered to be the undertones. I don't keep my kids from learning anything. That would breed ignorance. I think they should be able to learn anything, if taught correctly.
I don't think this is exactly what you are looking for, (a correlation between Narnia & Christianity), but it is a Christian study guide for the Magician's Nephew. Also, it is for middle school aged kids, but it might be a place to start. http://www.progenypress.com/Resources/nephew.pdf Also, I respectfully disagree with what you said about experiencing everything. All things are permitted, but not all things are beneficial. adults are equipped (hopefully) to tell the difference, make their own decisions and deal with the consequences. In my opinion, children are not. That's why we don't let our kids experience everything. You asked for an example: we don't permit Harry Potter in our home. One of the reasons for this is he is a very naughty boy, who flouts the rules continuously, and is rewarded for it. The distinction between good and evil is often difficult to identify.
I ban things that have to do with witchcraft depending on the context. I generally feel like it is clearly taught in the Bible not to meddle with it or have anything to do with it. And well, since we're Christians, I guess that we are obliged to follow our convictions. ;-) As far as kids picking stuff up. . .I tend to disagree. I think they pick up everything. I think we all do. I think it's very subtle. And that subtleness can lead to ungodly thinking. (So whatever is pure, lovely, good, and Holy. . .think on these things.) So that, for us, excludes Harry Potter at this time as well as some Disney. I'm not sure what undertones you're referring to, but I don't think that witch craft is an "undertone" of Harry Potter. . .it's the major theme. I'm well pleased to guard my children against what they don't need to know yet. I tend to think that it protects their innocence rather than breeding ignorance. ETA: I am not saying that someone who doesn't agree with me isn't a Christian. Just that if my dh and I are convicted on one thing, then we are obligated to follow our convictions.
Why do you find "especially Christians" forming opinions so annoying? I find that comment interesting, because, not only does EVERYBODY form opinions--often without a true base to draw from, but you just did what you are judging Christians for! You formed an opinion about them that is a general, sweeping thing that SOME Christians do, but you just generalized to Christians. I'm only going by what you said in this message--I guess the "especially Christians" statement kind of bothered me. We homeschoolers sometimes hear unfounded statements about homeschooling. This feels like the same thing. I'm usually fairly easy-going, but it seems as if you're being rather condescending to the rest of us that see things differently than you. Each statement you wrote almost sounded like it had a sigh in front of it... It's okay, everyone has a right to their own opinions, and I respect that you have and stated your opinions. Just letting you know how it might have come across.
I don't think this has anything to do with her being upset at Christians for forming opinions. And I don't see anything condescending about it. I take this to mean that as Christians we are held to a higher standard of truth. So if we are going to form an opinion on anything, that opinion should be based on fact and truth, not lies and rumors. In other words, if we are going to be against something, that's fine. But if we are citing sources to back up our opposition, we'd better have done a little homework to make sure those sources spoke the truth.
Absolutely!!!! After all is said and done, we, Christians, are accountable to the Lord for what we willing allow to enter our homes.
I agree completely with this. After all, while Narnia may be a tool that many parents can use to teach their children about Christ, it could be a hindrance for others.
I don't keep my kids from learning anything either. However, I have to be sure they are at a the proper age for some material. I also don't look to Harry Potter and Disney as teachers. I have told my kids about witchcraft and what the bible says pertaining to it. In that light my kids made the decision on their own not to see Harry Potter. Although, I would not have allowed it anyway. I don't think not allowing a child to see Harry Potter is breeding ignornace. I think they are learning discernment. So, yes I agree that your children can learn anything if taught correctly. However, that is the key, isn't it??? Taught correctly! To me that means exposing my child to things as the child is ready to understand. It also means not allowing a book or movie to speak for important subjects like witchcraft, homosexuality, sexuality, and things of that nature. Once something is decidedly against my beliefs, I see no reasont to allow a movie portraying that in my house. If you do you teach relativism and not conviction or discernment. In fact, my son handed me a comic book and said, "we have to throw this away." I asked him why and he said, "it has bad words in it." lol. That is child taught to discern not accept.
As far as Christians forming opinions....is there any reason we cannot? lol. My opinion on Harry Potter has nothing to do with someone else allowing their child to watch it. My pastor has allowed his children to see Harry Potter and the Golden Compass. Those kids see almost every new movie that comes out. I completely disagree with him. Yet, my opinion does not change that he is a Christian raising a Christian family. We just obviously have a major difference of opinion on media. I don't doubt his salvation or his gift to preach. Now, if you find that most Christians oppose something in particular than that should only stand to reason....as we have one God and one Bible that we all try to live by. So, I find it comical that one will say Christians jump on a bandwagon when most were already on the bandwagon. I don't have to see Harry Potter to know it is not a right fit for my family. I don't have to see a X-rated movie to know I don't want it in my house. LOL. I didn't have to read the DaVinche Code to know it was full of hooey. Oh and non Christians are just as guilty for upholding or spreading untruths on certain subjects. That is just people...not Christian vs. non Christian.
