Harry Potter religion question.

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Homosexuality is not satanic in the sense that they believe their actions are directly devotional to Satan. I know a few homosexuals who feel the need to worship in a conservative Christian church. I'm not sure whether they'd dispute homosexuality as being sinful or not, at least I have the decency (as most do) to leave them alone about it. But they certainly would not stand for being directly linked to Satan.

The Biblical treatment of homosexuality is as an idolatrous practice. I'm also more inclined towards "natural order" kinds of ideas, and my opinion is the Bible is also supportive of that, attacking homosexuality on two fronts. So you can guess what my attitude is towards homosexuality as proper human behavior (not a statement of hatred, btw, even I have to admit I don't get everything right, either). The Bible sets precedents that believers are to avoid even practices that resemble pagan worship practices, even if those practices aren't within the context of pagan worship. That includes, of course, a WIDE range of sexual behavior.

A perfectly valid case might be made, as it often has been in evangelical circles, that worship of any god other than God is inherently worship of Satan. If so, it could be said that homosexual activity in the context of, say, "sex magic" would directly be Satan worship, even if the participants do not believe that Satan is the deity they worship. Another case, though perhaps a weaker one, might be made for indirect Satan worship if the participants are not doing so in any kind of worshipful context.

I'm using homosexuality as an example because it was specifically mentioned by someone else. Heterosexual activity was less often associated with idolatrous practice except specifically in cases of cult prostitution and even with exclusive, "proper," married couples who had sex in a temple or shrine. Other kinds of consensual, adult, improper heterosexual activity was a whole other issue entirely! Pretty much you could expect to die for engaging in any kind of extra-marital sex. The exception was with an unbetrothed woman in which marriage was required with no possibility of divorce, and depending on the circumstances, the offenders might prefer the death penalty!

Harry Potter is pure misogyny and Christian propaganda!

Oh how cunning of the Christian faith-heads, in their attempts to morally corrupt the virtuous secular youth, to disguise such subversive Christianity in such an artifically neo-pagan package!

When. I rather thought that Christianity started out as misled Jewish Messianic cult.

ruveyn

True, the jews didn't accept J.C. of N as Messiah, his movement was considered a sect, thus pagan.

Being part of a sect does not necessarily make one a pagan.

You're right

The information I had was coming from what I considered a reliable source, I do my own research from now on, instead of trusting someone on his words or so-called knowledge, no matter how convincing.

Dumbledore should have been Slytherin house. Students really shouldn't tell the Sorting
Hat their house prefrences.

The Sorting Hat should just ignore the students. It's a magic item created solely for the purpose of sorting students to a suitable house, damn where the kids think they should go.

...of course, this isn't entirely relevant to the topic.

I know, damn the 'free will' and all, this is a discussion about religion!! !

Most people who call themselves "pagan" today or "neo-pagan" tend to view the term more in the context of nature-based worship. It is also how i've always viewed the term. The Druids were a pagan people, as were a good number of the peoples of mainland Europe prior to x-ianity, not to mention the natives of North America.
Older uses of the word tend to point to religions and/or sects whose focus was more physical than spiritual and separate.
The problem is that the word is so disputed as to it's real meanings, that to say something is pagan, is no different than saying something is "ajrkejaaerjkeka"
It's a meaningless concept. Simply one used by fundies to label anything they don't like as bad, evil and ungodly.

As for the nature reference. I don't see the series being pagan at all.
As for the physical over spiritual reference.. I see it VERY pagan
As for the bad/evil/ungodly warp your poor child's mind reference, well, I can see how a fundie would see it that way, given that they believe that there is only one right, and all else is wrong and needing destruction.

But, as was collaterally mentioned a few times, the use of the word "witch" and "warlock/wizard" conjures (no pun intended) up thoughts of wicca and druids and the salem witch trials. I think that is where the analogy comes from.

In the sense of Pagan meaning heathen, non-christian, yes. It replicates the old Christian view of other religions, cults with mysterious devil magic.

Harry Potter bears about as much resemblance to "paganism" as He-Man bears to Christianity.

Christians who react hysterically to any work of fiction that makes even a passing reference to "magic," take ALL the fun out of make-believe. And that is all it is--make-believe. Imagination. Fantasy.

Only Jesus and His designated agents are allowed to use "magic". When Jesus does it, it is called a miracle. When Harry Potter does it, it is called the Work of the Devil.

ruveyn

The Harry Potter books seem to avoid any mention of any religions. Though as he grew up with the Dursleys, and the Dursleys consider themselves "perfectly normal", I think that probably meant they were all Christians and went to church and stuff. ( A perfectly normal British person would believe in God, right?) Which would mean Harry, who hates everything about the Dursleys, would be very anti-religion. It's even likely that the Dursleys didn't take him to church with them. Obviously they'd be glad for him to not have salvation and go to hell.

Sorry if my post doesn't go with the thread. Just my two cents.

Reminiscent of the dumb-assery surrounding Dungeons and Dragons. You can't use processes described in Potter to worship Satan just like a 19th level Cleric can't actually summon a demon into his house.

Yes but it's not especially representative of any pagan religion in reality. There's no theology about it, there's no greater belief. The force in Star Wars has more theological implications than the magic in Harry Potter.