As all regular readers of this blog know, we get many questions about children’s books in which the characters use sorcery in one way or another. In an effort to help Christian parents learn how to discern whether or not this content is suitable for their children, I would like to post insights from Michael O’Brien’s book, Harry Potter and the Paganization of Culture (www.studioobrien.com) which I hope you’ll find useful.
Category Archives: Occult
The Kane Chronicles Introduce Children to Dangerous Occult Practices
Author Rick Riordan (Photo courtesy of Wikicommons Images, Rhodendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
JG writes: “My daughter has asked to read The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan. Do you know anything about the author or book series? I appreciate your feedback.”
Who is Ramtha?
Entrance to the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, Yelm, Washington (Photo courtesy of Wikicommons Images, Richard David Ramsey, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED)
BL asks: “What do you know about a woman named J.Z. Knight who claims to channel a 35,000 year old spiritual entity named Ramtha?”
Why is Dreamwork Considered New Age?
ST asks: “What is so New Age about dreamwork? Doesn’t the Bible contain several stories about people, such as St. Joseph, who received important messages in their dreams?”
The Law of Attraction: Channeling Abraham or Scamming the Public?
TV asks: “I am wondering about the Law of Attraction material. Jerry and Ester Hicks are the people who channel Abraham. Is there any truth in their teaching? Sometimes it sounds like it makes sense.”
Beware of Those Who “Channel” Catholic Saints
One of our readers recently alerted us to a channeler who has been luring Catholics into attending online sessions in which she “channels” the Archangel Michael, Padre Pio, and other saints who deliver personal messages. Is this ever possible?
New Age & Satanic Music
GM writes: “Now that I am learning more and more about the “new” age movement and its philosophies, I am wondering if there any particular bands that I should not be listening to anymore such as Phish.”
New “Haunted Homes Hotline” Better Suited to Home Repairs
According to a home improvement company, 40 percent of millennials believe their home is haunted, which is why they decided to launch a special hotline to determine if it’s really a ghost or just some loose floorboards that need to be fixed.
Stay Away from Occult Psychologists!
JB asks: “My friend found out her psychologist is into the occult and is encouraging her to be ordained a priest in her religion. The psychologist says my friend will be able to consecrate the Eucharist. My friend (Catholic) wants nothing to do with her religion but wonders if she should still see her. The psychologist is her only support right now and is very kind. Is it ok for her to continue?”
Do Planets Affect Humans?
TS asks: “The notion that the planets and their location in the universe at any given time can have an impact on human life from influencing our personalities to predicting our futures, is the basis of astrology. But is this true?”
