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Just like with Harry Potter years ago, Christians are complaining about a new animated Disney fantasy series because it dares to have a protagonist who uses (fantasy) magic. I figure these folks must just hate the entire fantasy genre, because fantasy fiction without magic is pretty much not-fantasy-fiction. Also, doesn't Disney have a long history of animated films that include magic and magic-using characters?
As an aside, the author of this article realizes that the whole point of Cinderella is that the fairy godmother uses magic, right? And that Cinderella herself benefits from it?
A "so-called fantasy world?" Does the author seriously believe that this fantasy series is real? I sure don't, and I actually cast spells in real life. Fantasy magic has nothing to do with the real thing - because it's fictional.
It's also exactly how magic is portrayed in Cinderella. I mean, the evil stepmother is usually actually referred to as "evil stepmother." And the fairy godmother's (fantasy) magic is what allows Cinderella to escape her clutches. I have to ask - has the author of this article even seen Disney's Cinderella?
It also is worth noting that Disney officially describes the show as "comedy fantasy." So not only is the magic fictional, the show doesn't even take it seriously. Yeah, exposing kids to a few jokes about magic is surely going to turn them to the dark side...
So this is yet another round of the Poor Oppressed Christians having problems with fantasy fiction. And frankly, it's ridiculous now and it always has been. The idea that all entertainment has to be theologically sound is at its base silly. I refuse to believe that even children have that much trouble figuring out fantasy magic where you wave your hand and get lightning bolts and flames and stuff is not real. It's fun, but it is not even remotely similar to how real magick works and what it does is not even remotely similar to what real magick does.
I understand that these folks think that real occultism is sinful. At the same time, though, I fail to see how completely and obviously unrealistic fictional magic has anything to do with practicing the real thing. At most, somebody who's confused about the difference is going to figure out pretty quickly that they can't wave their hands and throw explosive colored light around the room. Then they'll give it up, because compared to how it's presented in the media, learning real magick is difficult and especially at the beginning kind of boring.
Let's face it - if anime and other cartoons aimed at kids that depict magical and supernatural powers made those kids grow up to practice occultism, us occult authors really would be rich because literally every kid out there has seen shows like that. They're nothing new, either - there were plenty of magical and supernatural elements in Saturday morning cartoons I even when I was growing up in the 1970's. But nonetheless, the occult remains a niche interest practiced by a very small percentage of the population. If the goal of these shows is to make more occultists, they clearly are failing.
Media reports can talk about how "fast-growing" Paganism in general is as a religion, but we're talking about something like growth from .0008 percent to .001 percent of the American population. That's not very many people in a country of 327 million - about 340,000 total people according to one estimate. It's actually kind of laughable that evangelical Christians consider them a threat. Evangelicals are about a quarter of all Christian, or 20 percent of the American population. So in this country they outnumber Pagans by a factor of almost 200 to 1.
I have read that a lot of their kids are growing up and leaving the evangelical community, but blaming fantasy fiction or even Paganism in general is a non-starter. I suspect that a lot of them just realize how dumb it is to police things like silly cartoons and want nothing to do with a religion that supports such things.
This is so beyond Cinderella it's not even funny. Disney has come up with a new cartoon about a teenager who, in their words, "finds herself stuck in the Demon Realm and battles the forces of evil alongside a rebellious witch and a pint-sized warrior."
As an aside, the author of this article realizes that the whole point of Cinderella is that the fairy godmother uses magic, right? And that Cinderella herself benefits from it?
In this so-called fantasy world, the main character, Luz, "pursues her dream of becoming a witch by serving as Eda's (the rebellious witch's) apprentice." It's called "The Owl House" and is set to premiere on January 10th on the Disney Channel. Here is the link to the show's trailer if you're inclined to watch it.
A "so-called fantasy world?" Does the author seriously believe that this fantasy series is real? I sure don't, and I actually cast spells in real life. Fantasy magic has nothing to do with the real thing - because it's fictional.
The show tries to portray witchcraft as a positive tool to fight evil. That's similar to what real-life witches have been promoting over the past few years as they've been putting hexes on President Trump and others in order to fight for their beliefs.
It's also exactly how magic is portrayed in Cinderella. I mean, the evil stepmother is usually actually referred to as "evil stepmother." And the fairy godmother's (fantasy) magic is what allows Cinderella to escape her clutches. I have to ask - has the author of this article even seen Disney's Cinderella?
Folks, if you think this latest "Owl House" show is just "fantasy and fun," think again. Over the years, Disney has gone farther and farther into the darkness of the spiritual world that opposes the living God, coming up with programming and characters that lead the vulnerable into that dark world of deception.
It also is worth noting that Disney officially describes the show as "comedy fantasy." So not only is the magic fictional, the show doesn't even take it seriously. Yeah, exposing kids to a few jokes about magic is surely going to turn them to the dark side...
The Bible tells us clearly that there is a spiritual realm that is not of God. It warns us not to participate in witchcraft, to not consult with mediums and spiritists, but to call on God for answers in our lives.
So this is yet another round of the Poor Oppressed Christians having problems with fantasy fiction. And frankly, it's ridiculous now and it always has been. The idea that all entertainment has to be theologically sound is at its base silly. I refuse to believe that even children have that much trouble figuring out fantasy magic where you wave your hand and get lightning bolts and flames and stuff is not real. It's fun, but it is not even remotely similar to how real magick works and what it does is not even remotely similar to what real magick does.
I understand that these folks think that real occultism is sinful. At the same time, though, I fail to see how completely and obviously unrealistic fictional magic has anything to do with practicing the real thing. At most, somebody who's confused about the difference is going to figure out pretty quickly that they can't wave their hands and throw explosive colored light around the room. Then they'll give it up, because compared to how it's presented in the media, learning real magick is difficult and especially at the beginning kind of boring.
Let's face it - if anime and other cartoons aimed at kids that depict magical and supernatural powers made those kids grow up to practice occultism, us occult authors really would be rich because literally every kid out there has seen shows like that. They're nothing new, either - there were plenty of magical and supernatural elements in Saturday morning cartoons I even when I was growing up in the 1970's. But nonetheless, the occult remains a niche interest practiced by a very small percentage of the population. If the goal of these shows is to make more occultists, they clearly are failing.
Media reports can talk about how "fast-growing" Paganism in general is as a religion, but we're talking about something like growth from .0008 percent to .001 percent of the American population. That's not very many people in a country of 327 million - about 340,000 total people according to one estimate. It's actually kind of laughable that evangelical Christians consider them a threat. Evangelicals are about a quarter of all Christian, or 20 percent of the American population. So in this country they outnumber Pagans by a factor of almost 200 to 1.
I have read that a lot of their kids are growing up and leaving the evangelical community, but blaming fantasy fiction or even Paganism in general is a non-starter. I suspect that a lot of them just realize how dumb it is to police things like silly cartoons and want nothing to do with a religion that supports such things.
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