The Wizard vs. the Wardrobe

Usually, I try not to get all political or religious on my blog. This is not because I don't have strong convictions. It is because I try to live my life as a person who may not agree with others beliefs, but who is tolerant of them and even interested to learn why people believe what they do at times. The religious and political extremes fascinate me as someone who considers herself right in the middle on most issues.

Well, today, I had someone's religious beliefs shoved down my throat faster than a mom dosing up some nasty-ass cough syrup to her kid. Gaaag! And, while I share the same faith as this person, I felt like spitting what she was serving out right back at her somehow. Kerspat!!!

While I was in infinite wait mode at my OB's office for my annual exam, a seemingly pleasant woman began chatting with my daughter and me. I was grateful when she offered to read a book to Miss Kitty. We had been waiting close to 45 minutes for our appointment, and Miss Kitty was really at the breaking point. So, I pulled out my little Chick-fil-a kids' meal book on virtues from the diaper bag, and "waiting room woman" began to read to my wee one.

I guess because of the theme of the book, she made some assumptions about me. She commented on the book and I said it was from Chick-fil-a and it was so nice to get a book for a change over some of the junk that fast food places put in their kids meals. Well, this must have triggered her soap box button or something, because she began ranting about "witch" toys being in her kids' meals. She said all of the witch things and Harry Potter stuff just drove her crazy because it is in direct conflict and teaches kids the opposite of her Christian beliefs.

Ok. Hmmm. I just sat there, unsure of what to say back.

I am a Christian. While I don't condone worshipping the occult or anything, I love a good Harry Potter flick or book. You know? And so does my son. In my mind, it is all make-believe and I make sure my kids know that too. Much like The Wizard of Oz or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or any of those old fantasy movies. They were some of my favorite type of stories growing up and I think they foster creativity and imagination in children. How can that be a bad thing really?

So, here's where the hypocrisy starts being served up (in my mind). As I sat there quietly nodding and hoping to get out of the conversation, "waiting room woman" then asks me if I've taken my son to see The Chronicles of Narnia yet. I notice she is holding a C.S. Lewis book in her lap. I commented that I hadn't seen it yet, because I didn't know if it would be too scary for my six-year-old. She happily raved on the movie. She said she wasn't sure about it at first, because it was produced by Disney (gasp!) and she definitely did not approve of the Disney company's values (rude assumption here: she doesn't condone or approve homosexuality). But, she said it was wonderfully done and that they didn't even make the "White Witch" that scary. She highly recommended that I take my son to see it.

Hmm. White witch? Magic wardrobes that transport you to other places where magic things happen? Does ANYONE see the hypocrisy here?

Yes, I know Lewis wrote the Narnia stories and it's largely believed they are based on the life of Christ. I find that very cool actually, and want to go back and read them all and do a Bible study on it or something. But, do I really think my six-year-old is going to see any difference between Harry Potter flying on his broomstick to going through a wardrobe and finding a magic lion during your adventures? I DON'T THINK SO, PEOPLE!

So, here's my question for you all, if I haven't offended you with this post. Do you find there a big difference in these two movies really? Unless your children go and do a bible study course before they see Chronicles, are they really going to know it is any different from any other fantasy movie? And does that make all fantasy movies bad? What is wrong with imagining, as long as you know it isn't real? Isn't that actually what all movies are--fanticized and imagined stories?

And, does it make me less of a Christian that these kind of movies do not feel like a threat to my beliefs at all? They are pretend. If you truly believe in God and that Jesus was real, then how does some fantasy movie threaten that? No, I'm not running out and letting my son watch every witch or Satan-worshiping movie there is, but c'mon! Isn't that a little extreme?

If I have offended or if you believe like "waiting room lady" did that witchiness and wizardry professes the devil but white witches and magic lions are acceptable, please comment. I am an open-minded person and want to hear more of your argument, if you can present it without flaming me too badly. OK? So, let the debates begin!!!