A question for dubs - Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter? Which can u watch?

truthseeker

The answer? It depends on the context of the film.

A number of witnesses in my cong absolutely refuse to watch Harry Potter. Some will even refuse to watch Lord of the Rings. But a few witnesses will watch Lord of the Rings, but they will keep quiet about it, because it is a "conscience matter" and they do not want to offend those that wouldn't watch it.

There are several similarities between Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter:

1) Both contains scenes of violence - Lord of the Rings contains more. (Think of all those ork battles you saw)

2) Both contain supernatural phenomena - Lord of the Rings has too many to mention, Harry Potter can cast spells

3) Lord of the Rings has a fire demon (part I) Harry Potter has wizardry

4) Harry Potter goes to a school for wizards - Lord of the Rings - there are a variety of magical acts performed by both wizards

So what's the difference?

Harry Potter is set in the "real world", Lord of the Rings is set in a "fantasy world"

According to some dubs consciences, if a movie is set in the "real everyday world in which we live" and contains supernatural events, hauntings for example, it is not suitable to watch. According to their logic, any supernatural events must be demonic and from Satan.

If a movie is set in a "fantasy world", then by definition, anything can happen, becuase it is a make believe world and is dissimilar to the world we live on.

Yet, what they fail to realize, is that both of these movies contain supernatural events, yet they will watch Lord of the Rings because it is of a fantasy genre, hence it must be OK.

Such logic...

amac

That always cracks me up. Especially since every Disney movie ever made has had some sort of spells or magic in it.

undercover

JWs will justify or rationalize watching/reading LOTR or the Hobbit because of its stature in the literaray world. Harry Potter is a fairly new phenomenon, written mostly for kids or young adults. That doesn't change the fact that they both have a lot of similarities as far as the supernatural, and by strict definition neither should be watched by faithful JWs. Once again, though, hypocrisy knows no bounds in the world of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Euphemism

I've got to admit, I was one of those dubs who watched LOTR, but was against Harry Potter.

Well, actually, at first I was against LOTR too... but Piph seduced me into watching it...

BluesBrother

I am sure that a lot of the ones who consider themselves "Mature" would not watch either films - although I do know of one sister who expressed her views very similar to truthseeker. BTW amac is dead right.

Princess

My brother is no longer a dub, he and his wife belong to the Assembly of God organization. They are huge fans of LOTR but won't even discuss Harry Potter. It is absolutely ridiculous. I've seen both Harry Potter movies and read all the books. I've seen the first two LOTR, hated them both and never read the books. I think LOTR is much more violent and supernatural than HP but like I said, they won't discuss it at all. Practically put their fingers in their ears and sing to keep from hearing any reason on it.

Makes me sick he joined another controlling organization.

stillajwexelder

The official line is neither -- my wife is refusing to go and see any of them

Doubtfully Yours

If you go by the WT's rules, neither because they both have occult/magic connotations.

Having said that, I have you know that my husband (Mr. 'let's play by the rules from now on) and I have watched both part I & II, and anxiously await this weekend to watch part III. Go figure!

We enjoyed them so far. Hope the same for part III.

DY

luna

My dad is a SUPER, UBER elder. Anyhow, I was visiting them last summer, and in walks my 13 year old neice, and tells my parents that they bought "The Fellowship of the Rings", and did they want to watch it later that night. Both my parents were very excited about watching it, my dad especially so. I asked, rather shocked, "Do you LIKE that movie? I didn't think it would be okay to watch it." (with that said, I own the first 2 movies, and will go see the last one tonight, hopefully). Anyhow, my super, uber father said "oh, yeah. Great movie. We went and saw it in the theater."

I guess it all depends.

Luna

czarofmischief

My dad has a strange fascination with LOTR.

Harry Potter seems to be more for the fun-loving people.

I prefer LOTR, but I can respect Potter because Rowling tips her hat in several places to Tollkein, which is all I ask of a fantasy / parody...

CZAR

A question for dubs - Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter? Which can u watch?

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