Halloween, Harry Potter, prompt concern from occult experts
Two new books explore influence of fantasy series on increase of witchcraft among teens
By Lori Arnold
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Two experts on the occult are warning parents to be more attentive to their teens as interest in Wicca and other witchcraft has skyrocketed in recent years.
Richard Abanes and Steve Russo, who both attribute the popularity of Harry Potter and the Internet with the rise in occult activities have each written books on the matter. They were released in time for the upcoming Halloween observances and the scheduled Nov. 18 release day of the fourth Harry Potter movie.
“My concern is that some parents don’t know, don’t understand what’s in these books,” Abanes, author of “Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings: What You Need to Know about Fantasy Books and Movies,” said.
Abanes, an apologist who previously worked for the Christian Research Institute, also wrote “Harry Potter and the Bible.”
Although both men said exact numbers are not available, there is clear evidence teens are experimenting with the occult in increased numbers. Both cite a flood of non-fiction Wiccan, neo-pagan, paranormal, witchcraft and occult books targeting teens. Film and television have also increased the number of programs on the topic, they said. Many online cites attribute Wicca as the fastest growing religion in America.
Wicca is a witchcraft-based religion that includes nature worship, the elevation of feminism and lax rules about sexuality. Unlike Christianity, where the emphasis is on God, Wicca tends to place increased emphasis on self. Adherents, who often practice spells, are encouraged to do no harm.
“It is so self-styled,” Russo said. “It’s a buffet-style religion. There are Catholic Wiccans. There are Christian Wiccans. It’s not like everyone joined the same church.”
Russo, who just released “Protecting Your Teen from Today’s Witchcraft,” and “What’s the Deal with Wicca? A Deeper Look into the Dark Side of Today’s Witchcraft,” travels an average of 20 weeks a year speaking at public junior and high schools. He said teens frequently talk—and brag—about their interest in Wicca. He also cited Google, whose Wicca links have escalated in the past few years. Several months ago, he said, Google listed a million links for the word Wicca. Today, that number sits at more than 2.8 million.
Evangelicals not immune
A self-described student of pop culture, Russo is urging Christian parents to take the issue seriously, saying Christian teens are not immune from the lure. “I think it’s the sleeping giant in the church today,” he said.
“This is an experiential generation. They are seeking power to change lives, power to feel special … They are looking for control. ‘You need to control your destiny,’ which is just one more variation of the lie Satan has been perpetuating since the beginning of human history.”
Because teens focus on the experiential, they are seeking relationships and a spirituality that is real, said Russo, an evangelist who has appeared on numerous national radio shows, including Focus on the Family. Helping to fuel their exodus from Christianity, he said, is the fact that many adults, including their parents and church leaders, can’t articulate to young people the dynamics of a victorious walk with the Lord. “They don’t know what they believe, why they were living it, and were leading powerless lives,” Russo said teens have told him. “I don’t think they were far off. “They didn’t have a relationship with Christ. They bought into the religious experience.”
Abanes attributes the general inquisitiveness of teens, many of whom are seeking their own way into adulthood. “It seems exciting because they are curious, because they are going through the old-fashioned rebellion,” Abanes said. “It can be exciting, stimulating, especially the way it’s portrayed on film.”
Actual practices
Abanes said he is critical of the Harry Potter series because it contains what he calls real world occult practices, including spiritism and astrology. The Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, rely on imagination and basic forms of magic and fantasy. The practices contained in these works can’t be practiced, Abanes said.
He also said the plot lines encourage stealing, deceiving, lying, cheating and hypocrisy, which reduces the ethics and morals found on its pages into moral relativism. In one instance, Abanes said, one character deceives his wife, only to be exulted.
“She redefines what is good and evil,” he said. “Everything’s game as long as it targets evil Lord Voldemort,” the series’ bad guy.
Fantasy offerings found in Narnia and Lord of the Rings, differ significantly, Abanes said, because their authors come from a Christian perspective. Those books, he added, depict sorrow, consequences, repentence and forgiveness when something is wrong.
“It’s completely compatible with Christianity,” he said. “It can be a great evangelism tool.”
Staying in tune
Abanes believes that parents must take responsibility for guiding their children. If they do their jobs, the issue should be moot.
“It’s parental involvement, its not book banning, it’s not book burning,” Abanes said. “It’s not rigid censorship. It’s parents knowing what’s going on in the world and what’s going on with their kids.” Russo agreed.
“Parents need to know what their kids are reading,” he said. “How much poison does it take to hurt yourself? Just a few drops.”
Abanes said that while it’s easy for society to dismiss concerns about witchcraft by calling it another right-wing conspiracy, he said many Wicca and occult sites are extolling the numbers of young people becoming active in the practices.
“It’s no longer a question of what the crazy Bible-thumping Christians are saying; this is what their own people are saying,” he said.
Parents beware
Steve Russo, author of “Protecting Your Teen From Today’s Witchcraft,” said parents should keep an eye out for the following behaviors, which may suggest their teen is experimenting with the occult.
• Teens pull back from them and perhaps some of their old friends.
• There is a dramatic change is behavior.
• The teen has occult books, especially “A Book of Shadows,” a diary used to maintain spells, incantations and spiritual contacts.
• Unusual amount of candle wax in their room
• The presence of ornate knives or ceremonial daggers
Published by Keener Communications Group, October 2005
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