[Faith-talk] a PS about the Harry Potter phenomenon

[Debby Phillips]

Okay, I recognize that certain things are sinful, and that's not 
just in Christianity, but stuff like murder.  But here's a prime 
example of something that not all Christians see as sinful.  I 
occasionally have a glass of wine with a meal, a beer on a hot 
day, or for a special occasion, maybe I'll have a mixed drink, 
like a rum and Coke, (although I prefer Pepsi).  Lol.  Now, 
probably you, Timothy would see that as sin.  But I'm guessing 
that some other Christians on this list, would not.  So therefore 
I understand Brandon's question.  By whose rules is something 
sinful? There are books that I have started to read that I have 
stopped reading, because something within me said, Don't read 
that book.  It could be the Holy Spirit, or my conscience.  But 
whatever, I stop reading the book.  And for me to continue to 
read that book would be sin.  But that doesn't mean that it would 
be sin for someone else to read it.  A specific example: it would 
be totally sinful for ME, and I am only saying me, to read a book 
on Satan written by a satanist.  But there are Christians who 
read those books and study them and they do it with a clear 
conscience because they are studying that particular subject so 
as to be able to articulate more clearly why something may be 
wrong, from a Christian perspective.  I hope I'm making sense 
here.  And perhaps before I get myself too entangled, I'll go 
lurk again.    Blessings,    Debby and Neena