Wow... Just... Wow.

Note from the LuapHacim, 11/14/2012: The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect my current beliefs and convictions. Even if they do, I would almost certainly express them in different words today. Time changes people, and I am not exempt. Nonetheless, because of its historical value, I will not modify or remove this post. It tells you (and me) something important about where I've been. Read on at your own peril.

I love how Christians feel the need to appropriate and sanitize elements of culture that they think are somehow evil... Harry Potter, for instance.
Here's an excerpt of a story from the online devotional site Liveprayer.com. I warn you, it is not for the faint of heart... or for those who have any affinity for things like "fiction" or "art."

A big smile broke out on Dudley's round face. "My dad is with Jesus, Harry," Dudley beamed. "Six months ago, we all became Christians," Dudley proudly announced. Harry looked at his cousin with a puzzled look. He had heard of Christians before, but really didn't know much about them except they were Muggles that did not like witches and wizards. That even made him more curious since if the Dursleys had become Christians, they would dislike Harry even more than before. Now he was really confused. "But, I thought Christians did not like witches and wizards," Harry said. "No Harry, Christians love everyone, but they do not always like the things people choose to do," Dudley said.

The end of the story is utterly predicatble. Why, oh why, Bill Keller, do you feel the need to redeem Harry? Yes, I know, he's a wizard, and there are biblical injunctions against such practices, and besides, everyone needs Jesus. But for just a moment, could we try to think about an alternate universe with different rules?

Grrrr.