Category: Catholicism

I was on Facebook just now and saw the following claim:

“real names of the demonics are names in most of the characters. You may do your own research.”

Facebook User

I have a deep suspicion that this person’s “research” is just the parroting of what Fr. Ripperger, an otherwise generally reliable source, has said in his talks. Here’s the quotation from one talk I’ve heard:

“One exorcist told me he’s kind of done the footwork. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. He said 60% of the names in Harry Potter are actual names of demons that exorcists have booted out of people.”

Fr. Ripperger

So, there are quite a few problems here:

1. He admits he himself is just repeating a claim he’s heard elsewhere from an unnamed source.
2. He admits doesn’t know whether or not it’s true. Personally, I would say that therefore repeating such a claim with no knowledge of its veracity is irresponsible.
3. The claim itself is demonstrably false, even after five minutes of research. Even at a quick glance at the Harry Potter character list, to say that 60% of them are demons is ludicrous as most of the names are fairly ordinary!

Of the more exotic names…

• I can see a few names after star constellations, such as Bellatrix.
• Some names which sound strange to our ears are also names from the Bible. For example, “Silvanus” was the name of one Paul’s companions.
• Rowling seems to have made use of the Dickensian trick of making up a name that applies to someone’s personality. A good example of this is Mundungus which is the same name for an odorous Spanish tobacco.
• Lastly, a handful names like Alecto come from Greek and Roman mythology. However, that doesn’t mean that J.K. Rowling is trying to trick people into worshipping Greek/Roman deities (how would that even work, anyway?). If you’re going to exclude Harry Potter on that charge, you’d also have to throw out Narnia since C.S. Lewis has these Pagan gods appear in Prince Caspian.

So, returning to the original claim… where exactly are these names of demons? Can someone actually point out which characters are named after demons and provide evidence that these names are demonic?

When I was living in London, I went to Speaker’s Corner and would often talk with Muslims. It was then that I was surprised to discover that it is often asserted by Muslims that the books of the Jews and Christians have been corrupted, and this is why they so often contradict the Qur’an.

However, after reading the Qur’an, I found such a position inconsistent with the Islamic holy book…

Preservation

Allah’s words can’t be changed

The Qur’an affirms that nobody can change Allah’s words:

…None can change His words…

Qur’an 6.115

…none can change His Words…

Qur’an 18.27

…and we have manuscripts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls which long pre-date the rise of Islam which show a consistent corpus with what we have today.

The books are present at the time of Muhammad

And when there came to them a Book from Allah confirming that which was with them…

Qur’an 2.89

When it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, “they say, “We believe in what was sent down to us:” yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them [literally: in between their hands]. Say: “Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?”

Qur’an 2.91

O ye People of the Book! believe in what We have (now) revealed, confirming what was (already) with you…

Qur’an 4.47

Say: “O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” …

Qur’an 5.68

Confirmation

The Qur’an is meant to confirm the Torah and the Injil

It is He Who sent down to thee…the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).

Qur’an 3.3

Muhammad is described in the Jewish and Christian books

Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them. 

Qur’an 7.157

Where is Muhammad found in the Bible?

Muhammad is to go to Jews and Christians for confirmation

So if you are in doubt, [O Muhammad], about that which We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you

Qur’an 10.94

It makes little sense to go to people for confirmation who are reading corrupted books.

Judging by the earlier Scriptures

Jews

But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allah?…

Qur’an 5.68

Christians

Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein.

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety [literally: a guardian]: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed… To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute

Qur’an 5.47 – Qur’an 5.48

Promise that followers of Jesus will be “uppermost”

I want to end this post with a related issue. Please consider the following passages:

I will make those who follow thee [Jesus] superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection

Qur’an 3.55

Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, “Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?” Said the disciples, “We are Allah’s helpers!” then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.

Qur’an 61.14

If Christians aren’t authentic followers of Jesus (assuming they have corrupted scriptures and have committed blasphemy by calling him God), who are these people who should be around today (given that we are not yet at the Day of Resurrection).

Another guest post by Beverly Nelson…

Finding out your loved one has a terminal diagnosis is one of the most painful, shocking moments you can experience. When making arrangements for your loved one, you need to think of medical care, legal help, and your well-being. It is a difficult and delicate balance, but it is an important one that you can strive towards. Restless Pilgrim has some suggestions for managing your grief, your loved one’s needs, and your personal well-being.

Start With Medical Arrangements

During the final stages of a terminal illness, you have to accept that your loved one is reaching the end of his or her life. Not only do you have to deal with daily care practices, but you have to make end-of-life decisions.

Medical arrangements should be practical first. For example, if your loved one cannot talk, eat or walk, you may need a medical professional or team to provide 24/7 support. Remember that even those who suffer from memory or cognitive problems still experience the same range of emotions they always did. You need to make plans to ease pain and discomfort, along with enhancing his or her quality of life.

In the final stages, your loved one has the option of hospice care. Hospice care can occur in a hospital, care facility, hospice center, or home. Often, people decide to have hospice care in the comfort of their homes. The point of hospice care is to treat a person’s symptoms rather than the disease.

If you do not live near your loved one, you might consider renting a house or apartment during this process. Smaller apartments in the San Diego area start at around $2,400. You might find it to be more cost effective to rent a small unit than to stay in a hotel for weeks or even months during this process.

Consider the Legalities

When it comes to legal matters involved with end-of-life arrangements, you need to make sure your loved one has a living will and power of attorney. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, power of attorney allows a person to choose a trustworthy person to act if he or she cannot. A power of attorney may be financial or medical. If your loved one has a brain injury or other condition that affects mental function, then someone needs to be able to make decisions on his or her behalf.

A living will, on the other hand, provides a guide for doctors and health care providers and peace to family members and loved ones. The living will include whether a person wants to be given life-saving measures or if he or she wants to be on life support. For end-of-life documents, work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning. They can help ensure you have the right paperwork and provide the legal counsel you need.

Prepare for What Happens After

What will you do after your loved one passes? Do you plan to sell his or her belongings? Will you sell the house? When selling the house, you need to prepare the property for the market. If you want to make the most out of the home, it needs to be in the best possible shape.

The more effort you put into the home, the more likely potential buyers will appreciate it. Most people don’t want a home that requires extensive repairs. Have an inspection performed to find out what types of repairs are required. Make sure that you don’t have any cracked pipes, damaged windows, or problems with the roof. Additionally, try to create a clutter-free and neutral environment. Potential buyers need to be able to see themselves in the home.

If you choose to keep the home, you may want to refinance, especially if you believe the home has increased in value over the years. Look online for the best cash out refinance rates if your loved one has large medical bills or other expenses that you would like to pay off with money from the house. There are financial penalties, but you can cash out part of the equity and possibly still lower the monthly mortgage payment, too. 

Don’t Forget Your Emotional Well-Being

Your emotional well-being is important to your overall health. During times of emotional distress, you are more likely to deal with illness. You can find some relief, however, in a variety of coping strategies, including:

• Journaling
• Meditating
• Therapy

You may find it more difficult to focus on the needs of your loved one if you do not prioritize your own.

Coping with a loved one’s terminal illness is a trying time for all individuals involved. Having a plan to deal with the legal, emotional, and medical aspects can help ease some stress. Start by managing your loved one’s medical needs, and then focus on the grief and belongings that will remain. And if you are a spiritual person, reaching out to a higher power could bring you comfort and even reduced anxiety. Restless Pilgrim has resources to help you reach out through prayer. Visit them online to begin your spiritual journey during this difficult time.