ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE QUESTIONED
I was surprised to receive a printed version of the on-line exclusive, "The Fall of Fantasy"; and was intrigued enough to read it (it came in the mail from the Oregon Conference.) However, the printing was so poor that I looked it up at your website and re-read it. Please re-evaluate its effect and remove it from your site.

As a young adult I had been enchanted with the fantasy tales by J. R. R. Tolkien, and have read all of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I later came under conviction that they were filling my mind with "cunningly devised fables" that were robbing the vitality from the real and true stories that will last for time and eternity.

Now, as a parent of a pre-teen, I have been forced to re-examine my convictions regarding Tolkien's fantasies, especially with the release of the Lord of the Rings movies.

What disappoints me is that you have published an article that has more value as an advertisement for the named movies and fantasy books than it does to point to a higher and better standard. Only in the closing arguments, with the definitions of truth, beauty, and goodness, did I get a glimpse of light being shed toward a higher standard.

Then I was saddened to read that the light fell short with the closing sentence lifting not Christ, but Tolkien's works with the highest praise.

Why have you promoted an article that has essentially upheld a fantasy trilogy, that has no mention of heaven, Christ, or salvation by faith, nor does it convict of sin, or possess any sort of direct light that points to the Cross? On the contrary, it contains tales of wizardry, supernatural powers, and resurrection without mention of God or Satan, enchantments, stalking dead kings, demonic types of sub-human creatures, and other fantasy characters; while creating pictures of heroes that drink and smoke (values that as a Seventh-day Adventist I don't want my children to emulate).

As one who regrettably spent long hours reading dark tales, I must protest you promoting the trilogy. Let's hold true to our calling from Christ, to point our youth and children, as well as the whole world, to the real-life stories in the Bible and history that portray the very real drama of the Great Controversy. Let's not follow the paths of others who have succumbed to the lure of fantasy literature.

I pray that our church will strive to brighten the corners where we are by holding to "the light that shines in the darkness" (John 1:5). Please prayerfully reconsider your editorial decision and no longer endorse the article.

Terre Gift
Vancouver, Washington

MORE ABOUT HARRY
I have read the Harry Potter series and don't intend to read any more. I don't know if I would have come to that decision had I not read your article, "What Do We Do With Harry Potter?" (Nov. 21, 2002), on the series instead, but I would like to think I would have.

I haven't seen the movies in the theater or on video, and I don't plan to. The books themselves are questionable for literary value, and I don't recommend them to my public school students--even in attempt to get them to read.

Besides their occult content, they are the kind of literature that Ellen White wrote about: "There is another class of books--love stories and frivolous, exciting tales--which are a curse to everyone who reads them, even though the author may attach a good moral" (Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 134. See the entire chapter, "What Shall Our Children Read?")

Lord of the Rings is another matter. As some of your letters mention, the excerpt from the book by Richard Abanes leaves out Lord of the Rings. Perhaps he discusses it more in later chapters.

I am a fan of J. R. R. Tolkien's works, just as I am a fan of C. S. Lewis. Unlike the author of the Potter series, Tolkien was a practicing Christian, and a contemporary and friend of Lewis. As I understand it, it was Tolkien who "converted" Lewis to Christianity.

Tolkien never intended his trilogy to be seen as an allegory. However, it is easy for a serious reader to see Tolkien's faith reflected in his writing. Frodo's struggle destroying the powerful ring is so much like our struggle with sin. When I first read the books, I was drawn to the biblical allusions and checked my Bible for the parallels I kept seeing.

This is not to say that reading Lord of the Rings is "right" for everyone. We need to study, or at least look into things for ourselves. I think Ms. Oliver's article ("What Do We Do With Harry Potter?" Nov. 21, 2002), was trying to do that. I think she was trying to present the pros and cons so we could decide for ourselves. God doesn't just tell us what to do and how to do it; He gives us a choice. And I think that's what you've been trying to do with these articles on fantasy, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings.

Ruby Hinrichs
Rogersville, Tennessee


Once again the Adventist Review has gone to the trouble of analyzing Pottermania. Anita Oliver concentrates her concern on five points: 1) The use of power, 2) revenge, 3) the struggle between good and evil, 4) imagination, and 5) the occult.

Being a blue-eyed Scandinavian, I can't help wondering why Evangelical Americans are so concerned about J. K. Rowling's fantasy-product Harry, while they support a real life president who certainly gives the world a strong example of 1) the use of Power to show off; 2) threatens the world with revenge and actually does it; 3) forces all of us to take side with him or against him in the struggle between what he defines as good and evil; 4) shows signs of a vivid imagination or limited knowledge about the world; 5) claims to be Christian but behaves and speaks as a heathen cowboy.

Whom should we primarily warn our children about following? The imaginary Harry Potter or the pretend-to-be-real U. S. President George W. Bush?

Atle Haugen
Norway

EVANGELISTIC REPORTS
Thank you for the integrity exhibited in the report of Jan Paulsen's Annual Council keynote address ("Paulsen Points to Mission," Nov. 14, 2002). Some of us have struggled for decades with the realities that Elder Paulsen was courageous enough to unveil. What baptisms? It is high time the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is confessed.

For too long only the mega-campaign evangelists have had the ears and hearts of the official church and its rank and file. It is much more appealing to report tens of thousands in distant lands than to struggle with tens and twenties or fewer here at home. Indeed, those who work in the western world are no less faithful or committed than those who can capture huge audiences simply because they have deep pockets with which to advertise and promote and can continue to raise large sums of money, to get more stories, to raise more money, to build "successful" worldwide ministries.

When will more recognize that the work will not be finished anywhere until it is finished everywhere, including the developed world? Until we get our equilibrium, the competition for funds is fierce and ungodly.

Daniel G. Matthews
Thousand Oaks, California

ANSWERS TO MYSTERIES
In Lloyd Baum's article, "Creation, Resurrection, and Other Mysteries" (Nov. 14, 2002), he states "the resurrection will happen instantaneously and simultaneously all over the world"; a common misconception.

Ellen G. White stated that Jesus will first appear in the east. Just as some will visualize this event before others, likewise will the resurrection take place first. Not until the resurrection is completed are the living raised. For the living saints to be in constant vision with Christ a highway is prepared for them to follow this amassing event. "And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up. Lo, these shall come from far away, and lo, these from the north and from the west, . . . Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth" (Isa. 49:11-13, NRSV).

This concept is also found in other Jewish writings.

John Rothery
Auckland, New Zealand

POWER PRAYING
The article, "Unlimiting God" (Nov. 2002), impacted my life in a very positive way.

I'm a believer in the power of intercessory prayer. The spiritual way this article was written drew me into a closer communion with God. I believe the Holy Spirit was certainly manifested in the writing and the reading.

The frosting on the cake came when I wanted to e-mail it to my Christian friends and find it ready for sending on the Adventist Review website. Thank you for Review on-line and thank you, Dolores Moore, for your thought-provoking article.

Rita Back
Wasco, Oregon

HOW TO SEND YOUR PASTOR PACKING
Here in our church in Calgary, in the Alberta conference, your theory would not work ("How to Send Your Pastor Packing", Oct. 2002). My husband called the conference president, hoping to get some advice about his displeasure over our pastor. Without even asking the reasons why, the president simply told my husband to find another church.

Our pastor gets just about everything he wants from the conference. Call it whatever you want, I'd say "power rigging."

Eva

GIFTED HANDS
Our Lord Jesus Christ has given Dr. Ben Carson a wonderful testimony ("Gifted Hands--In God's Hands," Nov. 2002.) Albeit, no one should have any type of cancer solely for the sake of having a testimony, the message of the doctor's plight rings clear and concise. With all the attention given him for his gifted hands and the miracles of surgery, somewhere, somehow, the thought of Jesus Christ leading his life appears to have been lost. I don't believe Dr. Carson lost sight of Who was guiding his gifted hands, but the world may not have known his story.

Reading of Carson's faith and hope is an inspiring testimony about how Jesus works in our lives to glorify the name of the Father. To know there is a world renowned surgeon who puts his faith in God and allows Jesus to work through him is a complement to his testimony. It speaks of the majesty of the Almighty and His unfailing love for us.

As with the sick woman who touched Jesus' cloak secretly (Mark 5:24-34), The Lord has brought to light what may have been hidden in the dark.

My prayers are with Dr. Carson and his family.

Edwin Cruz

OUR COMPASSION COMMISSION
Thank you, Zdravko Plantak, for addressing the need for Christians to take much greater responsibility for those who are poor ("Why Should the Poor Concern Us?" Nov. 2002). For the most part, we in North America have adopted the typically individualistic lifestyle of the world around us, and have failed to be our "brother's keeper."

It's high time we changed our attitudes and our behavior. This applies not only to the obviously rich, who have a lot to spare, but also to those of us who have considerably less. Most of us, by far, can do something to make a difference.

Deborah J. Uffindell

The Adventist Review undated special issue, "The Gospel in Work Boots" (corresponds to Oct. 31, 2002), features another article by Plantak, entitled, "There Should Be No Poor." –Editors