My brother Ned and I have argued over a lot of literature content, especially in fantasy novels. While neither he nor I have a problem with pointing sticks at eachother and screaming "EXPELLIARMUS!", there is a problem with this if it will give passerbys misconceptions of the type of Christians we are.
For example, for those of you who don't know, the Christian homeschool environment is often extremely anti-fantasy, especially anti-Potter and anti-Twilight. Whether this comes from their extreme popularity or the blatant fact that the Bible doesn't say anything about vampires, and where did these blood-sucking freaks come from anyway, or because the obsessions shown by many fans of these popular literature series, which can truly be quite chilling (ask most any teenage girl about Edward Cullen, or now that the New Moon movie is out, Jacob Black, and see their giggly, hyped responses. May I have a second to express my disgust that Edward got put on the back burner when New Moon came back?). But Christian homeschoolers, we collect all the anti-Potter and anti-Twilight comments we can, and real or false, put them together into a scary mash that's probably ten times worse than the books themselves.
I have read both Harry Potter and Twilight, and the parts that disgust me are not the magic or supernatural aspects of the books, but the completely human actions of the characters at time, regardless if magical ability is used in these impulses (Harry using Unforgivable Curses, Edward and Jacob having a verbal fight at the end of Eclipse, Bella's utter dependency on and adoration of Edward).
However, are the magical aspects of these novels bad? Are we, as humans, given by God the ability to create, or was this a result of sin? I desperately want to believe that God gave us this ability to create, an ability he and the Creator wants us to use.
I personally, think my classmates sum up some of these ideas better than anyone (have patience with how we talk, we're 15-17):
"...all fantasy of course comes from the imagination, which is confined to what is real. ...We can imagine dragons because we can see birds and think of them with fish scales and in very big sizes
it is actually all Gods creation, just with our minds (also made by God) stretching it around. So if that is true then yes, fantasy should be worthy of Christians and that is how we should defend it."
(FYI, this first sentence might just be my favorite quote of ALL TIME, and I really embarrased the poor guy by gushing over it in front of everyone.)
"But wait! I actually don't think that works because we can twist those good things of God's creation in to definite bad things."
"we may twist things, but God still created them first. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, the bad is merely corrupted good. Evil itself never has one single original idea, and I think the same holds true for the real world."
This brings up more questions. Is imagination and the fantasy created from it from God, or a twisted view of what God has created?
I, of course, thinking of my novel, brought this up, but as many learned adults can't figure this out, eight teenagers with very little research in our short time so far couldn't figure this out.
Still, the question remains. Is creating wrong? Take magic for example. God and Jesus, obviously, can do miracles, is creating people with magical abilities or superhuman powers upping us falsely to their level? Is Harry Potter's magic or Edward Cullen's superhuman speed taking away from God's ability, to have these (somewhat) human characters displaying acts that should be exclusive to Him? We were made in God's image, but is this too far into God's image? Should we be satisfied with the abilities he has given us, without creating supernatural fantasies?
J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the famous Lord of the Rings fantasy, felt strongly that fantasy was absolutely okay. His poem, "Mythopoieia," was to promote the idea that fantasy was not a foolish waste of time. An expert:
The heart of Man is not compound of lies,
but draws some wisdom from the only Wise,
and still recalls him. Though now long estranged,
Man is not wholly lost nor wholly changed.
Dis-graced he may be, yet is not dethroned,
and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned,
his world-dominion by creative act:
not his to worship the great Artefact,
Man, Sub-creator, the refracted light
through whom is splintered from a single White
to many hues, and endlessly combined
in living shapes that move from mind to mind.
Though all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons, 'twas our right
(used or misused). The right has not decayed.
We make still by the law in which we're made.
It is obvious that Tolkien believes that fantasy is a thing that people should write and engage in. However, I initially believed that his poem was a lame, phony excuse for what he, and I, want to believe. My classmates were pretty vocal against this:
"wait what? why would it be phony? is it wrong to assume that we are creative like God is? God gave us the ability to create, why not exercise it?"
"...we are made in God's image, God creates, so we have the desire to cub create. We may occasionally create bad things, but that is because we are fallen; the creating is still part of what it means to be human."
"Are humans just supposed to stay stagnant and not do anything with the world God gave them?"
"Man is given a brain that was created to create new, whether it be simply theoretical or something that could become reality."
...wow, I love you guys.
Another point is the reasons for this desire to create. We are made in the image of the Creator; it is only natural that we should want to create, too. Also, as far as creation of fantasy comes, humans are entranced by what the can't have. Think for one second. Just how many teenage girls want to have a vampire boyfriend like Edward? In personality and appearance, he simply doesn't exist. And as for magic, we can't do it, and never will be able to. I can pick up a stick of wood and poke it at things, but I'm not going to be Stunning anyone anytime soon. Still, it doesn't stop me and my brother from yelling "Alohamora!" at locked doors, even though we fully believe that it won't work.
To me, it seems that creation of magical worlds isn't bad, as we are made in the image of the Creator, as long as we don't use our magical worlds to promote truly evil, unbiblical things that God would hate. I think he wants us to use or imaginations. Humans were the only beings in God's image, and we are the only ones who can create. And that, I believe, is the greatest difference.
So, this is what Peter looks like in color. It occurred to me that everyone was probably imagining him as a blonde or something. And yes, how he looks is relatively important to the novel.
...As is how Leah looks
And Lexie, of course. Wow is this pic ever Lexie... sorry about glare from glass
...And this time, he brought along a few friends.
*sigh* shameless free advertising for the converse shoe company.
I love the expressions I get from these guys.
No, I did not endorse this outfit.
But I didn't fight it, either. (I'd lose.)
Me without nail polish, gaspers! =P
Squirelly
Sometimes, the quote itself is better than commentary, especially when spoken of a bird: "Let's see if he's a Trekie!" 
This is a fight. =D
Here's how to justify this, okay? Harry Potter gets a pair of blue converse in his fifth year, casey gets a pair of blue converse in her sophomore year. It all works, see? Wait, you don't see? Well just trust me on this one.
Me. 
Note a few things here. 1. My pockets are loaded down with tons of junk, 2. This is what my natural hair looks like!! 3. I'm pulling my little sis' hair out of her eyes so she doesn't look like what my brother refers to as an "evil elf."
Not the greatest of me, but Roo is hilarious.
Fight! Fight! Note all the other stuffed critters in the background. Me, with my nutty fantasy-literature mind, kept on going "what if they suddenly come to life?!?"
Apparently, my lil camera is also used to record scientific data. I think it's now confirmed that general suspicions are correct: two very young mad scientists live under my roof. The evidence stands in front of you.
(note that it says H
