Harry Potter

[naomi24]

Christian friends won't read Harry Potter because their church minister has told them it's all about witchcraft, it's evil and it may lead them astray. What's your view?

[luna-tic]

I think the Harry Potter stories can no more lead christians astray than the bible itself.

[mibn2cweus]

. . . and Mother Goose?

[wizard69]

I havnt seen many kids sacrificing cockerals to the Dark Lord yet. What I have seen is loads of kids that have discovered the joys of reading.
Will these church ministers start to ban the reading of Bednobs and Broomsticks next?
Its pathetic...

[WaldoMcFroog]

Whereas a book that has its main character command and army to kill all the non-virgin women and male children of a conquered tribe and rape the virgins is a great book for kids.

I know which one of the two has got a highly suspect sense of morality and ethics, and it's not Harry Potter...

[wizard69]

So Mani, you would like to ban a book that millions have enjoyed?
You dont believe in democracy then?
If I'd have said that the bible should be banned because it contains pornography, incest, child abuse, rape, genocide, murder,etc (which it does) what would YOUR reaction be to that?

[naomi24]

Mani - one question. Have you read Harry Potter?

[wizard69]

Doubt it..

[naomi24]

Me too.

[luna-tic]

Nearly every story ever told or written has good or bad as part of the storyline. "The Ugly Duckling", "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory", "Star Wars".
So are they going to ban all history books aswell so the kids don't learn the truth about our past?

[Le Chat]

I would imagine that this train of thought is encouraged by the evangelists section of Christianity. It's right up their street to do this.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Er... because two of those things exist and the other doesn't? Just a thought!

[saxy_jag]

So Mani, you believe what you have been told, without actually finding out whether it's true? I mean, even if it were true, you don't have to copy it.

As for marketing them to innocent children, isn't that what religion does, only much more so?

[naomi24]

Mani, How can you possibly judge something you know nothing about? At least take the time to read it before you form an opinion. Someone has obviously told you it trivialises and promotes witchcraft, and instead of finding out for yourself, you just take their word for it ,do you? I remember from another post you said you were studying Christianity, and I wonder if this is where you are getting your ideas from. If it is, it sounds to me that your teachers have some pretty dangerous ideas themselves - and I doubt they've read Harry Potter ether. Far from trivialising and promoting witchcraft, it might surprise you - and them - to learn that the books have nothing to do with witchcraft as we think of it ,and the central theme running through the whole story is one of love, of ethics, of dedicated friendship and of the fight between good and evil. I'd encourage everyone, children and adults, to read it. I can guarantee that they will all be on the side of the good guys!

[Fingerprint]

I have read one of the Harry Potter books, and felt that it was just harmless fiction.

It seems to me that the witches and wizards in the Potter series are not human beings who have made a pact with the devil in exchange for magic powers but rather imaginary beings of an entirely different species inhabiting a fictional universe created by J.K. Rowling.

It's possible that some Harry Potter fans may have looked into real witchcraft, and that is troubling, but I don't imagine too may people with good Christian backgrounds would find themselves cleverly deceived into a world of witchcraft and Satanism through their reading of a Harry Potter novel or seeing one of the films.

I don't believe Harry Potter is the danger to Christians or gateway to evil that some confused souls have made it out to be, but rather just a bandwagon started by Protestant fundamentalists who don't have the objective evidence to back up their claims that the books are problematic.

[WaldoMcFroog]

There are certainly people who call themselves witches, just as there are certainly people who call themselves Christians. Doesn't mean there's anything real to it.

[naomi24]

Mani - you are misinformed. I've read all the books several times and I don't think Harry Potter ever engaged in rituals and worship - although the school does have wonderful Christmases with twelve decorated Christmas trees in the hall. Every person who has commented here - one of whom I know to be a Christian - seems to think you are misinformed. They seem a pretty level headed bunch to me (and no funny comments you lot!) so perhaps instead of listening to the media, you should muster your courage, read it yourself - and make your own mind up.

[dawkins]

I would avoid the books at all costs manni. You can watch one of the films in a third the time and they are a veritable who's who of british character actors. If pushed, i'd say film 3 the prisoner of aksta, er, esker, er, uxbeckista, um, the one with gary oldman in it. kept me guessing right to the end and I learnt a valuable lesson about not judging a book by its cover (or subject matter). From my experience, all that harry potter has taught the children of fundamentalists is how to stop them from socialising.

Fingerprint; good to see you fighting back against the hypocrites