Dumbledore is gay - Evangelists in uproar!

[annavc]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=490261&in_p age_id=1811

Apparently reading Harry Potter books is now not only going to turn every one into a devil worshipping heathen it's going to make them gay too. I usually avoid the daily mail but I've seen this elsewhere too and with the little knowledge I already have about the evangelical right wing in America it doesn't surprise me at all.

Do you think these groups really truely believe that reading a book can make someone homosexual? I just can't get my head round it!

[naomi24]

Yes, annavc, I do believe it. Despite the fact that they've never read them, there are Christians on AB who believe the Harry Potter books are evil and will entice people into the occult, and it wouldn't surprise me if they believe this too. It seems they are reluctant to find out what the books actually contain, but will blindy believe anything their ministers church tell them. Incredible, don't you think? Sad really, I suppose.

[Theland]

I am not too sure of where to draw the line.
As in most situations, there is the very thin end of a very long wedge, that can intrude into our lives.
Take the occult for example. If the Harry Potter books promote the occult as something harmless, then I think that is dangerous, but then fairy stories for little children could fall into the same category, and yet I think that childrens fairy tales are good for a child, in terms of education and developing imagination.
As to the original question, I think that the main objection is that these protesters might see the book as promoting homosexuality as an acceptable alternative lifestyle that these folk do not accept as such.
I disagree with them on this. Reading a book is not going to influence a persons' sexuality.

[naomi24]

Theland, I do hope you're feeling better.

I really do wish you would take the time to read Harry Potter just to see for yourself exactly what it contains. As I've said before, it's impossible to form a rational opinion if all you know about the subject is gained solely from hearsay.

[mibn2cweus]

There is no doubt in my mind that the ideologies presented between the covers of a book can have a profound affect on ones view of and understanding about reality and thereby shape not only ones own destiny but the destiny of those subjected to the actions that proceed from the beliefs that are formulated by the reader from the ideologies that are presented therein. The fate of entire societies, cultures and indeed civilisation itself are largely influenced for better or worse by the various traditions, arts, science and literature of its peoples.

Evangelicals are right to be concerned about the messages presented in books or other media, as should everyone else, religious, secular or otherwise. What is no less important than the message presented is the way those messages are interpreted and acted upon. When fiction is equated with fact and the threat of eternal damnation and the initiation of the use of force is promoted as a justified means to manifest and carry out the ideology presented in the text and to silence an investigation of its true meaning, this is the point at which the splatters of ink on paper turn from mere words to the potential for the infliction of life threatening wounds and the splattering of human flesh and blood.

Rational open discussion and debate of the meaning of texts and the real life consequences of following them blindly as gospel is a powerful tool for determining whether they lead to greater freedom through enabling and promoting personal responsibility for ones beliefs and actions or terminate in an enslavement to dogma and the subsequent dismantling of civilisation.

cont. . .

[mibn2cweus]

The danger in the controversy over Harry Potter is not in whether it promotes a given sexual preference or leads one into an investigation of the occult. The real danger is in those preexisting ideologies that are attempting to limit the freedom to investigate and determine the validity and potential worth of its story line and are intent on enacting prohibitions on what can or can not be read, discussed or debated.

This latest chapter in the Harry Potter controversy saga has put me under the spell of a witches brew concocted of equal parts of amazement and explication in that it is those who have fallen under the control of and built their life and beliefs around a fairy tale that are most adamant about condemning a story that presents itself as nothing more than fiction intended solely for its entertainment value. Kind a spooky, ain it?

[WaldoMcFroog]

There's a few things to say about this.

Firstly, it's not really a surprise; we're talking about people who will seize on anything as an excuse to promote the Lord here. Praaaaaiiisee him! Praaaaaisse him for the fact the sun came up this mornin'!

Secondly, there's nothing in the text that would suggest Dumbledore is inclined one way or the other. Anyone who can find something is likely to be the sort of person that puts a cloth over the table because otherwise they find themselves fantasising about the wooden legs.

You know, we're not talking about terribly bright people here. We're talking about people that have to surpress the real world lest anyone actually start to think about the religion they follow, presumably because it doesn't stand up to even relatively simple testing.

[naomi24]

Waldo, I quite agree. It didn't occur to me that Dumbledore was gay either. It seems that J K Rowling has only recently said that she thinks he's gay, although apparently it didn't occur to her when she was writing the books.

Likewise, it never occurred to me that HP might encourage people to investigate the occult. Where did this 'occult' idea come from? I can only assume from people who haven't read the books, because I certainly can't find one single demon - and not a mention of the devil or anything associated with the occult in Harry Potter. Oh well, par for the course I suppose. Christians always make it up as they go along.

[China Doll]

I find the idea of fully functioning adults reading Harry Potter more disturbing than anything else.

But my friends assure me I'm a mardy c0w.

[luna-tic]

Hello Good Friends,
Although I haven't read any Harry Potter books I'd like to add, The significance of a characters sexuality in a fantasy story should have no more influence on the reader as suggested than if the author of the book were gay, unless that is their aim which in the long run would be even more fantastic than the story itself.
Does that make any sense?
Blimey! I've confused myself

[naomi24]

LUNA!!!! Welcome back. So very good to see you (or even read you!) again. You're obviously feeling a little better now - and that's good news indeed. May you continue to improve - your quirky sense of humour is invaluable. Lots of love from your best friend Daobi. x

[luna-tic]

Thank you Naomi (Daobi) and the gang for your kind words of encouragement. I am on the mend (no, that's not a prescription over the counter).
You are life savers, honestly.
Sorry annavc for interrupting your thread.
An excellent question you have posed.
Luny x

[Theland]

Welcome back Luna.

[luna-tic]

Hello Theland and a big thank you for all your help.
I may soon take you up on regrouping The Looney Orchestra.
Oh so many memories!
So many songs!
And so much noise!
:0)

[Theland]

Strange how with a little imagination, (and sometimes a little wine), the notes came floating through cyber space.
It was good to be in a band. Fifteen minutes of fame!

[Theland]

Have you tried the Sport / PM thingummyjig yet?
Still trying to get the hang of it, and when I look to see how many 'friends' are on line, it says zero!
Up to now, I only have one, ruby 27, but like ships in the night, we must pass without seeing each other.

[China Doll]

Theland - Have you tried adding more friends?

[luna-tic]

Maybe with a lot more wine we maybe able to extend the fifteen minutes to sixteen.
My imagination knows no bounds.

[luna-tic]

I haven't tried thingymewotsit yet but give me time and I'm sure it will make sense, even if I never do.

[Theland]

China - I got ruby 27 but not sure how! I think I got her hooked twice! I'll go back in a mo and try again.

Luna - I've got a day off tomorrow, so tonight it's a few glasses of the cheapest vino collapso and tonic from the offee - I could start singing!

[China Doll]

You just go in to add a friend and type the name of random pixlels you'd like to hear from. They get a notification and either agree or disagree to it.