Harry Potter

[the_truth_girl]

The Harry Potter series, created by the author J.K Rowling, have been seen as something bad and almost satanic, bringing children to witchcraft.

I, on the other hand, believe the Harry Potter books are marvelous and should be kept on the shelves of stores, schools, and libraries. The novel has only increased literature and made it fun for children- not to mention adults who flip through the book as they anticipate the next installement.

[dream_truth]

I love the Harry Potter series and have found much enjoyment reading it with my child.

[the_truth_girl]

Me too! That is why I don't understand why people would want to ban the books.

Yes it has witchcraft, but it also shows how love is powerful. Kids won't turn satanic by reading about a story of a handsome boy out to defeat the Dark Lord.

And then there are great role models like Hermione Granger.

I say keep reading the books. I also can't wait for the seventh installment.

[dream_truth]

People want to ban these books? Thats crazy! And really, 'witchcraft' in the classic sense of the word is not evil or satanic at all.

The religion Wicca does not even believe in Satan. They are an earth based belief system.

If I am not mistaken, Craft refers to understanding the healing properties of plants and practicing holistic and preventative medicine. Wildcrafting is the study of plants and herbs which are indigenous to your region, learning how to identify, harvest and prepare these plants to be used for cooking and preparing medicines for your family. Its a harmless and actually very beneficial art to study.

[actvthinkr]

All the figurines where I'm at of Harry Potter all gone. And when you look at the website, it says they no longer make them. I don't see what the problem is, people should be able to read anything they want, and choose what they want. The saying that it tempts kids into magic, oh, come on, no more then superman or any other thing that kids try to emulate. Which is just about anything. My family enjoys them. And I think they're fun.

[dream_truth]

Well if they start banning Harry Potter books and figurines because it promotes magic, then they should also start banning bibles and crosses. Oh heck, why dont we just devolve back to the dark ages while we are at it?

[actvthinkr]

It seems more and more like people want to protect everyone from themselves, as if you can't make a choice for yourself anymore. "Gee if they can't see it's bad, lets ban it" sounds more like communism - feed the people what we want them to hear and anything else is forbidden. Oh, wait, maybe that's politics or religious fanatics. And so what if it promotes magic? As you reference Dream, there's Wicca, along with their regard for nature, they have spells and such, it's their choice and their religion. We have books focused on other parts of religions, don't we? I attended a bible study, no let me rephrase that, it was a study of someone else's book, interpreting the bible (I should never have attended), and this woman said that the author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling was a witch and put a spell on the books, to entrap the readers and put evil thoughts in their head. Needless to say, I excused myself and left. I didn't go back, what a bunch of nonesense!

[amelia]

i must agree that the HP books are absolutely fantastic. i just read all the 6 of them. i am sorry to say that it has taken me so long to read because i was one of those senseless people who believed it was evil or satanic. what a moron, was i????

now i am simply ashamed that it took me these many years to read. i used to shame my co-workers for reading... such waste of time, emotions and energy. when i could have joined in on their fun and excitement.

i will never, ever, ever allow my reading choices to be influenced by the church.

[amelia]

oh, and i am freaking out by the recent interview(s) that JK Rowling has given this past day or two.

i sooooooo can't wait until bk 7 comes out...but i will absolutely be devasted if harry dies.

ugh.

[dream_truth]

wow amelia, i am glad you were able to get the courage to read these, or any books that were "forbidden". I know how difficult it can be do something which you fear might have dire consequences, and it is so sad that religious leaders would take advantage of their position of authority to try and make you feel afraid to read any book. I think that any belief system, if secure, should not fear access to other information but embrace the quest for knowledge and looking at other ideas.

I have to admit I'm behind, I havent read book six yet. This thread has gotten me motivated to get on it!

[the_truth_girl]

POWER TO THE HARRY POTTER PEOPLE!

OH! You must read the sixth book, it is absolutely steamy! With twists and turns, and a handsome Harry to guide you.........magical.....

When I first read the Harry Potter books, I didn't exactly turn satanic, but I did have this wonderful imagination of Hogwarts, and how I would fit in Gryffindor...or atleast I wish I would, but I guess I'm more Hufflepuff. Most would call me immature as they see the vast collection of Harry Potter merchandise....which is sad...but I can't help but smile when I see the name Harry Potter plastered on something.

I think people need to realise that children won't become Qur'an or Bible fanatics. Yes the Bible is a good book, like the Qur'an...although you may not agree....kids aren't going to spend endless nights flipping through the pages, wondering what God will say next. Harry Potter is a good way to relieve stress and just be young again.

Yes, I think I would cry if Harry Potter died, which is sad because he is just a character in a novel...but God can that boy play Quidditch! I think that in book seven Percy and Ron Weasley will die. I mean, I imagine something like a flash of green light, Ron dropping, and Hermione running after him....so romantic......

But yes, the Harry Potter books are GREAT!

[arron]

the harry potter books are absolutly satanic i would never let my children read them nor my grand children. any thing that glorifies withces and magic is of satan.

[the_truth_girl]

Oh yes yes, because you know they'll turn crazy

but on to a more imortant question: Have you even read the books?

[yaakov2]

Harry Potter is a good series of books. However, I was very disappointed by the sixth book. It was the only bad book in the bunch. An entire thick book in which almost nothing happens until the last few chapters. BORING! The entire book was just setting up the remaining series telling us how the Dark Lord can be permanently killed.

IMO, the Order of the Phoenix was the best of the series so far.

[ba2]

My kids had a wonderful time reading the books and going to the movies. It also gave me a good opportunity to teach them that the occult and witchcraft and the like have no power at all. They know that the power is only in the mind, so it is not real. They grew up knowing that they themselves are responsible for their own behavior and no one can change natural law.

[the_truth_girl]

really? I didn't like the ending to the sixth book, it was kind of "to be continued...." and that was it. But the book made me giggle at certain scenes.

Order of the Phoenix made me cry, Sirius was such a great man.

But this is just a Harry Potter fanatic talking...

[bear]

As a Christian, and pastor, I was very skeptical for years.

Why? Well, everyone has a opinion, just like their nose. We hear how bad they are without ever checking them out for ourselves.

My wife began to read the books, and we even viewed the movies.

I think that they are great!

Satanic? Um, no.

I laugh. and get angry, with Christians that praise the Lord of the Rings and Narnia, but think that somehow, they are different from HP.

They are not!!!!!!!!!!!

Magic is magic. Narnia may be an allegory, yet there is still a witch, and still magic. This is true when you read the entire series.

Tolken never meant for his works to be allegorical, in fact he despised the idea. Yet, he was a Christian, and wrote some beautiful fantasy filled with magic.

My kids have see the movies, and guess what...not one of them has any desire to pursue black magic. They love the Lord, love church, and thet understand that the movies are fantasy!

Also, my wife and have explained to them about witchcraft, and satanism. HP does not come close to the true forms of these sects.

[preachers_daughter]

So true bear.

I love the HP books and movies.

I also do not see any difference in HP and Narnia.

I grew up watching the Wizard of Oz, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, just to name a few. These were 'okay' to watch, even though they had witches and wizards in them. My brothers were into Superman, The Incredible Hulk, and Spiderman. None of us turned out to be 'devil worshipers'. We were just children, having fun, dreaming dreams, and pretending like we were the good guys, after the bad guys.


I still like watching all of these movies, and I'm ?? years old.

[ball_of_fluff]

Exactly. Same thing here. Couldn't agree more.