'HARRY' CATCHES HELL FROM CHRISTIANS

New York Post ^ | 11/24/01 | TODD VENEZIA

[kattracks]

November 24, 2001 -- Is Harry Potter the spawn of Satan?

That's the opinion at one Christian school in southern Australia, where parents voted yesterday to forbid students from reading about the bespectacled wizard and his preteen cohorts.

The vote was just part of a widespread anti-Harry backlash by religious conservatives angered by the best-selling books' blatant celebration of witchcraft and the occult.

[jjbrouwer]

Good to see the Potter loons are not just confined to the States.

[WaterDragon]

My parents were deeply, genuinely religious people, but somehow they had the wisdom not to censor our book reading. I guess they trusted what we'd been taught by them. I remember being fascinated for a while by witches, goblins, etc, but it was a passing phase, and since no brouhaha was made over it, my interest waned and went on to something else.

I think those who are making a stink over Harry Potter are making a mountain out of a mole hill, and are giving witches, etc, more importance than they'd otherwise have for the kids.

But, you know, parents aren't perfect, they just do their best. And some are more susceptible to this kind of worry than others.

The point for me is that the parents on a tear about Potter have a perfect right to their beliefs and concerns. They aren't trying to impose those beliefs on anyone else. They aren't trying to pass laws against Potter. So, let them be. Who isn't at times irrational?

[Northern Yankee]

I am amused at the panic "Harry Potter" seems to be causing some well professed Christians. How can this harmless be - speckled boy cause such angst?

Yes indeed, Harry Potter has many evil detractors in the stories, and yes wizardry is used. But if people's faith is threatened by a 12 year old boy with a wand, I dare say that perhaps they need a bit more examination of their own faith that they embrace.

Don't misunderstand me, I do not make light of someone's Christian beliefs. (Our family is devoutly Catholic, and we attend Mass weekly.)But you have to wonder if Harry causes this much of a stir, (no pun intended.) one must wonder what kind of panic the Wizard of Oz must have caused during its debut?

Lighten up those of you who seek to destroy Harry. Grab the Sorcerer's Stone, a good Afghan, (Whoops... did I just violate National Security?...)and read this delightful book!

Go Harry GO!

"Ans-Wingardium Leviosa!"

[Khepera]

!

[f.Christian]

Harry Potthead thread!

[Tax Government]

Harry Potter, Star Wars and other recent sci-fi/fantasy epics can be seen as retellings of the Christ story. Harry, Luke and Jesus are born to a special fate, are recognized by others while young, perform miracles or magic, and overcome long odds and evil-doers while fulfilling their destiny.

So, based on the popularity of Harry and Luke, I'd say the appeal of Christianity is alive and well.

[f.Christian]

So, based on the popularity of Harry and Luke, I'd say the appeal of Christianity is alive and well.

7 posted on 11/24/01 4:45 AM Pacific by Tax Government

So, based on the popularity of Harry and Darth, I'd say the appeal of satan/witchcraft is alive and well

[TomB]

The point for me is that the parents on a tear about Potter have a perfect right to their beliefs and concerns. They aren't trying to impose those beliefs on anyone else. They aren't trying to pass laws against Potter. So, let them be.

From the article:

The American Library Association says there have been attempts in at least 13 states to ban the book from schools and public libraries.

Yes, they can believe whatever they want, but when they start trying to ban books (or burn them, as happened in Pittsburgh last year), it worries me.

[Skooz]

Oh, no. Not again. Some people have religious convictions and principles. Other people have lives so vacuous and devoid of meaning that they must ridicule those who have religious convictions and principles. Boring.

[AppyPappy]

I prefer Fundie Potter. He's a kid who finds he is an exorcist and goes to a Pentecostal school to improve his powers.

I'm glad to see the Potter geeks have another thread to play on.

[AppyPappy]

I bet it kills you when Christian books are banned from school.

[longleaf]

I'd like to add Superman to the "Christ wannabe" list. Christopher Reeve is alive, but not well. George Reeves is still dead. Are there any actors who want to play the big guy in another sequel?

[RMrattlesnake]

I would not let my kids see that movie. The school they went to was reading my youngest son harry potter without parents promision or knowage. So we home school are kids now. My son want to burn the Harry Potter book the public school gave him.

Parents have the right to let there kids see that movie or read the book. But the public schools should not have the right to choise. In Denver they took a whole elementry school there. The teachers took it apon then selfs to take the kids. The didn't even have to ask parents. Thet is sick.

[Skooz]

You beat me to it. Wonder if I can find something by CS Lewis or any one of a thousand Christian authors there. Betcha' I can't.

[Skooz]

Man, I had to get parental permission to see "Romeo & Juliet." Times have changed, huh? I guess the public schools know what's better for our kids than the parents. The village, you know.

[Radioheart]

"...train up a child in the way he shall go, when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

[AppyPappy]

A parent came to school and read it to my daughter's 2nd grade class. My daughter insisted she didn't want to hear it so they gave her something else to do.

[Ahban]

Hey Freepers, quit ridiculing us Christians just because we don't like a commercial for witchcraft flasly presented to us as entertainment. After all, each and every one of YOU objects when Hollyweird packages its left wing politics as entertainment in the movies. You also don't like it when Peter Jennings falsely presents his propaganda as objective news.

I used to work in a center for severly disturbed children (a public school- just kidding). Anyway, it was run by non-christian psychologists, but even they knew not to let the inmates practice witchcraft. See they noticed that in real life, unlike Harry Potter movies, a huge correspondence between participation in witchcraft and a whole list of social pathologies.

In conclusion, give us a break, we are only doing what you do yourselves, and we have good reason to do it.

Ahban

[Bug]

I would not let my kids see that movie. The school they went to was reading my youngest son harry (sic) potter (sic) without parents (sic) promision (sic) or knowage(sic) . So we home school are (sic) kids now. My son want (sic) to burn the Harry Potter book the public school gave him.

Parents have the right to let there (sic) kids see that movie or read the book. But the public schools should not have the right to choise (sic) . In Denver they took a whole elementry (sic) school there. The teachers took it apon (sic) then (sic) selfs (sic) to take the kids. The (sic) didn't even have to ask parents. Thet (sic) is sick.

Your kids have the right to be schooled by someone who can speak and write the English language.