I was exaggerating, of course, when I posted the
"banning the HP books from every library in America"
comment. :-) But, I'm sorry to say, that's the impression
I get from some of the more fanatical anti-HP
people. (present company, Daniella, excluded)<br><br>I
have enjoyed the Harry Potter books I have read, but I
feel they are something of a fad that will not stand
the test of time like Tolkien's books
have.<br><br>Personally, I am agnostic. I believe there is a God, but I'm
not sure what to do about Him.<br><br>Natalie

I agree with your statements. We have all dreamed
at point or another in our lives that we were a part
of something magical. We even deal with the
supernatural in our religion, Christian or otherwise, although
the word supernatural holds a lot of misconception,
as to being New Age or occultish.<br><br>As for
banning certain books from every library in America,
which was never the case but I understand your point. I
did touch on the Chronicles of Narnia in my other
post #18, how the chracters in those books gain their
power through a supreme being and not from an
inheritance and learning process such as with Harry Potter.
When authors remove God as an authority on
magical/supernatural powers, it becomes an issue for the Christian
Right. It then gives all authority to the individual
making them as gods themselves, able to alter, influence
or create at will.<br><br>While some consider these
books as a harmless childrens story, in the same league
as Chronicles of Narnia, others view them as a
mainstream threat against their religion. But like you said
the classics always deal with some magical powers,
for instance Mary Poppins, The Sword and the Stone,
Cinderella. All these family favorites feature good magical
beings. <br><br>I personally love the Harry Potter books,
having read 2 this week and started the fourth today, I
don't imagine that these books are causing any greater
harm then the books of the past. But I do respect
those who choose not read them and not allow their
children to read them.<br><br>Jason

To losely quote CS Lewis:<br>"All human beings
have a longing for the supernatural, because we have a
supernatural soul in an earthly body..."<br><br>Therefore, an
intrest and curiosity in things of magic is perfectly
natural. Remember all those fairy tales you read as a
child? Perhaps you, like myself, imagined your self as a
fairy or an elf after reading them. The Harry Potter
books fire a child's imagination, and there is nothing
wrong that I can see with that. <br><br>By the
way..<br>Going by the logic that all magic is of the devil, we
should also ban "The Lord of the Rings," E. Nesbit, and
"The Chronicles of Narnia" from every library in
America...<br>Think about it. Many of the classic books from the past
100 years deal with magic, witches, etc. <br>Should
these be banned as well?<br><br>Ms. Natalie S. Ransom

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<br>\
<br>Think about the literature, not the magic. The book
just uses magic to spark kids' imaginations, to get
them to think, "Wow! This is such a good book! I can't
wait for the next book to come out!" It is a good
thing (now correct me if I'm wrong) that kids today are
reading. I watch very little TV. I watch two shows a day,
if any, and a movie once in a while. And this is not
my parents' rules. This is by choice. I read most of
the time, and I have read and re-read the Harry
Potter books. It's hard not giving away the endings to
all my friends who haven't finished yet! :) And
believe me, I still don't think that worshipping the
Devil is a good thing to do any more than sitting on my
mom's mop and jumping off of a cliff. It's silly! I
just love the books, because they are well written and
action packed. If you want to stop your kids from
becoming sinners, monitor their TV, the movies, the
internet. It is all too easy to get to porno sights. I've
gotten there by accident, and if ANYONE is a sinner, it
is those disgusting people. But for heaven's sakes,
don't take away their books. My sister, by the way, is
a devoted Christian, though my parents are
Unitarian Universalists. My sister, who is 19 and in
college, is very smart, and is a firm believer. She LOVES
Harry Potter, and devoured the first 3 books in four
days! She has just now gotten her hands on Harry Potter
and the Goblet of Fire, and she is eagerly taking it
in. I am VERY interested in why exactly people are
shunning these excellent stories, and I would love to
correspond with someone who can speak resonably and will
listen to my side, even if they do not agree. Here is my
e-mail address, and I look forward to hearing some
interesting points of view!
&lt;marissa_paige@...&gt; Sincerely, Marissa. Also, how many of you
have
actually READ one or more of the books before criticizing
them?

I am not religious, but I do respect those who
are, and their beliefs. However, here is what I have
to say: I have read the Harry Potter books, all four
of them. I am a 12 year old girl in 7th grade, and I
get excellent grades. They are some of the best
literature I have ever read. LITERATURE, people, let's
concentrate on how they're written, for a moment, and forget
the content. Rowling has a gift for making everything
seem to come to life. She describes scenes
wonderfully, and the characters have unique personalities,
just like all of us. The main character is nervous
about what he does, hoping not to mess up on anything
so that his classmates will like him. He makes
friends and enemies. His friends stick up for him while
his enemies taunt him. Doesn't this sound like the
everyday school life that your children tell you about? He
goes to classes; some that he likes, some that he's
bored in, and some that have mean teachers. Sound
familiar? So, excepting from the fact that he is in a
castle and he is studying magic, HOW he goes about it is
very familiar, and perfectly ok for children to read.
My mother believes in God firmly, but she loves the
books. I say let the kids read it. It is good
literature, and it's exciting. It has wonderful plotlines.
Kids can read it for the story. It doesn't mean that
they are going to go to London and look for the Leaky
Cauldron, a wizard cafe. It doesn't mean that they will
worship the Devil and fly on broomsticks. Tell me ONE
place in the book, just ONE where it has anything to do
with the Devil or God? I mean, REALLY. Not maybe just
a hint or suggestion. Listen to this summary of the
books:<br>Harry goes to a boarding school with his two best
friends, Ron and Hermione. Hermione helps the other two
with their lessons, and they all have a great time
exploring the hidden corners of the school and dodging the
janitor who monitors the halls. The teachers are nice,
for the most part, but their chemistry teacher,
Professor Snape, is mean to Harry because the Professor
held a grudge against James Potter, Harry's dad.
School for the most part, however, is wonderful. Harry
learns many secrets about the old school building. He
competes in contests for the honor of his 'house', one of
the four sections the school is divided into. They
often take fieldtrips to a nearby village, where they
buy candy and pranks and eat in a nice
pub.<br>Anywhere in that summary, did I mention anything that
mentioned that there's magic? Yet anyone who's read the
books could easily recognize every single thing I
mentioned in there.
<br><br>&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;

Hi, just joined,<br>I don't exactly HATE Harry
Potter, so I might get chucked out of this club. I don't
believe he's a satanist etc. etc. I mean, for God's sake,
he's a fictional character!<br>I just find the books
pretty bad, and don't think they deserve all the praise
they're getting, when there are such good books
about.<br>Which person is it who's banned their kids' from
reading HP? U mean, I don't want to sound like I'm
telling you how to bring up your kids', but that is
ridiculous. Sure, they're really bad books, but I'd hardly
say they were evil, just not very good.<br>And
anyway, you should let your kids' read whatever they
want, to open their minds, and so they don't turn into
mindless biggots.<br>Oh Heck, I meant to come here and say
that I hate HP too, and here I am giving you all
lectures, sorry about that, i have a tendency to go off the
subject quite easily.<br>Sophie

Harry Potter what sort of Sad lives do you all lead

I'm glad your last post was sarcastic. Everyone
is entitled to their opinions. Unfortunately some
people sound like horse's asses. <br>I hope I don't come
accross as some radical, fascist, book-burner. Because
I'm not. Scholastic can publish 100 more Harry Potter
books for all I care. And all the athiest and wiccian
parents can let their kids read them. My goal is to alert
CHRISTIAN parents to the genre of the Harry Potter books.
You are right, the KEY is to get involved with your
kids. Discuss right and wrong and always keep the lines
of communication open. It is a LOT of work being a
parent, and you shouldn;t have them if you aren't going
to be 100 percent committed to raising them (and not
letting them raise themeslves). As a parent, if I'm an
acception to the rule Jason, then it is a sad sad world we
live in.

I was trying to be sarcastic with my last post to
the athiest, but it didn't come off.<br><br>I respect
the fact that you actually look out for your
children, something that parents don't do nowadays. Having
no children myself it's hard for me to look through
the eyes of a parent, but constantly surprised when I
see parents letting their children do and see
unspeakable things.<br><br>As a parent, you must be the
diamond in the rough.<br><br>Jason

I personally so no enlightenment in his Juvinile
post. Your previous post, on the other hand Jason, WAS
very well written. I totally respect your point of
view. You are right that we have to educate our
children on what is good and what is evil. The athiests
can poke fun all they want. But I have to stand up
against things that I deem a moral threat to my children.

Finally there is a person that shows some
intelligence and wit. An Athiest that can get his point across
without looking like a complete buffoon is
rare.<br><br>Thank you for your enlightened point of
view.<br><br>Jason

holy glory, brothers. Thank sweet Jesus that
there is a club that talks about that satanist, HP. I
will never let my little girl read those books, nor
will she ever be allowed to watch Pokemon on tv. That
Pikachu character is the devil himself. One time on
Pokemon, I saw one of the characters put his tongue in
another Pokemon's tail. Now what kind of character puts
his tongue in a Pokemon's tail?<br><br>Pray,
brothers. Pray!!!!!

I completely agree with you on your first point,
just because a book is "good" doesn't make it good for
you to read.<br><br>Being an adult now, I understand
what is good and bad, and recognize evil when I see
it. I also believe that many parents also believe the
same. Unfortunately when it comes to parents,
especially Christian parents trying to get their child to
read when there is nothing of moral value and
substance they turn to hype.<br><br>I did skim the website
that you posted comparing Harry Potter with D&D, and
noticed no alternatives. When people are lead to a
website damning a particular cultural phenom that does
not allow the parent to offer adequate alternatives
to the child, that child stops reading because the
books have been taken away. Certainly a ministry such
as Kjos could offer some other
alternatives.<br><br>I understand that I just rehashed my point from the
previous post, but I thought I should repeat it.<br><br>I
did on the other hand find a site that does offer the
alternative of Chronicles of Narnia. The site can be found
here<br><br><a
href=http://www.focusonthefamily.org/pplace/schoolkid/a0009678.html
target=new>http://www.focusonthefamily.org/pplace/schoolkid/a0009678.html</a><br\
><br>It says that while some may view them as the same,
the difference is the way the character gains their
power. While Harry Potter gains his power through
inheritance and learning, the characters in Narnia are
granted powers by a supreme being.<br><br>While the
alternative is adequate, it does not specifically call to God
as the supreme being, but a character named Aslan.
The battle of good and evil is played out in numerous
amounts of religious texts. Also good may come from Gods
or Godesses through texts of the occult giving them
many names. So for the site I mentioned to call Aslan
as the one and true God is ludicrous, but focusing
on C.S. Lewis's Christian beliefs as he delved in a
very deep study of the occult, probably shouldn't win
Christian fans. The Screwtape Letters is a perfect example
of how he thought (probably not a fair word) like a
demon, in writing this book. By the way it is really
good. He does contradict himself in this quote
though:<br><br>"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our
race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve
in their existence. The other is to believe, and to
feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They
themselves are equally pleased with both errors and hail a
materialist or a magician with the same delight."<br><br>In
this age of instance gratification, where information,
good or evil, is always making it's way onto your
computer, it becomes harder for parents to discern. It is
especially prevalent in they way parents choose their
babysitters; TV, Computer, Internet, Harry Potter. Parents no
longer talk to their children about their particular
belief system, what is right and wrong, or prepare them
to constantly fight and recognize evil.<br><br>Harry
Potter may serve a good lesson for Christian parents.
Parents should read these books to their children, and
maybe after each chapter have a small discussion on
what and why that chapter conflicts with their belief.
If you can't recognize evil, how do you fight
it?<br><br>Jason

Just because a book is "good", does that make it
good for you to read? Not being a young male, I'm not
sure what is out there (book wise), but there HAS to
be something better for a christian to read. PLEASE
look. Remember, garbage in, garbage out. God bless
you,<br>Dani

Being 21 and Christian I understand the arguments
that Harry Potter is evil. If you are talking about
Biblical principles, witchcraft was always associated with
the work of satan.<br><br>But as the approach of this
club is obviously "anti-Harry Potter" and that the
books are considered evil by many in this club, no
alternatives are being presented, other than the OZ
books.<br><br>I will tell why I read these books. When I was
twelve and I went to the library, there were absolutely
NO books targeted to me. I went through rows of The
Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High and all those books
targeted towards a young female demographic.<br><br>Sure I
read Frank Peretti's Tombs of Anak but could barely
get through it because of boredom. With Harry Potter,
and even though I am 21 now, I can finally read
something that is targeted to a young male demographic. You
could call it catching up. I also believe that is why
it is such a success, boys are now reading, which
wasn't quite the case a couple of years ago.<br><br>So
give some examples of good books targeted towards the
young male demographic. Dorothy doesn't count.

Robert, yes I read the first book. "Magic in and
of itself is pagan (anti-God). "Good magic" is an
oxy moron. I know it presents "good" vs "evil" but it
is a good from a pagan, not a Biblical perspective.
Witchcraft, is of the occult, and ALL occult forces are
dangerous. For more on this opinion go to:
http:www.crossroad.to/index.html

I don't get you peaple. Have you even read the hp
books? It has nothing to do with satanism. The magic
they use is for the good. and the only evil person is
voldemort and they kick his butt in every book.

I respect your right to decide what your children
read and watch...but...<br>I have just one
question.<br>Have any of you actually read a Harry Potter book?
Watched Pokemon or any of the other TV shows
metioned?<br>If you haven't, please make sure you know what
you're against before you start bashing
it.<br>Please?<br>Legalism and soap-boxing isn't the best way to show the
world what Christians stand for. (and by the way, I am
a Christian..)<br>Thank You.<br>A concerned Friend

Gotta respectively disagree with you ass-kicker.
Garfield kicking Odie isn't the same as a 10 year old boy
practicing witchcraft. I want my kids to be creative and
have imaginations, but NOT to read about anything
pagan. Please go visit that web site I posted in my last
post.

i cant stand these books not because its satanic
because they are all hype and people just read them cause
they are told to,but im curious why u think they are
evil?sure its a dumb story and all but its not telling kids
to be evil.im compleatly screwed up,i wear black all
the time,i wear spikes,i have piercings and its not
because of books i read back in the day,i read charlie
brown,garfield,family circus and stuff like that.books dont have as big
of an influence on kids as you might think,i mean
when i saw garfield kick ody off a table i didnt go
and kick my dog off the table.because i knew it was
just a book.and by not letting your kids read books or
watch tv shows that seem evil(pokemon evil?com'on)you
just screwing them up cause they will be closed minded
and have no imagination.you have to let your kids
have some sort of freedom i dont mean let them go
watch porn or whatever but these books and tv shows
help kids learn racial tolernce,how to help other
people,whats right and whats wrong, and just all around common
sense.so i hope you take what i have said into
consideration and just sit down and read these books and watch
these shows and you will relize they are not evil...

Sorry, got that wrong.  It is: <a href=http://www.crossroad.to/index.html
target=new>http://www.crossroad.to/index.html</a>

I have the address to the most awsome website about how HP is BAD NEWS.  You
gotta check it out!  <a href=http://www.crossroads.to/index.html
target=new>http://www.crossroads.to/index.html</a>

Thanks a lot Buzz, I'll check out that club!!

Oh yeah, Daniella, here is a club you might be
interested in. It's called the Christian Alliance Against
Harry Potter (CAAHP). Just go to "Clubs Top" and do a
key-word search. They will be glad to have more members
into their fold!<br><br>-"Buzz"

The  only like really good books out there are written by l.frank baum! read OZ,
NOT harry potter

Yes!!!!!! He is sooooooooooooo STUPID! I  don't  give a flying cupcake to harry
potter and his stupid quititititchichich games!! Griffindorn? Whatever. Pooh!

Hear!Hear! Tell 'em, Daniella!!<br><br>-"Ben"

I can't tell you how HAPPY I am to find someone
else that feels the same way I do about Harry Potter!
Why aren't more christians vocal about the witch and
wizzard aspect of these books? YES they are satanic. I"ve
heard people say " These books have gotten my child to
read!! Well, if this were the only reading material out
there, I'd rather my kids NOT read! There are a LOT of
good christian fiction books out there for kids. No
way will my daughters read Harry Potter books, watch
Pokemon, Sabirna the Teenage Witch.....etc. We REALLY have
to protect our kids from all the Satanic influences
in this world.

Hi, ya'll. Today marks the release of the new
Harry Potter. As a concerned Christian, I believe Harry
is not a good influence and could possibly lead kids
to pretend they are wizards and witches.(Not good!)
I hope a year for now Harry goes the way that
Goosebumps did...or gets sucked into the air intake of a 747
while flying on his stupid broomstick!!! That would be
cool! huhhuhhuh!<br>Anyway, if your kids dye their hair
black and play with oija boards from reading this
crap,TAKLE THE BOOKS FROM THEM AND BURN IT!!!<br>I would
love to bust that Devil-worshipper's glasses!!! Thank
you, I feel better now.<br>Now, what does everyone
else think?<br><br>Heaven help us if Potter gets a
Saturday Morning series!!<br><br>-"Buzz"

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