I was watching the news and a segement about Harry Potter came on. I hadn't heard what exactly the bit was about but I wanted to see it anyways. Apparently, Harry Potter is evil and teaching kids to do witchcraft. WTF? Yep, there is this lady running around Bay City "preaching" to parents that their kids are gonna grow up and perform magic. *falls off chair laughing hysterically* Wow. I can't believe that she honestly believes that. But she's doing this presentation where she compares the books with The Book, the Bible. According to her, Harry Potter instills the seeds of paganism into childern's head and they will going down the path of evil(Which is kinda funny considering that my friend who attends a Catholic college told me that she has a book that makes inferences, good ones, between the books and the Bible. For example: Harry is a Jesus Christ type figure).She wants to get the books off the shelves of school libraries. One guy said that there is NO way that is happening and that we should be happy that kids are reading. Another, one who practices paganism, said that they don't get their ideas from Harry Potter. Which makes sense. This religion is older than anything and has been around way before Rome or Christianity.
Anyways. This type of shit just pisses me off. Why can't people just accept that the Harry Potter series are these great books that TEACH kids about life. Good and Evil. Right and Wrong. Trust. Love. The list goes on. Also if you tell a kid that they can't do something....they are gonna do it anyway. Why do you think that we have so many underage drinkers in this country? Because the law says that they can't drink but they do it anyway to prove that, despite everything, they can. It's rebellion and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Sorry, I got off topic but Harry Potter is providing something that TV, music, movies, hell, even parents isn't. Hope. If this ragtag, orphaned, troubled nerd can rise to something great and vanquish evil; why can't they do it too? That's all Harry Potter teaches. Sure there's magic and there might be kids running around trying to cast spells (my brother being one of them) but that what makes the books so great. It's called make-believe. Fiction. Untrue. I don't know about you but I'd rather read about how Harry defeats Voldemort while learning about how love conquers all in this fantastic world then read about that same concept in some boring textbook.
The crazy lady says that the Bible says that anyone who believes in this will not be accepted into the Kingdom of God....well if that's the case....I guess I'll see you in hell.
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wow. what lows have people come to? i totally agree with you. I am a self-proclaimed harry potter nerd, and people that now think its a sin to simply read an amazing book with more morals and values than any other book I've read lately...well they just need to shut it! honestly...i knew a girl that went to church camp and she was given an assignment by her dad to research all of the names in the bible to prove that harry potter names were taken from the bible...lame!
I always find it amazing how people think Harry Potter is the devil and is teaching their children bad things. If anything, Harry Potter is teaching them about the good in people and how anyone can fight for the right cause (regardless of size, age, etc), at least that's the moral most folks I know have taken away from their readings.
Of course, that just wouldn't fly with these people who hate and fear anything different from what they have always known. Mustn't challenge your beliefs and opinions.. that might lead down a path to enlightment and acceptance. They'd much rather hunker in their closet, hating anything remotely different. Most of the people that are preaching that Harry Potter is dark and evil have obviously not read the books or thought too deeply about what it means.
As a Pagan, I find the entire Harry Potter is teaching kids Paganism to be incredibly amusing. If Paganism were anything like Harry Potter's world, believe me, we wouldn't be fighting tooth and nail to end stereotypes! Of course, it is flattering in a way. At least we're being compared to someone decent and good this time!
You know, I know what you are saying. My old Christian School's principal said that Harry Potter and Pokemon were things of the devil that would make us be evil and stuff like that. Some people just have such narrow minds.
Paganism was a religion, and a pretty cool one at that. Those who say that Harry Potter and Pokemon can influence children has some what of a point. Actually, I think they are wrong in stopping at any given show or movie. Because in general, the media affects everyone. I think that is were they are trying to get at. I don't know if you have noticed, but if you charted the advertisement of sex and teen pregnancies, then I think you would see a pattern. The thing is, some people are born with a mental diorder. If someone sees that murder is being advocated, then they may want to muder.
The thing with magic is a very delicate topic when based on the general aspects of Christianity. Magic is a pretty cool thing. I think that they question some Catholics and the like are afraid of is..............
Was Christ's miracles a form of magic?
Yeah....ummm it's evil
and it will be the cause of the end of the world...
cough
"Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule."
People are ridiculous, I was talking to my friend about this the other day. I mean, come on, who takes Harry Potter THAT seriously, that they'll convert into paganism.
I was reading this article in a newspaper thing and this 17 year old girl was saying how Harry Potter should be gay, well not him specifically but a major role model for kids because they'll learn to accept certain ways. It would definitely go along the same route as this but hey, maybe some people will take the books as a positive way to look at things.
Religion has nothing to do with Harry Potter. It isn't written in the Bible that "though shall not read Harry Potter". It is fiction. God gave us a magnificent imagination. Harry Potter only lets us explore it. Harry Potter fans aren't murderers or drug addicts or anything (even though they could be). We are just regulare people who aren't evil for exploring our imaginations.