Harry Potter, Good or Evil? Seriously, is it a good example or a bad one for our kids to see?

Question

I notice that one user mentions the bad stuff about Harry Potter on his "Ministry" website, but I wonder how many people agree.

Is there a strong moral standpoint on this issue?

Why do the Catholic church refer to it as evil and corrupting, to read HP?

Answer 1

its a good examples, shows the battle against good and evil, teaches patience. a story in which love is the ultimate power cannot have negative influence.

the usage of magic is present in the series but it is obviously fictional and those that take is serisously are delusional.

Answer 2

It is a work of fiction. The sooner these religious fools realise that, the better. I enjoyed reading the books and watching the films and I am happy for my children to do the same. You could say almost anything was good or evil but the fact remains that it is only a story. As long as the reader understands that and already knows right from wrong, how can it possibly be an example at all.

I would assume that the church refers to it as evil because it is based on witchcraft and myths. I have found a lot of religious people don't like anything which doesn't state clearly that they are right.

I think some people also choose to keep their own children away from things which they percieve as evil but don't realise that they are not doing the children any favours by it.

Answer 3

Anyone who says that there is you can either learn real magic from reading harry potter or can turn you evil needs serious help. REAL magic is spelled magick. And You cannot light some one on fire by waving around a wand and speaking a few arcane words. Only a very advanced pryokinetic could do something anywhere close to that. There is not very much real "evil" magick in the world anyway. Plus it would come back on them because of the law of three.

As for the moral standpoint, it is the classic good against evil battle. It's just that the church got into a hype because one priest freaked out. It was mass hysteria after that.

Answer 4

Why do people take things so bl**dy seriously! Every child I know in the UK has watched the films, got the book, worn the outfit and loved it! Why is it evil and corrupting? My kids certainly aren't evil or corrupted as a result of watching HP. These people should get off their soapboxes and have some fun for once. There are far worse things to worry about in this world and Harry Potter isn't one of them!

Answer 5

Its a great example for kids, an amazing story, incredibly well written. I think the only reason the catholic church refers to it as corrupting and evil, is because of the witchcraft and magic involved in the story, because they make potions, and say spells, which is supposed to be evil, according to church, BUT the story is based on magic the same way Disney's classics are. And are they evil?. Just, don't watch the films, you will miss 70% of the story. But anyway, read them and judge by yourself, don't let anyone tell you what to think!!

Answer 6

Whenever I hear someone say it's evil, I just laugh. If they actually watch the movies or read the books they would clearly see that Harry Potter is always the good guy and is defeating evil. So how can he be evil if he is always defeating evil? They are just fun fantasy stories.

Answer 7

I am not familiar with arguments againt HP, but I guess it has to do with taking the image of the witch/wizard and making it a friendly one, instead of a halloween bugaboo.

The adventures and violence in HP are about the same as many other popular stories intended for young people.

So I guess its the witch thing that is bugging the hardcore Christian types. Before Europe was Christian, it was pagan. To become christian, the pagan religion had to be discouraged in people. This took centuries, and extreme measures like torture and burning people at the stake, but apparently, there are still traces of it that survive in stories about fairies and wizards and magical creatures.

I guess the Christians are nervous about anything that looks even remotely like competition. They are showing great insecurity, and I am not surprised - interest in their brand of religion has dropped in recent decades, while interest in other, especially nature and earth-based religions like paganism (witchcraft, to use the "bugaboo" name for it) have become more popular.

No kid is going to become a practising witch because they read HP! They would go that route for other reasons (like, perhaps their christian upbringing just doesn't quite satisfy them.) It is easier for the church to get silly about HP then it is for them to question why so many people aren't being satisfied by that religion anymore.

Answer 8

The Catholic church doesn't like it because it is about Witch-craft. Some or most catholic schools have banned their students from reading it in class.

If they are worried about HP then they should read Phillip Pullmans Dark Trilogy! Which I may add is an excellent set of books.

Answer 9

These stories are great kids books and adults. I love them. This is what's wrong with the world. People read too much into things. They should just sit back and enjoy a great adventure. Remember the old days?
If people think witches and wizards are real then it's them who have a problem with life. Everyone should just enjoy truly entertaining and very clever books. I love them.

Answer 10

the harry potter books raise serious moral issues and invite young people to think for themselves.

(talk to any eleven - fourteen year old of your acquaintance about their current feelings about snape: you will find that most readers following the series carefully are already beginning to confront the classic ethical problem of esse quam videri).

when you suggest people need think for themselves you will find yourself in conflict with organisations which have a vested interest in suppressing ideas.

everybody knows that the established church tried to suppress galileo's ideas - but more recently they also tried to ban the novels of james joyce and dh lawrence.

why should things change now?