Christain groups all over the world are protesting the Harry Potter books because they promote the use of magic and that is not right occording to the bible. They picket stores that sell the books and have book burnings to prove there point. But Harry Potter is not the first book of this kind. What about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dragons Lance series, The Inheritance series (Eragon and Eldest), ect. There have been many very popular book series to come out with magic and witchcraft in the plot. And many of them are geared toward children like Harry Potter. Some of them have come out at the same time or after Harry Potter. Why didn't christains ever protest these books?
I am not trying to put anyones religon down. I think you should believe whatever you want. I am an Atheist and don't believe in god, I was just curious why this was.
2006-07-10 08:25:33 · 32 answers · asked by Lisa 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Roxton...
No I don't have any problem with those things.
2006-07-10 08:34:35 · update #1
Pegacita....
Christ-like figure,child sacrifice, your kidding right?...you really need to read the books. There is neither in them.
2006-07-10 08:41:28 · update #2
Very good point! Most would consider me a pretty devoted Christian. And, I don't see why we get so worked up about FICTION!!! You're right about all of this. Why don't we get worked up about Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or even the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (oh no. that was written by C.S. Lewis who was said to be a Christian . . . and so was Tolkien, I am told). I've watched the Harry Potter movies and think that they are very well done. They also carry some great lessons on good moral values such as friendship, loyalty, integrity and so on. Very good point!
Love, joy and peace,
Hesed
2006-07-10 08:35:24 · answer #1 · answered by Hesed 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Some are and some are not. If a person is devoted to serving God, chances are he/she is against anything that goes against God's word. If you look around and do some research, you would find a common thread among these protests. They think that if they promote enough hostility toward a certain movie, concert, etc., that the world will accept their faith or belief. That in itself is contrary to God's word. As a Christian man and preacher, I am appalled at some of these religious groups protesting in the name of Jesus.
I personally find some of the books you mentioned entertaining. I have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy along with the first and often overlooked book The Hobbit. Also the Eye of the World series is a good fictional collection. The point is this. As long as you can keep in perspective that these books are only imaginary and fiction there should be no problem.
2006-07-10 08:40:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being a Christian myself I can see why a lot of us protest, but I think that they want to keep their children from thinking that witchcraft is wrong. Harry Potter is, I think, the most famous out of all of the books you mentioned, to children, and when teens watch it they aren't as influenced, or the same with adults. I don't think we should ban the movies or books. We should just tell our children from the start that witchcraft isn't good. And I think that a lot of the people who are out there protesting could be at home teaching their children about the bible and what it says about that kind of stuff.
2006-07-10 08:31:32 · answer #3 · answered by Meeshell 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Harry Potter is the only book that is conquering with the Bible to be most sold book all over the world. That alone shows the extent of Harry Potter and that is what Christians are afraid of.
2006-07-10 08:28:26 · answer #4 · answered by Obilee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians have been protesting everything from Dungeons and Dragons to Harry Potter since I've been aware of it. Heck, I even knew a group of so-called Christians who protested the Narnia series! (How utterly ironic is THAT?) Anyway, Harry Potter is only one of the later victims of the mass blitz that Christian groups have launched, especially in regard to book burnings...and though I am quite certain that there are countless Christians and Christian groups out there that protest legitimate causes of protest, there will always be those idiots who'd rather burn a book than read it.
2006-07-10 08:31:33 · answer #5 · answered by chipchinka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian who has read all 6 of the books and my children have read them only after I have pre-screened them. As a mother, I screen anything my kids will do to make sure it is suitable.
From what I've seen, very few Christians that protest the books have actually read the books. But there are a few like myself who do have concerns about the books.
While I realize that there is a difference between Witches and the religion of witchcraft, as long as the books differentiate this, and my kids do not decide to join that belief system, I have no problems with my kids reading the books.
What we're concerned about in books like this is that it may cause our kids to become attracted to a religion that we are specifically warned against observing in the Bible.
There are things in the books that a Christian should not do, but those things are clearly shown as evil in the HP series. Issues such as Lord Voldemort in the cemetery scene in book 4, or drinking the Poly juice Potion in Book 2. But the books show the repercussions of doing these things.
As a responsible parent, it is my job to discuss these issues with my kids and carefully explain what is right and wrong about this information. Since they are my children (not adults) it is my responsibility to help our kids to make informed decisions on right and wrong. Note that we allow our kids to make decisions, but we do explain to them what is right or wrong.
2006-07-11 04:26:34 · answer #6 · answered by Searcher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a devout Catholic and I have no problem with the Harry Potter books, as a matter of fact I have read several of them and they are very good. I feel only those that know that Harry Potter is fiction should read the books. I don't think very young children should read the books.
2006-07-10 08:38:47 · answer #7 · answered by Maurus B. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure it has to do with the enormous popularity of these books as opposed to the others. The more something gains popularity, the more staunchly people will try oppose/suppress it. I'm a Christian and I have no problem with the books. I think Christains who do are just being silly. I've read all of them and can't find any mention in the bible that says fantasy children's books which contain magic are contrary to God's will.
2006-07-10 08:31:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some Christians. I love Harry Potter.
2006-07-10 08:30:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and I don't protest Harry Potter...infact I love the movies...the whole series is a wonderful story to feed a child's imagination even adults...children need imaginations...something that is rare todya...I think it's stupid that televangelists protest Harry Potter...as long as you don't make magic your life and practice witchcraft your fine...they are way over reacting...Satan is not going to take me over just because I watch Harry Potter...My faith is stronger than that!
2006-07-10 08:33:14 · answer #10 · answered by truegrit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋