I don't read Harry Potter because I do believe it promotes witchcraft, but does it also annoy you when a person comes out and goes, "I want to ban every volume of this book ever written because its Satanic." If you think about it, so is everything else. So why do people try so hard to ban these things when they could just refuse to read them and leave it at that? What's the point of the ban?
2006-09-06 15:17:00 · 20 answers · asked by Aloofly Goofy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No one forces anyone to read these books. The child could say, "due to religious reasons I would prefer a different assignment" and the wish could be granted. School wasn't that harsh, at least when I was a kid.
2006-09-06 15:24:21 · update #1
You people?
2006-09-06 15:25:47 · update #2
JK Rowling is most definitely NOT a witch. She's just an author makin dough. But I've read an entire Harry Potter book when I was nine and I understood it enough to no longer want to read it. I got rid of it and haven't read Harry Potter since. It's not like I have no idea what's in the book.
2006-09-07 11:09:44 · update #3
Anything that encourages kids to read is awesome in my book. I would never tell my kid to stop reading. Some people though, are afraid of differing opinions and don't want to take the time to talk to their kids about issues.
I don't know why anyone would want to limit reading/books/knowledge but some do.
2006-09-06 15:30:34 · answer #1 · answered by Miss. Bliss 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why is that people that *admittedly* have NOT read the Harry Potter books accuse them of promoting witchcraft? It is so incredibly annoying and presumptuous of them. Are they not familiar with the saying: Don't judge a book by it's cover? Honestly! Anyone who has actually read the books could tell them that they are really about a good kid that makes some mistakes, but with the help of his friends does the right thing in the end, despite having to face increasingly challenging obstecles. What the books *truly* promote is the idea that you should do what you know is right, not what is easy (or popular). Now, does that sound like something that should be banned? Not that I agree with banning books at all, by the way.
2006-09-06 21:29:15 · answer #2 · answered by Kami 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look, Harry Potter is a FICTIONAL STORY...NOT REAL!!!!
I don't see how some someone with a good head on their shoulders can say that it promotes witchcraft. It's a fantasy, not real, get it? If anything there are some good role models in there. For example, Hermione has always got her head in a book, showing girls it's not a bad thing to be smart.
As far as it promoting true witchcraft, Satanism, Paganism, Wicca or any of that (and YES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM), these books do none of that. I once heard Pat Roberson (700 club) state that because Wicca was a religious belief, Harry Potter books should be banned in schools because it promotes the religion. ROFLMAO!!!! They have absolutely nothing to do with one another!
My cousin's kids all read Harry Potter, and we're glad that we can find a book that captures their attention and makes them want to read.
Banning is also unconstitutional! It is a violation of the First Amendment, freedom of speech and the press. When it comes to burning books, I'd like to remind people that "the Nazis burned books, then people".
2006-09-06 16:28:52 · answer #3 · answered by ravencadwell 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
there is no point... i agree w/ u if you don't happen to like the idea of it just choose not to read it! simple as that.... but as far as my personal opion i do read and love the harry potter books... they do not - i repeat - DO NOT teach kids/people witchcraft... like someone else said the 'spells' are just latin for what the spell is ment to do.... it is just a story about good vs evil - that's it! harry potter got me to read and through some hard times like my father's death... it's only a book that happens to have main characters that are witches and wizards.... it's no different than a book that happens to have the main characters as african americans, asians, or any other race.... but what really gets on my nerves personally is when the people that really want or think they need to ban it do not even read it to make sure they know what they're talking about! just because it has 'magic' (that's not even ever possible) and 'witches/wizards' does not mean it's 'evil'... WITCH!!!! that'd be like saying this whole answer is 'evil' jus because i just said 'witch' - nonsense isn't it? funny really... i would like to ask - why isn't 'wizard of oz' banned book and movie - there's witches in that! oh and a wizard!! why not ban it? it's like harry potter - good and bad caracters, good vs evil.... it has magic in it.... it's a classic like harry potter may end up being... come on people if you don't like it just don't read it... plain and simple... don't try to control everyone esle...
2006-09-06 15:51:04 · answer #4 · answered by xSublimeSorrowx 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Cinderella, Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, the brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, Walt Disney Stories and other stories ingrained into our culture are full of fairies, Witches, wizards and enchantment (a fancy word for spells). In other words, lighten up! Harry Potter stories are modern fairy tales. If you go about accusing these books of promoting witch craft, be sure to include all of the above because by these definitions, they do too.
2006-09-06 15:30:59 · answer #5 · answered by ValleyViolet 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because people desperate for power and control make the same mistake over and over again. They think by putting on a piece of paper that such and such item is banned, they'll make it go away. Hmm, the Prohibition era of the 1920s worked so well, didn't it? And, besides the fact that book banning is a gross and inhumane restriciton of human genius, banning a book brings it into the spotlight, *so more people will read it.*
2006-09-06 15:22:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is ridiculous, these books have gotten kids to read. And J.K. Rowling did NOT say she is a witch, get over yourself. I had a woman tell me her son isn't allowed to read Harry Potter because it is evil but he is allowed to read Robin Hood. So I guess her son reading about a criminal is just fine. People are taking this WAY too seriously, they are works of fiction.
2006-09-07 04:53:33 · answer #7 · answered by amy_girl7200 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If people would actually learn something of the customs and traditions that they spend their lifetimes condemning this would not be a problem.
Harry Potter really has nothing to do with Wicca, Witchcraft or European Pagan customs.
there are some refferances and some mystic type things in the books and movies but they never explain how it is accomplished or how to actually do magick. the phrases that they use as incantations are simple latin trems for the desired effect.
If people actually knew what a witch does or what a pagan believes in, and they had to compare them side by side with themselves they would find little differance. the only differance is what god they believe in. and how they communicate with their gods. or how they pray.
oh yeah and we (witches/pagans) do not believe in killing to expand our religions.
for the most part i would agree with you if you do noot like something do not participate in it, noone is forceing you to read a book etc,,,but do not try to force me to follow your ideals by making the book illegal for me to read.
ever notice that they only attack the vastly popular writers?
noone says anything about the people that do not have movie deals and such.
2006-09-06 15:28:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing worse in society than banning books. To ban books is to ban knowledge, literature, ideas, understanding, free-expressioin and the very basics of our Democracy. I assume the only people who want to ban books are religious zealots who would like to see anything that does not specifically promote their beliefs destroyed. I cannot think of a greater tragedy.
2006-09-06 15:23:36 · answer #9 · answered by Soda Popinski 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Some people think that by banning a book they can force other people not to read something.
Infact it only gives the piece free advertisement.
Some people want very much to FORCE their will upon others. Its sad...
2006-09-06 15:20:32 · answer #10 · answered by special-chemical-x 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋