Harry Potter Survey?

Question

I'd like to get as many people's HONEST and SERIOUS input as possible to get a good idea of your viewpoints.
I read an article that talked about a woman "enlightening" others about the "dangers" of reading Harry Potter. I got fed up and did a survey... Only a few questions:
1. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes/No
2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes/No
3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or concidered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? Yes/No (please include your age (will only be used to distinguish age groups))
4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? Yes/No
5. Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? Yes/No, plus short description, please.
Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7?
P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil?
-Thanks

(Added note: obviously, there is no right or wrong answer, seeing as how it's a survey. I'll just choose the first answer as the best, as they were the first to answer.)

Answer 1

1. I have read all the Harry Potter books (to date)
2. I think J.K. Rowling is VERY creative and has inspired many kids to start reading and using their imaginations.
3. Absolutely not.... I speak for myself and my neice.
4. See the answer to #2
5. Nothing in Harry Potter is morally harmful, especially if parents have raised their children morally and ethically correct.
pq 1. I hope he doesnt die, but I have a feeling Hermione or Ron will.
pq2. I thought it was snape that killed Dumbledore. Maybe I should re-read it. Yes, I think there is something up with the Malfoys... I also think Harrys aunt has some magical powers too, but not to the same extent and that makes her jealous of her sister therefore, she doesnt like Harry.

Answer 2

1. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes!!! I've read them all at least 4 times.
2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes, I love it. It's an easy way to escape real life when you need it.
3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or concidered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? No, never. I'm 17. Just because you read Harry Potter it doesn't mean you want to join a cult. Harry Potter has nothing to do with cults or anything like that, so no, I haven't even considered it.
4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? ... I've always liked reading, so I can't say it has inspired me to read more, and I've always been quite creative so yeah... But reading Harry Potter has really improved my English.
5. Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? Harmful? Hahaha, *cough* Erhm, No! Harry Potter is NOT a harmful book, and people who say it is, definitely haven't really read the book. There's nothing harmful about it. It doesn't tell people to join cults, and it doesn't tell people to support the dark side, or whatever people are saying. Harry Potter isn't harmful.
Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7? Yes, I do. And I think it would be the best. That way the books definitely end, and there wont be any follow-ups later on. I do want Harry to die, but I want him to take Voldemort with him.
P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil? No, I think Snape is though, but not Draco.

Yeah, I hope that was just a little helpful.

Answer 3

1. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes

2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes

3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or considered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? No 40+(please include your age (will only be used to distinguish age groups)

4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? No already read voraciously

5. Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? No It's fiction and based on good verses evil conflict.

Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7?
Hope not. The story started as a kids book, kids need heros.

P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil? Yes.

Answer 4

1. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes over and over again
2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes!!!
3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or concidered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? No !!!! (14)
4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? Yes!! alot!!
5.Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? NO because it is a book and a great one at that you have to believe what you want and yes i cryed when some people died but i am no harmed by it. !

I think that harry might die but i really really dont want him to and also why whould he be the "boy who lived" only to die later.
I dont think taht malfoy is evil i just think that he is being pressured and is having a really hard time right now.
Go to this site please Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful?
http://HarryPotterForLife.bebo.com

Answer 5

1. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes
2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes
3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or concidered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? No (26)
4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? Yes
5. Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? No, there are values of friendship and good vs evil
Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7? no
P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil? most definatly, he is just a coward

Answer 6

1.Yes.
2. Yes, I love the series, and can't wait for the seventh and final book.
3. No. I don't even associate the world of Harry Potter with the occult world. --I'm 29.
4. I have always been an avid reader, so I guess the answer would be no.
5. No, I don't. The Harry Potter series is no more harmful than any other book out there. The Potter series actually for me, reads more like your typical English orphan novel.

PQ 1: I don't think so. Books three and four foreshadow that Harry will kill Voldemort in the end. The other major character I think will die, but will cry buckets if he does, is Ron Weasley.
PQ 2-- Is Malfoy evil, or just a product of his environment? What's the difference really? I don't think he'll switch sides if that's what you mean. He didn't kill Dumbledore not because he has some inward conscience, but instead he's a coward. He's just a kid, after all , and he had what amounts to a gun at his headmaster's head. It's a step no one can come back from. That doesn't make him any less "bad," though.

Answer 7

First of all, great questions. Thanks for putting these thoughts out there. I'm frustrated with the ridiculous notion that the Harry Potter series is harmful too.

1. Yes; I have read the Harry Potter book series.

2. Yes; I do like J.K. Rowling's work so far.

3. No; reading the Harry Potter books has *not* inspired me to change my views on religion in any way. I don't believe that it promotes any religion or cult. 20-something.

4. Yes; I've always been an avid reader, but it has encouraged me and others to read even more and encouraged creative thinking.

5. No; I don't believe the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful. I believe that the concepts in the series are beneficial, promoting friendship, family, trust, honesty, love, loyalty, integrity, personal responsibility, etc.

6. I don't believe that Harry will die in Book 7. According to the careful wording of the prophesy, I believe that Harry will live after he vanquishes Voldemort. One can't live while the other survives. Harry can't live while Voldemort survives (the curse failed to kill both of them, so they both survived, and they will seek to kill the other until one is dead). If Voldemort survived, it would be evil triumphing over good, and I don't see J.K. Rowling allowing that. If Harry survives, it would show that there is a benefit to being a good person - overcoming hardship to achieve well deserved happiness.

7. No; I don't think that Draco is evil. I think that he was misguided. He was raised by two Death Eaters that indoctrinated him into their beliefs, but he *was* being blackmailed by Voldemort to do his bidding. He still wasn't able to kill an unarmed Dumbledore, even though he thought that there was no one there to witness him do it. I think that he will be a character that will show that a person is capable of change. I think that he'll help Harry in Book 7 and redeem himself. Remember, he is still a 16 year old, not an adult that has had a lifetime to develop his beliefs and act accordingly (it would be different to say that Lucius would do a 180 degree change in his beliefs.) I think he has learned that he was wrong to serve Voldemort and will work against him.

Answer 8

. Do you read the Harry Potter Book Series? Yes
2. As a whole, do you like what J.K. Rowling has produced thus far? Yes
3. After reading any of the Harry Potter Books, have you wanted or concidered converting to Paganism, Wikki-ism(?), or joining a cult? No, Im 14 and nither has any of my firneds who has read the series, its just good fun
4. Has reading Harry Potter inspired you to read more, or has it aided your creative side? Yes, very much so
5. Do you feel that some of the concepts in Harry Potter are morally harmful? No
Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7? No, i think JKR makes it so either Voldemort or harry will die, not both, and it be really weird is Harry died and Voldemort got to stick around
P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil? Nope, not at all. I think its just his father's influence.

Answer 9

1. I have read them all *waiting on book 7* :)
2. Yes even though I was crushed at the end of book 5 *poor Sirius* :'(
3. I'm 19. Nope I haven't and I don't think HP has anything to do with actual witchcraft. True, I think it is interesting but I thought so before reading the HP series.
4. No I love fantasy books and have been a fan of reading since I was a child. I consider myself quite creative already so I don't think much has changed.
5. I don't think HP is more harmful than any other story. Death,happiness,love and misfortunes happen in everyday life. Personal Question 1- Do you think that Harry will die in book 7? I don't believe he will, if he did I think it would defeat the purpose of the series.
P.Q. 2- Even with Malfoy's hesitation at killing Dumbledore, do you think he's evil? Yeah Malfoy may have been a mischievious child, but I do think he was under some pressure from his family and peers. I believe there is still good in him and he is just a little naive and unsure of himself.

Answer 10

1. Yes I read them and re-read them quite frequently.
2. Definitely. I find it interesting that she seems to have grown as a writer along with the series. I find that I can see her style developing towards the sixth book. Although you have to take into account that the main character in the first book is only 11, and as such is writen for an 11 year old audience. As Harry grows you would expect that the audience also grows. You can't very well have a 17 year old protagonist dealing with issues an 11 year old would, now could you?
3. No, not once (I am soon to turn 23)
4. No, I've always been a ravenous reader. But it did make me go back and re-read a lot of young adult literature again.
5. No. Children are exposed to a lot more than people give them credit for. Giving a child a Harry Potter novel is no different to sitting them in front of the television at any given time. It /could/ be harmful if their parents didn't discuss the issues with them. What might be difficult for a younger audience to understand (especially in the later books) is that there isn't a definite line between good and evil. But as long as these issues are opening up lines of discussion between parents and thier children, things are working well.

Personal Questions...
1. I honestly don't know anymore. One day I'm leaning strongly towards yes, the next it's no. So I've decided to take myself out of the situation completely and not make any more assumptions until it actually happens. To be honest, I don't think I'll be surprised either way. I can see reasons why he should and reasons why he shouldn't. Either way I trust that JKR will have developed and resolved the story to the right point.
2. I've already discussed the issue of good/evil in this answer. There are levels to all these characters, you can't just label one as good or evil. That is what is so great about JKR's world. People make decisions for different reasons. Malfoy was doing what he thought was right, not what he thought was 'evil'.