Dufus in Georgia wants to ban Harry Potter, does she have a case?

Question

Perhaps you've heard of this. This woman claims that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft, which is a religion that is actually practiced by some people, so therefore it violates the separation of church and state, and should not be allowed in the school library.

Now I will say this... I would actually agree with this twit, if in fact, books dealing with religions were not allowed in public school libraries. However, to my knowledge, those books ARE allowed in school libraries, so she therefore does not have a leg to stand on.

But I admit, I may be wrong about that. For example, are The Chronicles Of Narnia books allowed in school libraries? How about the Torah, the Bible, the Koran?

I honestly don't know. But as I said, if religion is strictly prohibited from being in school libraries, then I agree that Harry Potter should not be there, either. (No matter how ridiculous it is to compare a child's fantasy book to real life :)

Answer 1

There is NO RELIGION in Harry Potter, but plenty of books are in the school libraries with religion in them.

No one practices a religion from that book, and I say that as a Wiccan.

Answer 2

As a parent and taxpayer, Ms. Mallory has a right to challenge what books her children have access to and her taxes go toward purchasing. Her case will fail, however, because there is no law against having books in a school library which discuss or promote religion, even if it were true that the Potter series promotes the Wiccan religion, which it doesn't. It's a work of fiction, not a textbook. At best she could have it removed from a required summer reading list, if it were on one, but she won't get it banned, for then someone of a different religious faith would seek to have books that involve her religion banned for the same lack of reasonable justification. What Ms. Mallory should do is control what her own children read. If she doesn't want her four kids reading Harry Potter, she certainly has the right to forbid them to check them out. Make them read _Tartuffe_ instead.

Answer 3

No, I don't think she has a case. While some believe that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft, they forget that it is a fantasy book and not based on reality whatsoever. It is no promoting and not being forced to be read by students, therefore there is no harm being done.

But there's a chance she could win. Many books have made it to the banned list for that reason amongst so many others. Some of which don't make sense anymore. I guess this is something we will just have to wait out and see.

Answer 4

Wicca isn't evil, and neither is Harry Potter. Harry Potter's magic is very different from real Wiccan practice, which is more about reverence for the Gods and nature than practicing magick. (There's no real worship in Potter's practice, and I *wish* I got such instant results!) The camp whose brochure she held up as if it was a dead rat, that's for Wiccan families who want their children to learn their value systems and not feel like the only child of Wiccan parents ever. It is not an attempt to convert anyone else's child. Christians also have camps. I am amazed that in this day and age, when it's so hard to get kids to read, people try to ban something that makes kids actually want to read. How often do you see a kid get more excited about a 500-page book than a video game?

Answer 5

NO! I am a Christian woman and I do NOT believe in banning books from public school libraries. I'm sure there are exceptions - (I wouldn't have a problem with banning books that promote hatred, tell kids how to make bombs, or contained porn / explicit sexual content)

These books are FICTION and are promoted as FICTION! Therefore, I don't think she has a case. But then again - I'm not a lawyer or a judge, and I can't BELIEVE some of the outrageous lawsuits that have actually been won in this country! (The woman who spilled hot coffee on her own lap, then sued McDonald's? PUH-LEEZE!!) If the woman doesn't want to read them or let HER children read them, that's her right. She does NOT have the right to make this decision for every other family involved. THIS is the kind of Christian that gives the rest of us a bad rep. She may have "good intentions" - but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions!

Answer 6

No, of course she doesn't have a case. She's just another nutty fundie book-burner. These books are works of children's fiction-they are not religious manuals, and having them removed is unconstitutional.
When I went to school, the Bible was in the library, though I don't know about the Torah or the Koran. And yes, the Chronicles of Narnia were there as well.
If she wants to keep her own children from reading them, that's her business. But she has no right to make that decision for other people's children.

Answer 7

Well, I admit that sounds creative and the christian church today has some problems with Harry Potter since it supposedly does have something to do with witchcraft, but seperation of church and state is not actually in the constitution, it only kind of includes itself in the "freedom of religion" amendment, so either way, it is not mentioned. The fact is, it shouldn't be banned, because schools all over have the bible on their shelves, mine does anyways. I think the lady has probably gone overboard with her ideas.

Answer 8

Harry Potter isn't a religious book period. The books don't promote witchcraft as a religion. In fact the characters celebrate Christmas.

Answer 9

i can actually see your point, but the problem is, is that the "witchcraft" harry potter uses, is a distorted abomination of traditional or even non traditional witchcraft practiced by witches today and historically.

considering it's not anywhere close to a realistic comparison to the religion of witchcraft or wicca, is it actually promoting it? therefore should it be banned from schools when it's complete fiction? i guess it's like banning the da vinci code book from school. christians don't think that book represents real chrsitianity

i think we should allow all fiction books as long as they are under the fiction category

Answer 10

Of course religious books are allowed in school libraries, they just can't promote one over another. And if she actually read Harry Potter, she'd realize that it bears no resemblance to any wiccan religion. It's not promoting religion. It's a fantasy book, and if we took all the fantasy books out of schools, we'd be left with nothing the kids would be interested in reading.

It's funny how she doesn't just say 'witchcraft doesn't work' - she says it's evil. As if she actually thinks it DOES work.

Answer 11

She doesn't have a case, mainly because there is no seperation of church and state mentioned in the constitution. The amendment in question states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. "

What this simply means is that the government can not create a state religion (Like the anglican church was in England.) Nor can it make it illegal to pray in public or believe as I choose. Nor can it arrest me for speaking my mind (Which in my eyes, makes Political Correctness wrong,) either in person, or in the written word, nor can they stop me from meeting with 1000 of my closest friends and peacefully protest, nor can they tell me that I can't petition against a law I find unlawful.

This lady is doing the same thing that others have done when they saw something they didn't like. I seem to remember that televangelists said the same thing about Dungeons and Dragons and video games and other diversions.