why is harry potter offensive to religious people?

Question

i've never read the book or seen the movie. the whole idea just seems so lame.

jehovah's witnesses are at train stations, grocery store parking lots, bus stations, almost anywhere working and protesting the book and movies of harry potter. they've done a lot of name calling, but it was never clear to me WHY it was so offensive.

i don't have a lot of time to read or watch movies, i just always wondered wondered by it was such a big deal to some religious people.

Answer 1

He's not. Not to most anyway. There are just a few fringes that said something about it, so hateful, bitter, spiteful people (see answers below) use it to say we're all kooky.

Answer 2

I am a very religious person and do not find the Harry Potter books offensive. I feel that those protesting these books are ignorant. Yes, this book contains magic, but it also is about the meaning of true friendship, family, standing up for yourself and what you believe is right, etc. There is much to learn from these stories. Another point I make is...why protest these books and not others such as Lord of the Rings? Hypocrites.

Blessings

Answer 3

First of all its not ALL religious people, there are just certain groups that take offense at anything related to fairytales, like Grimm Brothers, Hans Christian Andersen, or any imaginary stores about magic.
Imagination is a fun thing and if you take it as entertainment there is no problem with it.

There was a magician in the Bible that went to the Apostles and told them that he would pay them money so he could do what they did. The Apostles were not illusionists and they did not take money for the good works they did. It was an insulting thing and the take, in some fundamentalists groups as all magic people or things are evil.
Everyone has different perceptions about a lot of things.

Answer 4

If you've never read the book, seen the movie why do you care?
Actually, not that many Christians see the Potter books as offensive. My husband is a hard core fan and I think their very good stories myself.
I know some people were at first afraid that the books somehow glorify witchcraft, but I think that scare is over now.

Answer 5

Harry Potter is offensive to evangelical Christians. Pagans do not find it offensive. I do not know about Muslim, Jews, Buddhist, etc. They have not come out about it.

The whole idea about being upset over a movie of fantasy is lame. The funniest thing are that that if you read the stories, there are many christian themes in it.

Answer 6

Its just some kids doing magic. Some people have a problem with magic. However these same people don't have a problem with Santa's magic bag, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, Cinderella and the animals that help her clean, etc.

It is lame to have an issue with Harry Potter.

Answer 7

You know what, it took me a long time to even glance at it. I am highly suspicious of anything that is wildly popular (I have little faith in the taste of the majority; reality TV makes my case for me). But one day I was stuck in an airport with nothing to read, extremely bored, and picked it up... and I loved it. Of course it's not for everyone, but it's extremely well done.

Regarding religious objections, I've done a bit of research on this and here's what I've found.

1) The general prinicple against witches, or anything that would make witches appear cool or tempt children to play at them. Christians dont' like this, after all, all witches are evil and they are supposed to kill them. The bible says so.

2) Harry Potter does not have much respect for authority, and consistantly breaks the rules and not only gets away with it but is rewarded in the story for it time and again. This is not good morals, according to Christians.

3) I read a book that actually said the biggest problem is that Harry never once calls on Jesus Christ Almighty for help. He relies soley on his own judgment, which is fallible, and yet he comes out okay without turning to a higher power. Harry is self-reliant. He thinks for himself and has faith in himself.

Personally I like the moral messages in Harry Potter - that it's necessary sometimes to break the rules, that it's our choices that make us who we are, how much friendship and courage and caring count, that we must sometimes stand up to our friends and even our heros. That what is legal or accepted isn't always what's right. That our family are those who care about us, not necessarily just those with whom we share blood. And, some items from the 7th book I wont' talk about :-)

Answer 8

Criticism of something you know very little about is born of ignorance.

At any rate, it's offensive to some Christians because the Bible makes it very clear that witches are evil, and the HP books are about an alternate, fictional world where people call themselves witches and engage in spellcasting/magic that has nothing to do with God.

They're worried it will "corrupt" their kids.

Answer 9

As a christian, I see nothing wrong with the books or movies, they're quite good. It's fiction, and many people don't comprehend the difference between fact & fiction. I realize some fundies are against them, but believe it or not, all christians aren't fundies.

Answer 10

It was because of the religious nuts calling for the books to be burnt that we ended up reading them - they are fantastic!

As for why it offends: I venture to guess that a book that inpires morality and good behavior in children in the face of adversity and danger that references magical beings and people that can perform miracle like actions it just offensive to them.

Answer 11

I'm a Catholic. And I've read all seven books, and own all five movies.

Just because some nut somewhere believes something weird about Harry Potter books, doesn't mean that's what all religious people think.