Why do the Christians have such a negative view of Harry Potter books?

Question

I mean I know it deals with witch craft and wizardry but it gets kids to read, would you rather have them playing grand theft auto.

P.s. And DON'T say they can read the bible, no kid wants to read the bible.

And we totally care about your opinion Coralsnayk.

Jon M ,five days, I know I have no life lol

Answer 1

I've always wondered the same thing. My cousin and his wife (mainly his wife) won't let their son read the Harry Potter books and when I asked why, I was given the same tired excuse of "it promotes witchcraft", which is just absurd. How does Harry Potter go any further in "promoting witchcraft" than The Wizard of Oz? Or the Disney movie, Hocus Pocus? I truly think that this entire hoopla began because of one or two fundie nutjobs who's crazy ideas about "witchcraft" unfortunately spread like wildfire. My point in the whole matter is this.... If you've done such a good job raising your children to believe what you do and to "reject Satan's wicked ways", then why are you so worried that a simple children's book is going to undo everything you've worked so hard to foster in your children. If reading one book will complete unravel the moral and religious fabric you've worked so hard to weave in your children, then apparently you didn't do a good enough job to begin with, did you?

Answer 2

Well, I'm a Christian and I've read Harry Potter books just to read them, not that I believe anything in them, but many Christians see that the Harry Potter books promote witchcraft and wizardry and they know it is not the way of God and they want to be a positive influence on their children.

Answer 3

Gee, with that line of reasoning you might as well give them pornography for the articles. Just because you find nothing wrong with the abomination of witchcraft doesn't mean it is okay to expose this to children. It just amazes me how many "nominal" [quote] christians[unquote] think nothing wrong of reading these books. Any serious student of the Bible who is living for God would have nothing, whatsoever, to do with that filth.

Answer 4

The books are so popular, I guess... I've read some science fiction that talks about some really "out there" theology. Harry Potter doesn't even come close.

I'm Christian. I've read every one of the Harry Potter books and enjoyed them. Both my kids have read them, too.

I think the world has it issues, but it isn't because of Harry Potter.

regards

Answer 5

I would liek to address AGNOSTIC comment about witchcraft having nothing to do with the devil, I tried, as an ex-wiccan to rid my house of succubus, with a spell, with no success, probably because I was using it's own power against it and it was just laughing in my face. Besides any spell in Harry Potter used in the context of magic will work, my church just had a little girl demonized by a spell in harry Potter and we had to cast it out and when the Pastor told the parents of the church to not let their kids read harry Potter, still they refused:

Among the terrifying images in books two and three were: a disembodied voice repeatedly hissing "kill"; monstrous, flesh-eating spiders; children being attacked and paralyzed; and an apparently dead cat hung upside down by its tail (USA Today, June 15, 2000).

In book four of the series (Goblet of Fire) the evil character named "Wormtail" cuts up Harry’s arm to extract blood in order to bring "Voldemort" (the most evil character) back to life. (This is an occult practice done to supposedly pass mystic power from one person to another during some occult rituals.) Rowling called Voldemort a "raging psychopath, devoid of the normal human responses to other people’s suffering . . ." (Entertainment Weekly, #554, August 11, 2000). Also in the latest epic, Harry’s parents, who have been killed, have to be extracted from Voldemort’s magic wand. She said, "It’s important to remember that we all have magic inside us . . ." during an interview being taped for a "Scholastic Book Fair" video. And when asked in an August 2000 Entertainment Weekly interview by writer Jeff Jensen if she felt any sense of social responsibility (for the dark nature of the content of Harry Potter) Rowling answered, "I cannot write to please other people

Answer 6

that's what we call christian BS the books are amazing I've read them all a bunch of times but since it talks about magic its satanic and since when does it say in the bible you cant read a book about magic that's not even real i think harry potter is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written

HARRY POTTER ROCKS

Answer 7

Assuming you are sincere, your reasoning is questionable.
I hear you saying to ignore the witchcraft because it helps kids read.
After all, its not as bad as grand theft auto.
If one was to apply this reasoning in another context, then feed children poison mushrooms because at least they are eating and its better than if they drank their neighbor's blood.
Surely there is another, more reasonable option.

Answer 8

I have wondered that yet they love books like The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe which is also full of witchcraft.
Could it be the fact that C.S.Lewis was a prominent christian might be something to do with this double standard?

Answer 9

Is it just so hard to see that some parents don’t want their children learning about witchcraft?? And FYI I started reading the bible when I was 5

Answer 10

LOL! Actually, as a kid I did read the Bible.

But anyway, I love the Harry Potter books! I believe it, in addition to promoting literacy, opens children's eyes to much of the Magick in the Universe.

...and a definite preference to GTA!

Brightest Blessings