The Golden Compass & Harry Potter...why is it so controversial?

Question

I get that people are mad about the Golden Compass due to the kids "killing god"...but why were people against Harry Potter..?? I just heard about this now and have read all harry potter books and still cant understand what makes them bad in some people's eyes....

Answer 1

Disclaimer: I do not agree with the sentiments below. But my fundamentalist aunt recently explained to me why Harry Potter is evil. NOT MY OPINION.

Christians frown upon Harry Potter because of a strict interpretation of two passages in the Bible. One (in the Old Testament - maybe Leviticus?) talks specifically about the evils of sorcery, "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," etc. So that one is pretty damning. The second is a little more metaphysical. In Revelations, it says that a sign of the end times is that things which are evil shall be considered good by society. Harry Potter, which is evil because of the sorcery, was wildly popular and considered "good" - so the end times are probably fast approaching.

Now for my take:

Ugh. People who read Harry Potter and only see the magic are like people who read Berenstain Bears and think that animals can talk and wear clothes. There is a deeper message about love, good triumphing over evil, courage, and friendship that is much more important than wand waving. And if Christians can't get behind a message of love and kindness, what on earth do they care about?

If you don't want your own kids reading Harry Potter or Golden Compass, fine. But a much better solution would be to read them WITH your kids. Discuss the things that you agree with and the things you don't. Maybe you don't like the magic but you admire the main character's bravery. My biggest problem with zealots is that they see the world in black and white, when life is so rarely that simple.

Answer 2

Well, true the Golden Compass is very controversial because of the whole crusade against god storyline, but maybe Harry Potter is contyroversial because of how popular it is among just about anybody between 6 and 36. People want to be just like their heroes and the people they admire, and in this case, the person they admire is a boy wizard, so of course people are worried theyll start going into witchcraft and the occult. I dont think of this as a problem. My biggest problem is the constant movie incarnations that dont do justice to the books. The Harry Potter films are okay, but His Dark Materials can never be done properly on film.

Answer 3

Because people are too sensitive to fiction. "Fiction" is the key word. Harry Potter has brought fun into reading for people of all age - to ban it is like telling a kid not to read.

But I guess the other argument is, is that it teaches witch craft. And that there are other books a child can read. Rowling herself stated, "I belive in God, not magic." So you have to think that the strong religious advocates should be able to realize that a fictional tale about magic is less important than God. But by making a fuss over it, they bring Harry Potter to the spotlight and make it important.

I think the whole situation is a bunch of bullox, really.

Answer 4

I have the same question .....I love both series

I personally don't think that Philip Pullman intentionally wanted his story to be about "killing the Christan god"

I think people think that Harry Potter will teach their kids to do witchcraft ( that's what my neighbor said)

but I don't really understand why its baned in some schools and why parents ban them

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people should realize that both stories are Fiction and people don't believe its real
and if Harry Potter is bad because of the witchcraft then why is Narnia not? it has a witch in it? She is a bad witch, but still....

and I understand some people don't like it because they just don't like the story, its all a matter of opinion

Answer 5

you have it about the Golden Compass.

Harry Potter is about magic & witchcraft, and there are a number of people out there who believe we should neither read nor write such "evil" (which includes most fantasy, including Narnia). They think we'll be pulled from the straight & narrow by it. Sometimes the Bible is quoted: "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."
They're not just picking on HP, mind you; it's just he (it?) is so popular & a major part of pop culture these days. It's like picking on McDonald's or Wal-Mart as a representative of something you don't like.

Answer 6

ok, all the dumb women are going to assert twilight... of direction. yet heavily, twilight is the main cliched, cheesy, and poorly written novel I particularly have examine in a physically powerful at a similar time as. The characters are thoroughly one-dimensional and lifeless. I heavily have seen 12 3 hundred and sixty 5 days olds write extra powerful. Harry Potter is genius up and down. Its characters are genuine, its an unique tale, and its writing is eye-catching. Twilight is a comedian tale.

Answer 7

the golden compass (which is a good book and a good movie) is contraversial because it's against the Magisterium which is the Catholic church. The Magisterium is the enemy. Harry Potter is contraversial because it involves A LOT of witchcraft and wizardry which is against God. So bascially, it's mostly religion. Plus, Daniel Radcliffe IS NOT HOT so that's a contraversy (to me anyways lol).

Answer 8

The problem is, for people who don't understand witchcraft, the book contains "witchcraft." (Come on, regardless of what you believe, creating Latin sounding words to make fake spells is nothing anyone should be afraid of). I think that some people are so insecure in their beliefs that they worry about potentially conflicting views which might shatter their faith.

Answer 9

Most Christians see both as being bad just because they contain magic; and some people just don't like the books overall. I've never actaully read either, though.

Answer 10

I believe some people take issue with the movies' contents, or the author's attitudes, concerning its usage of witchcraft, sorcery, and mysticism in its theme.