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Who said I hadn’t read any of the Potter books... I did start to read the 1st one and considered it a waste of time... sorta like the McDonalds of the literary world, lots of mass appeal but way short on substance.

As far as differentiating between fantasy and reality, I ask you... how often is fantasy used to teach a reality? Are you saying that there isn’t witchcraft? Are you saying that there aren’t people who read Harry Potter and wish they could cast spells, etc. for real?

Wicca and voodoo are alive and well where I live, it’s a very small jump from fantasy to reality. Not all parents are ideal Christians who make sure kids do know the difference between light and darkness. I just don’t happen to agree with you that all children see past the witchcraft and wizardry in either the books or movies to glean the virtues you stated. My opinion may be based on my limited experience, but it seems the kids I’ve asked do in fact say it’s the witchcraft and wizardry that make the books fun and interesting. And I stand by my opinion that it is exactly what makes the reality more palatable.

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that you hadn't read any of the books. As for substance, why does a book always have to be a great literary work. Isn't it nice to sometimes have McDonalds? I do think that some of the books have substance, but then they aren't meant to be "War and Peace". ...how often is fantasy used to teach a reality? Narnia, Lord of the Rings taught about reality in a fantasy setting. I think that stories regardless of medium teach about reality. Pick a story that doesn't. I never said that there isn't witchcraft. Of course there is. However, there are those that practice an earth based religion who are referred to as witches or warlocks that have nothing to do with Satan or evil, and there are those that worship Satan and evil. Harry and his friends DO NOT worship Satan or deal with evil except to fight against it. What kid didn't wish they could cast a spell and have their homework done, their room clean, or make the bully at school leave them alone? Heck, there were probably a few that wanted to turn their brothers or sisters into toads. But wishes are wishes and reality is reality. Not even a real witch can do those things. Wicca and voodoo are far different things. It is not a small jump from fantasy to real witchcraft. And your community is no different. If it is so pervasive there, why have you not succumbed? How many of your children have left the church for evil? In fact, ask some of those kids that have read Potter, who they would like to be like? I'll bet none of them would say Voldemort. They may say that witchcraft & wizardry make the books fun, but it is no more than in Narnia and Lord of the Rings or Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. You are basing your opinion on adulthood, rather than looking at it as you would have done in childhood. Without creativity from which fantasy springs our children can not grow up to be well rounded individuals. You didn't want to join a coven after watching fantasy. Why is that? Are you exceptional? I don't think so. It is sad that you live so much in fear. And unfortunately, you don't see what that does to the kids, however well intentioned you are. Take care.