[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

The argument against Potter for Christians is thus: There are two ultimate sources of supernatural power, God is the first and Satan is the second. Potter stories may present a "good versus evil" scenario, but the source of the "good" power is not God, and so the problem for Christians is the confusion this causes in the minds of their children.

Is this witchcraft good? Does it mean that casting spell is okay?

For believers who follow the scriptural dictates against witchcraft these are black and white issues and there's no question which path to take. They just don't want their children to read this stuff.

There might have been a death threat or two -there can be nuts in every community, but to paint all Christians as therefore crazy and islamic wannabees is just hyperbole.

[svcw]

Without getting in a huge theological discussion. I want to disagree.
God and the enemy are not two sides of the same coin.
God is and always will be, the enemy is a created being. The enemy has no more power than we give him.

[dennisw]

The argument against Potter for Christians is thus: There are two ultimate sources of supernatural power, God is the first and Satan is the second. Potter stories may present a "good versus evil" scenario, but the source of the "good" power is not God, and so the problem for Christians is the confusion this causes in the minds of their children.

Is this witchcraft good? Does it mean that casting spell is okay?

For believers who follow the scriptural dictates against witchcraft these are black and white issues and there's no question which path to take. They just don't want their children to read this stuff.

Exactly!
Potter is very big in UK where church attendance is abysmal
Children have active imaginations. Instead of helping these imaginations with solid religious stories (like in Sunday school) they get filled with Harry Potter quasi black magic paganism

It's one thing for an adult to investigate astrology numerology demonism and dark forces....
It's bad for this to be thrust upon a child

[BenLurkin]

Good analysis.

[metmom]

For believers who follow the scriptural dictates against witchcraft these are black and white issues and there's no question which path to take. They just don't want their children to read this stuff.

That's exactly what the issue is to some. God very clearly condemns witchcraft in the Bible. I don't see where it's OK to read stories that promote it as a good, or even neutral thing. It's dealing with spiritual forces that are very real and very dangerous. Making light of them is unwise, to say the least.

[Ken H]

For believers who follow the scriptural dictates against witchcraft these are black and white issues and there's no question which path to take.

Do you advocate that witches be put to death?

Exod.22 [18] "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

[Terriergal]

Good summary. Thanks.

[Bob J]

“Potter stories may present a “good versus evil” scenario, but the source of the “good” power is not God...”

Why not? God gave us free will and some use it for good and some use it for evil. How do you know the source of this power is not from God which he allows people to use according to their own free will?

A man shall be known by his works. If those works they do are good, maybe the power did come from God.

I project that the first answer I will get is that some of the work they do has nothing to do with advancing the good, but Jesus’s first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding. I don't see how providing free liquor so people can get drunk as advancing the good. It was just a fun thing for him to do, like some of the "fun" magic in Potter.