'HARRY' CATCHES HELL FROM CHRISTIANS

New York Post ^ | 11/24/01 | TODD VENEZIA

[kattracks]

November 24, 2001 -- Is Harry Potter the spawn of Satan?

That's the opinion at one Christian school in southern Australia, where parents voted yesterday to forbid students from reading about the bespectacled wizard and his preteen cohorts.

The vote was just part of a widespread anti-Harry backlash by religious conservatives angered by the best-selling books' blatant celebration of witchcraft and the occult.

[Smokin' Joe]

Hmmm. I saw the movie.

OK. Levitation. Yup, there. Presented as one of a series of technical skills to be learned by children who had a gift. No direct reference to Satan, demons, or other creatures from the pit. One three headed dog, a few magic wands, one reference to the Phoenix.

The kids get CHRISTMAS off. (Easter, too, in a later story).

I saw no glorification of evil, but rather a story in which children wielding intelligence,loyalty, honor, courage, perseverence, and technical ability overcame evil.

That could be construed as a metaphor for a lot of things.

There was even a great (metaphorical) slam against TV: A magic mirror which showed the viewer exactly what they wanted to see, but never showed the truth. People were described as wasting away before this "evil" device.

If there are specific references I have missed or understated, then please, educate me. After all, I believe in Jesus Christ, and wish for nothing to diminish Him in the eyes of my children.

[lasereye]

I'm amazed that some of these morons have not had problems with Grimm's Fairy Tales ... since they are populated with evil trolls, wicked stepmothers, witches, and so on.

Since witches and such are always clearly evil in Grimm's Fairy tales, Christians have no problem with it at all. Harry Potter is putting the occult before children as a positive thing.

[AppyPappy]

In your case, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

Bill Gates doesn't really love you.

[Bush2000]

I'll be happy to clarify this point. The Bible makes clear that Satan does exist. You may not believe the Bible, which is your right. So yes, Christians like me do believe that things like witchcraft are from Satan.

There is a huge difference between reading a work of fiction and practicing witchcraft. Many of these idiots seem to be leaping to the conclusion that kids are going to become practicing Wiccans as a result of reading Harry Potter -- which is utterly laughable, if not downright deluded.

[Bush2000]

Bill Gates doesn't really love you.

Nope, but Jesus does. And really ... do you honestly think that Jobs gives a rat's ass about you people?

[Bush2000]

The Jews were the ones who said witches should not be allowed to live.

Isn't this about the point at which you bring up the long-debunked 'evil Zionist conspiracy of Jewish bankers to take over the world'?

[Skooz]

BLASPHEMY! Jobs loves his minions. I think he said so once. He smiled at me from a TV documentary one time. I am sure he was looking at me. But, I didn't have the VCR on so I didn't record it for proof. I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid! I'm so stupid!

[JoeSchem]

[previous poster]:And the Potter geeks probably would have thrown the Christians to the lions for entertainment.

[you]:In your case, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

Well, you certainly converted me to the belief that Harry Potter is just innocent fun . . . until the witches take over, that is.

[FreedomFighter86]

It's funny how modern society works. People who believe that you can turn a human into a cat by pointing a stick and spouting gibberish are regarded as wise, while people who are opposed to indoctorinating children with such nonsense are called 'loons.'

Are you stupid? No one believes that Harry Potter is real...

[Demidog]

I wonder what these morons think of Shakespeare.

[Skooz]

No. It's in Deuteronomy. The Torah.

[Bush2000]

Since witches and such are always clearly evil in Grimm's Fairy tales, Christians have no problem with it at all. Harry Potter is putting the occult before children as a positive thing.

It's a work of FICTION, people! Do your kids actually believe that it is possible to change form into a cat? Fly around on a broomstick? Or levitate candles? Mine are fully aware of the difference between fantasy and reality. If yours aren't ... you've got bigger problems on the horizon than a stupid kids' book series ...

[csvset]

Even more amusing is watching people riding a multi-million dollar marketing train and making sure their kids are along for the ride.

Does that include televagalists?

[Skooz]

Ha ha ha ha ha...oh, the rapier-like wit. Wow, that was a good one....in 1988.

[Bush2000]

Well, you certainly converted me to the belief that Harry Potter is just innocent fun . . . until the witches take over, that is.

Sarcasm, dude, sarcasm. Get a grip.

[Skooz]

I wonder what these morons think of Shakespeare.

I adore Shakespeare. Er...wait a minute. Did I just confirm the fact that I'm a moron?

[Demidog]

You're only a moron if you both adore Shakespeare and want to burn Harry Potter books. Shakespeare incorporated alot of fantasy and witchcraft into his stories.

[Economist_MA]

I'll be happy to clarify this point. The Bible makes clear that Satan does exist. You may not believe the Bible, which is your right. So yes, Christians like me do believe that things like witchcraft are from Satan.

Thanks for answering the question. My reading of the Bible is that believing in witchcraft as a real force is evil. Or does your reading of the Bible indicate that witchcraft actually "works", whatever that may mean?

[Woodkirk]

I see where many on this thread are criticizing you for your spelling, but my keyboard often has the same problem as well. I hit the right key or in my haste, I don't punch some hard enough. Either way, your detractors don't realize that your spell problem is minor and physical but they have a serious "spell" problem -- the spel cast by Old Harry himself. You see, being that this book came from Britain, a land that exports a lot of occultic spiritism to America, one must go there to find out that an old nickname for Satan or the Devil is "Harry" or "Old Harry". Of all the names JKR could have chosen for her young hero, worshipped by people as if they are on heroin, she chose a nickname for the Devil. This is proven out by looking in a dictionary -- Webster's New World Dictionary, for example.. "Harry" is the unequivocal name for "Satan" as is well known in the Isles. When people say that Harry Potter is about Satan, they are dictionarily, linguistically, and literally correct. The name "Harry" derived from ancient Chaldean means "foe, enemy, adversary" -- the same thing that Satan means. The word "harry", also short for a "harlequin" [a demon huntsman from Dante's Inferno] means to "harass, torment, pilage, destroy, prey upon others". While your spell problem is minor, the spell problem of HP worshippers is major. Your detractors need a dictionary more than you do. And even with your spelling errors, you are wiser than them all and that you even think -- in God's eyes and mine.

[Skooz]

I haven't read anything that suggests that anyone has advocated burning Harry Potter books. If you wish to read them, fine. I couldn't care less. But any form of entertainment which glorifies witchcraft will not be in my home. If that offends you, well then . . . (enter some real erudite Shakespearian quote here which makes my point superbly).

Just because someone has religious convictions which differ from yours does not make them a "moron."