Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Book Battle Pits Wiccans Against Christians
CNSNews.com ^ | July 19, 2002 | Michael L. Betsch

Posted on 07/19/2002 5:01:15 PM PDT by plato99

By Michael L. Betsch

CNSNews.com Staff Writer

July 19, 2002

(CNSNews.com) - In Cromwell, Conn., a local middle school is resisting a call from Christian parents to ban certain children's books, including 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond' and 'Harry Potter.'

Some Christian parents want such books removed from the school library on the grounds that they promote the Wiccan religion. One local minister said the books have some of the town's kids cooking up magic spells and reading Tarot cards.

School officials refused to comment to CNSNews.com.

Tim Milleville, pastor of River Bend Christian Fellowship, a local Christian church, said some of the parents who are now circulating a petition regard the books as "Witchcraft 101" -- a way of easing kids into Wicca. "Before they realize it, they're playing around with spells and things," he said.

Milleville also said the Harry Potter books portray Christianity in a "bad light," and he believes the popular series has satanic overtones.

"I know people into Wicca, at some level, would say they are not connected to Satanism," Milleville said, "but there is stuff that says they are."

However, Darla Kaye Wynne, the assistant national director of Witches Against Religious Discrimination (WARD), denied any association between her religion and Satanism. She also denied any connection between Wicca and Harry Potter.

"In our deity, we don't even have a Satan," Wynne said. She also clarified that neither 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond' nor any of the books in the 'Harry Potter' series are Wiccan in nature.

Wynne argues that Christians are "losing the concept of what their own religion represents, what Christ, and what God had to say."

If books such as those being protested in Cromwell promote violence, hatred and prejudice, then parental consent should be required, Wynne said. But she noted that the Bible also includes prejudice and violence, yet it can be found on the shelves of most school libraries.

"The Bible states that it's okay for a man to beat a woman. It also states that it's acceptable to kill a witch," Wynne said. "So, it promotes murder."

Milleville acknowledged some of Wynne's observations about the Bible, but he disagreed with her notion that the Bible promotes murder.

"There's a lot of stuff that we don't do today, even though it was there; eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth," Milleville said. "I think some of that stuff is there to really present the dangers of it."

But Milleville said the dangers posed by books like the Harry Potter series are real because kids end up familiarizing themselves with terminology associated with magic spells and witchcraft.

Milleville did allow, however, "It's people's right to read what they want, I guess."

"I appreciate the position of the [parents] that are raising the ruckus, but I wouldn't go as far as banning the books," Milleville said. "You start trying to throw out books that say bad things about anybody, you're going to throw them all out eventually."

"Just because a book has the word 'witch' in it, doesn't mean that it promotes witchcraft," Wynne said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last
To: Norvokov
...the only Wiccans out there are slutty women with eyebrow rings...

I take it from the gratutious viciousness of your comment that you're a Christian.

21 posted on 07/19/2002 6:18:07 PM PDT by Grut
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Norvokov
You're wrong. I have met some extremely hot female Wiccans. AND any male who hangs around with them is no competition for Andy Rooney, if you get what I mean. The best bet is to hit up on them before they drift to Hinduism or somesuch; Wiccans are loose by definition and practice! (Or should a married man not be letting these secrets out?)
22 posted on 07/19/2002 6:18:36 PM PDT by warchild9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: plato99
This is funny..

Now today no one wants to invent a "seperation of church and state"

But yesterday..

24 posted on 07/19/2002 6:20:28 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: swarthyguy
You mean the threats of bodily harm and restriction of freedom kind of fatwa? As in #3 above?
26 posted on 07/19/2002 6:29:42 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ContentiousObjector

Now that's intelligent commentary.

You know, every time I hear a remark like that from a statist control freak I want to grab their little book or whatever and destroy it just to see if they will follow through on their threat.

PLUS, this IS a school library we are talking about here.

The parents have a right to decry the material their children have access to, and it doesn't matter if the FR's "potter bots" like it or not.

27 posted on 07/19/2002 6:37:07 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Jhoffa_
Parents can tell their children not to check out those books. Potter Bots?? Give me a break. Christians have more important issues to deal with.

First of all they should stop turning people off to Christ with all their sanctimony.

28 posted on 07/19/2002 6:46:49 PM PDT by Birdwatcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Birdwatcher

It didn't turn me off.. and me thinks the wiccans and the potter-bots should clean up their own back yards before making suggestions to the Christians on how to run and recruit for their faith.

29 posted on 07/19/2002 6:56:28 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: ContentiousObjector
I have no interest in your book, and.. ironically, I think it does sound harmless.

I don't usually "potter bash" at all, but I see no need to get so defensive about a piece of junk fiction as some on these threads.

Sounds like Alec Baldwin hacked us every time I read one of these things.

31 posted on 07/19/2002 7:05:46 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Clive
We have had enough of book burning.

A.) Book burning, when done by private individuals, is a legitimate form of free speech, and is fully protected under the 1st amendment

B.) Since public schools are cumpulsory (I won't even bring up the fact that they really don't even have the right to exist), then parents of children forced to be there have every right to say, "My child will not be exposed to this against my will".

32 posted on 07/19/2002 7:11:07 PM PDT by southern rock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: plato99
Seems to be a lot of killing, but where is the Religion in all this?
33 posted on 07/19/2002 7:16:41 PM PDT by bloggerjohn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ContentiousObjector; Jhoffa_
I read "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" in 8th grade. Anyone who has read the book has half a clue of what it is about. But it is sooooooo much easier to see the word 'witch' and make dumbass assumtions as to it's content.

Better start banning Snow White, Cinderella, and most fairy tales too!

34 posted on 07/19/2002 7:23:20 PM PDT by Bella_Bru
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Bella_Bru

Done. Get a list togeather and fax it to me by monday.

35 posted on 07/19/2002 7:26:56 PM PDT by Jhoffa_
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: plato99
Wynne argues that Christians are "losing the concept of what their own religion represents, what Christ, and what God had to say."

REVELATION 22:15-
"Outside the city are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexualy immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who pracitces falsehoods."

In other words, not only the books are Satanic, but so are the public schools themselves.

36 posted on 07/19/2002 8:03:46 PM PDT by concerned about politics
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plato99
"There's a lot of stuff that we don't do today, even though it was there; eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth," Milleville said. "I think some of that stuff is there to really present the dangers of it."

Yep. It tells of the dark side of mankind, as well as the bright side. It teaches consequences of either choice.
I think before people decide to use the Bible as a liberal tool, they should be able to read and comprehend the book first.
The Bible is WAY over their heads.

37 posted on 07/19/2002 8:10:59 PM PDT by concerned about politics
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: plato99
Well, you know those people don't live in lower Fairfield County....

Connecticut is a state that for all of its leftwing liberalism in the cities can be remarkably in-bred and atavistic. Sounds like the folks complaining about books in the the school library have far too much time on their hands and far too little useful work. Self-styled "Christians" who prate on about things like this should focus on their own behavior and be less concerned with that of others.

38 posted on 07/19/2002 8:13:50 PM PDT by CatoRenasci
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MissAmericanPie
If no religion is to be promoted in school, that should include all religions. Wiccan is a religion just ask them...........
Darla Kaye Wynne, the assistant national director of Witches Against Religious Discrimination (WARD), denied any association between her religion

Agreed. Fair is fair. If Earth Worship is allowed, if Muslim is part of the curriculium, then add Christianty, or remove it all.

39 posted on 07/19/2002 8:20:33 PM PDT by concerned about politics
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
What kind of idiot do you have to be to think that any of this stuff is for real?

That is what I wonder when I hear about people wanting to ban the Harry Potter books. I have read comments that they are afraid children will try it. So what? The kiddies will find out that they cannot make objects fly across the room or turn themselves into cats.

40 posted on 07/19/2002 9:07:39 PM PDT by knuthom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson