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Tell me, who's "making up stories" about the Potter series? Any Christian who believes that his children shouldn't be reading them?

Like I said in my post, today is Election Day in Virginia and the polls close in an hour. I don't have time for a long drawn out fight over Harry Potter.

But, a large portion of those who would criticize Harry Potter simply parrot what they've heard elsewhere and are not basing their criticism on the facts. There are many "reviews" out there about the books by people who have never read them. Do a search for Harry Potter on FreeRepublic - there are hundreds of quotes out there that are factually wrong.

Again, I have no quarrel with those who know what they're talking about who criticize Porter. Many, however, simply don't like them because, "we'll you know, I heard..."

When The Last Temptation of Christ was in theaters my in-laws went to join the protest because others from the church were going and they "thought it was the right thing to do." (and it was) They had no clue regarding what the movie was about.

That's my argument with articles like this, and especially the poster because the title was changed (a particular FR pet peeve I have anyway) to reflect the anti-Potter bias and it really didn't reflect the whole of the article.

It's also a sore point for me because, as a Christian, I get annoyed and embarrassed by my brothers and sisters in Christ who tend to shoot first, gather facts later.

That's the case with many of the Potter-haters - at least many of them here on FR.

"It's also a sore point for me because, as a Christian, I get annoyed and embarrassed by my brothers and sisters in Christ who tend to shoot first, gather facts later"

I agree. I think too many are too focused on whipping others into a frenzy without all the facts.

I remember a thread that some religious righties here on FR started about Halloween being a pagan holiday and that allowing your children to 'trick r treat' is letting them celebrate paganism. The truth is it's kids dressing up as Pokemon and asking for candy -- they don't know anything about paganism through that!

Same with the Harry Potter books. Kids enjoy fantasy books, and it's quite a draw to the Potter books that a kid is involved in these types of stories. It's not practising witchcraft to read Harry Potter no more than reading about surgery makes a surgeon or reading about weather is preparing your to be a meteorologist.

Some religious right fanatics need to get a grip!

You know, I have not read a Harry Potter book. I have "looked through" a HP book "carefully", and read reviews both pro and con, and made a decision that the books were not appropriate for our family because I didn't think it was pleasing to God. It doesn't matter whether or not I think my children will be tempted by witchcraft. I don't think they would.

I have to admit, however, that everytime a Potter book comes out and large displays on books about witchcraft come out at my local library, the Half Price bookstore and other bookstores, I do wonder "who" is reading these books. "Someone" is obviously being influenced to read more about witchcraft.

I don't know about where you live, but here in the Houston area, it's almost chic in high school to call yourself a witch. I guess we can blame Buffy, instead of Harry for that one. :)