[Aquinasfan]

we should see a huge upsurge of self-mutilation, shouldn't we?

My concern is that children are being exposed/desensitized to obscene violence and horrific occult practices.

[alpowolf]

OK, but you will have a tough time proving that case. How will you measure "desensitization"? In other words, how can I tell that 1)this effect occurred and 2)Harry Potter is the cause?

Does this effect occur even if the viewer knows it isn't real?

Also, your use of the words "obscene violence and horrific occult practices" is IMO overkill.

[Billthedrill]

Actually (as you are aware) the Jews did practice animal blood sacrifice long after Yahweh came along. Remember Isaac? That was, of course, a human sacrifice, and fortunately (for Isaac) the Lord let Abraham off the hook...but remember, they did sacrifice a lamb in his place. (He's mentioned both in the Old Testament and in the Q'uran).