[PetroniusMaximus]

“The Pagan Federation, which represents druids and witches, says it has been “swamped” with calls following teenage programmes featuring good witches. Speaking to BBC News Online the Pagan Federation’s Steve Paine, the high priest of a coven, said the hit US drama Buffy and the highly successful Harry Potter books were popular amongst practising witches. “They are taken as fantasy entertainment. But they do encourage people to think about different forms of spirituality”, he said. The Pagan Federation, which deals with about 100 enquiries a month from youngsters who want to become witches, does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to become a member.” Most of the enquiries are from 14 to 18 year-olds, and are dealt with “reactively” by a specially-appointed youth officer, an Essex based schoolteacher.” (BBC News Online, Buffy Draws Children to Witchcraft, Friday, 4 August, 2000, Full article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_864000/864984.stm).

“According to Mr Smith, children who had enjoyed the magic and wizardry of the stories should be careful about extending their interest in the occult. Although saying that the stories were a positive way of showing the struggle between good and evil, he was worried that they could be used as a springboard for exploring more sinister aspects of the occult. And he warned that children could be using the internet to learn more about “meddling” with the supernatural. “Increasing numbers of children are spending hours alone browsing the Internet in search of satanic websites. ATL is concerned that nobody is monitoring this growing fascination.” (BBC News Online, Harry Potter ‘Occult’ Warning, Monday 5 November, full article at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1638000/1638887.stm)

Actual Occult Practices

Curses and counter-curses (Philosopher`s Stone, p. 62; Goblet of Fire, pp. 187-194; ).

Astrology, Fortune telling (Philosopher`s Stone, pp. 188-190; Prisoner of Azkaban, p. 45, 47; Goblet of Fire, pp. 116-117).

Rune stones (Prisoner of Azkaban, p. 45, 47).

Palmistry, Divination, Crystal ball gazing, Tea leaf reading, Auras. (Prisoner of Azkaban, pp. 45; 79-86).

Arithmancy (a Chaldean and Greek method of divination by numbers) (Prisoner of Azkaban, pp. 45; 79-86; Goblet of Fire, p. 171).

Charms, Incantations (Prisoner of Azkaban, p. 176).

Numerology (Prisoner of Azkaban, p. 232).

More here:
http://www.spotlightministries.org.uk/harrypotterarticle.htm

[TexasAg1996]

Just like I suspected. Taken word for word from someone's website. Got an original thought in there?

The first quote is funny - a whole 100 people a month, and it's not based solely on HP, but apparently on stuff like vampire TV shows, as well. The second article (if you'd read it) mentions how kids have always been interested in magic and that parents and teachers need to educate their kids (no kidding).

[discostu]

Let’s see some so called pagan group that nobody ever heard of before they found a way to get on BBC says HP leads to the occult. Of course they offer no proof, they don’t even offer a reason to think they no anything. Garbage.

And then you get the general secretary of the association of teachers and lecturers, someone with no proof of any knowledge at all about the occult. More garbage.

And then you get spotlight ministries, one of the leading pack of lying fear mongers associated with Christianity. Not just garbage but filth that you’d be better off completely disassociating from. And most of their stuff is meaningless. The say “curses” in the HP books are bad, but they don’t bother to notice that all a “curse” is in HP is an attempt to harm someone with their powers.

I’ve read Crowley, I’ve read Levy. There’s no there there. HP magic has nothing at all to do with the occult.

[Pistolshot]

Ok.....so let's take a look at your two quotes.

Speaking .. the Pagan Federation’s Steve Paine,.., said the hit US drama Buffy and the highly successful Harry Potter books were popular amongst practising witches. “They are taken as fantasy entertainment. But they do encourage people to think about different forms of spirituality"

Are you saying that kids shouldn't think about spirituality other than what one religion directs them? Are you denying that man is a thinking animal able to discern good from evil, right from wrong?

"Although saying that the stories were a positive way of showing the struggle between good and evil, he was worried that they could be used as a springboard for exploring more sinister aspects of the occult..."

This is an emotional response with ZERO facts to support it. Try again.

[Corin Stormhands]

So, what’s worse?

Reading a bit of children’s fiction that uses a make believe magic as part of the story line...

Or studying and obsessing about all of the occult references in pop culture?

Seems like people who aren’t supposed to be reading about witchcraft sure are spending a heckuva lot of time reading about it.

But maybe that’s just me.

[ClearCase_guy]

Something that struck me about the books (and others on this thread have certainly mentioned it) the young wizards have a sort of genetic ability to do magic even before they know about magic. In this way, the magic in Harry Potter differs very much from the Occult practices we see in our own world.

One of the exception is in fortune-telling (as you point out) and tea-reading, astrology, etc. These are "magical disciplines" in Harry Potter which map quite closely to "magical disciplines in our own world. But Look:

The professor for these subjects is Trelawney. She is a fraud. Everyone knows it. She is a laughingstock. The magic that she tries to teach simply doesn't work!

The one exception is that Trelawney makes a prophecy (without intention and without knowing she's doing so)which harks back to the inborn genetic capability that the Harry Potter wizards have.

I think Rowling in telling us how she feels about the Occult when she portrays Trelawney this way.