[Nataku X]

If Christians tell others to stay away from Harry Potter, they better practice consistency and stay away from virtually all movies and books that depict any kind of sin (murder, lying, etc.).

According to the logic, reading a mystery murder novel will make one more likely to murder and therefore should be a sin in itself.

The $93 million figure is a bit sickening though. Whatever. Children will hook onto He-Man, Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, et cetera. I think the books will become passe by next year--I mean, the next book isn't supposed to be out until 2003.

[Clemenza]

I was a GI Joe fan myself. He-Man always struck me as gay.

[NC Conservative]

The only thing that upsets me about Harry Potter is the author. I can not say anything about the movies/books as I have not seen them or read them so I will not give an opinion on that. She was quoted as saying something to the affect of Jesus Christ is a hoax and at the end of the world He will kneel down and suck the c$%k of our dark lord. I wish I still had the article. I think she said that to the London Times. However, I grew up watching Wizard of Oz and such and I turned out normal(I think).

[VRWCmember]

According to the logic, reading a mystery murder novel will make one more likely to murder and therefore should be a sin in itself.

Nothing like misstating the position of someone with whom you disagree to refute "their logic".

Most murder mysteries that I have read involve a conflict between good and evil as a theme. Nihilistic entertainment that offers positive rewards for behavior that is wrong, or that nevers shows negative consequences of wrong behavior sends a dangerous message to children. Often it is subtle underlying themes rather than the explicit content that should concern parents. Of course, that takes a little more involvment than most lazy people are willing to provide.

[SamAdams76]

The $93 million figure is a bit sickening though.

Why? What does it matter to you what a particular movie grosses? Don't see it if you don't want to add to it. One thing that irritates me about some of my fellow conservatives is that they are such busybodies!

[hsmomx3]

I was discussing the issue of HP and the fairy tales we grew up with and read with a friend. I asked why the big fuss over HP and I was told that the witches (and like) in the old stories were portrayed as evil while the wizards and such portrayed in HP are "good" and not evil.

I have to tell ya that I've not seen the HP movie or read the books.

[Steve_Seattle]

"According to the logic, reading a murder mystery novel will make a person more likely to murder."

You don't understand the argument. Mystery novels do not make the act of murder seem attractive or desireable. On the contrary, they portray it is evil. The problem the critics see with the Potter books is that they make occultism seem attractive and fun. Moreover, many who see the Potter books as harmless do so on the basis of their belief that there is no truth to occultism, that it is all make-believe. But in real life there are practicing occultists, and it is certainly not their position that what they are doing is make-believe or ineffective.

[Ptaz]

If Christians tell others to stay away from Harry Potter, they better practice consistency and stay away from virtually all movies and books that depict any kind of sin (murder, lying, etc.).

Yes, and how many of these good Christians exceeded the speed limit on the way to work today? The Bible says to obey the laws of the land. That's a valid law too! These many ways these hairs can be split! {smile}

[Aristophanes]

Horsesh!t. Your argument fails to account for the vital distinction between describing something and advocating it. Harry Potter paints witchcraft and wizardry as good things. Books like the Narnia Chronicles present it as evil. The two treatments could not be farther apart.