Some Christian parents will feel it's a bad influence and not permit their children to read the books or see the movie out of a real concern for keeping them from viewing witches as harmless fun.
That is their right and duty if they believe it's harmful to their children. Others will allow their kids to indulge in the Harry Potter fad, being careful to instruct them that it's fantasy...a made-up story, and not to be taken seriously. I see no problem with that, either. It's parental choice based on parental judgement, something parents have to do all the time.
I don't believe that attempting to 'ban' Harry Potter from a public or school library is valid as Christians have no right to dictate what others may read (or watch) and this type of attempted censorship always generates the kind of backlash (and golden opportunity for Christian-bashing) we see every time Harry Potter is mentioned on FR or elsewhere. The fact that school and public libraries have lots of material that may be offensive to Christian children is a reality but beyond protesting the most egregious manifestations of the 'anything goes' attitude of the schools and libraries, there is not a lot that can be done, other than avoidance.
I find that the attacks on Christians who protest Harry Potter are often from the same people who ridicule anyone with religious convictions, attempting to live a spiritual life. Nothing new here. In those cases the Harry Potter fad just becomes a vehicle non-believers can use to criticize and mock Christianity while appearing to be oh-so open-minded and intelligent about the whole thing. Been there, done that. No one convinces anyone of anything but we all get in our shots. Way of the world, which is not and never will be favorable to Christ and those who follow Him.
Jesus warned us of this so no Christian should be shocked or dismayed. Christ was alive before the world was formed and will still reign long, long after 'Harry Potter' has been forgotten. Take heart.
Surely you don't think that Penthouse should be allowed in the elementary school library (hint:Penthouse is banned from school libraries)? People have the right to object to material for any reason. No one is stopping anyone from reading Harry Potter. The question is whether it is appropriate for schools (see Pokemon)
Ditto. Well said.
Personally I'd like to see "Heather has two mommies" and such trash banned from schools and libraries. But a fantasy tale......it isn't going to happen.
But people should stop attacking parents; stop attacking Christians. Doing that makes the attacker look pretty stupid.