[JenB]

No, you apply "Christian peer pressure" techniques - "real Christians don't read Harry Potter." I can't tell you how sick I am of this kind of thing. Since I was twelve years old, and people aroundme saw me reading fantasy and science fiction, I've gotten this stuff. I've been told reading Robert Heinlein endangers my salvation, the Arthur stories and Greek myths are Satanic and I shouldn't read them, that people who do role playing games are possessed by demons, that if I use instant messengers I'll be attacked by pedophiles, that watching Star Trek will damage my relationship with God, that philosophy classes will shake my faith, that criticizing really stupid adults who say these things is rebellious. Thank goodness my parents stood up for me, or I'd be a real mess.

Oh, incidentally, all the above claims are nonsense, as is the claim that Harry Potter will cause anyone to become a witch.

So no, maybe not all of the people I've named here are saying no-one should read Harry Potter - but all of them imply that if you're Christian, you won't. And I'm sick of it.

[AppyPappy]

That's nice but you didn't answer my question. If "many" Christians are stopping people from reading Potter, why can't any be named?

In reality, no one is stopping you from reading Potter. If you are fretting because some people say you aren't a Christian because you read Potter, the problem is with YOU, not them. They have the right to their opinion, right or wrong. Claming you have been harmed is rather hyperbolic. I read Potter and I'm not offended if someone says I'm not a Christian. They are entitled to be wrong.

What is offensive is using slurs like "fundie" and "fruitcake" to describe people who don't like Potter. Also, claiming that people who don't like Potter are involved in a vast conspiracy to deny First Amendment rights to people is equally offensive.

No one is stopping anyone from reading Potter. And it's ridiculous to blame people for something that isn't happening.