Posted on 12/27/2001 7:56:38 AM PST by Wiley Sr
The Harry Potter fiction series, widely heralded by critics as exceptional literature and by teachers for tuning millions of children into reading, is being condemned by Christ Community Church pastor Jack Brock as evil.
Harry Potter is nothing but witchcraft, Brock said. Its evil hidden behind the face of an innocent boy with little glasses.
Brock, who will be giving a sermon this Sunday entitled, The Baby Jesus or Harry Potter? said the church plans to hold a holy bonfire Dec. 30 to publicly burn Harry Potter books and other so-called unacceptable material.
The service begins at 6:30 p.m. and afterwards we will conduct a burning, he said.
Why does Brock find Harry Potter so offensive? The simple part is the story takes place in Hogwarts Boarding School, he said. All the teachers are witches and wizards, and they teach witchcraft.
If we hired someone who was into witchcraft or teaching witchcraft at (Christ Community Church) school, no one would come, he said.
In the book, written by British author J.K. Rowling, Brock said Harry Potter is labeled as being a wizard who wields good magic, and fights those who wield bad magic, something Brock also said is misleading.
Its (magic) all evil, he said. What she (Rowling) has done is make Harry look good and Voldemort (the villain) evil, but they both come from the same source. You can't call good evil, or evil good. That's what it is all about.
Brock said the witchcraft in the book is capturing the minds of young kids, who have a hard time dividing between fantasy and reality, and make them more prone to dabbling in evil practices.
Though Brock could not recall hearing any actual reports of children engaging in harmful practices as a result of reading Harry Potter, he said the books could inspire them to learn about real witchcraft practices such as Wicca, which he termed an abomination.
The greatest danger is these children are enamored with Potter and they go on the Internet to learn more about the book, and they're directed to other places where they can see information about Wicca, he said.
Brock went on to say that although the Harry Potter books are works of fiction, they are essentially teachings in Wicca.
The teachers are reading Harry Potter in school and that's a religion, he said.
Brock said he has not personally read any of the books, nor has he seen Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone in the movie theaters.
I've seen video clips and reviews, he said. Readers Digest and other magazines are carrying titles about the author such as The woman who bewitched the world, and The wizard behind Harry Potter.
When asked why children's tales featuring magic such as The Wizard of Oz and C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia were considered acceptable material, Brock said it was because the wicked witches were beaten and the characters did not learn to use magic.
When reminded of Dorothy's magic red slippers in The Wizard of Oz stolen from the Wicked Witch of the East and the magical gifts given to the heroes of C. S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Brock said yes, but that was good magic.
Brock said on Dec. 30, other items, such as pornography and Heavy Metal records that exalt Satan will go into the fire with Harry Potter, depending on what items the congregation plans to dispose of.
Brock said he was not concerned with any public image the book-burning might give himself or the congregation.
As far as I'm concerned, the church is not out to make people look good ... were making a statement against evil, he said. The problem with most churches today is that nothing is said because they'll get people upset. This will get them thinking. Pastor Brock can choose to burn Harry Potter books at his church since that is his Constitutional right, he said. One can also go to the Public Library and choose or simply not choose to read Harry Potter books.
Let each person be fully convinced in their own mind regarding what they think is right and let them choose, Preston continued, but let no one take away that right to exercise ones right to choose.
But as long as it isn't the Government banning or burning books..I consider it free speech.
I think you are on the right track here. Burning books, or even speaking out against the alleged evils of Harry Potter, make Christians look ridiculous at best. Preaching -- and practicing -- faith, hope, and charity would have a much more positive effect.
The Nazis were wrong to burn books because they were a government censoring what people could read. However a private citizen or an organization has every right to burn or ban a book if it's something they don't like. That is why to compare this religious person to a Nazi is not a correct comparison.
This anti-anti Harry Potter stuff is non-news. It's only important in the realm of this person's religion, the leaders and members of this church and religion and what they all feel about witchcraft. If a religious person despises witchcraft, my feeling is -- who cares!
Are you implying this pastor shouldn't have the freedom to burn any book he sees fit, so long as he pays for the book?
When asked why childrens tales featuring magic such as The Wizard of Oz and C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia were considered acceptable material, Brock said it was because the wicked witches were beaten and the characters did not learn to use magic When reminded of Dorothys magic red slippers in The Wizard of Oz stolen from the Wicked Witch of the East and the magical gifts given to the heroes of C. S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Brock said yes, but that was good magic
But Mr. Brock, just a moment ago you said that ALL magic is evil. You can't even keep your story straight for 5 minutes! I see 2 motives behind Mr. Brock's book burning...
1) Exposure
2) Increase donations
You are correct. There are people on this thread who actually don't understand the difference between this book burning and a governmnet book burning.
I would say Let the burning begin. Pass the matches and stand back I have gas.
So only christians have thoughts worth caring about?
Perhaps you are just smarter than the public at large. Or maybe other people aren't paying close attention as you are. We are told that more people get their news from ABC than any other source, which means they are getting sound bites and images. And the images are what linger in the mind.
Oh yea, and who cares what the ACLU or Libertarians think. (or non-christians for that matter)
Well, if you are a Christian, then you should care. Jesus commanded his disciples, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." As far as I know, that commandment has never been rescinded.
Bingo!!!
Quite correct. In fact, the author is probably laughing all the way to the bank about it. She received the royality for the book which was burnt and the publicity from it.
I would point out that burning any book -- even Naked Lunch -- is an exercise in stupidity larger than the books which are burnt.
And I would like an honest and sincere reply to my question about your statement that only christians thoughts are worthwhile of consideration.
Well seems to me that what that commandment means is ... go out and tell others what Christians Think and does not mean for Christians to listen to what the heathens think.
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