Did anyone ever wonder...

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Anita Blake

The Executioner
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Does anyone ever wonder why the Christians and other "God" centered religious people try to ban the Harry Potter books from schools and forbid their children to read them, but the same people encourage their 10, 11, and 12 year olds to read the Left Behind series which includes graphic sex scenes of adults with children? I am in a scholarship program with a woman who has 3 kids. Her 11 year old daughter is reading the Left Behind series after her mother recommended it to her. The same woman has forbidden any of her children to read or watch any of the Harry Potter books and movies. Why? I don't see any of the adults in the Harry Potter books having sex with children. In fact there are no sexual scenes at all, nor any references to anyone having sex.

What is so different about the Lord of the Rings series than the Harry Potter series? Both deal in "wizardry" and "magic" and they both have character deaths, but LOTR never had so big a controversy as HP. And "The Chronicles of Narnia." Four children walking through a wardrobe to a mystical land with talking beast and mythological creatures? Among other characters in the other books other than "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." This never prompted the religous fervor, outcry from the Christian community as Harry Potter did.

Article from Education World

CHRISTIAN WRITER SAYS POTTER CONFUSES KIDS
Berit Kjos, a Christian author of several books, including A Twist of Faith and Brave New Schools, doesn't see it that way. Although she is neutral about banning books in schools, she points out that schools have permitted information about other religions because of the prevalent multicultural emphasis.

"Times have changed," Kjos said, noting that children today are more vulnerable to fantasy stories such as Harry Potter because they may view the imaginary world as much more fun compared with the real world.

"There has been a paradigm shift from the social context that was the old biblical view," she said. That shift makes it tougher for children, with less biblical knowledge today, to evaluate good and evil or to resist such threats to their faith, Kjos maintained. She has responded to parental concerns about the Harry Potter series by offering parents guidance on her Web site.

"Christianity clashes with a love for witchcraft," Kjos said. The biblical God doesn't fit into Potter's world of wizards, witches, and other gods. The Harry Potter series teaches an Earth-centered spirituality, the same religion as what the witch religions teach in the San Francisco area, she said. "It is a religion that is very real and is spreading throughout the country. It makes me very uncomfortable when [children] are immersed in topics that make witchcraft very exciting. It can be very confusing for them."

Arch Priestess Tamara Forslun, of the Church of Wicca Australia, doesn't agree that books based on differing cultures and belief systems should be removed from schools based on individual fears. "For generations, we have had books based on fairies, witches, goblins, magic, "¦ all with differing views," she told Education World in response to the controversy regarding the Harry Potter series. "We cannot remove something from this world because of fear and ignorance. These are children's books, and as long as they are not nasty, cruel, ridiculous in any way or show witches as evil, obscene creatures, then there is no cause for mudslinging or legal retaliation."
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Never once in any of the Harry Potter books did J.K. Rowling mention anything about any religion. In fact, it seems to me that she took great pains not to do so. Yet everytime I read an article like this, it always says that the Harry Potter books promote witchcraft, wiccanism, paganism, or even in some extreme cases, satanism. Personally, as a practicing Wicca of almost 7 years I find this extremely offensive. As does my family, that consists of mostly Wiccan members. The fact that ignorant people who know nothing of witches what so ever would compare us to things that they see in the movies or unrealistic portrayals in Sci-fi or Fantasy books is repulsive. The books are nothing but pure fantasy, and what J.K. Rowling takes from real life are no more ominous than basing the type of wood for Harry, Ron, and Hermione's wands on Celtic myth and beliefs.

I am now open for comments. 😀
 
People who are from the "God" centered religons have a problem with wiccans (not all) so they try to ban everything wiccan from schools, and the schools want to make things fair for everyone, and ban the books from schools. But that really isn't fair for everyone else. I say that if parents have a problem with their kids reading books like Harry Potter, then thats their problem, not everyone elses. Sorry to sound mean, but I'm just saying. If people have a problem with Harry Potter because of their beliefs, then keep it then they should keep it to themselves. It's not like any of it's real. It's just a story, nothing wrong with that.
 
You totally missed the point of my last paragraph, either that or you didn't read it. There is nothing whatsoever in any of the Harry Potter books that is Wiccan. And for those of us who are Wiccan or Pagan, we find that very offensive and ignorant. You shouldn't label something unless you know what you are labeling it. And obviously those people saying that the Harry Potter books are Wiccan are extremely ignorant. It's like a wiccan saying that Bram Stoker's "Dracula" or Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" are Christian books because they contain crosses (Dracula) and resurrection (Frankenstein). I think Christians would get kind of upset about that don't you?
 
I actually didn't notice that last paragraph, until you mentioned it...whoops...
 
Its okay, sometimes I just have to get things off my chest. Thanks for listening (reading) anyways. 😀
 
a lot of christian groups actually banned buffy and angel, too. i don't really understand why, coz no one would explain it to me, but a few churches banned their congragation from watching buffy and angel.
i do believe in God, but i'm not a christian. i don't see a problem with HP, LOTR or anything like that, ESPECIALLY buffy and angel!! LOL!!
i've recently become hooked on HP, after ignoing it for the past five years, and i can't wait for the movie at christmas!!
 
AB,
The reason that "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" didn't provoke controversy amongst the Christian community is that it is an allegory of much of the life of Christ, written by a well-publicised (at the time) born-again CS Lewis - cf. the death and resurrection of Aslan and that of Christ, as well as Edmund representing sinful humanity.

I also cannot understand why these guys are so keen on banning books, especially tales as moral as Harry Potter. The next step down that road surely leads to the burning of books...
 
Mr. Pointy said:
I also cannot understand why these guys are so keen on banning books, especially tales as moral as Harry Potter. The next step down that road surely leads to the burning of books...
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Wouldn't surprise me, as I saw it happen on the news a couple years ago...we get a station from Cleveland (yeah, I see the irony, for sure😉) and a small town church from nearby Pennsylvania was doing the bonfire thing. Remember, these pastors (or whatever you call them) want to exert iron-fisted control over their relatively small and easily influenced congregations. It's not so much a show for we sinners out in the real world, it's all about power politics inside the church. They want to eliminate anything that would question their assertion that the preachings of the church are the ONLY moral ones, and any others are not, no matter what the content or context. So it's not so much about attacking the outside world, although they are doing that, but more about keeping the flock righteous and in line.
 
Anita Blake said:
Does anyone ever wonder why the Christians and other "God" centered religious people try to ban the Harry Potter books from schools and forbid their children to read them, but the same people encourage their 10, 11, and 12 year olds to read the Left Behind series
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Plain ignorance. The Left Behind series is openly sympathetic to God-based religion and as such is seen by Christian parents as 'good' or, in other words, something for their kids to read that brings God into their lives in a way they can understand.

Anita Blake said:
And "The Chronicles of Narnia." Four children walking through a wardrobe to a mystical land with talking beast and mythological creatures? Among other characters in the other books other than "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." This never prompted the religous fervor, outcry from the Christian community as Harry Potter did.
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Someone else mentioned this as well, CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia are allergorical to Christian beliefs, Aslan as God, Tash as the Devil, everyone going to Heaven after the last battle (Armageddon.) Lewis has written several books for adults that are about Christianity and it's role in our lives, too.

Anita Blake said:
Never once in any of the Harry Potter books did J.K. Rowling mention anything about any religion....Yet everytime I read an article like this, it always says that the Harry Potter books promote witchcraft, wiccanism, paganism, or even in some extreme cases, satanism. Personally, as a practicing Wicca of almost 7 years I find this extremely offensive.
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Again, pure and simple ignorance. People fail to realize that many of today's religions have roots in the old earth-based religions. Witness Christ's supposed birthday. He was almost certainly not born on Dec. 25, not that anyone knows the exact date. The date was chosen because of the early church's need to bring Pagans 'into the fold,' and so they chose a traditionally Pagan feast (winter solstice) and transformed it into a Christian one. People have a history of being wary of that which is different or not known to them and therefore not 'safe.' Sad, but true.

killerdwarf said:
So it's not so much about attacking the outside world, although they are doing that, but more about keeping the flock righteous and in line.
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I agree with this, too.

Oh, I just looked scrolled down and saw that it was Mr. Pointy who explained about CS Lewis' books, thank you!
 
Witchcraft is deemed as an affront to God. He alone has the power to use it.
Harry Potter shows children, adults, even creatures use the magic for all sorts of reasons, be it good or bad.
LOTR on its first release didnt cause this furore because it was aimed at adults, with an adult understanding. The movies have been barred by most of the Christian community as well as the HP books now because they have become far more accessible.
It may offend you how the Christian community have viewed this BUT its their rights and beliefs and i dont think its anyones place to contradict them.
The only people they are harminging by this ignorance, as you call it, is the writers/producers/directors of all the magic based books.
So what if they dont know much of your religions, do you know alot about all the other religions, i'm guessing no. If that is the case then you could be deemed ignorant of their belief structure.
My gosh, this world is still big enough for everyone to work together. Rather than get annoyed because someone is ignorant, why dont you try and enlighten people, thus enlighten yourself.
There is NO harm done.
 
Dia DeLa Muerte said:
It may offend you how the Christian community have viewed this BUT its their rights and beliefs and i dont think its anyones place to contradict them.
The only people they are harminging by this ignorance, as you call it, is the writers/producers/directors of all the magic based books.
So what if they dont know much of your religions, do you know alot about all the other religions, i'm guessing no. If that is the case then you could be deemed ignorant of their belief structure.
My gosh, this world is still big enough for everyone to work together. Rather than get annoyed because someone is ignorant, why dont you try and enlighten people, thus enlighten yourself.
There is NO harm done.
Click to expand...

I would totally disagree with u, I mean the christen people claim to be all human loving, and tolerant - My arse. They do things like ban books based on magic, increasing the stereotype that there is something evil about Wicca, and they are harming more people then the writers by promoting this anti-Wicca stuff, it leads their followers to Kill wiccans or to make them shut-ins, afraid to leave their house, I have read stories like these, they are very easy to find on the internet.
And they are always trying to push their beliefs on others, by banning books and movies they get to have a say in what we read and watch, even if we do not believe in their religion.
 
We're aloud to read them. It was on our summer reading list and were quized on it at school. Maybe it's different cuz we're Juniors?
 
No, maybe it's different because you have more enlightened educators. My kids are allowed to read HP too, both of them have brought one of the books home from the school library at one time or another. I have absolutely no problem with them reading HP, CS Lewis, etc. I encourage that, because to me, reading is the door through which the expanded mind will walk. I want them to grow up to think for themselves, instead of blindly following what others tell them.
 
Dia DeLa Muerte said:
It may offend you how the Christian community have viewed this BUT its their rights and beliefs and i dont think its anyones place to contradict them.
The only people they are harminging by this ignorance, as you call it, is the writers/producers/directors of all the magic based books..
Click to expand...

This is not the case. Wicca is a highly enlightened religion with philophies to help guide ones life for the better. christianity mearly demand you be good or be punished by a super being. one encourages people to think the other frowns upon it.

Dia DeLa Muerte said:
So what if they dont know much of your religions, do you know alot about all the other religions, i'm guessing no.
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very ignorant of you. posters have already demonstrated their knolege of christian history. can you say the same for wicca.
Dia DeLa Muerte said:
If that is the case then you could be deemed ignorant of their belief structure.
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what case? :drunk:

Dia DeLa Muerte said:
My gosh, this world is still big enough for everyone to work together. Rather than get annoyed because someone is ignorant, why dont you try and enlighten people, thus enlighten yourself.
There is NO harm done.
Click to expand...

haha fear of a word!!! brilliant.

Ms Blake is trying to enlighten. so what is you're point?
 
whenever people taught me christianity they sprinkled the above with threats of eternal damnation.

im going to be good on my own terms not because somone will send me to a bad place if i don't
 
Black Eye Guy said:
I would totally disagree with u, I mean the christen people claim to be all human loving, and tolerant - My arse. They do things like ban books based on magic, increasing the stereotype that there is something evil about Wicca, and they are harming more people then the writers by promoting this anti-Wicca stuff, it leads their followers to Kill wiccans or to make them shut-ins, afraid to leave their house, I have read stories like these, they are very easy to find on the internet.
And they are always trying to push their beliefs on others, by banning books and movies they get to have a say in what we read and watch, even if we do not believe in their religion.
Click to expand...


Being Christian i can confirm that i am human loving and tolerant. I have read all the books that are mentioned, and i can see why 'the Bible Belt' of America and other large Christian societies ban them. It promotes a way of life to their children that they see as an afront to God. Ok you get some crazy asses that go about forcing their belief structure onto others BUT for the most part(the people who dont get printed in the paper) they keep the religion to themselves an their families. To them reading Harry Potter is akin to reading a fantasy Book on Hindu belief systems. Why should their child read that. Now in most Christian households the parent makes the decision for the children upto a certain age....again thats something nearly every family does.
But when that child comes of age, they can make their own choices.
 
Faldor said:
whenever people taught me christianity they sprinkled the above with threats of eternal damnation.

im going to be good on my own terms not because somone will send me to a bad place if i don't
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Could not agree more!

Dia DeLa Muerte said:
Being Christian i can confirm that i am human loving and tolerant. I have read all the books that are mentioned, and i can see why 'the Bible Belt' of America and other large Christian societies ban them. It promotes a way of life to their children that they see as an afront to God. Ok you get some crazy asses that go about forcing their belief structure onto others BUT for the most part(the people who dont get printed in the paper) they keep the religion to themselves an their families. To them reading Harry Potter is akin to reading a fantasy Book on Hindu belief systems. Why should their child read that. Now in most Christian households the parent makes the decision for the children upto a certain age....again thats something nearly every family does.
But when that child comes of age, they can make their own choices.
Click to expand...

And Yeah I would agree wit u, about all of this, that all the (Majority)normal day christians do respect other religions, but it is (minority)the loud and ignorant ones we see that get to spread these stereotypes.
 
R
Randy Giles
BEG I don't know what Christians you know but they must be extremists, because I am Christian and religious and am not like that. lol. Nor are any of my Christian friends.
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