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Original poster

Why do some Christians have a problem with Harry Potter?

60 replies

chipmonkey · 30/08/2012 20:46

Genuine question, no criticism intended!

Ds2 has a friend, a teenager, who is not allowed to read Harry Potter or watch the movies. He is allowed to watch Batman etc. His Dad is a Christian minister but I don't know what church, except that it's not Catholic.

I understand that it's the "witchcraft" references that are a problem but if so, why does it only seem to be Harry Potter? Is Lord of the Rings OK?

To me, they are all works of fiction and no-one claiming they are true and there have always been references to magic in childrens stories down through the years

OP posts:

MrsMcCave · 30/08/2012 22:49

Tolkien was a Christian, and Lord of the Rings 'has Christian overtones' according to Wikipedia. I don't know about Harry Potter though.

Tortington · 30/08/2012 22:51

magic is tantermount to believing in a false god - we can't do tarot, witch craft or any of that

Tortington · 30/08/2012 22:52

its evil and you go to hell ( apparently)

Tortington · 30/08/2012 22:53

no crystal balls, or crystals or heeby jeeby shit

and fairy godmothers, tooth fairy, peter pan tinkerbell and in some circles santaclause is worthy of crucifixion

ReallyTired · 30/08/2012 23:03

Harry Potter is an issue for some christians because it presents a postive image of witches, wizards and witchcraft in general. The fear that a minority of evangelical christians have is that reading harry potter might encourage an interest in the oucult or satantic worship. Personally I think they are being ridiculous. Its a bit like suggesting that reading "Alice in Wonderland" will encourage your child to take drugs.

I have no problem with my son reading Harry Potter. He is bright enough to know that its fiction. I think that telling a child that harry potter is banned makes it more attractive. Frankly I would be seriously worried if a child who is old enough to read Harry Potter independently believed it was real.

It would be interesting to know if fundermental muslims have issues with Harry Potter.

ReallyTired · 30/08/2012 23:06

"
and fairy godmothers, tooth fairy, peter pan tinkerbell and in some circles santaclause is worthy of crucifixion "

santa is an anogram of satan. crucifixon is a bit extreme though.

Personally I have more issue when make believe is taken to ridicolous levels than with Harry potter. (Ie. Parents working really hard to ensure that their nine year old still believes in santa.)

confuddledDOTcom · 30/08/2012 23:09

I've seen most of them, my sister has read them all and Mum's taken her to see them all.

I can understand why there's a lot of misunderstandings on it. It's fairly tame really and if you don't understand why someone would not want to watch it then it can be confusing. The problem is the use of real world magic. It's one thing for kids to be running around waving a stick they pick up and shouting expelliarmus (can't believe that's in the spellcheck dictionary) but tarot etc is why many Christians have an issue with it. It's not just a bit of fun and make believe, like waving a stick, which Christians don't believe in doing themselves and don't believe is a good thing for people to do.

LotR doesn't use real world magic, nor does Tolkein's friend Lewis in the Narnia series.

Original poster

chipmonkey · 30/08/2012 23:59

But what is "real world magic"? Tarot? I don't think tarot features heavily in Harry Potter, does it? And it's all fictitious anyway. I don't think J.K Rowling is actually trying to sell magic as a genuine lifestyle choice, is she? And Hogwarts is no more real than The Shire or Narnia.

OP posts:

ravenAK · 31/08/2012 00:02

Fear, ignorance, & not being terribly sound when it comes to telling fantasy from reality at the best of times.

NellyJob · 31/08/2012 00:06

I have no problem with my son reading Harry Potter. He is bright enough
I would have a problem with that, luckily he recognised that it was badly written nonsense when he was about 7.

StinkyPig · 31/08/2012 00:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tribpot · 31/08/2012 00:13

Did people object to The Dark Is Rising for the same reason?

And no, there's no tarot in Harry Potter. There's snakes dressed as dead people, but no tarot.

NellyJob · 31/08/2012 00:22

it was the dead cat hanging up somewhere in about the second book that really put me off.
my mum would be turning in her grave.

sashh · 31/08/2012 05:03

Because they have never read it and believe the hype on american fundie sites. Have a look on here www.fstdt.com/QuoteArchives.aspx?Archive=1.

magic is tantermount to believing in a false god - we can't do tarot, witch craft or any of that

Does that mean you can't read about it either? Not that there is any tarot in HP.

CheerfulYank · 31/08/2012 05:21

I think they believe that is softens children towards the occult. Spells, etc.

I don't know really, I am a Christian and love HP.

FairPhyllis · 31/08/2012 06:25

The argument seems to be that it will lead children to develop an interest in the occult, which is strongly condemned in the OT. People who genuinely think this are nuts imo (I'm a Christian). In case they hadn't noticed, JKR is a Christian and the books are full of Christian allusion, virtues and themes - the basic theme of the series is that love defeats death.

IME the people who get uptight about this sort of thing are at least partly reacting to it as a massive pop culture phenomenon - they rarely get upset about Tolkien or Sabrina the Teenage Witch or even Philip Pulman, who most definitely writes anti-religious polemic - they spend a lot of their time wallowing in - or being proud of - their fear and misunderstanding of media and pop culture, and because HP is now something that infuses our culture and media it has become a target.

Another part of the problem: the type of Christians who tend to have this kind of attitude - how can I put this kindly - don't tend to exist in a culture of sophisticated literacy. They are more likely to read the Bible literally and to have that literal method of interpretation influence their world view to the extent that they have problems with the concept of fictionality - that someone could imagine a world that doesn't necessarily correspond to or promote their own belief system. I have met people like this. So they would not automatically read HP as being allusional or distinguish between fictional magic and real life occultism, which looks very different to what you get in HP. The fact that the magic presented in HP isn't something you could actually choose as a "lifestyle" seems to pass them by.

Some Christians may also object to the violence in them, of course, which is fair enough. But objecting to them on the basis of them promoting the occult is a very mistaken view imo. It makes me want to give anyone who claims this a good kick up the arse - in a Christ-like way, obviously ...

technodad · 31/08/2012 08:20

The irony of a religious person not being allowed to read a book with made-up magic is astounding

ColouringIn · 31/08/2012 08:23

I am religious and make no apologies for it......different strokes for different folks etc.
I have read all the HP books and low them.
I would have no triuck with big told I cannot read them or anything else.
The religious right have a lot of issues and I don't have anything to do with them.

ColouringIn · 31/08/2012 08:24

Nellyjob the cat was "petrified" and not dead.

confuddledDOTcom · 31/08/2012 09:15

I only used an example that had already been posted, was being a bit lazy not thinking about what I've seen. From what I understand it's mostly about it raising interest in certain areas and I know it wasn't JK's intention when she wrote it to make any of it sound cool but that's what worries some people. It's not the "made up magic" that's an issue, it's the fact that some of it isn't that worries people. No one is "not allowed" to read it or watch it, other than maybe some parents choosing that for their children like many parents do about many films that others would allow, I know plenty of Christians who do, even some ministers who've made a comment in a sermon (not about it being bad or whatever just that they've seen it type comments).

No one is asking anyone to agree with people who don't read/ watch or even to agree with the Bible but people are entitled to believe what they wish and it doesn't harm you. People are allowed to follow their faith as they feel is right for them and that goes for any faith, I would as much defend a Muslim's right to their beliefs as I would a Christian or even an atheist as long as they're leaving others alone in return.

madhairday · 31/08/2012 09:49

Hmmm. I have a feeling that Christians who have a problem with HP are those who don't feel the need to think carefully around their faith, to engage with difficulties and to use their own imagination and reason, and to encourage their dc to do likewise. Maybe that is a bit harsh, but something in me gets seriously twitchy with those who think HP is 'wrong'.

We are huge HP fans in this house, and dh is a priest. DD reads them all again and again (and again) and watches the films - we held off on the Deathly Hallows until she was 11, but that was because she has a vivid imagination and had nightmares, not because of any issue with the book.

For us, HP is one of a genre which complements the tenets behind Christianity - good and evil, sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, honesty, etc etc. Many of the themes can be discussed in the light of what we believe, and help our dc to think about these themes.

Frontpaw · 31/08/2012 09:53

Maybe he doesn't let him because its a pile of poo?

I grew up with Narnia (Lewis was a christian) and I didn't become a witch (in the real sense of the word. I am an old bag though).

stressedHEmum · 31/08/2012 09:57

The reason that some Christians object to HP is that it might stimulate an interest in magic and the occult, things which are forbidden in the OT. It tends to be the same people who don't allow their kids to play Pokemon because, in the game, you summon "little demons" and engage in fighting other "little demons". Reading/playing these sorts of games is basically inviting Satan into your life.

Years ago, I belonged to a brand of religion in which you weren't supposed to read any kind of fantasy novel at all, play any sort of role-playing game, listen to anything but "suitable" music (non sacred, non pop/rock. no allusions to sex/violence...) or watch any kind of worldly television etc. for these very reasons. They were a conduit to Satan. You would think about the magic/sex/violence/whatever, and it would open a door for the demons to get in and start leading you away from God.

SirBoobAlot · 31/08/2012 10:04

@ColouringIn, only another HP lover would make that important distinction.

I love Harry Potter. And think it is now a children's classic, really - would be great shame for anyone to miss out on it.

Also agree with the whole banning something makes it more tempting.

Original poster

chipmonkey · 31/08/2012 10:05

But all of the magic in HP is made up, isn't it?
There aren't actually really wands, horcruxes or magic potions. It doesn't even seem to really relate to Wicca, from the limited knowledge I have of it.

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