[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

That makes sense, and I thought that might be the case.

When people are members of religious sects that issue statements against certain titles, there's always the possibility a member who reads the titles might go looking for mitigating circumstances to be able to say "No, I've read them! It's not like that at all! Look here! All of this is in accord with the teaching of our faith, and okay for me to read!" The converse is that if the communicant can't find the mitigating circumstances, they may be required to stop reading that sort of content, if they accept the right of the faith to dictate what they may read.

I'm pleased that wasn't the case here. But I am curious: what does your sect object to in the Harry Potter series?
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Dennis

It's important to point out that not all of Evangelical Christianity has rejected Harry Potter. Some very famous Evangelists actually came out and said it was okay (one actually switched from "okay" to "not okay" after the last book -- the one I claim includes the Christ Figure!).

I've actually pointed out the objection, but it's so small, it's easy to miss. It all arose from Rowling's use of the term "witch" for female wizard. But understand that witchcraft is talked about in the Bible, and it's never a good thing, at all. Indeed, I have one friend who dabbled in witchcraft (not the Harry Potter type, but real-world witchcraft), and the results were pretty damn horrifying (taking him at his word). So we have the Biblical admonition of the "evils" of real witchcraft, and a book calling people "witches," and it just take one influential/loud voice to make the association, and others will be willing to run with it (forget that it's a totally invalid association in the first place!).

One further step is that some groups practicing the occult, using actual witchcraft have used the books as "recruiting tools": to evangelize. I've seen, I think, one thread about real witchcraft (not the Harry Potter type) on The Leaky Cauldron. The pastor of my church said he researched this, and it occurs in many places on the Internet. (There is a certain irony here, since Christians sometimes use the arts to evangelize to their beliefs as well.)

So, it started with the use of the term "witch," and -- at least in my church -- maintains momentum because of people "using" the books to interest others in real-world witchcraft, something Christianity considers destructive, dangerous, and if done correctly, evil because it's sourced in Satanism (my friend's experience involved Satanic imagery).

Note that witchcraft has different sects like Christianity, and some are just "paganism" or "new age" ideas repurposed. These are not what I'm referring to as "real" witchcraft; that's the kind that involves occult, Satanic imagery and rituals.

Now, I agree with Christian mainstream on "real" witchcraft's destructiveness, and I also think the books are a catalyst for some people to seek this out. But I think this even more reason for Christians to read the books. Even if I did not see the Christ Figure allusion I would say this. Because how do you talk to people about a book you've never read? Especially if you plan to "condemn" the book without having read it? (Those are rhetorical!)

Ideas are important. But if you are to discuss ideas, you need to be informed about those ideas -- and not be afraid of them! That's why I oppose book burnings (unless it's your own copy and you are doing it for personal reasons), and actually encourage book reading regardless of the topic. Heck, I know Christians who've read The Satanic Bible, and I would encourage even that!

-Pie