# Harry Potter is EVIL! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 25, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297 "2003-06-25T14:26:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/61 "2003-06-27T02:07:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by viking \* > \*\*My favourite (sorry, no link) is where a fundie site cites the onion’s parody of fundy sites as `proof’ that harry potter _is_ turning kids to satanism… \*\* I can think of a few fundamentalists with a particular tendency to condemn gay people that I’d absolutely love to send that bit of slashfic quoted above to! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/62 "2003-06-27T09:26:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DocCathode \* > \*\*Due to concerns that we Yanks wouldn’t know what the philosophers’ stone was, it was changed to sorceror’s stone. Until somebody told me the original title I kept wondering what the heck the sorceror’s stone was. > > Why the change? > Who doesn’t know about the philosophers’ stone?\*\* I think the bigger question is: Who knows about the sorcerer’s stone? Think about it. They ditch “the philosopher’s stone” on the grounds that Americans have never heard of it, and replace it with something that no-one has ever heard of. How is this an improvement? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/63 "2003-06-27T10:24:04Z")
What’s really sad is a few months ago, after _Reader’s Digest_ had an article about Harry Potter, they published a letter to the editor from a woman who said Harry Potter was an instrument of evil. She cited the article in _The Onion_. The thought still makes me want to go bang my head against a nice, brick wall.:smack: :smack: :smack: The objections some Fundamentalist Christians have to Harry Potter is very real, and, from what I’ve been able to make out, rooted in real, sincere, religious belief. Unlike almost everyone here, they believe a little knowledge, at least about some subjects, _is_ dangerous, and a lot is more dangerous. They would rather not have their children exposed to such things, just as I would prefer my niece not be exposed to deliberate hatred and hypocrisy. If the couple in the OP’s actions weren’t part of a scam, she probably doesn’t see her actions as hypocritical, but as responding to a direct attack on her family which is every bit as real as if someone pointed a shot gun at them. Actually, it could be even more real of a threat – a shotgun only damages the body, while exposure to evil threatens one’s entire soul. There are also people who consider credit immoral. If the couple in question don’t own credit cards or use them for that reason, then I could see why accepting store credit would not be acceptable. That said, in my opinion acting like a jerk, which this woman did, is _never_ acceptable. You guys have read it from me often enough. I even said it last night. My response to Christians who pull stunts like this is to go back to commandments 1 and 2, and keep in mind they include the words “mind” and “love.” Sheeesh!! (and that’s in full awareness of that expletives origins!) CJ ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/64 "2003-06-27T13:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Siege \* > **My response to Christians who pull stunts like this is to go back to commandments 1 and 2, and keep in mind they include the words “mind” and "love."** :: pulls out _Shlimazel’s Guide to Rashi’s Commentaries on the Torah_ :: Let’s see… Commandment #1… Genesis 2… “Be fruitful and multiply.” Yup, that’s definitely all about love. [/hijack] ;j Yiddish word for the day: “_Shlimazel_,” noun, a person who suffers incredible bad luck. “A _shlimiel_ spills soup in a _shlimazel’s_ lap.” ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/65 "2003-06-27T14:29:44Z")
I literally went :eek: when I saw that there are people who think _C.S. Lewis_ is the tool of Satan. I thought he was one of the few we could agree on. Next someone will tell me that John the Baptist was the tool of Satan. :sits back and waits: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/66 "2003-06-27T20:03:25Z")
Gotta agree, **Velma**. C.S. Lewis? I have this image of ol’ CS listening to someone say this. I can see his jaw drop. “I’m a…what?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/67 "2003-06-27T20:40:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Plastic Ninja \* > \*\*Gotta agree, **Velma**. C.S. Lewis? > > I have this image of ol’ CS listening to someone say this. I can see his jaw drop. > > “I’m a…what?” > > 😃 \*\* Then he puts on his Caped Christian Crusader outfits and fights for great justice! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/68 "2003-06-28T09:31:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by green\_dragon \* > \*\*Right at the bottom of the link regarding CS Lewis, they mentioned JRR Tolkien…was HE supposed to be evil too? Has there been outrage over the LOTR books/films/games? > > Sorry about the hijack, I just HAVE to know 🙂 \*\* Considering how much Tolkien drew on teutonic mythology, it wouldn’t surprise me. Odin was god with one eye. Sauron is (arguably) just an eye. His dwarves and elves are no doubt inspired by dverge and alfar. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/69 "2003-06-28T12:21:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by green\_dragon \* > \*\*Right at the bottom of the link regarding CS Lewis, they mentioned JRR Tolkien…was HE supposed to be evil too? Has there been outrage over the LOTR books/films/games? > > Sorry about the hijack, I just HAVE to know\*\* Tolkein was not just _supposed_ to be evil, he _was_ evil! He was, after all, a “papist” (at least, late in life). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/70 "2003-06-28T13:31:49Z")
Interesting to note that the publishers of _Harry Potter_ chose to release the latest book on the summer solstice – clearly they recognise that even adverse publicity is _good_ publicity. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Seige_ > **The objections some Fundamentalist Christians have to Harry Potter is very real, and, from what I’ve been able to make out, rooted in real, sincere, religious belief.** Well, as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, sincerity means diddly squat, these people are dangerous nutters, period. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/71 "2003-06-29T03:45:12Z")
What amazes me is how stupid and suceptible these people believe their children are. They seem to think that two seconds after being exposed to Harry Potter, their children will run out the door and sacrifice a goat. What is this amazing power they attribute to J.K Rowling’s works? If your kid is so dumb that they can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality, you have serious problems to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/72 "2003-06-29T06:06:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > If your kid is so dumb that they can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality, you have serious problems to begin with. Then again these are probably the same people who think that an athiest will be converted by a reading of the bible. A book that many athiests would call a work of fantasy fiction. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/73 "2003-06-29T06:23:18Z")
Lissa, It isn’t that they think their children can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality, or that they think the children will suddenly want to do the things they read about. It is a whole lot more about not presenting morally wrong things in a positive light. Kind of the same way that I don’t like my children being exposed to certain TV shows or magazines that present extra/premarital sex as just another recreational activity. It’s not an attitude I want them to pick up. It isn’t that I think they’re stupid, and it isn’t that I think they won’t make their own judgements. But it falls to me as a parent to teach them moral rights and wrongs, and exposing them to positive presentations of morally wrong activities doesn’t help that when they are young. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/74 "2003-06-29T06:49:47Z")
You can all thank me later for this: [http://www.thewavemagazine.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=22182](http://www.thewavemagazine.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=22182) Just read: it’s about a video delving into the deeper depths of evil Pottermania. And it’s got Seanbaby, baby. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/75 "2003-06-29T06:56:40Z")
> [@](#): > > It isn’t that they think their children can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality, or that they think the children will suddenly want to do the things they read about. It is a whole lot more about not presenting morally wrong things in a positive light. You mean those morally wrong things that they can’t do because there is no such thing as magic? Please, by all means teach your kids not to transform themselves into talking dogs or kill unicorns. That would be WRONG of them to try. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/76 "2003-06-29T07:45:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thirdwarning \* > \*\*Lissa, > It isn’t that they think their children can’t tell the difference between fantasy and reality, or that they think the children will suddenly want to do the things they read about. It is a whole lot more about not presenting morally wrong things in a positive light. > > Kind of the same way that I don’t like my children being exposed to certain TV shows or magazines that present extra/premarital sex as just another recreational activity. It’s not an attitude I want them to pick up. It isn’t that I think they’re stupid, and it isn’t that I think they won’t make their own judgements. But it falls to me as a parent to teach them moral rights and wrongs, and exposing them to positive presentations of morally wrong activities doesn’t help that when they are young. \*\* What’s “morally wrong” about anything in the Harry potter books? What’s “morally wrong” about fantasy? For that matter, what’s wrong with witchcraft? It’s not like it’s real or anything. It’s not like you can really cast spells or curse anybody. One of the overriding themes of the series is about love triumphing over evil. Harry’s mother dies to save him and he was protected from evil by the power of her love. What’s “immoral” about that? People that think these books are evil are just fucking nimrods. I’m sorry but that’s all there is to it. You cannot be an intelligent person _and_ think Harry Potter is evil. An individual is capable of one or the other, not both. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/77 "2003-06-29T13:52:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thirdwarning \* > **Kind of the same way that I don’t like my children being exposed to certain TV shows or magazines that present extra/premarital sex as just another recreational activity** Out of curiosity, like what? Which TV shows _present extra/premarital sex as just another recreational activity_? Also, you are aware that sex _can_ be a recreational activity? And that not everyone would subscribe to the view that sex should _only_ occur exclusively in marriage? I sincerely doubt that you can “teach” morality, and certainly _not_ if that “morality” comes down to the _blind_ adherence to a handful of “laws”. I refuse to recognise any act as moral unless it is volitional and based on critical comprehension. See, maybe this is why fundamentalists feel they should fear a book, for they themselves became _enslaved_ to one particular book, and have voluntarily given up their _moral obligation_ to question the “teachings” therein. If you want your children not to believe in _hocus-pocus_ don’t teach them it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/78 "2003-06-29T16:37:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob Scene \* > \*\ ***Sivalensis,** I’m sorry you had to deal with such a lame fundy. If she had been one of the cool ones, she would have started speaking loudly in tongues, rolled her eyes back in her head, and tried to cast the evil spirit of Harry Potter out of you and the whole store. Better luck next time. \*\* That’s humorous. No really. Pat yourself on the back for making a completely ignorant statement. People who share your particular brand of ignorance threw rocks at my great-grandfather while he walked down the street and bombed his church in J’ville FL in the 1940’s. His small children were inside. You don’t have a clue what “speaking in tongues” is, or when/where it would be appropriate. Sorry for the hijack. I personally have read all of the HP books, as have 2 of my children. I found them to be good fiction stories, and I think that Rowling displays an excellent imagination that has rarely been seen in the past 40 years. My family is Pentecostal, and I don’t know of one single person that thinks HP is evil. ~J ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/79 "2003-06-29T17:25:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jaade \* > \*\*You don’t have a clue what “speaking in tongues” is, or when/where it would be appropriate. > \*\* I’m Jewish ;j but my understanding is that- After he rose and was recognized, Jesus gathered his disciples around him. He told them that they must carry his teachings and his word to the people of all the nations of the world. Tongues of flame appeared in the air. They descended and entered the mouths of the disciples, who found that they could now speak strange languages. The interpretation of ‘speaking in tongues’ varies from sect to sect. Some sects believe that the individual is literally speaking in an unknown foreign language. Others claim that the language is not worldly but either divine or the language of angels. The Quakers (and the defunct Shakers) also literally believe that the Holy Spirit moves them, causing a kind of shaking and dancing. ``` How's that? ``` ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297/80 "2003-06-29T18:09:20Z")
That’s pretty close Doc. (Is it ok if I call you Doc?) The Pentecostals (Apostolic types) also believe in moving in the spirit, or dancing. Of course, you aren’t BobScene, so I didn’t actually intend to berate everyone with my statements. 🙂 ~J [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-is-evil/184297.md?page=5)