# Harry Potter & the book-burning fundamentalists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495 "2002-10-23T08:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/1 "2002-10-23T08:25:39Z")
I have heard a lot about the (small minority of) Christian fundamentalists in America taking to burning copies of the children books by JK Rowling. My question, not whether you agree with this or not, is : Did this sort of ‘activity’ ever happen with regard to previous books or TV programmes released to the general public? Things like: _Buffy the Vampire Slayer Charmed I dream of Jeannie Sabrina the Teenage Witch Witches of Eastwick_ What about the likes of Macbeth? The Cruicble? Did any other show / book get the same derisive treatment, when released, from the CF lobbists? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/2 "2002-10-23T12:53:27Z")
Well, there was Gallileo… ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/3 "2002-10-23T13:24:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aro \* > \*\*I have heard a lot about the (small minority of) Christian fundamentalists in America taking to burning copies of the children books by JK Rowling. > > My question, not whether you agree with this or not, is : > > Did this sort of ‘activity’ ever happen with regard to previous books or TV programmes released to the general public? > > Things like: > _Buffy the Vampire Slayer > Charmed > I dream of Jeannie > Sabrina the Teenage Witch > Witches of Eastwick_ > > What about the likes of Macbeth? The Cruicble? > > Did any other show / book get the same derisive treatment, when released, from the CF lobbists? Thanks. \*\* Frequently. I know that Buffy and Charmed get negative treatment from the fundamentalist crowd, not so sure about Jeannie (after all, the fact that Jeannie referred to the Major as “Master” has to appeal to the “women must be subservient to men” crowd, which includes many, if not most, fundamentalists). Sabrina is a bit of a wildcard because, apart from the magic, the show’s producers are required to keep the character moral and virtuous and never show her in “adult” situations. Movies generally come in for less high profile condemnation because the choice of whether to go and see a movie is more or less the consumer’s. Now, when the movie is considered blasphemous, as opposed to merely offensive, then the Bible-thumpers are out in force. Examples: “Last Temptation of Christ”, “Dogma.” Books in school and public libraries are often a favorite target, and the popularity of the Harry Potter books has made them a very easy target. They are by no means the only target, and fundamentalists are not the only ones who try to get books pulled out of libraries for various reasons. But yeah, the fundamentalists are pretty active in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/4 "2002-10-23T14:06:06Z")
Damnations. I came in here all hyped thinking this was going to be book five. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/5 "2002-10-23T14:11:07Z")
This sort of thing happened with **Star Wars** (that annoying talk aboiut “The Force”, you know) and about D&D Role-Playing games. It seems to target the immensely popular pop-culture item of the moment that posits a world without Christianity or with magic. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/6 "2002-10-23T15:02:31Z")
Well, I had a hallmate in college who refused to watch _The Witches of Eastwick_ for that very reason (her whole family felt the same way). I don’t know whether this was a common attitude among fundamentalists or whether this family was just weird, though. (Side note: Never _tell_ your fundamentalist hallmate her family is weird. They don’t appreciate it.) ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/7 "2002-10-23T15:13:17Z")
\*\* > [@](#): > > Movies generally come in for less high profile condemnation because the choice of whether to go and see a movie is more or less the consumer’s. \*\* Firstly, thanks for the great reply. Just curious: Do CFs really forward that quoted argument as you mention? Surely they can’t really think a book or TV show is any harder to avoid than a film? (I thought that they thought that it wasn’t a matter of having actually seen it, it was the basic (lack of) morality in general.) ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/8 "2002-10-23T15:53:41Z")
“Monty Python’s Life of Brian” peeved a few Christian groups, and actually, “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Dogma” were condemned not just by fundamentalists, but by Catholics and other non-fundie Christians. Anything unorthodox seems to spark protests, usually from people that haven’t seen the movie they’re protesting. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/9 "2002-10-23T16:09:52Z")
**h.sapiens** , for me, I think there is a world of difference between a film like _Life of Brian_ or _Dogma_, which are openly ‘blasphemous’, and _Harry Potter_, which is a kids story with witches and wizards. Harry Potter doesn’t really say anything about religion, certainly nothing negative, IMHO. I was meaning books / films which, whilst being ‘religiously neutral’ (by not mentioning it at all), that still cause controversy to Fundamentalists. As for _Sabrina_, I find it a little weird that the CFs agree it is OK to be a witch, as long as you are a good and moral witch. (Most of the time). Harry Potter could be considered a good kid most of the time too. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/10 "2002-10-23T16:32:43Z")
I think you might get some argument about whether the religious-themed movies I mentioned are openly blasphemous. Their makers don’t seem to have intended them to be. However, I take your point about the movies/shows you suggest not being about religion at all. Still, the conservative Christians that protest them seem to be seeing religious significance in them, even if the authors don’t mean for it to be there. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/11 "2002-10-23T17:31:37Z")
I love Dogma. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/12 "2002-10-23T18:37:14Z")
> [@](#): > > In addition to CDs by Bruce Springsteen and Disney videos such as “Pinocchio,” you burned several copies of the “Harry Potter” books. > [http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/04/23/editorial2.html](http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2001/04/23/editorial2.html) > [@](#): > > Animated videos such as Pinnochio and Hercules were also among the items thrown in the fire, which also included Pearl Jam and Black Sabbath CDs, and pamphlets from Jehovah’s Witnesses. > [http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/book\_burning010326.html](http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/book_burning010326.html) > [@](#): > > the Potter series as well as such items as J. R. R. Tolkien novels, issues of Cosmopolitan and Young Miss magazines, AC/DC recordings, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and ouija boards. > [http://www.ala.org/alonline/news/2002/020107.html#potterburn](http://www.ala.org/alonline/news/2002/020107.html#potterburn) ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/13 "2002-10-23T18:50:35Z")
Ah, yes, William Shakespeare: well-known satanist. Yow. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/14 "2002-10-23T23:35:53Z")
Not _I Dream of Jeannie_ but, believe it or not, _Bewitched_ was targeted by fundies. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2002, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/15 "2002-10-23T23:58:40Z")
It’s perfectly understandable. Their cause is increasingly out of the mainstream and the only way they can get media attention is by attacking something well-known. If fundies campaign against Satanist refrigerator motors, who cares? But the Harry Potter angle is a valuable “hook”, since the media love to write about Harry Potter. Attacking Tiger Woods on racial issues has the same logic. If a black radical rails against congressional redistricting, he’ll get a big yawn. But claim Tiger Woods is a CIA plot (along with AIDS and crack cocaine) and odds are someone will listen. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/16 "2002-10-24T03:22:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dorkusmalorkusmafia \* > \*\*Damnations. I came in here all hyped thinking this was going to be book five. \*\* _laughs_ Yeah, _Harry Potter and the Burning Book_… Rowling’s revenge on the book burners comes when Harry makes them all vomit slugs. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/17 "2002-10-24T03:44:55Z")
> [@](#): > > the Potter series as well as such items as J. R. R. Tolkien novels That’s pretty ironic, considering the fact that Tolkien was a pretty devout Catholic and played a big part in the religious awakening of C.S. Lewis. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/18 "2002-10-24T11:18:27Z")
> [@](#): > > h.sapiens, for me, I think there is a world of difference between a film like Life of Brian or Dogma, which are openly ‘blasphemous’, and Harry Potter, which is a kids story with witches and wizards No, neither movie is blasphemous. They don’t mock God, they mock religious intolerance and certain aspects of the Christian church, and in Life of Brian, there is also some kidding of 1970s leftist radical politics. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/19 "2002-10-24T11:32:24Z")
Ok, I know they were not blasphemous, hence the ’ ', but I could understand at least why certain people may be quick to label them as such. The content of _Dogma_ could be considered to mock the sancity of angels and the pitfalls of catholic beliefs, if you were inclined to think that way. I was trying to form a distinction between films which do tackle religion / religious beliefs as a part of their storyline, against films which do not in any way mention religion, but do mention activities (such as witchcraft) that may be considered anti-christian by some. That was all. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2002, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495/20 "2002-10-24T11:58:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aro \* > Just curious: Do CFs really forward that quoted argument as you mention? Surely they can’t really think a book or TV show is any harder to avoid than a film? > (I thought that they thought that it wasn’t a matter of having actually seen it, it was the basic (lack of) morality in general.) Excuse me broadening this slighty, but in protests against allegedly immoral media content, censorious groups over here such as the National Viewers and Listeners Association did sometimes complain that their objection to TV shows was that they were “filth piped into our homes uninvited”. Of course that didn’t stop them protesting about films, books and magazines as well (and some of their most high profile complaints were against films and written material). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by h.sapiens \* > Anything unorthodox seems to spark protests, usually from people that haven’t seen the movie they’re protesting. Isn’t that always the way? It doesn’t just apply to Christian Fundamentalists either - practically nobody who burned Salman Rushdie’s infamous novel had read it. When asked to justify this behaviour logically I usually find the response is along the lines of “No I haven’t seen/read this, _and I wouldn’t want to either because it’s immoral_”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-the-book-burning-fundamentalists/133495.md?page=2)