The Muggles Are At It Again

This is probably old news by now, but yet another Christian has decided the best way he can serve God is by disparaging Harry Potter, this time in Lewiston, Maine. Here’s the link. I first read about this in an editorial in this morning’s paper which speculates that Britons must be bemused by this. Me, I’m just fed up.

Look, I’m a Christian who hangs out with Wiccans and the magic portrayed in Harry Potter has little or no relation to what I’ve seen my friends do or what they believe. They even celebrate Christmas at Hogwarts, for crying out loud, although I’ll admit that may be more cultural than religious. I’ve read and enjoyed all four books, and I don’t see any disparagement of Christianity. Instead, I see a lot of actions which support Christian values. I’ll also point out that one of the biggest Harry Potter fans I know is my former minister’s son. Trust me, that one’s in no danger of turning pagan.

I’ve been feeling a bit sad because two of my closest friends will be moving to Maine shortly. Since they’re both Wiccan, all of a sudden I feel like they can’t get up there fast enough. There’s also an interfaith council up there I wouldn’t mind seeing meet with this guy.

This has been covered before, but once again, ignorance has come scuttling out from the woodwork. Fellow Dopers, boots on! Let’s get stomping!

CJ

Reverend Douglas Taylor? How do these people get ordained? Mail order?

Sorry, Mr. Taylor, you’re going to have to grow a brain before I start revering you.

How can anyone destroy a book?

Maybe I should stage a protest of religion and take scissors to the Reverend’s Bible?

On the internet!

I suppose I could point out that “magic” and “Wiccan” or “Neo-Pagan” aren’t even the exact same thing.

Throughout the middle ages, there were plenty of “Christian” witches and magicians - some of them in the employ of kings.

On the flip side - there’s nothing I’d call “Pagan” or “Wiccan” in the Potter books.

Which is just more stupidity about the whole thing. God forbid we let kids imagine anything.

You got a URL? Because I’d quite like the air of instant authority that these “ordinations” apparently confer. If it works for this Taylor creep, and the “Reverend” Ian Paisley, it’ll work for me too.

“The Rev. Steve Wright hereby declares that children are entitled to some imagination in their lives, and that twerps who go around cutting up kids’ books, just to get their names in the paper, should turn their collars the right way round and go and get a proper job.”

Steve, the Universal Life Church. Seek and you shall find.

Ordination may be quick and free, but not painless.
From their website:

link

Thanks Twisty! I am now Reverend Kal.

Please give me “respect and honor” and a small donation to my church restoration fund.

And what restoration will you be doing, exactly?

New extention? New sofa?

Kal, may i suggest a big new kingsize bed and a new griddle pan?

(for the gypsy loving and bacon sanwiches, respectively)

I think I should very much like to join Rev. Wright’s church. Is there a newsletter to which I could subscribe? Any vows or anything I would need to recite?

Yeah, don’t those morons realize they’re doing the same thing that the Nazis did 70 years ago? Only difference is they’re destroying books which they consider to be un-Christian; the Nazi Party destroyed ones considered to be un-German.

Well, on a good note, the Pittsburgh Catholic gave the latest Harry Potter movie a good review and did an editorial on the books themselves-and how they have good CHRISTIAN values!

This is a pathetic display of someone shouting for what he thinks is right. Since he believes this, everyone has to believe it, right? All Christians, Jews, Muslims - whatever. My parents are charismatic Christians, and they have read the books and seen the movies, and enjoy them immensely. These are not ‘church on Sunday, sin all week’ people, either. They are lay ministers in their church, and run Life in the Spirit Seminars and Live-In retreats. I think I’ll trust their discernment in this matter, mkay?

With that in mind …

Yeah, but everyone knows us Catholics aren’t christian, Guin!

That’s right, Munch, I forgot that I’m not Christian. Excuse me, I have to go sacrifice a virgin goat now.

Maine, eh? I wonder if the good Reverend went home afterwards and curled up with a good Stephen King novel.

Well, I certainly hope that he bought the books he cut up so that Rowlings can derive some benefit from his stupidity.