# The Muggles Are At It Again **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 27, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086 "2002-11-27T11:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/1 "2002-11-27T11:57:03Z")
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](http://www.startribune.com/stories/1553/3433565.html). 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 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/2 "2002-11-27T12:08:05Z")
_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. ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/3 "2002-11-27T12:31:01Z")
How can anyone destroy a book? Maybe I should stage a protest of religion and take scissors to the Reverend’s Bible? ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/4 "2002-11-27T12:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Wright \* > \*\*_Reverend_ Douglas Taylor? How do these people get ordained? Mail order? > > . \*\* On the internet! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/5 "2002-11-27T12:37:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/6 "2002-11-27T14:14:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*On the internet! \*\* 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.” ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/7 "2002-11-27T14:16:41Z")
Steve, the Universal Life Church. Seek and you shall find. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/8 "2002-11-27T14:59:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*the Universal Life Church. Seek and you shall find. \*\* Ordination may be quick and free, but not painless. From their website: > [@](#): > > Listen to the RealAudio Ordination Message. > Requires RealAudio player. [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146433) ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/9 "2002-11-27T15:00:48Z")
Thanks **Twisty**! I am now Reverend Kal. Please give me “respect and honor” and a small donation to my church restoration fund. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/10 "2002-11-27T15:04:04Z")
And what restoration will you be doing, exactly? New extention? New sofa? ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/11 "2002-11-27T15:09:15Z")
Kal, may i suggest a big new kingsize bed and a new griddle pan? (for the gypsy loving and bacon sanwiches, respectively) ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/12 "2002-11-27T15:11:02Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/13 "2002-11-27T15:25:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by welby \* > \*\*How can anyone destroy a book? \*\* Yeah, don’t those morons realize they’re doing the same thing that [the Nazis did 70 years ago](http://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/gallery/01622.htm)? Only difference is they’re destroying books which they consider to be un-Christian; the Nazi Party destroyed ones considered to be un-German. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/14 "2002-11-27T15:34:58Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/15 "2002-11-27T15:40:06Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/16 "2002-11-27T15:53:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*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! \*\* [With that in mind …](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0664226019/qid%3D1038412400/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-7695647-5006426) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/17 "2002-11-27T16:34:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*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! \*\* Yeah, but everyone knows us Catholics aren’t christian, Guin! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/18 "2002-11-27T17:24:02Z")
That’s right, Munch, I forgot that I’m not Christian. Excuse me, I have to go sacrifice a virgin goat now. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/19 "2002-11-27T18:09:25Z")
Maine, eh? I wonder if the good Reverend went home afterwards and curled up with a good Stephen King novel. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086/20 "2002-11-27T18:29:59Z")
Well, I certainly hope that he _bought_ the books he cut up so that Rowlings can derive some benefit from his stupidity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-muggles-are-at-it-again/139086.md?page=2)