I wasn't aware that the Vatican had been anti-Protestant. Back in 1999 or so, the Catholic Telegraph (Cincinnati-area newspaper) ran a feature on how awesome Harry Potter was. They took flack from ignorant readers, but the archdiocese's line was that there were entertaining books and people should get over it.
I never understood the religious argument against Harry Potter. I've had Christians tell me they don't let their kids read it (and neither should I) because it glorifies magic and fantasy. Yet, these same people adored Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. Boil it down and all of those books are about the struggle of good vs evil, with both sides using magic. So...WTF?
And Harry becoming "...aware that the world of magic, which he grew up with in the past, is not exempt from malice..."? Really, um, I read the first book a while ago, but didn't he learn pretty early on that magic KILLED HIS PARENTS? I think even an 11-year old can see the malice in that. Thanks for underestimating our children. Again.
@Agent355: Great points. My issue is how can the books be anti-Christian when Harry Potter and the gang celebrate Christmas every single year? I've read a lot of fantasy books over the years and Harry Potter is the only one I can recall where Christmas is mentioned at all.
@Agent355: The argument I've come to understand is that there should be no other power outside of God, which is exactly what magic is. Lord of the Rings and Narnia are filled to the brim with enough biblical references and messianic characters that the wizards and magicians are shrugged off as odd metaphors.
Harry Potter on the other hand has no such references. Having a gay mentor who teaches kids to be special by casting spells and hexes (more direct as to what magic is, referencing the occult and pagan more than Jesus) doesn't quite fit with the God-only perspective.
Narnia will get kids interested in locking themselves in a wardrobe by accident, Harry Potter will get kids looking up spells and drawing symbols on their forehead.
I believe none of that, but it's more coherent with the belief than you make it out to be.
@Agent355: With mud bloods being a major point in the HP books I could see how some right wing Christians wouldn't want their children exposed to the idea that racism is bad because it might cause them to question why daddy constantly yells about the mud races ruining the world.
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Oh come now. We don't need to smoosh 'Christian' and 'racist' to make the point about how silly it is not to simply teach your children that Harry Potter is a made up book.
@Agent355: I always assumed it was because the Vatican is squeamish about adolescent boys gathering together to brandish their wands?
That, and while LotR and Narnia have magic, their mortal humans are at the apex, whereas in Potter, they're bumbling, small-minded buffoons. These sorts of Christians are pretty thin-skinned and like to be reassured that Man is the alpha & omega of all creation (thanks, God!!)
@FrankN.Stein: Maybe they are just realizing how stupid they've been for as long as they've been around. Or they're just trying to get a positive image again, and this is the quickest route to take to achieve that.
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call me crazy... but hasn't every single book had that theme? im probably just crazy
07/20/09
"Sorry about staying quiet about the holocaust. p.s: Keep forgetting Jesus was a jew"
'Sorry about covering up and enabling all the perverts and molesters we welcomed into our ranks"
"Sorry about all the inquisition and witchhunts"
"Sorry about the oppression of women and their exclusion from any power in our religion's structure"
Oh wait, that last one hasn't come yet. Oh well, they have another millenia to get to that one. It seems low on the list.
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I dont know where the church has not taken an anti-Protestant role, just go to mass as a protestant and listen to the rules for communion
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And Harry becoming "...aware that the world of magic, which he grew up with in the past, is not exempt from malice..."? Really, um, I read the first book a while ago, but didn't he learn pretty early on that magic KILLED HIS PARENTS? I think even an 11-year old can see the malice in that. Thanks for underestimating our children. Again.
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Harry Potter on the other hand has no such references. Having a gay mentor who teaches kids to be special by casting spells and hexes (more direct as to what magic is, referencing the occult and pagan more than Jesus) doesn't quite fit with the God-only perspective.
Narnia will get kids interested in locking themselves in a wardrobe by accident, Harry Potter will get kids looking up spells and drawing symbols on their forehead.
I believe none of that, but it's more coherent with the belief than you make it out to be.
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Oh come now. We don't need to smoosh 'Christian' and 'racist' to make the point about how silly it is not to simply teach your children that Harry Potter is a made up book.
07/21/09
That, and while LotR and Narnia have magic, their mortal humans are at the apex, whereas in Potter, they're bumbling, small-minded buffoons. These sorts of Christians are pretty thin-skinned and like to be reassured that Man is the alpha & omega of all creation (thanks, God!!)
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