oops, I spelled religious wrong lol. Anywayz...I was just wondering, you can be religious and still be a hard core Hp fan right? I think the answer is pretty much "Duh", because just because you like the books doesn't mean you're going to be sereously waving a stick from the yard and mutering incantaions under your breath, and expecting your acceptance letter from Hogwarts to come any day now. I do know maybe, 3 or 4 kids in the whole state of Nebraska become Wiccan because of Harry Potter, and some of take it over board and belive that truly are a Hogwarts student, but other than that... nothing.

I try to explain to my parents that I do infact know the diference between fantasy and reality but they still think I'm still a little nieve 2 year old (like they have for the past 16 years of my life) <_<

SO, what do yalls think?

Do you want me (or another mod) to fix the spelling mistake?

Anyway, I think those who shun HP without reading (or watching) it are a little...bratty. I'm Christian and look! I read Harry Potter! I don't think its against my religion. As long as you know the difference between fantasy and reality, you should be fine. (But secretly I think my letter from Hogwarts got lost ;) :P )

Another thing I have to say on this subject is that I have one friend who is VERY Christian. She jumped on the Harry Potter Hating wagon. But then her uncle (her UNCLE people!) got her the 5th book, thinking she had read the previous books. Not wanting to hurt his feelings (he got it the night it came out, seriously!) she read it. She loved it and went to the library and got books 1,2, and 4. They didn't have 3 so she borrowed my brand new copy (my other one got torn up). She loves HP now. Not as much as me, but still. (I also never got my book back. My grandpa ended up giving me a brand new one for Christmas :D )

So, all in all, those people who think that Harry Potter is the work of the devil, are victims of not following this phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover," as they obviously HAVE judged it.

Yeah, I agree. I think you can be religious and still be a huge HP fan. Just because you enjoy reading about the magic and spells in the book, doesn't mean you're actually going to go and try to do them. That what reading fiction is all about, its not actually going to happen, and you use your imagination.

Alot of the people who are against Harry Potter have probably not read a book all the way through so its unfair that they would judge it like that.

I have read articles where they just made up stuff, and said it was in the books! :blowup: My father is a pastor, and no one in my immediate family has a problem with Harry Potter. :nod:

I don't understand it when people say Harry Potter is the devil, I mean just because they do spells and stuff. What next? Banning Barney? After all, they do say that little spell thing to bring him to life. <_< . Besides, Hp has good "christian" morals too, so it's like going over what you learned in Bible school in a much much more intresting way (or atleast this is what you can tell your parents lol) So, I would pretty much say people who talk crap about Harry Potter just need something to do.

Well I'm Catholic, and according to some priests. pple like me/us (HP fans) are statans! Oh comon...when will they get a life! It's just a book, a fictional story, no more thyen that! Sure I love HP- I love working out the clues etc, I love following the story. But that doesn't mean I worship the devil...This whole misconception came from the fact that Generally Christian religon is against magic, but different kid of magic then waving a thin piece of wood around muttering Latin incantations...Oh well this is one of these topics when you can argue it for years...

I'm a Born Again Christian, and it took a while for me to not be a total anti-Harry-Potter person. The main jist of my problem was that Lord of the Rings was a good against evil story, and it's based on the bible and written by a Catholic man.

Harry Potter contains satanic spells (Rowling looked them up and used real ones), and it's the story of evil against evil. (I know, I know, "Harry's a GOOD wizard, but witchcraft IS against the bible.)
Still, as long as you have a sense of reality and fantasy, I believe Harry Potter is fine. Fanatics who try to curse people are going against my religion, but you know what? THAT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS!

My religion states that you are not fit to judge other people according to your faith, so those radicals who burn Harry Potter books are going against my religion too. All you need to worry about is yourself if you're a Born Again Christian, and that's exactly what I do.

Where did you hear that?

On some news channel. I forget. It was around that time the first movie came out, and all these religious cults were stirring up controversy. I don't remember who it was that said it, but he kind of looked like Hitler. LOL.

I didn't mean to offend anybody with that statement. I was just repeating something I heard.

I could of swore she said the spells where just latin, I looked some of them up to, like things like lumis mean eluminate, etc. I think she just taps into everyone's desire for there to really be magic, for things to just be and not really have any explination, just to believe maybe it is possible to fly by just hopping on a broom or conjuring whatever your heart disires with a swish of the wand, and this is what scares people.

It's just that you can't really trust what anyone says, unless it comes out of JKRs mouth. People have been known to lie just to prove a point. (especially about Harry Potter being satanic. :wink: )

yeah, go ahead if you want to. thanks

yeah, I knew that there was no problem with it but my parents are super christiany and they say even if I don't believe in what gos on in the books, I'm still supporting satanism by reading them, and even wishing it was true defies God. *sigh* I will never win.

and yeah, I heard the spells where just phrases in latin, she uses latin alot in other aspects in the book, so naturally, the spells would be latin.

I take Latin in college, and I can tell you that is Latin JKR is using in the books. Just in case you weren't sure.

I think that there is a lot of religious symbolism in the HP books, whether it's intended or not. Here are some things I've noted about it:

• Harry is a seeker in Quidditch = seeking God/Christ/good in general
• the Golden Snitch = God (in relation to the above)
• he is tempted to do/be evil by Voldemort (Satan)
• Devil's Snare is deadly fun, but not in the sun (Son, as in Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God) (deadly as in if you're not "born again," as my denomination believes, you'll die and not have eternal life in Heaven with God and Jesus and all the other believers)
• "Draco" means snake or serpent...he's in Slytherin (which is represented by a snake)...the Devil took the form of a snake when tempting Eve with the apple = Draco and Slytherin are evil
• Wormtail is a Judas-type character in that he betrays his good friends Lily and James Potter (Harry's parents) to Voldemort (not that I am saying they are Christ figures); Judas, one of Jesus' disciples, betrayed Jesus, who was killed
• seven books--seven is a number God apparently likes (it was used a lot in the Bible)

I'm sure there's more that I haven't picked up on. But if you look for it, the symbolism and parallels are all there.

they celebrate Christmas at Hogwarts!!

I'm totally not saying Harry Potter is satanic, but they don't really celebrate the real Christmas at Hogwarts. What they're celebrating is the bastardized version of Christ's birthday, with trees and Santa and presents. Not once do they mention the birth of Christ, so it's the same type of holiday as Halloween. Totally unreligious.

As for violetcrush's symbolism, that's all pretty interesting. I've heard a few of them before, but some are new to me. I was wondering if JKR pointed those out, because if she didn't, than you can't really trust that it's what she meant by putting that in. It's just like WeasleysGirl said--

Oh, and I wasn't lying, if that's what you're implying, WeasleysGirl. I don't need to make things up to prove a children's book is "satanic", especially because I don't believe it is. :wink:

I think she meant the people there are people who say things to make Harry Potter is evil, and the people who said that JKR used real satanic spell were some of them.

Seriously, who really believes that their letter will come in the mail and they'll be going to hogwarts?? i mean, really, if you can tell the difference between fiction and non fiction then i dont see what the problem is. if you cant, well, then i can see what the fuss is about. Banning Harry Potter from school is retarted, its not like little fifth graders are making wands and writing their own spell books. their not gonna put a hex on you or anything!!

Gryffenchick13
aka:Kathleen :voldemort:

I guess what I don't understand is why everyone makes such a big deal out of the magic in Harry Potter. There are thousands of fiction books all about magic and things like that. Just because Harry Potter is very popular doesn't mean that JKR is trying to turn us all into devil worshippers...

I think that they make such a big deal because 1, Harry Potter is so popular and 2, the Harry Potter Books out magic on the front line, I mean, everyone does it. around every corner there's something magical going on. Not only this, but she writes the books in such a way, many people could wonder that maybe there is a magical world and that we just don't see it. But then again, most of the people who hate Harry Potter don't even read the books, so they probably think it's just some maniac kid running around with a wand <_< . So, yeah, I would have to say they hate it more than most magical books because it's popular and has alota magic, and besides, last I heard JKR is Catholic, so the last thing she wants is prolly to promote satanism.

I'd like to see the people who accuse Harry Potter of Satanism to find one reference in the book of anyone worshipping the Devil <_<

ofcourse, i go to a christian school and i still read hp and watch the movies.

For all you people who believe that hp is bad think of this movies like cinderella have magic in them is that evil!!!!! :wizard:

Also an excellent point.

I have a question for the people that believe that Harry Potter encourages people to become satan worshippers or what ever. Where in the Harry Potter books does it talk about religion? I must have the wrong copies of the book or something because I've read them all a dozen times each and I can't find it anywhere.

that's probabably why, the books don't say "okay everyone, worship Jesus!" and they assume as soon as you have magic, you's talking about the devil.

Some people just like to play the hero, and attempt to try and rid the world of satanly things to make themselves look good I would suppose (sighs), or are afraid anyone who may threaten any christianlyness in the world needs to be terminated. Almost makes CHristianity look lame if you ask me, that's probably why some christians convert to wicca or whatever, because the stereotype of christianity is to orderly and up tight. I never would, but I can see why they would. The people who complain, I believe, are only wprsening the situation.

yeah, good point. I could see how that would be a problemm how alot of CHristians try to press there beliefs on you, especially when they condem the things you enjoy. I'm deffinantly not saying I'm anti-eligion, I'm christian, but sometimes, it's better to be more subtil

As far as I am concerned, I dont think that God is going to care that we read Harry Potter.
Firstly, we are not going to be judged by God. He is not going to go, "Oh my Regular Human Bein! You read Harry Potter?"
Secondly, if you believe in God and you go to church then you are all set. Why care about what other people think? I know that I have been asked before "How can you read Harry Potter, and yet still be the biggest jesus freak I know?" I replied "Easy. I have self control... I dont go around trying to curse people... As long as you dont believe its real then your all set... The average person can desifer Harry Potter from real life, and after all I am an average person... Are you?"

exactly, I could see God looking over your resume to get into heaven and he'd be all like...

God: *booming voice* Mortal! I see that You have read the books of Harry Potter!

Human: *cowers* Yes?

God: Well, then! er.... *ahem* .... do you think that... uh.... maybe I could barrow a copy?

I don't think God could give a care if we read Harry Potter as long as we have self control, I think "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" sums it up when they have that scene about God ranting about how pitifuk we are with all of the "We are not worthy, God forgive us" excevively and what not. Just becase we like it, doesn't mean we're sinning. :coolthumb:

^ :roflol: That's funny.

Anyway, Erised--I think we also need to believe in Jesus and perform good works and be good examples to those around us. And we are going to be judged by God, but like you said, probably not about that.

Just a couple things I thought I'd add in there if you don't mind. :wink:

*Falls off chair from laughing so hard* :roflol:

Well, that's not quite all. I understand what your getting at, but you can't really simplify these things. You also have to accept Jesus as your savior, and admit you are a sinner. After that, your pretty much set. :wink:

(Hopefully I didn't offend anyone. :nosweat: )

The Bible says witchcraft is abominable. The Bible says to love one another. The Bible says not to judge others unfairly. The Bible says that if you pray to Christ, he will heal you. So basically the Bible is aginst itself o.O Harry Potter is actually like a Bible. Fawkes healing Harry is like Jesus saving you. Harry was faithfukl to Dumbledore so Fawkes saved him. If you're faithful to God He will save you.

BTW I'm a Hindu.

I am SO quoting that.

lol, go ahead :gap:

Well...yeah...the Bible does sometimes contradict itself. I'm not prepared to respond to that exactly... :blink: Although maybe I'm missing something, but that part where you say Christ will heal you if you pray to Him (which is true, although not always evident--He may not "heal" you in the way you think or want Him to heal you) doesn't quite make sense to me when in the same context as your other comments.

But anyway, I hadn't seen the religious parallels between Fawkes and Jesus and all that. Very interesting. Glad you picked up on that.

Well, JKR is a Christian, and she says that it is absolutely rubbish to say that she is an atheist... And, yes, the bible doest contradict itself, quite a bit actually, but you have gotta remember that the bible was written by many people.. Not just one... Kind of like how some sites have a lot of administrators and the administrators rules contradict eachothers sometimes...

*PLEEZE, dont think I was talking about this site.... It was just an example!*

i dont agree with the things ur saying
its just the name of the position harry plays

similar to above, its just a name

he was never tempted to do evil by voldemort. voldemort's trying to kill him

dont get that

sname is always represented to be a smbol of evil

wormtail betrayed bcos he was scared that if he doent join up with voldemort he will get killed

didnt she say that she might write about harry's lifeafter hogwarts?

[*]Devil's Snare is deadly fun, but not in the sun (Son, as in Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God) (deadly as in if you're not "born again," as my denomination believes, you'll die and not have eternal life in Heaven with God and Jesus and all the other believers)

^Couldnt find where that was, so I just went ahead and edit copy edit pasted it...

That is truly about as far out of text that I have ever seen anything! You are obviously just trying to take anything that you can find and make it sound devilish! Thats ridiculous! If you are going to take things that far out of text, then why would you even bother to read it? Its like your reading it for the sole purpose of trying to find something wrong with it!

Don't forget...they have Easter holidays as well! Heh heh. :dance:

Lol, nice. Thats very true... If they were all devilish they wouldnt celebrate Easter or Christmas... Come on people!

i think you can totally be religious and still like the books. maybe if you're raised in a strong religious family then it could be a problem

i totally agree.it doesn't have to do with the religion at all.they are just books!