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I just heard a debate on the radio about whether Harry Potter goes against the bible or not, and whether kids should be reading it or not. I wondered what people on here thought about this topic.
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If that question is asked it is the first step towards censorship...
Liturature is just that... Harry Potter is just a fictional charater and nothing more!
I grew up when records were being banned and burned ( yes the Beatles ) , then came the onslaught of books to be banned ( Catcher In The Rye , etc.) . None of these works claim to be "gospel" they are just fiction and fantasy ( in my opinion so are some of the works in the bible, but that is just my opinion and not meant to offen anyone... my personal opinion only ).
If you only knew how many "fairytales " were originaly meant for adults your head would spin... and some of the underlying meanings in them...
I will stop now before I get myself in hot water LOL!
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I agree with Shadows. The Harry Potter series is a series of stories. And IMHO, they are a whole lot cleaner than even Looney Tunes. Has anyone noticed just how violent Looney Tunes really is? And then if you ever read any of the original works from the brothers Grimm... A lot of people would want that banned too if they knew the truth. Sirenetta (who became Ariel in Disney's telling) was completely stark naked on the beach when she was found by her would be lover after taking human form. If you'd like, I can pull out more of the original stories and cite instances of all sorts of things people wouldn't want to expose children to. All this, yet ban Disney?? Perish the thought.
Besides... Censorship is evil to begin with. Fiction is that, fiction. It's not the stories that make someone rebellious.
Here, here, I totally agree! Fiction is fiction, leave it at that folks. I can't begin to count how many times I've heard the whole Harry Potter debate and if it's not that then its Christians complaining about Pulp Fiction or gay rights or sex ed. For Christ's sake (literally) leave all these things alone...there's nothing worse than censoring the wrong materials. If anything, I find Harry Potter very educational regarding growing up, family, and love. When I have kids, they'll read Harry Potter and any other book they choose to read.
Years ago, I was angered by a book store clerk who questioned me purchasing a biography on Malcolm X, which was not only for a school book project but for personal enjoyment in an educational manner.
I think folks need to lighten up...BIGTIME!
There, somebody take my soapbox away before I jump back on it! LOL
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I remember a few years ago an article which said in some place the book of HP was burned and how evil it was.Well I don't know where to get this article anymore but it's totally wrong.The series is excellent and it's fiction after all.I can debate about this an entire page and more ,showing exemple why it is not bad but I will stay calm.I think I remember JK Rowling receive a letter or something from the previous pope (don't remember his name)approuve the book because it show a young boy fighting an evil wizard and this is a good exemple for kids and bla bla bla.Like Aaediwen said, you can found wrost then Harry Potter.
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The past Pope did have some good to say about it, BUT not the current pope.... according to the news this morning he ( in the past ) said the book was harmful to the souls of the young... or some such dribble.
This was a note on Yahoo.de from Thursday 14th, 2005:
"Ratzinger against Harry Potter Rome (dpa) - the Pope does not like Harry Potter: Already as a cardinal Joseph Ratzinger pointed out unmistakably that the magician's apprentice and its supernatural surroundings are a thorn in his eye. "So it's a good thing that she cleared folks up", is written in a letter Ratzinger sent to a German Potter critic in 2003. "It concerns subtle seductions, which decompose the Christianity in the young soul even before it could grow at all". "
Ratzinger was always known to be more than conservative. He is a man of doctrines and dogmas.
Harry Potter is fiction. Good fiction. And this is how readers see it, young and old ones...fiction. I don't like the tendency at all which is shown by the fact that there is a discussion about it at all...it was mentioned before...censorship.
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QUOTE (CelticCoalition @ 16-Jul-2005, 02:03 PM)
I agree witth everythign said so far...and yet I don't necessarily think that Harry Potter should be allowed to be read to students by teachers.
Now you are starting another topic altogether...
I was read Beowolf, the brothers grimm, and other titles in grade school, and many books that are raising eyes now were required reading in the middle and upper high school.... come on folks liturature is part of mankind and to not expose our children to all of it is ridiculous...
No other book or series of books has encouraged children to read, and to enjoy reading, nearly so much as the Harry Potter series. Heck, some of those kids are even becoming better spellers as a result of their exposure to the written word.
Kids understand that the world and characters of the series are fiction, and no more "real" than Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Big Bad Wolf.
As so often happens it would appear that a small group of self-righteous zealots has taken it upon themselves to demand that the whole world change in order to accommodate their narrow view of spirituality and morality. That statement would also describe Al Qaeda, ELF, ALF and many other terrorist organizations. The only difference is one of degree.
One interesting point - it seems to be adults that are pitching a fit. The kids really don't seem to give a damn.
Swanny
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People do have a tendency to leap before they look. Just because a fictional character has the ability to do magic doesn't make them evil. Personally, I think Ms. Rowling has provided an example in Harry Potter of what kids should aspire to be.
Also there is a group, mainly those who believe that thoughts ought to be controlled by people other than the ones who do the thinking, who believe children cannot separate fact from fiction.
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QUOTE (Swanny @ 16-Jul-2005, 05:37 PM)
No other book or series of books has encouraged children to read, and to enjoy reading, nearly so much as the Harry Potter series. Heck, some of those kids are even becoming better spellers as a result of their exposure to the written word.
Kids understand that the world and characters of the series are fiction, and no more "real" than Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Big Bad Wolf.
As so often happens it would appear that a small group of self-righteous zealots has taken it upon themselves to demand that the whole world change in order to accommodate their narrow view of spirituality and morality. That statement would also describe Al Qaeda, ELF, ALF and many other terrorist organizations. The only difference is one of degree.
One interesting point - it seems to be adults that are pitching a fit. The kids really don't seem to give a damn.
Swanny
Swanny my wife (who is the Diretor of the local library) and I could not agree more!
Well said friend!
The public libray the next town over will not even carry the Harry Potter series, luckly my wifew works for a private libray that is open to the public that cares about liturature and reading.
The public libray the next town over will not even carry the Harry Potter series, luckly my wifew works for a private libray that is open to the public that cares about liturature and reading.
I can hardly believe it. Over here you could find the Potter books in any library; public or private...and even in those which are run by church.
I'm always very careful with comparisons between Eorpe and especially Germany and the United States of America. But in this case I have to say that we still have and uphold freedom of speech and writing and the right of unlimited access to literature and information with only some very few exceptions such as pornographic stuff and so.
How much would we limit the growing of our children's capability of imagination, how much would we limit them if we refudes them access to books like the "Harry Potter" series. It has been said in almost every post before...they are able to seperate fact from fiction...so let them read it and give their souls the possibility to breath and grow.
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I agree with everyone's point of view on here. I LOVE the Harry Potter Series. I'm currently reading the whole thing a second time before I start on Book 6. I have 2 boys in 2nd and 4th grade, and whenever my 4th grader gets the motivation to read such a large book, I plan on letting him read Book 1. I remember 3 years ago when our Catholic School had a book fair. All of the book fair posters that were in the hall were of Harry Potter. No one had a problem with it. Like someone previously said...it's only a few over zealous people that don't like it.
I have to agree with the fact - that fiction is fiction and just that. I love the Harry Potter books and as stated - in the fairytales by the Grimm Brothers which also have magic and death in them.
Just think about it - Snow White - Stepmother tried to kill Snow White 3 times Cinderella - magic fairy godmother.
For me Harry Potter is nothing but good vs evil like in many fiction stories. LOTR is the same - good vs evil and so are the fairytales.
You just have to approch the issue with your children as it is. It's make believe and not real. If you explain it to them they understand.
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