board77

I just poked around the site and I'm sorry to say I don't think it's a parody. Just reading the Harry Potter article, I felt sure it was a parody because it was SO extreme. But all the other stuff on the site is very much like other extreme/paranoid/off-the-deep-end "Christian" harangues I've seen. In fact, I recognized the name of one contributor and I know he takes himself seriously.

Other enlightening "facts" from the site:
* Pokemon uses "cute little characters to teach children Witchcraft and Satanism."
* "Country and western musicians do not have lyrics that glorify satan. However most are talking about sex and who is doing who."
* Role-playing games "directly embrace wizardry, channeling, demonic possession, sorcery, black magic and vampirism."
* The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City "has become the mother institution of the New Age movement in the United States, whose goal is to eclipse the Age of Pisces (Christianity) with an Age of Aquarius (Lucifer)."
* There's a picture of Laura Bush giving a "Satanic salute."
* The Ku Klux Klan is demon-possessed. (OK, even a stopped clock is right twice a day... )

*curls up into a ball and tries to shut out crazy world*

Good grief...

Oh, nuts, i half-thought it was a parody when i first read it. Gues my other half was right......

It's sad that people like that are around. They give a bad name to christianity. I'm not christain and i can see that

I need to get back into this thread considering it's not that much longer until the next book comes out!

I read that article and I didn't think it was a parody. Unforunately it's probably quite serious.

What's up with that comment in the beginning about goats? I don't remember any goats!

And speaking of the next book.....i think this might help dispell the mood brought on by that article.

Coverart competition for HBP at mugglenet.com

I'm pretty sure that while many things on that site are intended in all seriousness, this article was submitted as a jest, but was taken seriously and posted by the site owners. I'm not sure they've twigged to it yet, although the hit rate on this particular essay should show them that word is getting out.

Actually, it doesn't matter if this is parody. I've been asked similar questions by some fairly committed evangelical Christians: Is Harry Potter evil? Does it promote satanic practices. Some schools don't recommend it as reading. The attitude is out there, although perhaps not phrased quite so colourfully.

Eruname Apparently Albus Dumbledore's brother Aberforth ran into strife when he practiced 'inappropriate charms' on a goat. I don't have the books with me, so I'm not sure which book this is mentioned in.

Some misguided people feel the same way about Tolkien, a devout Catholic, and Madeleine L'Engle, a devout Episcopalian ("A Wrinkle in Time").

I have taught classes on Harry Potter at my church and donated a couple of the books to our small church library. So please do not assume all or even most Christians follow the Harry-is-Satanist line.

I like the idea that this particular article might be a parody that the web site is promoting unknowingly.

Wampuscat wrote:

Some misguided people feel the same way about Tolkien, a devout Catholic, and Madeleine L'Engle, a devout Episcopalian ("A Wrinkle in Time").

I have taught classes on Harry Potter at my church and donated a couple of the books to our small church library. So please do not assume all or even most Christians follow the Harry-is-Satanist line.

Oh no! I'm not suggesting that this is a widespread view among Christians. I'm just noting that once the wrong end of a stick is grasped it can be hard to let go of it.

I based what I said in that last post on a less than rigorous methodology. One of the people who asked me about the Satanic elements was my cousin. Also, I did a quick straw poll at work one day - two co-workers had children at community church schools where the books had been taken off the reading list. However, the more usual response is that schools - public and church - have embraced it, and, as you have done, designed whole lesson plans around it.

In Germany there was a serious discussion that Catholic libraries must not have the books in their shelves. I don´t know what the result was.

I think the article was no parody. I´ve seen others about LOTR on German pages and they were ridiculous, but seriously meant.

Have these folks read these books? *sigh*

I'm gearing up to re-read all of the books again in anticipation of the new book being released. The best idea I can come up with is to read them in reverse order -- it'll get the 5th book over with and I can apply what we've learned from it, in reverse. (I just saw the first movie again on TV -- think your opinion of Prof. Snape in Book 1 vs. what we now know about him in Book 5:

-we've had glimpses into his mind
-Member of the Order (And trusted by them and Dumbledore -- we still don't know why)
-can read minds
-former Death Eater (and perhaps still a spy)
-a canny survivor, can be very politic and plausible while maintaining his own competence i.e. with Umbridge))

And Harry for that matter: "Oh cute, one of his little wizarding powers is talking to snakes" vs. "Oh cute, on the the signs he's part Voldemort is that he's a parseltongue."

At the very least I now know to distrust Harry as a narrator... (and I expect Rowling to put important puzzle pieces right next to strongly emotional scenes. )

-Kushana, who wonders why the Time-Turner can be used to give Sirius an extra year of life (and let a 13-year-old attend extra classes) but isn't used to save Cedric or Sirus (part II.)

Quote:

Our country is now beleaguered in the Harry Potter merchandize, colorfully, festively almost announcing the arrival of the anti-Christ. The worst product available to corrupt our youth was Potter's vibrating broomstick, now taken off the market under pressure of Christian parents because it taught young girls how to abuse themselves and awoke their interest in the sins of the flesh.

!!!



They made a vibrating broomstick?

I had no idea...

Quote:

* Role-playing games "directly embrace wizardry, channeling, demonic possession, sorcery, black magic and vampirism."

They forgot lycanthropy!

[/drive by]

Actually, they might have a point there. A vibrating broomstick does sound bad to anyone with a dirty enough mind

BTW, what does it mean by channeling? Channeling what? Demons? or......magic?

peeg wrote:

A vibrating broomstick does sound bad to anyone with a dirty enough mind

Well, there's plenty enough people like that on this site.

Too damn right. Sad, really

Can we get back to the subject of the Harry Potter books? That article is making me feel unclean

Alright...

Half-Blood Prince, only 2 months and 7 days away!

*has been prodding around online for rumors*

Well, Rune, i posted a ton of spoilers on page 3 of this thread about HBP.......they're mostly the stuff that's been confirmed by JKR or her publishers that's gonna be in the book. As for rumors.....i've no idea, expect for at one point people thought HBP was going to be called "The Piller of Storgé" or "The Toenail of Icklibod"

If you find any good ones make sure to post em here

OMG, only 2 months left I'm so excited!!!! *Rune and peeg squeal like rabid fan girls*