December 20, 2001
Not everyone is a fan of the wizard Harry Potter, who attends the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. The keyword that has gotten so many people upset: witchcraft.
It was the Communist revolutionary Lenin who stated, “Give me one generation of youth, and I will transform the entire world.” Now an entire generation of youth has been given to J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series. According to Pastor David J. Meyer that is, “J.K. Rowling captivated the world with books that are orientational and instructional manuals of witchcraft woven into the format of entertainment. Since then this Luciferian project has launched onward to capture the minds of an entire generation. As a former witch, I can speak with authority when I say that untold millions of young people are being taught to think, speak, dress, and act like witches by filling their heads with the contents of these books. ‘Azkaban’, ‘Circe’, ‘Draco’, ‘Erised’, ‘Hermes’, and ‘Slytherin’, are all names of real devils or demons. By reading these materials, millions of young people are learning how to work with demon spirits. They are getting to know them by name!” It was also discovered that high level witches believe that there are seven satanic princes and that the seventh, which is assigned to Christians, has no name. In coven meetings, he is called “the nameless one.” Consequently, in the Harry Potter books, there is a character named ‘Voldemort’ or more commonly referred to as ‘He who must not be named.’
Berit Kjos, a Christian author of several books, stated, “The biblical God doesn’t fit into Potter’s world of wizards, witches, and other gods. The Harry Potter series teaches an Earth-centered spirituality, the same religion as what the witch religions teach in the San Francisco area. It is a religion that is very real and is spreading throughout the country. It makes me very uncomfortable when children are immersed in topics that make witchcraft very exciting.”
On July 8th, bookstores everywhere were stormed by millions of children to obtain the latest and 4th book of the series known as ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’ July 8th was also the 18th day (666 in numerology) from the witches’ sabat of midsummer. July 8th was also the 13th day from the signing of the United Religions Charter in San Francisco.
The mystical adventures of Harry Potter were the most challenged books in 1999, according to the American Library Association. “Last year, there were 26 challenges to remove the Harry Potter books from bookshelves in 16 states,” stated Beverley Becker, assistant director for the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom.
Reasons for book banning have shifted over the past decade. During the 1980s, most of the censorship cases were anything that pertained to the body, sex, swear words, and racial slur. Now, fantasy stories are being censored. Opponents of the Harry Potter series believe that anything that mentions a witch or a magic spell is equated with evil. They don’t see it as fantasy. They see it as real. Mark West, author of ‘Trust Your Children: Voices Against Censorship in Children’s Literature’, stated, “A small group of Americans can not accept fantasy that way. They really do care about the book’s impact, so they go against others’ legal rights. If parents find a book they object to, they usually have an opt-out alternative. If they persist in having that book removed from the school, it seems to me there are more complex motivations at work.”
Discussion about the Harry Potter series across the country prompted school superintendent Gary L. Feenstra to direct teachers in Zeeland, Michigan, to stop using the book for read-a-loud purposes and for school libraries to remove it from library shelves in November 1999. He decided not to ban the book. However, he placed restriction on its use and determined that the school district would no longer purchase future Harry Potter books for the school libraries. Existing copies of the books would be made available for check out to students with parental permission. But Steven King still remains?
Dawn Anderson, the Hulett librarian, contradicted this act. She stated, “Public libraries represent ALL views, and that is what the Harry Potter books represent: just another different view. However, when I read about someone else’s beliefs that does not erase my own. Literature can strengthen children’s beliefs, because it can be used as a discussion tool while examining other viewpoints. Parents, however, always have the right to decide what is appropriate for their children to read.”
“We cannot remove something from this world because of fear and ignorance,” states Arch Priestess Tamara Forslun, of the Church of Wicca Australia.
On cable television, ministers and other challengers of Harry Potter have held live discussions on their views of the series. They argue that the characters such as ghouls, ghosts, and poltergeists are widely overused. They also dislike the descriptions of transfiguration, transformation, and violence presented throughout the adventures. They continue their arguments by pointing out parallels with the devil and witchcraft such as Potter was the Babylon goddess who formed humans out of clay through a black pot (going, of course, against the Christian teachings). Also, Harry’s parents were killed on Halloween night creating the innuendo of evilness.
While certain conservative groups continue to bash Harry Potter for his imaginary world, parents, kids, and librarians are heralding the positive themes in Rowling’s books. For example, in the first novel, ‘Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone’, there are four themes revealed:
1. Good overcomes evil.
2. Do what is right and good, and you will be rewarded.
3. Do not always judge by appearances.
4. True friendship pays off.
On page 299, Professor Dumbledore also states, “…to have been loved so deeply, even when the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” Fans ask, “Where is the evilness in that?” Fans also argue that the word choice is captivating, the names are splendidly chosen, and many other literature strengths are found in the Harry Potter series that are encouraging kids to read. Therefore, “Why else would every Harry Potter book be checked out?” And why would these series of books have received so many awards if J.K. Rowling is not doing SOMETHING right? A few of these recognitions would include: New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998, ALA Notable Book, National Book Award, Gold Medal Smarties Prize, and the New York Public Library Best Book of the Year. Ironically, Harry Potter received the PARENTING Book of the Year Award in 1998 as well.
J.K. Rowling wrote the beginnings of an international phenomenon on scraps of paper at a local café. She stated, “The idea that we could have a child who escapes from the confines of the adult world and go somewhere where he has power, both literally and metaphorically, really appealed to me.”
Don’t know what to think anymore? Well, as proven the Harry Potter controversy has several points from both sides of the battle-field. The only fair advice: Read about the adventures of Harry Potter yourself. You may agree with people like Berit Kjos or Pastor Meyer, or you may find yourself wondering whether people simply just have too much time on their hands.