The wildly popular Harry Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling, have already been blasted by Christian conservatives for glamorizing witchcraft and the occult. The fantasy series is now charged with encouraging homosexuality following the author’s announcement that one of the novels’ main characters is gay.
Roberta Combs, president of the 2.5 million strong Christian Coalition of America, said she was disappointed that Rowling chose to label Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as gay.
“It's not a good example for our children, who really like the books and the movies. I think it encourages homosexuality,” said Combs, who has called for a ban on the seven-book series.
“I would never allow my own children or grandchildren to read the books or watch the movies, and other parents should do so too,” she added, according to the U.K.-based Daily Mail newspaper.
Earlier this month at a book tour stop in New York City, Rowling was asked: "Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?"
In response, the British author said, "My truthful answer to you... I always thought of Dumbledore as gay."
"I know that it was a positive thing that I said it, for at least one person, because one man 'came out' at Carnegie Hall. I'm not kidding," she added afterwards.
Upon learning of the "outing" of the Hogwarts headmaster, many Christians who formerly had no qualms about children reading the books have reevaluted the books.
Tom Barrett, editor of Conservative Truth, reported in a column posted Monday on WEBCommentary that he has discovered hundreds of posts in chatrooms from parents and grandparents who had encouraged their kids to read the books but are now "finally starting to see the light."
"They have repented and have removed the books from their children's libraries," said Barrett. "They say they are trying to undo the damage they have done to the children by their exposure to them."
One website received over 3,000 postings in a day with many outcries from disappointed Christian fans, according to the Daily Mail.
"Not only has she destroyed a great hero, but she has tarnished the entire series," read one post.
Meanwhile, in a commentary posted on the website of the Christian Broadcasting Network, which has also called a ban on the Potter books, self-described cult expert Jack M. Roper reiterated past warnings from conservatives to parents over the impact that the disguised witchcraft contained in the novels may have on children.
"Over time the child can become adapted to the dark world of witchcraft and not even know that it is dangerous," he said.
"As a cult researcher for many years, I have seen contemporary witchcraft packaged in many seductive forms, and Harry Potter is the best," continued Roper.
"Potter makes spiritualism and witchcraft look wonderful."
While non-Christians may see the tales as "innocent fantasies," as Bennett noted, "Christians who understand God's condemnation of witchcraft, which is prominent throughout the Bible, should know better."
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final of Rowling’s novels on the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has been out since July 21 and has sold more than 350 million copies worldwide. It is currently on the best-sellers list of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
Comments
Rand503 sin is not a choice?
I just love how people are so afraid of someone 'promoting homosexuality.' If these people ever understand that it's NOT a choice, then they would realize you can promote homosexuality all you like, but you aren't going to convert someone.
Unless, of course, they are so unsure of their own sexuality that the mere mention of homosexuality will make them kiss the next guy they see...
Yep, I believe witchcraft is a sin. Yep, I believe homosexuality is a sin. Do I believe witchcraft in Potter is the same as the sin of witchcraft in the bible? Nope. We would do well to define just exactly what the sin of witchcraft is (consult Vine's expository Dictionary). Namely, a deceiver and false prophet who uses charms, potions, and amulets to make their "patient" believe they get their powers from occult sources. They are false prophets who deceive the minds of men. That is the sin of biblical witchcraft, not some make believe story where kids blast bolts out of their wands. We KNOW this could not happen in real life; however, biblical witchcraft (deceit, false prophecy) most certainly could. I am against such witchcraft but not against Harry Potter's make believe sort. As for dumbledore being gay, if ithe whole story is this make believe concept than who cares if a fictional character is gay? It is the responsibility of the parents, not J.K. Rowling, to "bring their children up in the way they should go, so when they are old they shall not depart from it".
Funny how there is only a major attempt to censor this wonderful series when there is an opportunity to further historical prejudices and discrimination. Bravo to the religious right!
I dislike J.K. Rowling a lot..I was never considering reading her books and now that i hear this... that it promotes homosexuality, i NEVER will. I have heard her say things like "people who believe in god are weak," and other anti-Christian things. I think if children want to read this book, they can, but they have to remember not to believe any of it.
I wasn't going to comment, here, but this article seems to be hanging around, so... Why not? :)
I noticed a tangent with Lot's daughters, and the comment was made that the sons from the incestuous unions were made patriarchs. Now, I'm not a scholar of the Torah, Bible or Quran, but my understanding of the term "patriarchs" in biblical context is that it refers to the fathers of the Israelites: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob's 12 sons, who became the heads of the 12 tribes of Judah, are also often referred to as patriarchs.
As for the boys born to Lot's daughters - weren't they Moab and Ammon? I don't think the Moabites and Ammonites got on overly well with the Israelites... But, we do see something of God's gorgeous, redemptive grace in this story! The book of Ruth is about Ruth, a Moabitess, who chose to stay with the Hebrews rather than go back to her own people. Her heart was for God, and her reward was to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ! It is no surprise things came about that way, as the entire Bible points to Jesus, His redemption of the lost, and inclusion of the Gentiles.
Ah, this is where things go wrong. Harry Potter is a FANTASY book geez. Also, Rowling makes her books free of religious or anti religious insinuations. In her world, magic is something neutral that can be used for both good and evil. The majority of the wizarding world use it for good. In her world, it has nothing to do with Satan, or evil origins. Kids will not go out and be witches or wizards because they read these books. Let's face it, no one really believes in that stuff anymore except weirdo new agers. Next, if you feel you have to explain to your children about the magical world of harry potter, by all means, let them know it's fiction *as if a kid can't already tell that). About the homosexuality part: In the real world, there ARE GAY PEOPLE. That is something that people have to deal with. There is no reason that the wizarding world of HP should be somehow exempt from this. Also, by outing one of her characters, she's trying to break the chain of intolerance that most people have against them, and showing that just because you are homosexual, doesn't mean you can't be a good person, or a great figure and moral guide. Obviously, there is no mention of him being gay in the books, and it was only brought up when asked. It's not like Dumbledore now has a sick streak where he ogles harry from a distance. These books are about overcoming everyday problems young people encounter, teaches bravery, honesty, self sacrifice,friendship, and love. These are wonderful books for children, Christian or no.
It is widely known that Mohammad plagiarized from the Old Testament, New Testament, and many other ancient texts when coming up with Islam. So seeing something that resembles something in either is not surprising. All he did was change some of the wording around.
Pete: The story of Lot is actually a great story to teach our children the dangers of getting drunk, and what happens when generational sin infects a family. Lot's daughters actually got their father drunk (and they thought to take things in their own hands) to preserve their family. This is another story to teach how when we take things into our hands and don't let GOD handle things.
The Bible is the Truth of God; it is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is the power of God for those who believe. The Bible is God's love letter to His creation; it is the most misunderstood book in all the world, because it is a SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED book; and unless one has The Holy Spirit you will not discern the Word correctly.
In my own past I had read the Bible and I believed that it was in error, but I was wrong; my understanding was what was in error.
Now, people can believe whatever they want to, but I will step forward as God gives me the nudge to do so and speak when He tells me to speak.
His WORD unlike man's is trustworthy and thanks be to God He has blessed me to have a better understanding of His Word. His Word is truth, today man wants anything but the truth. Man likes to be in rebellion, be lord in his own life, well that's their own choice.
If you choose to stick with a dead and dying world, that's your choice, I choose to cross over to the new and eternal World of God! and Glory to God for providing man a way out of his own mess. Thank you Father God! Open your eyes and your heart to really hear what The Spirit of God is saying in our time!!!
I'm praying for you Pete and others who disbelieve God. One day we will all stand before Him, and then I wanna see folks tell Him to His face that He is not really there. Just because folks say there is no God, doesn't make that a fact.
I look at the evidence of His presence, the creation around me, the early morning sunrise, the starry heavens, each star a miracle of its own, my own life, dark and destructive and HE brings me into the Kingdom of light and love, so excuse me if I choose to glorify Him, rather than man. For HIS Glory and By His Grace, Annie
Gee dgnymn, I wonder if you teach your children the story of Lot. No, I mean the WHOLE story. You know, the part where he offers his daughters to the sodomites for their pleasure, then impregnates both of them after his wife is turned into a deer lick.
Compared to the Potter characters, the "heroes" in the your bible are some of the worst villains in all of fiction. Good thing they ARE fiction, I would hate to have to claim some of them as ancestors.
HampsteadPete, please read Genesis before posting something like this again, geez you can't get it anymore wrong then you already did...
And as for MY heroes of the Bible, they are just that, I am not sure what spin you put on them but hey if you haven't read the bible why would you think they were heroes, good day...
dgnymn: I am a child of God too; but I wasn't always one. I used to walk in the world of occult and horroscopes, etc. I didn't always know the Lord, I knew things about Him. You know what changed my heart about Jesus, it was those Christians who shared their story with me, who showed me the love of God. It wasn't those who judged me and condemned me.
We as children of God have to be very careful of what we approve of, both for ourselves and our families.
We are to be teaching our children the ways of God; not the ways of this world, in this I agree with you! However, Jesus when He prayed for us in John 17; said, "not that I take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one," and He does protect us from the evil one. The world outside of the body of Christ is under God's judgement; within the body of Christ that is our's. His Word's again.
It does us no good to get into debates with non-Christians concerning God's Word. He tells us not to get into these very activities as they profit nothing.
However if someone asks us for the HOPE that we have, we tell them, that it is Jesus Christ. The Word of God speaks for itself, people misquote it, they do not interpret it in light of The Holy Spirit, so they do not spiritually discern HIS Word! WE judge within the body of Christ, but not outside of it.
As for Harry Potter, The Wizard of OZ, many of these stories, and other children's so called fables, are not healthy for our children.
We live in a time of ever-increasing wickedness as our Bible tells us; and this too is a sign of the Lord's return.
For all those who are unbeliever's my prayer is that one day the Lord will open the eyes of your heart to really want to know Him, to really want to know His love, peace and grace.
It is sad that folks will be quick to believe the fables, but consider God's Word, a message of love to be fiction. Well, the Lord tells us that one day the whole world will see Him, and that day is not too far away!
Prepare Ye the way of the LORD! "Behold HE comes!
Brethren, Keep your eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ, and not the things of this earth. Hold loosely to these things, this is all temporal, HE is eternal. The KING Of Heaven is on His way, coming for HIS children! HalleluYAH! In His love and grace, Annie
By the way, thanks for making your site a spam magnet. I registered only a few hours ago using an exclusive email address and I've already had more than a dozen spam messages in an email account that had not received more than a handful of spam emails in more than three years.
Regardless of how Rowlings PERCEIVED Dumbledore, there's not the slightest, vaguest hint of homosexuality in the Harry Potter books. Hogwarts is only a FICTIONAL setting, but the VALUES in the books are those of goodness, friendship, loyalty and sacrifice for the greater good. That the books do not EXPLICITLY reference God or Satan does not mean that they are immoral anti-religious works.
I presume that you folks are just as diligent about making sure your children never read Aesop's Fables or Grimm's Fairy Tales, Greek or Roman mythology, and I'm sure you diligently protect them from all those Disney films where magic abounds. I'm sure it's difficult for you to live in the modern world where the mentally ill are not deemed as possessed, and lepers are not spiritually unclean, and adulterers aren't stoned to death, and "witches" are not summarily executed, and the world no longer views a people as noble who rampage through the countryside in a military campaign of conquest where "we left no thing alive" or where very young girl children were given to the soldiers as spoils of war.
So by all means, boycott the Harry Potter books, the Disney movies, and everything else that offends your 3500 year old religious beliefs and values. The rest of us will continue to read, think, ponder, and continue to grow in wisdom and understanding.
May I just state that I think the idea of banning these books from children that because of them have sought out other books to read because the Harry Potter series showed them how to use their imagination. In a world where there is so stress on using the power of thought and creativity to entertain oneself a book that can draw a child that would other wise be playing some mind numbing video game....Heavan forbid. As far as promoting the ideas of witchcraft and the occult if you are worried about your children being unable to distinguish between reality and a fictional story then you have more to worry about than what your children are reading. I would be more worried about how they will be able to function in an everyday world where they will have to make decisions for themselves. If you are worried that your children will be influenced by these stories then have a discussion with your children about what is reality and what is a story.
As far as Rowling "outing" Dumbledore promoting Homosexuality and pushing it on the children. Homosexuality is not something that can be forced on someone. It is how you are born you can't help who you love and Dumbledore does nothing to do with your child and their sexual orientation.
Those of you who sit on your high horse and talk about Harry Potter as though he is the definition of all that is wrong with this world let me ask you this...
Are you capable of forming a thought by yourself or do you instead rely on those of your pastors and ministers and evangelists telling us to take these books away from our children because they might be influenced in a negative way? Would it not make more sense to have faith in our ability to teach our children fact from fiction and right from wrong? Raise up our religious heros as well as those fictional heros that show children that it is ok to be different and create worlds of make believe. Why must it always be so black and white when this is a topic with so many shades of gray.
Following up on GMP, let's spin out this idea of literary characters being considered gay. So is it safe to assume that any male character who does not demonstrate romantic interest in females or is involved in a relationship is to be considered gay? Other than the offhand remark by Rowling, there is no discernable overt indication of Dumbledore's sexuality, gay or straight. He for lack of a better description is either asexual or celibate. Certainly Christians would not infer that Jesus was gay based on the fact that he was never married to or sexually interested in a woman...