[HPFGU-OTChatter] Can anyone help me?

[Richelle Votaw]

jenw118 writes:

> My friend, Vicki thinks that the books involve REAL witchcraft.  She 
> also believes that the books are coaxing children to explore real 
> witchcraft further.
>
> I completely disagreed with this, and I told her that I'd prove to 
> her in some way that her thoughts were not based on fact.  I told 
> her that I'd print out articles and interviews for her as much as I 
> could in order to prove my point.

Well, that depends.  Is your friend a Christian?  If so, Connie Neal has two books, one is "What's a Christian to do With Harry Potter?" and the other "The Gospel According to Harry Potter."  The first I don't have (yet), but it's a response to the "HP is evil" from Christian extremists.  The second I have and am about 3/4 through, it points out many, many instances which can be interpreted as (and for all we know may be intended as) Christian symbolisms.  If you're interested I can give you a run down of a few key ones for you.  Some of them I'd never even noticed, but when they were pointed out it left me with a "Wow!" effect.  

>
> Can you provide me with links to interviews/links to articles that 
> explain that the "witchcraft" in the books is anything but real.  
> Also has there been any cases at all of children being more curious 
> about witchcraft after reading the books-you know, the books being 
> blamed as the cause for them exploring it?  

None that I've ever heard about.  There are a few instances where JKR has said a child came to her and said they were trying the spells and she assured them nothing would happen.

Richelle


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