Reading material

[Skimmel_98 at yahoo.com]

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No: HPFGUIDX C750
From: Skimmel_98
Subject: Reading material
Reply To: [Yahoo! #737] Re: If no one else wants to say it,
Date: 3/28/00 1:40 pm  (ET)

Of all the things out there in the entertainment world, I think the one
I'm least worried about is Harry Potter's treatment of witchcraft. Would
I rather my child spend time reading Harry Potter or watching typical
weeknight television? For me, that question deserves about 2 nanoseconds
of consideration. I pick reading Harry Potter in less than a heartbeat.

Part of it is that it encourages children to read. I have one child who
hates reading. I consider that a much greater tragedy than my child
thinking it isn't a mortal sin to read the horoscope in the paper. I
choose Harry Potter because of all the wonderful things it teaches. It
may imply that witchcraft is acceptable, a position I consider a real
stretch, it definitely teaches the virtues of bravery, friendship,
mercy and a host of other virtues that i consider worthwhile.

What is a parent to do about it? In my view, the least effective thing
we can do is to ban it. No. Murder and all the rest are out there and
our children have to learn to deal with the existence of it without
resignation or despair. I don't believe that witchcraft, as portrayed
in Harry Potter, actually exists. If it does, it is certainly less of
problem than say crime.

If I objected to Harry Potter books based on their implication that
witchcraft might be acceptable, I'm not sure I could let my kids at the
internet, ever go to a movie, watch television or read anything at all,
the Bible included.

(The best example of witchcraft in the Bible is when Saul goes to the
necromancer to summon Samuel from the dead. Saul is lost already because
he has turned his back on God. But Samuel's ghost doesn't reprimand Saul
for using a witch. Nothing whatsoever happens to the necromancer. Does
that imply that the Bible thinks witchcraft is acceptable? In Isaiah
47, the prophet tells the Babylonians to go ahead and practice
witchcraft. Perhaps it will even gain them something. Ultimately they
will come to ruin. Does that imply the Bible thinks witchcraft is
acceptable? Not really, but I can see how someone who hasn't read the
entire Bible might conclude that.)

No. I believe the best way to deal with Harry Potter is much like you
deal with the other unpleasantries of life. You teach your kids to deal
with. You read Harry Potter to them for the same reason you read them
the Bible. To make sure they get the good out of it without getting
confused or mislead.