Harry Potter Books Burned

[Saitaina]

No: HPFGUIDX 15472

(prolly already mentioned but I've been missing most posts so here ya go again)

      'Ungodly' Harry Potter Books Burned 
           
     
      Updated 9:17 AM ET March 28, 2001 
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - The Rev. George Bender says he never thought a little book burning would get so much publicity. 
But news reporters have not stopped calling his tiny Harvest Assembly of God Church in rural western Pennsylvania since word got out that church members held a ceremonial burning of "ungodly" videotapes, music CDs and books including some of Harry Potter's magical tales. 

"We  
     
           
      
     

     
got a lot more attention than we were planning on. I've been getting calls all morning from all around the country," Bender told Reuters on Tuesday. "We were only out to make a little noise in the local community." 

The Pentecostal church, located about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, sponsored a book burning at the edge of its gravel parking lot on Sunday evening. Among the 30 church 

members and guests in attendance were teen-agers who led hymns including "Amazing Grace" and "Father of Creation." 

Into the fire went 1970s albums by Joe Walsh and the rock group Foreigner; CDs by Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and AC/DC; and Walt Disney Co. videos of "Pinocchio" and "Hercules." 

"It's the same old devil with a new face," explained Bender, 60, whose congregation has about 95 members. 

Only a few Harry Potter books were among the trunk load of articles fed to the flames. But Bender said British author J.K. Rowling's "supernatural" novels hold special status because local schools distribute workbooks that feature the boy magician but will not allow church members to hand out Bibles. 

"Harry Potter is a big flash point," the clergyman said. 

The church modeled the book burning on a biblical passage from the New Testament's Book of Acts, which describes how former practitioners of magic burned their books in public. 

"When they did this, they did it before all so it would provoke the question, 'What are you doing?"' said Bender, whose followers believe in faith healing and speaking in tongues. 

The reason why? "There is one God and he has set his standards through the Commandments, and Jesus Christ is our lord and savior. Things that misrepresent or cause us to pull away from him, we should cleanse from our lives," he said. 

Bender said the church had never held a book burning before but might try it again if doing so would "accomplish something positive toward expressing our love for God." 

Meanwhile, publicity has not hurt. "We got some people mad at us. But it's good to have publicity. It's good," he said. 

Saitaina
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