[HPforGrownups] Re: First found HP

[Barbara D. Poland-Waters]

No: HPFGUIDX 100461

Okay, I'll share too. . .although I don't remember when I first started
reading the books. And I don't really remember if I started reading the
books first or saw the movie first. What I do remember, vaguely, is the HP
books getting so much press because religious groups were saying it was
anti-Christian or something. I am Jewish and not religious at all (more like
agnostic/atheist) and when I started reading the books I couldn't believe
all the uproar about them. If anything, I think they present a very moral,
upstanding world for children to learn from. Harry always fights evil, is
loyal to his friends and most of the "bad" people get punished or something
bad happens to them (the Dursley's aren't getting arrested for abuse, but
Vernon is put in his place over and over again and he isn't depicted as
someone to respect or hold in high regard).

I also have a vague memory (please correct me if I'm wrong) of hearing that
religious groups thought these books were promoting a world where God is not
the highest power. I'm sorry, I don't know how better to put it into words,
but I never thought that was the case either. I don't ever recall reading
anything in the books that was negative towards God or spirituality or
anything like that. The only difference between this world and real life is
the magical abilities people have. But who knows, their world could have a
God too. (I personally hope it doesn't, but that's just me.)

Back to my discovery. . .I absolutely love all the books. Once I started
reading them, I was hooked and couldn't wait for the next one. I've read
them all over and over and they kept me company and got me through some very
rough times in the last couple years. I think JKR is an excellent writer and
I hope these books stand the test of time like some of my other favorite
children's books (Little Women comes to mind).

Barbara
aka bd-bear
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze80gd4/