Should Harry Potter be used in the classroom?

tcampen · Dec 27, 2004

When I was in elementary school, I read C.S. Lewis' Narnian Chronicals - all 7 books! While the first book is a moderately veiled recount of the passion of Jesus, the other 6 are far more fantasy. Lots and lots of magic (some good and some bad) and witchcraft and talking animals and things that make Harry Potter seem almost believable.

One cannot intellectually honestly say the difference is in Lewis' being Christian for why the tales of Narinia are acceptable, but Hogwarts not. I've also read all the Harry Potter books and seen the movies. They are fun stories with likable characters. It is fiction. Anyone who has difficulty understanding what fiction is, and its entertainment value better not borrow any of my Lord of the Rings books!

CrownCaster · Dec 27, 2004

PamH said:
As Christians, do you feel Harry Potter should be used in the classroom and why or why not? Also, what part of the country or the world are you from? I am a Christian college student writing a paper on the use of Harry Potter in the classroom.

Thanks for your help.

Absolutely not. If any teacher tries to read that tripe to my child, it will be shut down very quickly. There is a difference between fantasy and straight up glorification of things that God hates. witchcraft is explicitly condemned in the Bible. While the Chronicles of Narnia are fantasy and contain magic, just take a look at the bad character. She is the WHITE WITCH. Most people think white magic is good but even in this story, the white witch is evil. There is a clear line between right and wrong also. In harry potter, this is not the case. potter is always disobeying and going against the rules and being praised for it. I do not allow the wizard of oz and I certainly will not allow potter.

CrownCaster · Dec 27, 2004

Rae said:
No, you didn't. There is no religious core to the Harry Potter books. The author is a Christian who didn't know a religion of witchcraft existed before fundamentalist Christians in America started protesting her books. SP is sadly mistaken on this issue.

Bull! just take a look at these books and the accuracy that is in them. These books were written with knowledge of witchcraft and that is abominable. I don't know if it is this way anymore but you used to be able to go to the harry potter site and be linked to all kinds of sites to further your downward spiral into the occult of witchcraft.

CrownCaster · Dec 27, 2004

biblebabe003 said:
OK, these are fictional books we're talking about!! You'll find them in the fiction section of a library! They got kids reading and have obviously sparked a lot of interest since we're all sitting here talking about them like we have nothing better to do. If they're introducing kids to magic then I guess those kids haven't seen enough disney movies. of course they'll think about magic some, its called imagination!!! but that doesn't mean they're going to truly believe they can cause things to happen by waving a stick in the air and saying some made up words. as long as they can separate fiction from real life, i say they're great books! Also, I just want to say that unless you feel you could do better stop criticizing they way the books are written.

As a Christian maybe you should spend time reading material that exalts God not evil. These are big books and that same amount of time could give you much wisdom of the things of God.

kiwimac · Dec 27, 2004

What a crock of plant fertiliser CC,

Kiwimac

kiwimac · Dec 28, 2004

Nope,

Do you? I was not talking about your "God-exalting pass-times." Rather I was talking about the fertiliser spread so deeply about Harry Potter. Your contention
about Harry Potter founders on the fact that NOTHING IN IT IS REAL, it is fiction.

Kiwimac

Zalnavris · Dec 28, 2004

You say there is a religous core to the books well i think your just analyzing it so you can say its bad because in your mind you see the word "Magic" and your mind says evile. If you did well in raisen your kids then they will be able to tell the difernce betwwen a book and real life.

CrownCaster · Dec 28, 2004

Zalnavris said:
You say there is a religous core to the books well i think your just analyzing it so you can say its bad because in your mind you see the word "Magic" and your mind says evile. If you did well in raisen your kids then they will be able to tell the difernce betwwen a book and real life.

Talk to me when you are an adult with children.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Zalnavris · Dec 28, 2004

how is reading harry Potter not serving the lord. And as to when i have my own kids i will let them read em just like my parents did. there realy good books and i would love to see them replace and "Classic" in schools.

savvy · Dec 28, 2004

Ditto. HP is fun and cute and children love it. It is no different than the Narnia books, or a Wrinkle in Time, or basically any children's book involving magic. Unless you haven't bothered to teach children the difference between reality and fiction worlds, there shouldn't be a problem. And I don't consider them immoral, so I'd definitely read them to my (hypothetical) children.

CrownCaster · Dec 28, 2004

Zalnavris said:
how is reading harry Potter not serving the lord. And as to when i have my own kids i will let them read em just like my parents did. there realy good books and i would love to see them replace and "Classic" in schools.

Like I said. Get back to me in 10 to 15 years.

morningstar2651 · Dec 28, 2004

HP has nothing to do with witchcraft...this is coming from a witch...maybe you should listen.

Rae · Dec 28, 2004

I've said it before. I'll say it again. J.K. Rowling is a Christian. Her Harry Potter books were written from her investigations of English folklore. Her books don't preach Christianity, but they don't preach any religion. I find it hard to believe that anyone could seriously believe otherwise, because the truth is so obvious and easy to find. Read the books. ::shrug::

CrownCaster · Dec 28, 2004

morningstar2651 said:
HP has nothing to do with witchcraft...this is coming from a witch...maybe you should listen.

Sorry, I cannot listen as when you make such statements I only find it humorous. Your a witch, eh?

The Seeker · Dec 28, 2004

tcampen said:
When I was in elementary school, I read C.S. Lewis' Narnian Chronicals - all 7 books! While the first book is a moderately veiled recount of the passion of Jesus, the other 6 are far more fantasy. Lots and lots of magic (some good and some bad) and witchcraft and talking animals and things that make Harry Potter seem almost believable.

Actually, they are all based upon Christian mythology, the first book is Genesis, the second is the Gospel, not sure about the next four, but there is definate Christian symbolism in them (Aslan appears as a lamb and tells the children that they would meet again in his kingdom, for crying out loud) and the last is Revelations (false God set up, great war and conflict, the faithful go with Aslan to start his new kingdom).

morningstar2651 · Dec 29, 2004

CrownCaster said:
Sorry, I cannot listen as when you make such statements I only find it humorous. Your a witch, eh?

Yes. I am. That's funny?

GreenDragon · Dec 29, 2004

morningstar2651 said:
Yes. I am. That's funny?

I guess he's never heard of Wicca...

hernyaccent · Dec 29, 2004

Daegor said:
Harry Potter is clearly a thinly disguised satanic book designed to lure impressionable young children away from God and into the practice of witchcraft.

So I think it should definately be allowed in class.

Question for you then... Do you think Shakespeare should be allowed in school?

hernyaccent · Dec 29, 2004

I think it should be allowed in PUBLIC schools. Private schools should make that choice from themselves. I also believe works of christian authers should be allowed in school.

Living Soul Dance · Dec 29, 2004

In a college literature class. Sure.

In grade school. No!

The bible says, "Raise up a child in the way he should go; and when he grows old, he will not depart from this way." (I am a Christian worshiping arts teacher and I own a Christian Arts School.)

Personally, I don't want my children raised on Harry Potter and experimenting and/or believing in the things that he does. Children are too vulnerable. They don't distinguish fiction from reality well. And for elementary school age children, everything imaginary becomes real! Children act out what they see in movies, on T.V. in books, ect. They even mimic adults. I do not want my children mimicing Harry Potter!
You know,
He lies to his teachers, sneaks out of his room at night, chants over a crystal ball, makes potions, and jumps off the roof trying to fly a broom!
I don't want my children trying to do that! Do you?

But an adult age student; who wants to study this as a piece of literature, Fine.

Just a note:
It is not up to the teacher's to raise our children and teach them all of what is right from what is wrong. We should not put that kind of moral responsibility on our teachers. It is up to us (the christian parents) to decided what we want our children to learn!

P.S.
Whether you beleive that there is something morally wrong with Harry Potter or not is your opinion. I just don't want my children trying to do the things he does!

Sincerely...

Should Harry Potter be used in the classroom?

Should Harry Potter books be used in the classroom?

Yes, I believe Harry Potter should be used in the classroom

No, I do not believe Harry Potter should be used in the classroom

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