I dont believe they pose I threat. I mean, I was so young when I was reading them...and I was never stupid enough to jump off a building. Gosh. What an idiot. He deserved to die.
I'm so sick of christian watchdog groups always making something out of nothing. I have a bible thumping aunt who won't let her daughter read them because they promote witch craft and the supernatural...she also won't let her watch the crocodile hunter because he talks about evolution. And she recently forwarded an email to me concerning The Golden Compass and how it should be banned because it promotes the complete destruction of the christian religion. I read the books and they were excellent; and I told her if my daughter was old enough to read, she would be reading them right now. I don't understand why some people are so against free thinking.
The book is a criticism of catholicism. Not that that means that it should be banned, but if you're trying to raise catholic children, well, parents have a right to censor what their young children read.
\ There's more than one. And no, I don't think they're dangerous. They're wonderful books, for both adults and children.
In Harry Potter all of the authorities are pretty much useless. It's all left up to a child to save the world again and again. Why are all of the authorities such shits? Because the author is anti authority figures as are many British authors IMO. I find it rather fascinating in a way.
Harry Potter is not dangerous, I read them from second grade and I turned out fine...Hey...does anyone know where I can get a goat? Its Friday, and I usually make animal sacrifices to the devil over the weekend... But seriously, Harry Potter actually helped me become a really good reader, it did more good than harm.
The odd thing is that Harry Potter IS dangerous to the kind of people who think it is. It gives us degenerate heathens enough evidence to say "See? I Told you they are crazy"
Ok, first of all, every single message in the Harry Potter books, if you look past the ineffectual government figures, is a positive one. Let me explain it as I see it and see if it makes sense to you. First, despite a despicable living situation Harry is generally a mild mannered and pleasant guy. This shows us that we are more than our environment, we are what we CHOOSE to be, and nobody can take that from us, no matter what they do to us. Secondly, it teaches that what is easy is not always what is right. Granted, it is later in the series, but it is in there. And what does that teach us except to stand up for what we believe, regardless of the popularity of that way of thinking? It also teaches that strength is always physical, and that your intelligence is at least as important as your brawn, if not more so in certain situations. And doesn't that make our kids just a bit more willing to take that extra twenty minutes to really DO their homework correctly than just make due? To strive for something better than merely scraping by. And above all, the Harry Potter books teach us that loyalty, friendship, and love are worth fighting for, heck, even dying for. And honestly, isn't that one of the most important life lessons of all? Yes, it is basely good vs. evil, but that isn't even really the story by the end of it, is it? Perseverance, walking the tough road to do the right thing, and standing with those that you love and respect no matter your fears, are the ones that stand out the most to me. Who you choose to be in this life is what is important, and your choices are your own. Blaming bad parenting, lax discipline, or over discipline, for how we turn out later in life is really a huge cop out in my opinion. We are who we choose to be. Don't get me wrong, our life experiences mold us, but how we choose to deal with those experiences are more important. Sorry if it sounded preachy, but people blaming literature, music, or any thing else for all of the world's ills really make me angry. I know it isn't you all who believe that, but the fact that it still happens is really frustrating to me.
One of the main things in the potter books is to not trust authority, good or bad. Another is to rely on yourself. Learn, train, and never give up. I like these messages.