Why is that some people think Harry Potter series teaches WITCHCRAFT to kids

That is an age-long accusation, and it's really really STUPID of people to say that without reading the book first. If they read the books and still though that it teaches witchcraft, then they do have the right to hate it. But people who haven't read it are just being closed-minded. It's not like just by opening the book that they'd get sucked into some sort of evil black hole or something. It's infuriating. I've been reading Harry Potter since I was 13. True, I was already a teen, but I was still very young. Never have I gotten the idea of doing witchcraft from reading HP. I mean, fine, if kids follow what the characters in HP are doing, what will happen? Unless the kid is really magical or something, nothing will happen if he waves a stick around and says Latin words. It's crazy. The HP series is not a manual for witchcraft. It tells the story of a wizard who survived because of the love of his mother. The book emphasizes loyalty, friendship, and love. It's about good winning over evil. Without all those things, the HP series would be nothing. I don't read HP just to get tips on how to cast spells. The fact that the characters are witches and wizards is only a unique spin. It makes the story more exciting and interesting. As for against religion. WHAT??? There isn't even any mention of religion in the books because it's for ALL religions. J.K.Rowling doesn't want to alienate any child who wants to read her book just because they're of a different religion from hers. I'm a Catholic. It's true that doing witchcraft is against a rule in our religion. But still I adore the HP series because it doesn't teach me to do witchcraft. It teaches me to do good and to love the people around me. One of the 10 Commandments is Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Harry Potter books teaches me just the same thing. And look at Dumbledore. Fine, he's a wizard. But look what he does. He is compassionate and forgiving and trusting and loved by everybody. He fights for the right of the marginalized and treats everybody equally. He is one of my heroes. And if I've got friends like Ron and Hermione, I would be the luckiest person in the world. I mean, they know there's like a 100% chance they're going to die, but they know it's for the good of all, so they stuck with Harry. The characters in the book are very good examples. I'm not saying that everything they do is great, because J.K.Rowling wrote them as humans. They're just like us. The only thing that differentiates them from us is that they're magical (and fictional). If only those people took the time to read the books, they wouldn't be so easy to judge. Sorry for the long post. I really feel strongly about this.

There have already been some great posts on this. No I don't think it teaches witchcraft in any sense. It doesn't mention anything pagan in it. It does not go into the pagan faith at all that is with the craft. They do not mention the rituals, the gods, or any of that. In fact the only two holidays they mention in there are Halloween and Christmas. Christmas as we all know is not a pagan holiday. Now it does bring up magic and the like however it is something extra some have, sort of like how the Jedi's have the force, the witches/wizards in Harry Potter have magic while muggles do not. It shows how power of any sort, whether it's magic or money, needs to be controled. That without control it can cause great damage. There are many lessons within the books about friendship, loyalty, bigotry, good vs. evil, respect, perseverance and so on. They teach some very good morals. The magic mentioned in it is not what makes the stories so great, it's the characters and the story plots that make it great. I have to wonder if these same people who rant about Harry Potter rant about other fantasy books or movies. Ones like Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, Narnia (which I'd like to note the Catholic Church near me is going to be showing to those who want to come and see it), Sleeping Beauty, Snow white and so many others that have magic in them and not all of them show it as being evil.

This is the kind of religious ognorance which led to "witch-burning" in the dark ages in Europe. Witchcraft is a purely fictional theory and has no scientific reason whatsoever. I also read somewhere as quoted in the first reply to the discussion, and thats true. So do not get affected by these statements because these people seem to have judged the book with a religiously prejudiced mind. Once they read it, I think their fears will be laid to rest.

I think that the ones who believe that these books are bad don't know how to teach their children to differentiate between reality and fantasy. I have heard parents who won't allow kids to read Harry Potter, yet will sing 'Rock a-bye Baby' to little ones. Me, I think that song should scare them! I mean, who puts their kid in a tree top anyway,lol. And down will come baby, cradle and all. I would much rather let kids read a great piece of fiction than have the vision of falling babies planted in their heads before they go to sleep! I find that the biggest arguments against things are usually made by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Such is life! Can't let it bother you, tho. I think the greatest thing of all out of the Harry Potter series is that it got so many kids into reading again. That alone is a great feat!

I don't think Harry Potter is against religion since it a fiction novel, meaning it ain't real. And how could it teach real witchcraft when almost everything they use in Hogwarts aren't even real. And just take the wands for example, who in their right mind would even think that such wands exist?! I just don't know why people sometimes take fiction novels too seriously like the Da Vinci Code book. They wouldn't be called fiction if they're true. And for those who haven't even read the book, they should try reading them first before giving out their opinions, which are purely based on nothing but hearsay.

Not at all, Harry Potter is a delightful book for most age groups. And of course it is always those that have no clue what they are talking about (in that case those that haven't even read the books) that mouth of the loudest. As for teaching Witchcraft, eh I wish there was a hogwards and that some of those spells would work. I would love to say a couple of words and the food is cooked, but since I am a Witch and strangely it has never yet worked for me, well I guess as a source for teaching it kind of sucks. However, everything that is fun and takes your mind of problems for a little while is normally against religion. So I guess there they are right. Now the question arises, just how grown up are you really to be able to figure out the difference between reality and a kids story. I personally love Harry Potter and to h*ll with the closed minded people. They are the once that loose out, but then I guess I won't read some of their fictional books (hint hint) either, so we are square. No harm done.

Because they are madder than Mad Jack McMad, winner of last years Mr Mad competition, on a particularly mad day. all the best urban

anyone who gets into Witchcraft through reading Harry Potter is likely to get bored and give up pretty quickly. it's lots of hard work, and there's no fancy stars and explosions. no instant results.

Hi Ano, I"m afraid I'm not a Harry Potter fan at all.So reading the book is out of question.I have full regards for J K Rowlings for writing such a blockbuster.My daughters once insisted me to watch the first or the second one,'Harry potter and the Sorcerer's stone' or was it 'Harry Potter and the prisioner of Azkaban"? See i can't follow the name even.My kids were very disappointed to see me totally unexcited about the film.I just can't relate to the weird things happening and the weird creatures.I rarely find myself not liking something,but sorry to say that it fails my understanding.:-)

I don't think it teaches witchcraft at all! Why don't you try to do a spell from it, it prob. won't work =P lol. No harm comes from reading a Harry Potter book, I don't see how it's against religion!

Of course it teaches witcraft. Because everybody knows that if you say the right magic words, you can hover items and transfigure them and more... Note the sarcasm...

Actually I don't have any religion. But I'm not into witchcraftry either. But I love the book. It keeps my mind working on imaginations and I like it. I guess it's up to the person to what or whom will he believe in.

Well, witchcraft is a religion first of all (Wicca is, anyway). And besides, it's an entirely different kind of magic! The people who say that are obviously just stupid Muggles who have no idea what is going on and freak out over this and that because they have nothing better to do. A Muggle kid can't learn witchcraft from books anyway w

well i consider it witchcraft! but u gotta define witch craft properly its not something like black magic n all tht is it?? its something to do with magic n how to use it in the right spirit

What a lot of bull! You are right it is normally those people that are ill informed that goes off the deep end. All I will say is go and read the darn book, or see the movie, then we’ll talk again! Sigh!