by Stanley Courage Dugah

Created on: July 23, 2009   Last Updated: August 14, 2009

Religious based objections to the Harry Potter series mostly have to do with the witchcraft theme around which the book revolves and JK Rowling's recent statement that one of her characters, good old Professor Dumbledore is gay.

However, one thing of interest is that it is not all religious people who are strictly against the Harry Potter series. Most of them consider it a novel just like any other literary work. For them, the Harry Potter movies, which are based on the books, are not all that different from movies such as The Lord of The Ring and Narnia, which were also made basically for children. They, thus, consider the series more of entertaining novels and movies than tools of the devil to influence children and adults alike into the dark arts.

A minority group of staunch Christians, on the other hand, are however, very much against the Harry Potter series. And for this they have reasons that seem objective, but some are however far-fetched and sounds fanatical.

A typical example is the argument that JK Rowling's revelation of Dumbledore (one of his characters) as gay or a homosexual will influence children into considering being gay as something normal and good to indulge in.

Personally, I consider this argument a bit far-fetched (even though I'm not a fan of same-sex relationships) because I don't think children as young as they are can be influenced by the fact that Dumbledore is gay and consider it a good thing.

As long as their parents take good care of them and teach them what to do and what not to do, things that are good and those that aren't, the probability of their taking Dumbledore as a role model and following in his footstep to become gay is very remote.

The other thing about the Harry Potter series that doesn't go well with a number of Christians is the issue of Wizardry. For this people, wizardry and occultism are things that should not be portrayed to children as things to toy around with. They therefore are always ready to do everything they can to ensure that their children do not watch the movies or read the books, which is a bit radical.

I personally think that children who watch the movies will rather be terrified (if they do take it as reality) about the consequences of indulging in wizardry, rather than seeing it as a good thing to involve themselves in.

I will, however, sympathize with them when they argue that evil is evil (including witchcraft and occultism) in reference to the portrayal of Harry Potter as a "good wizard", and his arch rival, Voldemort, as a "bad wizard".

Learn more about this author, Stanley Courage Dugah.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.