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The worst things that the Harry Potter series is guilty of is poorly contrived plot devices, flat characters, and magically contrived "deus ex" solutions to problems. Is the Harry Potter series an example of mind-numbingly bad writing? Yes. Does it promote satanic worship? I think Satan would be offended by that implication.

So you believe that witchcraft is not a problem in today's society?

If someone tells me that they can cast a spell to summon demons or curse me I just laugh. It doesn't work, so if people want to waste their time attempting to make things float or calling themselves witches or wizards, then I actually pity them a bit. I mean it's sad that so many people get taken in by the lore of magical potions and such when they don't work. Some people don't get needed medical treatment because they rely on these made-up 'miracle cures' like homeopathy. It's sad, and I think reading / watching too much fantasy can distort people's view of reality, but Harry Potter is no worse than so many other fantasy stories out there (except for the writing.)

HAHAHAHAHA. This is funny. Absolutely not. It promotes dressing like a hobbit prancing around on a broomstick on Halloween.

You're just saying that because you haven't come into contact with someone claiming to be a witch or a wizard. The fact of the matter is that everyone has psychic abilities but we just don't control them. Have you ever gone into a Wicca or "witchcraft" store? Those people are serious about the products they sell, and they even warn people about it.

This is the same exact stuff that Harry Potter is promoting, or making it into an enjoyable movie. All it takes is for one kid to do a search on Google, because "witchcraft" tutorials are online.

Cheers to that. Poorly written stories should never be taken seriously.

I don't believe in that whole psychic thing. Though I can see why somebody would think that this is dangerous if they did.

First suppose that witchcraft or sorcery is an actual event with scholarly research involved by serious advocates in its improvement and refinement of craft (which it is most clearly not).

Why would this be a societal problem in the first place?

Dark magic.

If it's used for harm fine. Arrest the people doing it.

I'm pretty sure that "dark magic" is only a subset of these supposed magical arts.

LOL i like how you went so far as to say Satan would be offended by these allegations.

According to my friends grandson, Harry Potter never mentioned Satan in the entire book series.

I like watching the movies, as I think that the producers have found a good bunch of new actors and actresses.

OBTW – My friends grandson is now an adult and reads the Potter series to his children. And this young man turned out to be a very good cop.

That was my costume last year. Not funny.

Look up the word 'fiction' in a dictionary.

Jared is correct. We all laugh now because it makes absolutely no sense to us why a child would understand that. However, when we were younger, we didn't know better. Nothing good coming from the Harry Potter movies for the children, because getting them to read. I'd rather have my kids read a Penthouse than that series.

ok honestly I think the people against these books are making themselves out to look like fanatics. The reason I would say it is possibly harmful to children is because the author of these books is a self proclaimed practicer of witch craft, and in many cases of witch craft "rituals" can call for the harm of another party, and or lead to more hard core "religions" that encourage brutality and violence. With how easy it is for a child to access internet now all they have to do is type in the authors name and a few clicks away they could be reading about some of the more grotesque witch craft practices.

Thank you Sandman. I agree with you.

Exactly. Even though in the books it doesn't imply to practice witchcraft, it promotes it.

Of course Harry Potter promotes satanic worship, like Magic The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Super Mario Brothers, the Beatles, Pink Floyd, sex, masturbation, holding hands, and Darwin's The Origin of Species.

How about that guy above that thinks witchcraft is all about causing harm to other people…someone needs to stop watching so many movies and put down the puritan bible.

Is whitchcraft a problem in today's society? No… Noone has EVER cast a magic spell(that had any actual result), nor summoned forth a demon from the gaping maw of Hell…. honestly this thread is kind of ridiculous…. Is Harry Potter Satanic???? the stories are about morals, societies ethics, the ability to act in the face of an advesary even when its clear you may be harmed. The stories are about doing the right thing even when it hurts. The fact that it's packaged with childrens characters and uses "magic" as a story line is to sell you the book. Find me one child who has read Harry Potter and doesn't have a better sense of right and wrong and I'll show you a kid who can lie better than "ballon boy"

Also, No JK Rowling is NOT a practioner of witchcraft. She is a member of the Church of Scotland and has been quoted multiple times as saying "I believe in God, not Magic" Furthermore there is no section of the current Wiccan or Pagan worship that denotes harming another human or animal. The whole point of the religions is to worship humanity and it's place in nature. No I'm not pagan or wiccan before anyone starts tossing off accusations at me also!

I especially enjoy when members of a religion, such as Christianity for argument sake, talk down on the supposed "rituals" of other religions. Last time I checked the Eucharist is an act of transubstantiation. This means that when a Catholic takes communion they fully believe–or so they are supposed to–that the cracker and wine become the blood and body for Christ down to the very last molecule. Why is one ritual ok but another not? Especially when, like LordTiberivs said, Wicca and Paganism are completely benign religions. Do not confuse so-called Satanism with Wicca or Paganism, they are not the same. And even so, no Satanist has ever cast a spell that worked, or consorted with demons or goblins.

The notion that magic exists only seems scary and acceptable to those who already believe in magic through their own religious belief. A person who does not believe in curses, heaven, hell, etc., cannot even for one second entertain the though of magic existing.

And when you hear stories the likes of which have been recently coming out of Africa about Christian missionaries pouring acid down children's throats in an attempt to exorcise demons, who is really the party at fault here?

No! this is ridiculous on all terms! This series promotes nothing but a world of imagination for readers. I myself am a fan and will stick behind HP through it all.

It really doesn't. If anything, its the story of Jesus and even the author revealed she is a christian with no interest in magic or witchcraft.

Wow, this is absolute proof that people condemn what they do not understand. I am a practicing wiccan and first let me point out that the first rule of wicca is do nothing to harm yourself or harm another, second magic is neither good nor bad, the person using it defines that aspect. Magic simply is… just like yin and yang, two sides combined for a whole, and for the whole satanic thing… hmmm interesting that it is automatically assumed that if you practice magic you worship satan. I worship and believe in God, he is the one who created magic, and the earth, what I fail to understand is how "christian" society can believe in a God who can create this earth and everything in it and then box him up so they can understand him. Does HP promote satanic witchcraft… I guess that would depend on the perspective of the person watching. If you choose to see the evil in it then I can't argue you out of it, but for the normal viewer i believe it is meant to promote hope, friendship, and love. Magic is just the fantasy element used to keep the viewer entertained.

Harry Potter does not promote Satan or witchcraft. If anything it promotes the values of Christianity. If you have read the books you know that the main theme of the books is love and sacrifice. Isn’t the main point of Christianity the fact that Jesus looked all of mankind so much that he sacrificed his life of everyone. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling quotes the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:26, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,” and the second is a direct quote of Jesus from Matthew 6:19, “Where your treasure, there will your heart be also.” These two quotes were later explained to Harry by his friend Hermione as meaning living after death or living beyond death. The fact that a person does not die but is instead given new life in Heaven with God is the foundation of Christian beliefs. Also everything that the Death Eaters, the followers of evil, stand for are things that both Harry Potter and Christians are against. Murder is considered the most horrible thing a wizard can do and will result in the splitting and destruction of ones soul. Lord Voldemort the leader of the Death Eaters fears death unlike Harry who dies for his friends just as Jesus did for us. I think the main reason many people believe Harry Potter is Satanic is because there is magic in the book. However, there is good magic and bad magic just as there is temptation and evil in the real world. Harry and his friends reject the evil magic in the books and strive to only use good magic. In fact Harry does not even use the Killing Curse in the face of death, but instead aims to only disarm Lord Voldemort. Harry does not kill Voldemort, instead he is killed by his own dark deeds. Yes Harry Potter has magic in it, but it does not promote Satanic ideals, instead it does the exact opposite.

Agreed with most of it, but look up _Bud and Nona on the Go_ as to the factuality of devil worshippers not having something. Hmm, they may only /have/ herbs, though. Quite possible.

Seriously, Pentecostals are in some ways weirder than Catholics! Not to rag on my own kind, but you'd see what I mean if you read the aforementioned book.

*Really, really huge grin.*

I mostly agree… Statements of the religion in HP always make me happy. If you want, you can find an HP Christmas story with a similar theme here, if you like. It's difficult to read unless you've read the titular story, but still pretty awesome.

http://annewalsh.trycanta.com/fics/WBCWNE/2

Wow, what is this world coming to? To think that a beautifully written children's book loved by children and adults alike all over the world is promoting "Satan". I think that this is a ridiculous idea! The people that think Harry Potter is evil are people who have no lives and have nothing better to do than to criticize something that is much better than them. I am a big fan of Harry Potter. I have been since the age of twelve. I am now 20 years old and still love the series. I am one of the fans that grew up with Harry Potter. I am also Catholic, and never in the almost ten years that I've been a fan have I ever said "OU! Harry Potter worships the devil, I'm going to worship the devil too!" or even had any thought like that enter my mind. I think that the Harry Potter books promote some very good things like loyalty, good conquering evil, standing up for what you believe in, loving and appreciating what you have, healthy friendships, how powerful love truly is, etc. Anyone who thinks that Harry Potter is satanic, has obviously not read the books, is constantly looking for something to trash, or they are completely off their rockers!

Totally true!

Never in the books is "Satan" mentioned. At all! The only "Satan" that I see in the books is Voldemort, who gets exactly what he deserves!

Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Harry Potter poorly written? I don't see where you'e coming from with that.