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11-01-2003, 04:00 PM
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[img]http://www.snitchseeker.com/images/news/poa_harry_hermione_80.jpg' align='middle'> Church protests Harry Potter event - read...you'll know Summary:
As children walked into the library Wednesday, a group outside shouted through bullhorns, telling the youngsters that they were going to hell......... Article:
As children walked into the library Wednesday, a group outside shouted through bullhorns, telling the youngsters that they were going to hell.
Protesters from Victory Chapel greeted children outside the Payson Public Library as they entered to attend an event called "Harry Potter, a Kid's Night Out."
"The protesters yelled things like, ‘God would think Harry Potter is an abomination,'" 13-year-old Breanne Standifird said.
Two other children, ages 10 and 12, said the protesters were shouting that Harry Potter is the work of the devil and that the children could be forgiven, if they would repent.
Harry Potter books feature characters like witches and wizards and have drawn criticism from some religious groups.
Library circulation clerk Pat Helmick said she thought the protesters crossed the line by yelling at the children.
"They were screaming, ‘Don't go in there, it's evil. Don't read Harry Potter.' It was amazing and pathetic," Helmick said. "I mean, if you don't want your kids to read a book, then just don't have them read it. It's so simple. A person came in and gave me a copy of the paper they were handing the children. It had scriptures on it talking about abominations and adultery -- stuff that I never got from reading Harry Potter. I mean, my goodness."
Parents were upset about how the protesters approached the children.
"I had a friend drop my daughter off at the library," Breanne's mother, Lori Standifird said. "But when I heard there were protesters yelling at the children I was concerned for my daughter's safety and drove over and saw that there were about seven protesters with signs. They had a megaphone and they were shouting things at the children. My daughter said she never felt threatened. In fact, she thought it was sad that these poor misled people didn't have anything better to do with their time. But I was concerned because you never know what extremists are going to do. I saw the police there talking with some of the protesters."
Police were called to the scene when a man leaving the library had a confrontation with the protesters.
"The officers arrived and separated the parties and took statements," Payson Police Lt. Don Engler said. "It has been forwarded to the town attorney's office for review."
Library director Terry Morris said she respects the group's right to protest, but not the way they frightened the children.
"The way these people were shouting at the children really scared some of them," Morris said. "It also made them feel like they were doing something horrible by going to an event at their public library."
Victory Chapel Pastor Gary Basham said the scare tactic was justified.
"Yes we scared them, but I'd rather scare them to heaven than just let them go to hell -- because hell's kind of scary." Basham said. "What we were trying to do was a peaceable protest against witchcraft and sorcery which Harry Potter is directly involved with. The Bible says to raise your children up in the ways of the Lord, not in sorcery. The Bible speaks out against witchcraft and sorcery throughout the old and new testaments. We believe that this Harry Potter thing is wicked. All we were trying to do is open the people's eyes to reality -- it's not just a little story book."
Basham, who admits he has never read any of the Harry Potter books, believes that the author J.K. Rowling is a witch herself and is trying to promote witchcraft through her books.
"In reality, we really didn't mean to frighten the children," Basham said. "It's the parents we wanted to scare, and now I think we've got their attention. Our message is that the parents should teach their kids what the Bible says about this. Then they would know."
When asked if he believed it was fair to hurt children to send a message to parents, Basham responded, "Is hell going to hurt?"
Children attending the event participated in contests and activities like pumpkin painting and raffles.
Local Forest Service ranger station personnel brought in wildlife displays and taught the children about owls -- birds frequently mentioned in the Harry Potter books. Prizes were given to each of the children and included Harry Potter books, movies, toys and hats.
"We planned this event for a long time and it was great for the children," Morris said. "Next year we're going to do a ‘Lord of the Rings' theme."
"The kids had a good time, despite the protesters," Helmick said. "But we didn't let the kids leave unless they were with a parent in case the Victory Chapel people were out there lurking on a corner."  | |
11-01-2003, 09:44 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Faerie
Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Norway
Posts: 4,004
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This is so rediculous!
I can't believe how some people misinterpret what the Bible says about Sorcery and Witchcraft - and totally take it out of context!
It's absolutely rediculous to condemn something like Harry Potter and Joanne Rowling when the dude admitted to never have read the books!?
That's like me going out and making a huge protest about the Bible without bothering to read it first.
Gimmie a break!
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11-01-2003, 09:54 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 270
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that girl was right they had nothing better to do with their time.
i am angry now :angry:
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11-01-2003, 09:56 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Doxy
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Britain
Posts: 435
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That is sad its fiction it's not real hello get over it sad sad people
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11-01-2003, 09:58 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Skrewt
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: it doesn't really matter...
Posts: 1,428
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that's so ridiculous! 'Basham, who admits he has never read any of the Harry Potter books, believes that the author J.K. Rowling is a witch herself and is trying to promote witchcraft through her books. ' my gosh, how stupid can you get? grr...some people... >  :angry: it's not even real! just a book.
__________________ "...I'm with you..." -HBP | |
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11-01-2003, 10:09 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Skrewt
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada *its da best*
Posts: 1,210
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Ok one word BRUTAL i mean come on!!!!!! I am catholic and i have read each book like 32 times not even joking. That is absolutly rediculus and there are giving catholics a bad name i mean my RELIGION teacher reads them. These books have never tought me any thing bad. If anything these books have tought me good. like the old saying says "dont diss it till u try it" If any one did that to or by me they would not be getting a real christian reaction from me about it!!!!! 
And these peole are adults.HELLO get a JOB cause u obviusly have way to much time on your hands
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11-01-2003, 10:17 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Ramora
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 380
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This is absolutely discusting... I never thought that such ridiculess things still happend.
It's no wonder that less and less people are going to church if all they teach is that it's fine to scare kids and tell them what they may and maynot read surely that should be up to the parents! and as for the vicor, he could hardly have been more irrisponcible and ignorant. Encouraging such an event and talking that way about HP and the craft when he has never even bothered to read the books and obviously doesn't know anything about real witches or pagans.
If HP is evil then I dread to think what else is... coco pops, black cats, just about ever fantsy novel ever written... I'm sure I'm going strait to hell.
Oh and if JK is a witch then I'm a vicor!!!
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11-01-2003, 10:25 PM
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#8 (permalink)
| | Guest |
>  its hard to believe people can be so close minded. I mean about 99.999 percent of the time they have never read the books and are just guessing on the content. it makes me so mad they are treating these children like that, considering these kids are more open minded than all these protesters.
i think they need to read the books then give their opinion and its probably a guarantee that their opinions will change. and how dare they tell these children they're going to hell...it just makes me wanna smack those people.
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11-01-2003, 10:44 PM
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#9 (permalink)
| | Kappa
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Midwestern United States
Posts: 1,022
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Last Night (Halloween) I went to a church-thrown party dressed as Harry Potter and nobody said anything to me. You see, most Christians are smart enough to realise that these are books and that people who read them are not going to hell.
I think that's just plain sad. They are just children, people should not yell at them and tell them that they are going to suffer eternally in pits of fire because they read Harry Potter.
In fact, I personally believe that JKR is a Christian. I have heard of Churches actually USING Harry Potter in bible studies and church camps! I've read several interview transcripts, and I believe very strongly that JKR is NOT a witch or anything close to one.
She's said many times that she made up those spells and that when children tell her 'we're trying the spells', she tells them that they are all made-up.
She's a fiction writer, NOT a witch.
I wish that people would stop taking things so seriously. If they read the books, they'd realise that there's nothing evil about them. They are not dangerous for children to read, and they do not promote witchcraft.
Enough rambling. I am just very hot about this now. Forgive me.
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11-01-2003, 10:47 PM
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#10 (permalink)
| | Hippogriff
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New England
Posts: 3,378
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Fanatisism is a real danger to people. Not only to themselves, for they destroy their lives, but for others whom they reach. These children may not have admited they were scaired- but who wouldn't be? If I was going some where and lots of people yelled at me for it I'd be scaired too. These people have to realize that to be against something or to fight something, you have to understand what it is first. I don't believe they even understand what they are fighting for. They shoudl read the scriptures they are trying to promote, where it says, "Remove the beam from your own eye, before your reach for the splinter in the eye of your brother" which is as much to say "look at your own failures- before trying to tell other people how to behave. These people are simply fanatics and too caught up with themselves, and the idea that they are the perfect ones- not realizing that the Bible also reminds us time and time again that no one is perfect- that they can't see that they are making such a horrid mistake. I am Roman Catholic, and I can say that these books have had no harmfull effect. JK herself said she does not whish to push her convictions onto children, and that (and I agree) childrens books that do that are rejected by children automaticly. But HP is not a religiouse book, and has nothing whatsoever to do with it. True, there are some moral shocks here and there, that there are things nobody deserves, no matter how bad they are, et cetera- but it's not what we modle our lives after. Honestly, does anybody modle their lives and their actions after any one thing? I think not. Do you say: "Ok, I read HP now ever little thing I do will be HP related?" Not likely.
P.S. Don't get mad at me for this post. I am entitled to my oppinion, and I respect that of others.
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11-01-2003, 10:53 PM
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#11 (permalink)
| | Chizpurfle
Join Date: May 2003 Location: U.S.A but I wanna live in U.K
Posts: 707
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HAve they ever heard of freedom of religion!?! Its a FICTION book for goodness sakes! And telling children they're going to hell!? Little, inoccent children! This is sick! HP fans should get together and protest about them protesting! I mean come on! How low can you get???? Do you see people who actually do practise witchcraft going around saying that christianity is wrong!?!?! I think not! Jeeeeeeeaaash ignorant... people....
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11-01-2003, 10:57 PM
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#12 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: About 2,000 miles fr
Posts: 2,589
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If they believe that, let them. People shouldn't be persecuted for telling others what they think is right and wrong. Perhaps they are ignorant in your opinion, but have you even tried looking at the situation from the other's point of view?
I mean, they are allowed to do what they are doing. They aren't putting any one in danger, or threatening people. I respect their opinion, and their rights to do what they wish, as should the rest of you.
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11-01-2003, 11:00 PM
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#13 (permalink)
| | Gnome
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Posts: 93
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I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!!! how can they ridicule harry potter when they've never read the books?  sometimes i think people just want something to gripe about
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11-01-2003, 11:06 PM
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#14 (permalink)
| | Chizpurfle
Join Date: May 2003 Location: U.S.A but I wanna live in U.K
Posts: 707
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i knew i was going to get in trouble for saying that... my point is that one... they don't need to tell children they're going to hell for reading a book... and 2 they need to have respect for other peoples religions as I do... I don't say that people shouldn't believe in god and Jesus just because I don't... So if I respect their religion they should respect mine... And most Christians do... I was talking about them not christians in general...  Ok I didn't want to start anything...  :whisle:
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11-01-2003, 11:32 PM
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#15 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,094
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Quote: Originally posted by hp_4ever@Nov 1 2003, 09:45 AM
Basham, who admits he has never read any of the Harry Potter books, believes that the author J.K. Rowling is a witch herself and is trying to promote witchcraft through her books. The witchcraft in the HP books is nothing like real witchcraft or even the twisted view of witchcraft that some closed-minded Christians have.
This is stupid. They shouldn't be able to scare kids like that. I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least one kid traumatized by that.
> > >
__________________ The Heir Returns: Morgana Jones is not your typical teacher. She has a unique perspective on the Dark Arts and is a little too interested in a former Hogwarts Potionsmaster/Headmaster. Will James and Albus Potter survive her classes? Rated Sa16+ Snape is MY man!  | |
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11-01-2003, 11:34 PM
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#16 (permalink)
| | Guest |
That is so redculous!!I'm catholic and I go to church every chance I get.I have readed Harry Potter at lest 47 times and I see nothing wrong with it.People who protest agenst the Harry Potter book's clearly have nothing better to do with there time!J.K.R is the best writter there is!She is not teaching agenst the Bible!She as made a book that get's you away from the real world alittle while, that's it!And befor the protester's say anything about Harry Potter they need to read the book's, because it is not going agenst the Bible. :angry: :angry:
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11-01-2003, 11:34 PM
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#17 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: About 2,000 miles fr
Posts: 2,589
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If that's what they believe, so be it. It's not about religion, and respect for them. It's about rights. If you think it's stupid, more power to you. They can do whatever they want as long as they don't put others in danger. I don't see any one getting hurt. Do you? NO.
In some ways, Harry Potter does go against the Bible. (Just so you know)
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11-01-2003, 11:55 PM
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#18 (permalink)
| | Augurey
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Faroe Islands
Posts: 789
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i can't believe that they have shouted at children, i am a christian myself and i think it's totally wrong to shout at the kids. if i had been one of those people who didn't want the children to read HP i would go to them and talk nicely to them tho i would never do that cuz HP is a great book!
Spike yes i know HP is in a sertain way against the Bible but there are so many other things in our life that also are against the Bible.
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11-02-2003, 12:07 AM
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#19 (permalink)
| | Horklump
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, MA
Posts: 62
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The poor children. I can imagine that would create a lasting image in their minds... keep away from witchcraft or the crazy church people will get you. Poor kids.
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11-02-2003, 12:36 AM
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#21 (permalink)
| | Crup
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,094
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Quote: Originally posted by Spike@Nov 1 2003, 05:19 PM
In some ways, Harry Potter does go against the Bible. (Just so you know) In what way? I'd love to hear some actual examples.
Or is it just because it doesn't praise God every fifth page?
__________________ The Heir Returns: Morgana Jones is not your typical teacher. She has a unique perspective on the Dark Arts and is a little too interested in a former Hogwarts Potionsmaster/Headmaster. Will James and Albus Potter survive her classes? Rated Sa16+ Snape is MY man! | |
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11-02-2003, 12:42 AM
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#22 (permalink)
| | Bowtruckle
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 227
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i actually think its quite funny!! that people r sad enuff to stand outside a libary and waste their time yellin @ kids about harry potter.
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11-02-2003, 01:33 AM
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#23 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: About 2,000 miles fr
Posts: 2,589
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Quote: Originally posted by samanthalee1983+Nov 1 2003, 04:21 PM--> | QUOTE (samanthalee1983 @ Nov 1 2003, 04:21 PM) | In what way? I'd love to hear some actual examples.
Or is it just because it doesn't praise God every fifth page? [/b][/quote]
One of the ten commandments says to not take God's name in vain... I believe in Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban, that is exactly what Draco Malfoy does.
The Bible also says to obey your father and mother. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Ron Weasley and his brothers take the car and snuck out.
It's not against the bible if a book does not praise God every five pages.
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11-02-2003, 01:36 AM
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#24 (permalink)
| | Clabbert
Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: About 2,000 miles fr
Posts: 2,589
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Quote: Originally posted by Jogvan@Nov 1 2003, 03:40 PM
i can't believe that they have shouted at children, i am a christian myself and i think it's totally wrong to shout at the kids. if i had been one of those people who didn't want the children to read HP i would go to them and talk nicely to them tho i would never do that cuz HP is a great book!
Spike yes i know HP is in a sertain way against the Bible but there are so many other things in our life that also are against the Bible. Yes, there are other things in life that are against the bible. Spend a day on a street corner, you'll see everything imaginable. I'm sure those people are aware of that too, they just don't see it as their biggest threat at the moment.
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11-02-2003, 01:38 AM
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#25 (permalink)
| | Hinkypunk
Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York
Posts: 859
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Quote: Originally posted by Kellarae@Nov 1 2003, 03:43 PM that's so ridiculous! 'Basham, who admits he has never read any of the Harry Potter books, believes that the author J.K. Rowling is a witch herself and is trying to promote witchcraft through her books. ' my gosh, how stupid can you get? grr...some people... > :angry: it's not even real! just a book. bloody idiots!!!
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