Why won't people let their children read Harry Potter?

Sadly because *they* believe what they are told and won't read the books for themselves to find out. They focus so much on the witchcraft and spells that they miss the good points of the book. The friendships, the teamwork, the fun. My own mom was one of these people until she watched the first movie and she even had to admit how good it was...and that just from the movie! Tell them to read the book, after they read it then they have the right to make judgements. Until then, tell them to stick a sock in it!

Some people they just blindly believe whatever they read. I really don't think that kids will take brooms and jump off the balcony thinking they will start flying. Besides there are a lot of books which promote withcraft and magic. The Narnia books have nothing but magic in it but it was written by a God fearing man and no one said anything about it and Christians promote those books. And not most but all who say it is nothing but Satanic may not have read the books themselves. (Are they jealous that kids don't read the Bible that much? I really love the Harry Potter books but I couldn't get past page 7 of the Bible when I started reading it) Harry Potter does encourage children to chuck the computer and the TV and make them read. and the best part of these books is that it is part of the current generation and becasue of this children find a good comfort in the books themselves (what happens to the bullies, how a lonely Loonely Lovegood gets friends and respect etc are some of the examples). And it is very good read which I doubt anyone who has read the books will disagree with.

I think this all depends on what you, as a parent, teach your children. I have read all of the Harry Potter books and plan to make them readily available to my children. I teach 6th graders and a lot of my students LOVE Harry Potter. I would never discourage them against reading just because Harry Potter has magic in it. It's FICTIONAL, and I think that is simply what you have to teach your children...that this is fictional not real. Just like Lord of the Rings. People are ok with it, but it's still about magic and elves and blah dee blah. All of this stuff that isn't real.

Why is it anti Christ, I am a catholic and I always follow harry potter series, I just want to blame for all people that think that many o these stories are anti-religion, they might not talk about religion but seriously, it does not affect me at all, I mean my faith.Even though I watch that movie. I am getting closer to God you know. I agree with you, I watch many fiction things when I was a little kid and I know its all fiction as well. There are just some people who said everything is from devil, I used to play magic the gathering card which people said its devil card, I played pokemon and yugioh and they say its from devil. Its just ridiculous, it just looks like a card game for me and its just for fun. Well, if you do it too much then its not right. but If you dont and just do that for fun, then, its alright to play those games and watch harry potter. Dont say everything is devlish.

It has to come from how the parents were raised. Personally I don't understand how people can think that if a child reads a Harry Potter book they will turn to witchcraft and satanism. Its just a childrens book with the classic good vs. evil message. I'm not going to pretend that I know alot about raising kids since I'm only 21 but I know that I wouldn't stop my kids, if I had any, from reading these books. Infact I would encourage it because I've read the first 6 myself.

honestly as long as they drag themselves away from the TV and the Nintendo I think we should just be grateful. Reading is fast becoming a lost art in this world of ours. As long as they aren't reading...I dunno, playboy, or the Necronomicon, I don't care what they read, just as long as they don't stop reading it.

it just little bit weird why some people having any idea about this matter. in my opinion Harry Potter it just similiar wih another books which having story in magic world and tales as like Lord of The Ring, Eragon, Narnia and much more. If they having thought like that why we dont have any idea about another books tittle?

because people fear the unknown....maybe the think that if their children read it they will become witches and start casting spells? Maybe they just have no imagination. I think it's ridiculous, Harry Potter has gotten so many children reading again, and yes I believe most children are intelligent enough to distinguish between fiction adn reality, I know I certainly was aat a young age

I couldn't agree with you more - at least kids are reading! Reading a book isn't going to make someone evil or start practicing magic. Kids definitely deserve more credit than they get when it comes to stuff like this. The Religious Right will always find something in the mainstream that is evil - it's the way of the beast (no pun intended).

If people ban HP books, they might as well disallow other books that contain magic and witchcraft as well, like Lord of the Rings, Narnia, etc. I think these people think this way because Harry Potter (as written by jkr) lives in today's generation. Children can easily identify and imagine themselves in the situations that Harry can get into (except for the magic, of course). They encounter the same problems Harry has had while growing up, the usual adolescent angst so to speak. Are they denying that children can feel as harry does? With his first love and kiss, losing a friend or parent, etc? After all, if you take out the magic, harry is just as normal as anybody his age.

BECAUSE CHILDRENS ARE ADDICATED TO READ HARRY POTTER

I think it's ludicrous. Perhaps you've heard of a certain Laura Mallory, of Loganville Georgia who is trying to ban them from schools? Or even better, the comment that she had never read the books herself. It's insane. If anything gets popular, though, then there's always someone who ruins it for someone else. I think that saying your own child cannot read a certain book is within boundaries, but trying to prevent other children from reading a book is just ridiculous.

Another big factor is religion many dont consider it or research it, but the author of the book claims to be for the devil and many parents do not want their children to read the books because of her. They do not want to support someone who is totally against their beliefs and does not want their children to either.

jaja I totally agree!... but I also think the last 2 book are just too "dark" for children! :S I mean... I'm 20 years old and there are some chapters that really scared me... I don't even want to think how may feel a 10 years old child reading that! XD

Yeah the kids today are very intelligent these days and they are well aware that what is real and what is fiction and who said that Harry Potter is anti christ. I dont think so and moreover these novels are so interesting to read , even I enjoy reading it and I will definitely let my children read it.

I really hate it that this is the case. Somewhere someone started the cry that Harry Potter promotes witchcraft and satanism. Preachers started proclaiming it to their congregations. Parents' rights causes took up the banner. I don't think any of them really stopped to think about what they were saying. Fantasy has been in the world almost since the beginning of time. Ancient peoples made up stories to explain the world. Stories were passed down from generation to generation. Children have always loved the fantasy of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. Fantasy helps the children develop imagination which breeds creativity. Creativity is what has made the world what it is today. In Harry Potter JK Rowling has incorporated this fantasy with a readability that has gotten children reading. And anything that popular is bound to have detractors!

I think Harry Potter are very good books. it makes your mind imagine far away worlds even though it is real almost at the same time. I have only read two of the books, but I have seen all the movies. I think they are great.

i think it is silly for parents to stop their children reading harry potter. i think it is a wonderful read, and it is great to see it capturing so many peoples imaginations. i think it is showing how pathetic some people can be when they arent letting their children read a book :S

I don know.... But my parents never discoraged me from reading harry potter....

I actually really hate that people have this veiw. Being a Christian myself I happen to love the Harry potter books and I do not think that they are bad in any way. I happen to just love fantasy books. I think that people do not give children enough credit when they think that kids do not realize what is make believe and what is real.