Harry Potter Report: Is it actually bad?

Question

i'm doing a report for a christian school on whether or not harry potter is bad. i completely LOVE harry potter, and it is my favorite thing to read. but the thing is: i'm fed up with people putting it down. even my teachers don't like me because i've brought it to school. they don't even know what they're talking about. they even BANNED the books from my school. anyways, i need good reasons to back up why it's not bad. any help?

Answer 1

Tell them that in the end of the final book, Harry sacrifices himself, like Christ did, to save the world from Lord Voldomort, sin. You can also tell them that they celebrate Christmas and Easter, which are Christian holidays. No where in any of the books does it say anything about who to worship, or put your faith into. The whole series is about teaching a profession, not a religion! Plus the whole series teaches that keeping positive morals, and thinking through your problems, is the best way to solve your problems in life. It also teaches that even though there is evil in this world that may be temping to join forces with, staying on the good side is always a better choice in the long run.

Answer 2

I think the whole thinking harry potter is evil and satanic is just plain wrong. I mean, if anyone thinks JK is trying to convert people or turn them against God, then maybe they should actually read the book. The main theme throughout the Harry Potter series is love: how love is more powerful than the darkest magic, how friendship is a good thing, the difference between what is right and what is easy, (quoting Dumbledore, there.) and other stuff like that. Yeah, sure. That just sounds so devilsh to me because everyone just relates love with anti-christianity. People, come on! That's so stupid. I think it's like the whole witch burning thing. What's with all the anti-magic people?



Anyways, some of the best books of all time are banned. Have you ever realized that? So banning Harry Potter probably just makes peole want to read it more, like Umbridge did with Harry's interview in the Quibbler.



Thanks for this question. I've been wanting to say a lot on this matter because it annoys me so much.



Have a good time reading Harry Potter. I know I do.

Answer 3

Talk about how Harry Potter reflects Christian morals. Harry is what is considered in literature as an all good hero. He has human flaws but a symbol of goodness and virtue. There’s also the fact that some elements of Harry Potter that have Biblical references; such as the times when Voldmort tries to convince Harry to going the "dark side" but Harry doesn’t give in. You can also discuses the fact that the characters of Harry Potter are not members of the Occult. They were BORN with their magical abilities. They don't conduct pagan rituals, but they do celebrate Christmas in every book and there are several references to the Easter holiday. And finally there’s the main theme of the story which is for lack of a better word: Love will always win out in the end.

Answer 4

The reason alot of Christians hate Harry Potter is because of the witch craft. I know my uncle won't let his children read the books because of that.



But what alot of people don't get is that it's not about "abra kadabra" witch craft. It's not even the same kind of witch craft most people thing about.



Plus, the story is not even about witchcraft at all, although it is used throughout the story and is a main theme.



But, the story is about a boy who became an orphan, and how he was raised with an aunt and uncle who hated him, and how he was considered famous at his new school and how he has to meet new friends, get good grades, and of course, go after the person who killed his family and is trying to kill him. It's about the struggles of Harry, not about witch craft. The witch craft is mainly their to make it more interesting, and because more things can be explained if you blame it simply on witchcraft.



Another reason I have heard is because they say it has so much violence and hatred. But honestly, I think the violence in HP is alot alot alot alot better than violence in any other movie. In HP, it's not gory at all. A flick of the wand and their dead. You don't see people's brains getting blown out or them getting stabbed or whatever. It's not gross.



Many people who ban the book, don't know what it's about, and thats the reason for banning it, because they make an assumption of it before they know it.



Don't judge a book by it's cover.



(ps, if your writing a report for your school, a good title should be "don't judge a book by it's cover" and then go into details about how it's really not about magic in a sense, and then talk about all the good things about it. I grew up with HP and as nerdy as this sounds, i can related to some of what harry is going through (not the orphan or voldemort parts..but w/e.) Make sure you address what their concerns with the book are though, like say "i understand that many people don't like it because of [insert reason here], however, [insert reason that it's not so bad.]..

Answer 5

Harry is the equivalent in the magic world that Dr. House is meant to represent in the medical world in terms of doing what's right over what's "normal" and/or impresses authority the easiest. I'm not a Harry-expert but I just watched Chamber of Secrets last night for fun and notice Harry actually defeats Voldemort by sneaking out during a planned "end of Hogwarts" where all students are forbidden to go outside. He leaves searching for clues and doing the right thing rather than the most convenient one, confronting the "evil" abilities he has such as talking to snakes and channeling that power into good... in fact Dumbledore says this himself.



Most people refuse to believe that there is "evil" power in good people and try to simply deny evil. The whole Harry Potter series seems to follow up on the Dumbledore's aforementioned idealism and asks us to step up to a higher level by admitting and confronting the sinful sides of us.

The other reason many teachers may dislike the Harry Potter series is it seems, on the surface, to breed the idea that you can better yourself by disrespecting authority. On the contrary, for those people like you who know the series well, the point it makes is to say that just because a person is an authority does not mean they are good. Case in point Severus Snape and Dumbledore are both authorities with similar powers but different ethics.



People need to understand that the world can not be forced into "black and white"/"good and evil", but instead will always be shades of gray. And the best way to be "in the image of G-d", is to realize you have the ability to sin and ask for forgiveness...everything in Christianity from the sacrifice of Jesus to the book of Joeb points to this there is nothing non-Christian about it.

Answer 6

Well first off, I feel so bad for you because I couldn't survive in a school like that. But what I would talk about if I were you would be the good things in the book.Like that the good people always win and that the good people are the ones who want to HELP the people in need. Also what I think would make an excellent thing in your paper would be this: "It is only bad if you actually believe that the magic and house elves and all that other stuff is real." But if you don't believe in it then it is just harmless entertainment. But you can reword it however you like. I hope this helps and good luck on your paper!

Answer 7

Well, the harry Potter books are about the battle between good and evil, and harry and his friends are good. The books show the importance, of love, friendship, courage, honour, and all the most admirable characteristics that people can possess. They show that good can always triumph over evil in the end. They show that love can redeem people, Severus Snape turns away from evil because of his love for Harry's mother Lily, for instance. Dumbeldore is a noble character, almost saintly in a way. Hagrid is courageous, loyal, and lovable.



I suppose your school disapproves of the Harry Potter books because they think that magic must be evil. But the magical powers that people in Harry Potter have do not come form the devil, they are just natural talents that people are born with. They are nothing to do with the powers of darkness, and in fact they use their magical powers to defeat evil.

Answer 8

HARRY POTTER, palms DOWN. Twilight should be an truly wide-spread e book, yet only for now. Harry Potter will truly proceed to exist, even in a lengthy time period! also, Harry Potter has such outstanding adventures, humor, the characters all look very unique, and that i love how Jo Rowling thinks of the plots and years. definitely, once you examine the seventh e book, each and every thing from Harry's first year and throughout the sequence is needed, and that is in simple terms GENIUS. As infantile as they could look, i'm deeply in love with the sequence and the suspense KILLS me, particularly contained in the seventh. You not in any respect comprehend what's going to take position! after I first examine Twilight, i idea it became truly sturdy. in spite of the undeniable fact that, upon interpreting New Moon, each and every of the e book became, for quite a few the section, became whiny Bella because of lacking Edward. they are very predictable, and a standard romance e book. I loved vampire books, particularly those by technique of Anne Rice, and this ordinarily killed it. that is in simple terms, not that professionally written and glaring! i won't be able to see why human beings should be evaluating those 2 books to one yet another! also, in spite of Bella needs typically is going. If I stated such an pleasing boy like Edward and had a weigh down, that is more suitable real looking i'd not get him in the present day like she did. i have not examine the most contemporary e book, yet I wager you she will have the ability to stay with him and be a vampiress. In Harry Potter, anybody and their relationships have their united statesand downs, and schoolwork, that is in simple terms more suitable real looking, even with the spells and such. No offense to you in case you loved Twilight ^^; i wish this helped! :-)

Answer 9

First of all, you can tell your teacher that the dark side of Harry Potter can be read as a metaphor of all the difficulties a boy has to face in order to grow up. Then you can say that Harry's duty is to defeat the enemies and he really succeed in it. Finally you can tell Harry's world is largely influenced by mithology already exsisting before J.K. Rowling wrote her book...

Answer 10

The main concept of the book is love which last time I checked is supposed to be a good thing. Also it is fiction and fiction is fictional. Also it shows how people are not always as they seem and even if they seem nasty and mean they can be good or maybe scared. There are many little morals in the story.

Answer 11

How can they knock something they never read. I personally think it's pathetic and if they told me not to bring it I would bring it anyway. I could sit hear and point out instances in the books that prove it is not an evil book but people like this are thickheaded and won't listen no matter how many times you tell them. I would ask them to prove what makes it a bad book. This is one of those cases where you have to rebel and stand up for what you believe in.

Answer 12

Harry Potter is not bad, what is so bad about a book? and how could they have banned it? thats just not right, you should be able to read what you wanna read

Answer 13

first of all it is just fantasy i don't understand the uproar i know a lot of catholics and christians liking the movies and they did not take it seriously. it is just another way of looking at life as an adventure. life has good and evil. harry potter is just an ingenius way of imagining it differently. we have the bullies at school just the same way as the bad wizards we have the protectors just like the teachers at the school. everything in the books or movies can be translated into real life. its backdrop is just fantasy.

Answer 14

Talk about how Harry's good morals actually reflect a Christian message - caring for others, doing the right thing despite the consequences, compassion for the less fortunate.

Answer 15

People have banned books since books were first wriiten. The content of a book should indicate its merit to you personally, however parents often know their children better than we know ourselves. Try asking them. Good luck!

Answer 16

They hate Harry Potter because, as innocuous as the books are, they believe them to promote witchcraft among children...and children who dig witchcraft don't grow up to be adults who send their kids to expensive Christian schools.



You will most likely not be able to convince anyone.

Answer 17

well it was the only series that attracted children .. i for one hated reading but know i'm a bookworm thanks to J.K^_^