Why do the religious zealots despise Harry Potter?

I assume its the same guys who think that people who get their character to cast Magic Missile in Dungeons and Dragons are really doing real magic. Let's face it, these people, unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality, aren't dealing from a full deck. They are quite, quite mad.

If only they'd actually read one or two of the books, they could hate them for the entirely legitimate reason that they're terrible. I mean, anything that gets children reading is a good thing, but I just wish they were reading something a bit, well, better.

In short, stop liking things I don't like! :P

The difference is in the overall message. I can't see a lot of messages about how to have a better life in the Harry Potter books, but then they are to entertain and not real.

Bible stories have for me deeper meanings. They can be seen as full of universal messages that do say how to live a better life.

You are comparing apples and oranges here. I see nothing wrong with reading the Harry Potter books if the children are old enough to understand that this is not the real world. Reading anything helps reading skills. Children enjoy reading about children who have power. A natural stage for a powerless group.

I also don't see a lot of value in them either. I would prefer that by their teens at least young people were reading books that have stood the test of time and might help him if the take the AP Lit exam!

For younger children, Potter is fine, but there are a lot of other great children's books also. If you want to go British, why not Beowulf? Shakespeare? Dickens? Many others.

Frankly, Potter is a bit too British for me and not totally useful as far as universal themes go.

I don't know any children who get on a train alone and go to boarding school. Most kids I know go to a school in their parents' cars, their own cars, on a school bus, etc., and come home at night. And when they go off to college, they will consider the job outlook when choosing courses and hope to get good work after graduation. Hard to relate.

For literature for entertainment, go with the classics.

You used the right words when you said "religious zealots"

I just call them cultists.

Small children like their dreams and fairy stories.

As they grow older, they learn the difference - it's just part of growing up. And it does not interfere with religious belief, either.

The founder of Christianity (today called Jesus Christ even though that is not his real name) loved children very much. He was very firm in his warnings about hurting kids ( " - - - - and deny them not")

I'm sure if Jesus was here today, you could find him at the movies with a bunch of kids enjoying a Harry Potter movie (er - he might need subtitles), telling them about Peter Pan, Snow White, Fairies, Unicorns, or dressed in a Santa suit handing out small gifts at a party.

And you can all stop pointing fingers at each other. It's about children, not the pet hates of Theists and Atheists - right?

I am an Atheist. But I am just like JC in this respect. People who harm kids ( anyone at all) and destroy their little dreams -

I DON"T LIKE YOU.

added -

Um, Grace - I like what you said, but can you really expect a 10 year old to enjoy Dickens or Shakespeare? I think they'd rather have 'The Gruffalo"

I also wonder this, I mean in reality there is no more proof the bible is real than harry potter being real.

Still bitter about the dark ages I suppose?

Shhhh! You're going to upset Christians about zombie Jesus..

you are insane...see a doctor