www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1642885,00.html
This is news? This is something that Time magazine takes the time to post on its website? This stupid ignorant crap?
First off, who the hell cares what some right-wing Christian thinks about Children's books? What are his credentials that quality him to engage in literary criticism?
Joanne Rowling has three fancy houses and more money than the Queen, but she still doesn't have a middle name: the K. is just an empty invention, added for effect when she published her first book.
Oh no, she changed her name to make it flow better, how can we trust her with our children?
In The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien fused his ardent Catholicism with a deep, nostalgic love for the unspoiled English landscape.
And introduced us to an entire race of "witches" with magical powers and eternal life. Make no mistake, right-wing Christians would have the same problems with LoTR that they have with Harry Potter.
What's missing? If you want to know who dies in Harry Potter, the answer is easy: God.
Well how dare she? doesn't she know that all fantasy authors are required to place at least one "God" character in their books? What will happen to the children if they aren't bombarded with thinly-veiled religious allegory in all areas of their lives?
Harry Potter lives in a world free of any religion or spirituality of any kind.
This is a bad thing?
He lives surrounded by ghosts but has no one to pray to, even if he were so inclined, which he isn't.
And yet somehow, with the help of his friends, he manages to do a pretty good job of defeating the demons that haunt him. There might be a lesson in there somewhere.
Rowling has more in common with celebrity atheists like Christopher Hitchens than she has with Tolkien and Lewis.
Because, of course, the lack of a stifling religious message is the only compelling lesson to be taken from the book (as opposed to the strong message of the books which is one of friendship and love). Christopher Hitchens is not a fantasy writer (in fact, I'd say Christian writers seem to drift far more towards fantasy while atheists primarily stick to science and logic, but that's another rant).
This charming notion represents a cultural sea change.
Only for people who demand Christianity be represented in every place in public so they can ignore that nagging little voice at the back of their mind telling them it's all a bit stupid.
When the end comes, where will it leave Harry? He'll face tougher choices than his fantasy ancestors did. Frodo was last seen skipping town with the elves. Lewis sent the Pevensie kids to the paradise of Aslan's Land. It's unlikely that such a comfortable retirement awaits Harry in the Deathly Hallows.
Easily the stupidest thing I've ever heard. For one thing, last time I checked Harry Potter is still a fictional character. Second, just because the books don't end with some Deus ex Machina "happy" ending, doesn't mean Harry doesn't have a happy life (though I haven't read the books yet so I don't know for sure). One doesn't need an overbearing God to be happy in their life.
