It disturbs me that intelligent members of our community spend considerable time maligning a children’s book. What is worse is that they do so having obviously not read, or at least not understood, that which they are protesting against.

The Harry Potter series does not promote the dark arts. What Harry Potter does do is pit good against evil. Complex issues, like genocide, are brought to the attention of young children and in such a way that they are able to understand all aspects of this very prevalent issue. And in the end, it is not a wave of a wand or an incantation that defeats those who lust after power. Rather it is courage, friendship and love that stops those who would take over the world and kill all who are not of a particular genetic background.

At a time of such conflict in the world when the themes of the book are present – torture, murder, war, genocide – Harry Potter is a tool to help children understand what is going on in their world, and what must be done to stop it.

The world is now in constant strife, and while so many are suffering and dying, shouldn’t Christians be concerned with helping those in need?

Instead, we have those who choose to draw the attention of the community away from the real atrocities of the world and would rather focus on the fictional happenings within a children’s book.

Audra Cole, Turner