Recently, I read the latest in a long series of “anti-Harry Potter” offerings from the Rev. Doug Taylor (July 10). As the proverbial squeaky wheel, I have never been able to let him go unchallenged on the topic.

For centuries, literature has looked to the supernatural in storytelling to entertain and teach us lessons about ourselves. As a child, Grimm’s fairy tales gave us such classics as Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel and Rapunzel, all having some element of the supernatural.

I remember Snow White’s stepmother was a powerful and wicked witch. In the legend of King Arthur, Merlin is a powerful and benevolent wizard whose power served both the good of man and the vanity of one man. As a boy I both hated and feared the wicked witch and cheered the benevolence of a man with supernatural powers, using them to defeat armies. We played sword games and pretended to have magical powers.

Under the Rev. Taylor’s premise, some people I grew up with should have become witches or wizards — “harbingers of evil.” Most have done well as human beings; some, became church-going true believers. Some, like me, believe but do not worship in church regularly.

Surely Rev. Taylor must know, from a cultural standpoint, every society ever studied by man has a belief in the supernatural, including Christian religions. All have a creation story (most, very similar). Some worship different gods for such natural occurrences as rain, sun and the four seasons. Would it surprise Taylor to know that most actually have a great flood story such as the story of Noah?

In short, under the Rev. Taylor’s view, the Yanomamo of the Amazon, Kung San of the Kalahari Desert, Wiccas’, Hebrews’ or Muslims’ belief systems are wrong. Sadly, if it does not fit his view of God, it is wrong.

Other men in history, whose views on religion were so strong — hundreds, even hundreds of thousands, died at their hands.

Book burning, suppression of free speech, free thought, mind control are all elements of the false prophet. J.K. Rowling’s series has taught a generation to dream. She has brought back the written word; brought families together to read once again.

The Rev. Taylor will never prove that witchcraft is a clear and present danger. He knows this. In reality, he is about to lose the one thing J.K Rowling has given him: free publicity and a chance to have his 15 minutes in the spotlight.

He has squandered a chance to do some real good in the world by trying to shove his brand of religion down people’s throats. Truly, a very sad ending for him.

David D. T. Marquis, Lewiston