Efforts  to ban the books.

According to the Boston Globe in 2001-DEC: "The American Library Association placed the 'Harry Potter' books at the top of its list of the most-often challenged books last year, saying that critics had sought to ban the books for occult, Satanism, and antifamily themes." ₃

Public schools of Zeeland, MI: Muggles for Harry Potter is a Michigan non-profit organization that is sponsored by an extensive group of book publishers, civil rights and teachers' associations. They report that attempts have been made to ban Harry Potter books in 13 states. Although most censorship efforts have failed, there are reports of successful book bannings in Colorado, Kansas and Michigan. Gary L. Feenstra, superintendent of schools in Zeeland, MI, placed restrictions on reading, displaying and borrowing of Harry Potter books. His decision in 1999-NOV-22 was based on his reading of the first book in the series, reading comments on the books, and discussions with educators. He decided: 

	The books would not be displayed on school library shelves.
	Students could obtain the books at the library desk, but only if they had a parent's permission.
	The books could not be used in the classroom.
	Students could only use the books for a book report if they had prior written permission from a parent.
	No copies of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire or future books would be purchased for school libraries.

Anglican church in the UK: Reuters reported that Harry Potter "has been banished from one English school because his magical powers go against the teachings of the Bible. The head teacher of St Mary's Island Church of England school in Chatham, Kent says the tales of wizardly adventures do not conform with her school's 'church ethos'." _15,16 In a letter to parents, principal Carol Rookwood wrote: "I believe it is confusing to children when something wicked is being made to look fun."

Rookwood told the British Broadcasting Corporation that: "The Bible is very clear and consistent in its teachings that wizards, devils and demons exist and are very real, powerful and dangerous and God's people are told to have nothing to do with them. We are a Church of England aided primary school which means the church ethos is very important to what we do." She stated that she is fully supported by the parents of her students. The ban also applies to other books, video and TV programs which portray witches and wizards as harmless and fun characters.

A spokesperson for the UK publisher, Bloomsbury, said "We don't have a great deal to say about it [the ban], just to say we feel the books have a strong moral message and clearly portray good and evil."

Spokespersons for several other Christian schools commented:

	That their policy was neither to stock nor encourage children to read "any books that go against Christian doctrine," not just Harry Potter books.
	"I think it [the decision to ban the books] is a bit hysterical, to be blunt. [Much more serious than books about magic were those which promoted] gratuitous violence and gratuitous materialism... Banning books is not the way to go about things; [children would] go and read them anyway."
	"We're not very keen on them. Individual children have their own copies, and that's up to parents, but they wouldn't be on our school bookshelves....Our lives are governed by biblical principles and Bible teaching would be to avoid evil and occult and contact with spirits and wizardry."

Interim school superintendent Gary Bruner read one of the books at the urging of his son. Bruner commented: "They want it withdrawn not only for their child, but for all children...I thought it was a pretty well-written, motivating and exciting book." ₁₇

Unsuitable material? As later books in the series are published, presumably Harry will become involved in age-appropriate activities for an older teenager. This may be too advanced for very young readers.

Danger? The Potter books do describe some magical incantations and spells. Some teen:

	become interested in these activities,
	have mistakenly assumed that Wiccans perform similar spells,
	and have investigated Wicca and other Neopagan traditions.

Most do not pursue this interest when they find out that Wicca is a religion that requires a lot of attention, work and commitment. To many parents, an interest in Wicca does not represent a threat, because:

	the religion has very strict rules of behavior that prevents Wiccans from harming others.
	Wicca beliefs are very non-sexist, non-racist and non-homophobic.
	Wiccans are generally very concerned about the environment.

However, for those conservative Christians who believe that their children will be tortured for eternity in Hell if they are not saved, any deviation from Evangelical Christianity is of immense concern. For them, a son or daughter who became a Wiccan or a member of the United Church would be of great concern. Their concern might be greater for a child that adopted Wicca, because some conservative Christians believe that non-Christian religions are forms of Satanism.

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