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AUGUST 7, 2003 at 12:30 PM
Posted by GRAE
Source: The Detroit News via The Leaky Cauldron
After learning about the book burning held last weekend by the Jesus Non-denominational Church in Greenville, Michigan, community members expressed mixed emotions
about the event.
The Rev. Mark Shaw, senior pastor at Calvary Baptist, dismissed the book burning as a misguided publicity stunt.
"What kind of an image are they setting in the community?" Shaw asked.
Toni Jagger, director of the Alvah N. Belding Library in nearby Belding, said she is always disturbed by reports of book burnings.
"Burning books is such an extreme," Jagger said. "Books don't have to be read if people don't want to read them. That's one of the wonderful liberties we have in America."
As long as the book burning does not prevent readers from accessing those titles or other literature, the congregation can do as it pleases, said Tara Conaway, director of the Flat River Community Library.
It also turns out that Harry Potter books weren't the only objects being burned - included in the list of what the church considered evil were the Book of Mormon and non-King James Version Bibles.
Other books, magazines, posters, compact discs and movies that members believe do not promote God also went up in smoke Sunday, as more than 50 people gathered outside the church for the fiery display. Among the incinerated items were Shania Twain's album "The Woman in Me" and the Dan Akroyd movie "Coneheads."
The church's bishop, the Rev. T.D. Turner Sr., said the congregation "will burn 'Harry Potter' books and other witchcraft items to let the world know that there are true followers of Jesus Christ who will not call evil good."
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Witch
Points: 778
stillDUMBLEDORESgirl says:
I do not understand why these people think that Harry potter is evil and who says the people who read Harry Potter aren't followers of God. I just don't understand...........They had to burn those pages and pages of Harry Potter that is such a waste of trees. Those supposed followers of god do not get this at all Harry potter is to witchcraft, how many times do we have to tell them this...........HOW MANY TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted May 29, 2005 at 12:16 AM EST
Custodian of Miracles
Points: 3264
MadamDumbledore says:
I really believe that fundamentalism is as dangerous as liberalism. There has to be a decent balance between the two. If one out wieghs the other than you end up with (book burning) fanaticism.
Posted May 31, 2005 at 10:38 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1616
Silver_Stag says:
I'm a very strong Christian but I see no problem at all for reading Harry Potter. I mean if you think God's gonna send you to hell because of a book you read you need read the Bible again. And also the Bible is "R" rated. It has some pretty gruesome stuff in it and if you have a problem reading Harry Potter you should have a problem reading the Bible to. Again I'm a very strong Christian and i see no problem in the harry potter series.
Posted Jun 14, 2005 at 2:39 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 15
Pureblood_Rose says:
HAHA They burned Shania Twain's album! How random! They obviously don't like country/pop stuff.
Anyway what I'm meant to be saying is, religion is messed up, people believe in a book that was probably wrote by a very imaginative old man about 2000 years ago and said 'hey why don't I write a book on that guy over there called Jesus who seems to heal people with MAGIC!'
How do these religeous people think Jesus healed people, made it rain... or was that Mosus.. hey wait thats another person with abnormal powers, but have they burned there own bible.. NOOO. That is my rant thank you for reading me.
Posted Jun 16, 2005 at 3:30 PM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4437
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
This is so stupid. Why do they want to burn books that children love and like to read? Thats just stupid. VERY STUPID! It makes me mad!
~MP~
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 3:46 AM EST
Mrs. Roonil Wazlib
Points: 2492
weasleyskeepingme says:
I was so shocked to read that story. Book burnings? that is the sort of thing your read about in textbooks. as an avid reader and a HP fan -im appalled. I think I remember there being something called the First Amendment that allows free speech... or was that in the 20th century?! i cant believe there are still people who support the opression of learning. and burning bibles? putting things on a evil list? isnt that grounds for a lawsuit?
Posted Jun 19, 2005 at 5:18 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1688
Dumbledore's_Ghost says:
Burning books is just being closeminded. Other people have other beliefs and by burning books that they believe in, like other religion's holy books, is admitting that you do not respect other people's beliefs. If they do not want their family or their children to be reading the books or listening to the music, then dont have it in the home. You dont have to burn books and music to protect yourself from the beliefs of others. If you dont wanna hear it or see it, then simply dont associate yourself with it.
Posted Jun 26, 2005 at 2:10 PM EST
Heiress of Gryffindor
Points: 3537
Nienna Narmolanya says:
Okay...
So I guess it wasn't just Harry Potter they were burning, but come on! Honestly, burning HArry Potter is one thing, but the Book of Mormon and non-King James Version bibles? Why?
These people are paranoid. It's official. These book burnings aren't gonna stop us from loving Harry Potter, so they're just wasting their time.
Posted Jun 29, 2005 at 6:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1240
*bewitched* says:
Oh, for a little bit more empathy and tolerance! I'm afraid these people are totally missing the point of the Harry Potter books and their strong, positive moral message. And the Shania Twain thing is probably to do with romantic love being far less important than God's love. But, hello?? Have they ever read the bit in the Bible where King Solomon and his wife write each other love poetry? Some of it is...let's say slightly explicit. I was so shocked when I saw it in there!! But, oh, wait....I bet that the Bible versions they burned had that bit in there, didn't it? Come on people, a little less fanaticism and a lot more understanding is required here!
Posted Jul 5, 2005 at 10:09 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 311
MeeAh says:
I completely agree with what Jagger says about book burning being an extreme."Books don't have to be read if people don't want to read them. That's one of the wonderful liberties we have in America." What is it with people wanting to control other people. Learn to control yourselves first! ^^
Posted Jul 6, 2005 at 1:29 PM EST
Squib
Points: 195
patronus_22 says:
This kind of stuff makes me so stinking angry! I am a Christian and I almost explode every time I hear about a church and how that Harry Potter will send you to Hell, and it's witchcraft, etc. Harry Potter is a FANTASY book that does not convert people to Satanism anymore than reading Dr. Seuss! Book burning takes it to a whole new level. In America, we have this little thing called freedom of speech, that allows us to write and read what we want. Too bad it also allows the fanatics to burn the books, too!
Posted Jul 7, 2005 at 9:47 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 60
MagicalQuillz says:
That's horrible..
It's completely ridiculous that you would burn books, and especially books that bring the whole world together. It sets a bad example for younger kids that read HP; first they're encouraged to read and now these people are telling them that it's Satanic to read something THAT YOU ENJOY. Hope Jo didn't take it personally..wish her all the best. =)
Posted Jul 9, 2005 at 6:29 AM EST
Student
Points: 218
kara2009 says:
That is just ridiculous. Burning books wont do anything! It's still utterly ridiculous, no matter what they were burning. I thought we had all these freedoms and stuff in America, so who are they to burn these books and everything else that went along with HP stuff.
Posted Jul 10, 2005 at 4:12 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1026
saturnianali8r says:
If you don't like the books, movies. and music you should just not read, watch, or listen to them. Destroyin them is just a waste of the materials that were used to make the objects.
Posted Jul 12, 2005 at 2:08 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 8
hotangel says:
Why would someone go out buy a these books and then go destroy them? People are out there starving and people are wasting there money on something they are gonna burn why not give the money to people who need it? And do they realize there actions are saying that burning something you don't like is alright so if you don't like someone go burn them? It starts with books but whats next? I think there just wrong. Buy the book to read it not burn it
Posted Jul 13, 2005 at 9:15 PM EST
Student
Points: 252
~*bayariagrl*~ says:
I can't believe they would do that. If you don't like the books don't read them. It's as simple as that. But dont burn books which were made out of trees which are cut down everyday. They could've spared a tree. They could've spared nature. I just think that's wrong.
Posted Sep 5, 2005 at 10:12 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 369
I_love_mormon_girls says:
OK what Im realy ticked off about is that they burned The Book Of Mormon it is just about the best book ever and men have been critizied, tarred and feathered, and even killed for beliving in that book it is by far the best book of all (Harry Potter books come in second for me)
Posted Sep 26, 2005 at 10:36 AM EST
Squib
Points: 178
ravenclawrox says:
I think that it is just really rude to do that. If you do not like it than i suggest that you just simply do not associate yourself with it. You do not have to respond to burning books to show that you do not like it. This is really rude because for some people Harry Potter is like their bible. Imagine if you had your bible being burned up into to tiny like hot crumpled pieces
Posted Oct 1, 2005 at 10:12 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1483
DragonTattoo says:
People who Burn books are stupid...because the can't read
Posted Oct 9, 2005 at 10:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 508
Trianna says:
Americans are so weird when it comes to religion. The country was created so that the political world is totally separate from the religious, but by publicizing this event, they are *trying* to make it political. Please, a person's spirituality is his own!!
Note to those church members, read: "The Godless Constitution."
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 10:09 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2349
PHOENIX5625 says:
Why would someone want to burn a book if you don't like book dont read it. Their hurting themselves buying the book and the envirorment wasting trees and paper. Someone burning a book will not change how as feel about it as burning a flag will not change how a feel about a country.
Posted Oct 11, 2005 at 6:17 PM EST
Witch
Points: 780
Jess the potter fan says:
I think book burning is so wrong. without harry potter i probably wouldn't read that great. And do they even think about people in other countrys that dont even have books.
Posted Oct 14, 2005 at 8:19 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 44
kfunk01 says:
Burning bibles and wonderful books that really mean no harm but to cause a little imagination. I think that is crazy and should never happen! I am catholic but come on you have to have respect for other peoples beliefs and life choices.
Posted Nov 9, 2005 at 11:42 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 18
CHIZ says:
When I read about the book burning, I felt a cold shiver down my spine as this would be the true face of Evil not the books.
The evil is nthe hearts of those who follow such teachings, who trully believe that this is acting within Gods wishes.
Are they so blinded by their fears that any oneperson I will not say man of God or preacher can shape their minds to such folly and devilment for that is how I see it.
I do not believe in God, but I believe in the right of others to peacefully follow their own beliefs, and not mock or provoke or cause dissention. for that is the true road to the Devil of I believed in halso.
God andf hte Devil are the two sides to each of us, we must ballance the influenc of these things in ourselves, we must recognise the good and evil in what we do and what we witness. destruction along these lines is evil as it denies people the choices they need to make for themselves.
Posted Nov 10, 2005 at 4:07 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 455
Krztyn says:
Sigh... book burning? Seriously? Are you really that childish that you can't simply say what you mean in a civilized manner... you have to burn things in effigy, lighting them on fire and scream while dancing around the flame---- oh hang on, that sounds pretty Pagan to me!
Posted Nov 15, 2005 at 3:46 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
Phoenix Flyer 1 says:
Ok... I used to be a brainwashed Baptist who judged the books before I read them. Now I know better. People are so closed minded. Perhaps they think Harry Potter presents a temptation of the Dark arts or what have you. Perhaps their minds are too weak to handle reading them.
Posted Nov 20, 2005 at 6:12 PM EST
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