And like Pokemon, the Harry Potter products may first appear to be a safe gift for any imaginative child given their popularity, but are actually surrounded in controversy. Some parents in the United States are not allowing their children to read the HP books claiming they promote witchcraft and violence which is against their families' religious values. According to an article from Education World.com http://www.education-world.com/a_admin/a... , "Look out Harry Potter! - Book Banning Heats Up", there were 26 challenges to remove HP books from libraries in 16 states. Many of the parents who have chosen to not allow the HP books in their home have campaigned for public banning, such as Sue Bohlin, who writes the reasons for banning in an article for the Christian online ministry, Probe.com, at http://www.probe.org/docs/potter.html . According to Ms. Bohlin, parents claim the "fantasy magic" used in Harry Potter can translate into a desire to pursue the "real-world magic" or witchcraft that the Bible warns against. The HP books have been translated into many languages and the controversy is not isolated to the U.S. alone. According to Catholic World News.com http://www.cwnews/browse/2001/02/14834.h... a priest in Poland asked his parishners to be careful of the message he believes the book carries - that "all problems (in the world) can be solved by magic (instead of by God)."
The Harry Potter toy line, which dominates toy store shelves, is also part of the controversy. In an article on post-gazette.com at http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscienc... by Karen MacPherson "No fun in child's play", she explores what toys are being offered on the market and how they stack up to promoting healthy child development. Child development experts have worried that toys which conform to an already written story line, such as Harry Potter, does not leave much to the child's imagination. In addition, some stores refuse to carry the HP toys. Gary Grant, a toy store owner in the United Kingdom, gave up a chance to up his profits by ₤500,000 but does not feel children should buy toys such as costumes, board games and magic toys, which turn a good book of fantasy into something more serious. Berit Kjos at http://www.crossroad.to/text/articles/D&... even compares the Harry Potter game to the Dungeons and Dragon game which he believes promotes pagan beliefs and practices.
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