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Rokenn · 08-07-2003, 01:41 PM

Church members burn `Harry Potter' books, Book of Mormon

The Associated Press
8/5/03 1:21 PM

GREENVILLE, Mich. (AP) -- Librarians and clergy at other churches expressed mixed emotions after learning that members of the Jesus Non-denominational Church burned "Harry Potter" books and copies of 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 a Shania Twain album, "The Woman in Me," and a Dan Aykroyd movie, "Coneheads."

Church members who sporadically shouted "Hallelujah," "Thank you, God" and "Burn, devil, burn" said the fire was divinely inspired.

"This was definitely by the Holy Spirit," said Bonnie Conran, a member and office executive at the church.

The church's bishop, the Rev. T.D. Turner Sr., said in a news release that 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."

"We at Jesus Non-denominational Church refuse to allow Satan to take the minds of our children," Turner said. "We will do all that is in us to stand and hold up a standard of righteousness and we will win."

"It's important for children to know that Harry Potter is witchcraft," Jill Turner, the bishop's wife, told The Daily News. "It really afflicts their minds."

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 reports of book burnings always disturb her.

"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.

"They can buy books and burn them as long as they choose to burn their own books," she said. "I won't tell them what to read as long as they don't tell me what to read."

The Rev. Terry Jones, senior pastor of First Congregational Church of Greenville, agreed that members of the Jesus Non-denominational Church have the right to burn books. But he said the Bible has stood the test of time and "can stand on its own."

"We ought not be afraid of any other books or movies or anything of that nature," Jones said. "`Harry Potter' won't destroy the gospel."

08-07-2003, 01:41 PM	#1
Rokenn Galvatron Join Date: January 22, 2002 Location: california wine country Age: 61 Posts: 2,193	Church members burn `Harry Potter' books, Book of Mormon The Associated Press 8/5/03 1:21 PM GREENVILLE, Mich. (AP) -- Librarians and clergy at other churches expressed mixed emotions after learning that members of the Jesus Non-denominational Church burned "Harry Potter" books and copies of 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 a Shania Twain album, "The Woman in Me," and a Dan Aykroyd movie, "Coneheads." Church members who sporadically shouted "Hallelujah," "Thank you, God" and "Burn, devil, burn" said the fire was divinely inspired. "This was definitely by the Holy Spirit," said Bonnie Conran, a member and office executive at the church. The church's bishop, the Rev. T.D. Turner Sr., said in a news release that 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." "We at Jesus Non-denominational Church refuse to allow Satan to take the minds of our children," Turner said. "We will do all that is in us to stand and hold up a standard of righteousness and we will win." "It's important for children to know that Harry Potter is witchcraft," Jill Turner, the bishop's wife, told The Daily News. "It really afflicts their minds." 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 reports of book burnings always disturb her. "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. "They can buy books and burn them as long as they choose to burn their own books," she said. "I won't tell them what to read as long as they don't tell me what to read." The Rev. Terry Jones, senior pastor of First Congregational Church of Greenville, agreed that members of the Jesus Non-denominational Church have the right to burn books. But he said the Bible has stood the test of time and "can stand on its own." "We ought not be afraid of any other books or movies or anything of that nature," Jones said. "`Harry Potter' won't destroy the gospel." __________________ “This is an impressive crowd, the haves and the have mores. <br />Some people call you the elite. <br />I call you my base.”<br />~ George W. Bush (2000)