Book burning

[dominions]

What do people feel about the group of religious people that burned the Harry Potter books in the U.S.? I know a majority of people disagree with book burning, but does anyone agree with it in this case, whether from a religious stand point or not?

[Larry_OHF]

<font color="lightblue">People who burn books should be burned themselves.
Anyone wanna disagree?
The Modding Mage has spoken!

Actually, I am from an extreme religious background. To let you see a few examples of this, I will illustrate...
My wife and I do not use vulgar language, do not watch TV for the corruption to be found there, and she will not allow me to have my Anne Rice Books in the house. We attend church weekly, and we both hold positions of authority in our church as callings. We both served missions. Yet, we both love the Harry Potter series. It is clean, decent, and fun to read. And although she will not allow me to own Anne Rice Vampire series, or related such topics, neither of us would consent in a public burning of books. It is ridiculous. If anyone on this forum feels differently, go ahead and post. I will not say anything against you, publically nor privately. You are safe to voice your opinions in the affirmative, if you so choose.</font>

[MILAMBER]

Why should anybody care if books are burned or not? It's not like they're burning bibles or flags or babies or anything. They are probably just fed up of seeing Harry Potter everywhere.

Well it gets to a point where its serious. Like the romans burning the library at Alexandria. That set man back a bit. Books = knowledge= and knowledge = Power(yes even fantasy books)

[WOLFGIR]

Well consider bookburning I think it shows their tolerance and the "love" they hold for people of other opinion...

The fact that we shouldn´t care if they are not burning the bible.. Well I don´t get upset over the burning of much actually, but what would happen if they burned the bible??

Me, nothing but I think people would be pissed, and well you have the right to burn alot of things right?

I just think they are silly people showing their own shortcommings for the rest of the world!

[J'aran]

Just like probably everyone on this forum I am against the burning of books, cd's and other media, whether works of science, religion or fiction. It's plain wrong and it goes against the freedom of speech which I personally hold in great value. You don't have to agree with everything that's said or written, but that doesn't mean you have the right to stop other people from saying it. At least not if it's not very insulting to other (groups of) people.

Besides, other than being an act of protest in which you show you don't agree, there's no point in the burning of books. There won't be one less Harry Potter-fan because someone burned some novels, there won't be one less Christian because someone burned some bibles.

So my point is: burning books is not only wrong, it also sereves no purpose whatsoever.

(EDIT: can't seem to type straight today)

[Garnet FalconDance]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by WOLFGIR:

The fact that we shouldn´t care if they are not burning the bible.. Well I don´t get upset over the burning of much actually, but what would happen if they burned the bible??!<hr></blockquote>

Actually, Wolfgir, the bible *was* burnt during the reign of Mary (and the Reformation) in England and other parts of Europe--when it was first printed in English, it was considered blasphemous and heretical and therefore was erradicated along with a lot of regular folks who dared to have a copy whether it be one page or the whole extremely expensive book. By taking it from the Latin and putting it in 'plain' language, it opened the arena by which the common person could discover just how corrupt the Catholic Church had become in its monopoly on the means of salvation, indulgences, most doctrinal interpretations, etc. which did *not* set well with the Church and her leaders. Obviously not all copies were lost as a scant few have survived to this day....

Yes, knowledge = power. All through the past, one of the most successful means of controlling a people has been by controlling their avenues to knowledge..... In my opinion, it seems that the controllers usually act out of fear (of what might come to light) rather than genuine concern of protecting the people from a real harm/threat. Now ask yourself this: are the Potter books so powerfully "satanic" and dangerous, OR are the detractors and burners more afraid that people might either 1. realize that witch does not equal Evil/Demon or 2. there *are* enjoyable, *positive* stories about the aforementioned witches which do not reflect a fundamentalist attitude of intolerance and hatred towards those who are different from the mainstream of society.

I am not bashing/flaming those of fundamentalist conviction. I simply feel there is enough intolerance and hatred in the world today without adding any more erroneously out of a misguided sense of responsibility for the souls of the many who do not wish to be so monitored!

Oh, and btw, I am against book-burning in general. It was one of the major causes of the Dark Ages. History ignored is destined to repeat itself.

[dominions]

Just as an aside: England lost much of her pre-reformation historical documents during the reformation of the church, when the soldiers of Henry VIII pulled down the abbeys (and in some cases murdered the Monks/Nuns within). Many Historians will tell you that this was one of the greatest acts of 'informational vandalism' in English history, even though it may have made sense at the time.

[catzenpewters]

I have to say book burning does get my goat - it is far too Nazi-esque for me.

I also think it's pointless. So what if they burned a few hundred, or even few thousand copies? For one, if they burned 'em they bought 'em and I doubt JK Rowling cares what they do with 'em once they've paid for 'em. For another, there are millions more copies that their kids can access. And lastly, the only way any book, Harry Potter or no, is going to convince kids to worship the devil or practice witchcraft is if they were already predisposed in that direction and have no decent guidance to boot.

And Harry Potter books certainly don't seem evil to me - they are sweet and pleasant, and show the heroes fighting against evil. Shrug.

[WOLFGIR]

Well I knew that the Bible has been burned, and the fact that people burns book are more to my anoying then which books are actually burned, that and that if they saw their book being burned they might understand how people feels about it.. Sorry if my point wasn´t exact.
I don´t hold the bible in high regards due to me not being christian, but I wouldn´t like to see people burn it no more then I like people burning Harry Potter books!

Here in the northern parts we slew all the "white ravens" when they got ashore, but Sweden soon took Christ to be a religion here and since the 17th century been one of europes leading defenders of protestantism (after awhile cause we had a good cause to pillage some countries ((joking))..

Book burning in anyway except from accidence is a proof of simple mindness, and an assurness you are superior in your thinking and that the views you have should be more or less enforced on the people around you! Or they might be afraid.. In any way.. I still think them pretty stupid and totally on the other scale of how to regard information and books from me!