Harry Potter and the Overzealous Theists
I was listening to the local, overly conservative, 'Talk Radio' station on my drive home from work the other day, when the host of the show brought up the new Harry Potter novel, and questioned whether or not we should allow kids to read it. What was his reasoning for the question? Well, apparently a local reverend made the comment that the Harry Potter book series is evil, un-Christian, and that it's influence could lead children to end up like the BTK killer...and for those reasons, the books should be banned.
I was floored.
Now, I am not what you would probably consider to be a highly emotional individual, but this reverend REALLY p**sed me off with his comments...furthermore, the talk show host REALLY p**sed me off for even considering that the reverend could be correct...and further yet still, the callers into the show REALLY p**sed me off because they were agreeing with the reverend.
What is it about religion that can turn otherwise intelligent individuals into complete morons in a matter of seconds? Newsflash folks...'children will not become serial killers if they read Harry Potter...move along.'
With each passing minute of having not one dissenting opinion called in to the show, I was becoming more enraged. Finally, I reached for my cell phone and dialed in to the radio show. To my surprise I did not hear a busy signal, and the screener for the show immediately answered the phone...he asked me my age, location, and then told me to hold on for a few minutes.
A little time had passed, in which I continued listening to the show through my cell phone, when the host of the show finally took my call:
Host: "Let's go to Eric on a cell phone in KC."
Me: "Yeah Jerry, thanks for taking my call."
Host: "What do you want to say?"
Me: "Ummm...I just wanted to say that I think the reason you'll find some of these religious leaders so against people buying the Harry Potter books, is that they want a monopoly on their own little book of fantasy!"
Host (angrily): "So the sole purpose in you calling in is to insult christianity? Is that it?"
Me (angrily): "No, the sole purpose of my call is to say you are lowering the intelligence of your listeners."
And with that, the line was disconnected...but I did feel a little better.
- - On a side note, for anyone thinking the reverend and his groupies correct in their thinking: The BTK killer...He started killing long before Harry Potter ever came out. However, he was the former president of the church council at 'Christ Lutheran Church' in Wichita, KS. Using the reverends critical thinking skills: the evidence would indicate that it is the Bible's influence that leads people to become serial killers.
I was floored.
Now, I am not what you would probably consider to be a highly emotional individual, but this reverend REALLY p**sed me off with his comments...furthermore, the talk show host REALLY p**sed me off for even considering that the reverend could be correct...and further yet still, the callers into the show REALLY p**sed me off because they were agreeing with the reverend.
What is it about religion that can turn otherwise intelligent individuals into complete morons in a matter of seconds? Newsflash folks...'children will not become serial killers if they read Harry Potter...move along.'
With each passing minute of having not one dissenting opinion called in to the show, I was becoming more enraged. Finally, I reached for my cell phone and dialed in to the radio show. To my surprise I did not hear a busy signal, and the screener for the show immediately answered the phone...he asked me my age, location, and then told me to hold on for a few minutes.
A little time had passed, in which I continued listening to the show through my cell phone, when the host of the show finally took my call:
Host: "Let's go to Eric on a cell phone in KC."
Me: "Yeah Jerry, thanks for taking my call."
Host: "What do you want to say?"
Me: "Ummm...I just wanted to say that I think the reason you'll find some of these religious leaders so against people buying the Harry Potter books, is that they want a monopoly on their own little book of fantasy!"
Host (angrily): "So the sole purpose in you calling in is to insult christianity? Is that it?"
Me (angrily): "No, the sole purpose of my call is to say you are lowering the intelligence of your listeners."
And with that, the line was disconnected...but I did feel a little better.
- - On a side note, for anyone thinking the reverend and his groupies correct in their thinking: The BTK killer...He started killing long before Harry Potter ever came out. However, he was the former president of the church council at 'Christ Lutheran Church' in Wichita, KS. Using the reverends critical thinking skills: the evidence would indicate that it is the Bible's influence that leads people to become serial killers.
posted by The Passion of the Atheist at 9:19 AM
9 Comments:
I love the comment that you made to the radio host. I'm assuming that you weren't on the air when he took your call and that only he heard it? Regardless, it's still great.
I actually like to hear christians complain about the Harry Potter books. I think it could make a few moderate christians to become skeptical of what they believe in to see their preachers being obviously so stupid. I started doubting christianity because of stupid things that my priests said during mass so I know stuff like that can be useful.
Actually, it was live, and on the air...had he kept me on a few seconds longer I would have shouted out my websites name for a little free publicity (I noticed there was no delay...I could hear myself talking through the radio while I was on the phone). Alas I was hung up on before I got the chance...definitley next time.
Good point about them making people skeptical...sounds like your deconversion story may be similar to mine.
Yes, as i was reading this i was thinking, i don't think BTK had read harry potter prior to his murder spree, but he certainly read the Bible... if i was on that radio station, i would certainly mention that. I wonder how the reverend connected BTK to Harry Potter? Anyway, wonderfully said! I tell all my friends in oklahoma about your site... word of mouth always builds the best fan base.
Thanks for spreading the word of my site around Abby, I really apprecaiate it.
I would have shouted out my websites name for a little free publicity
That would have indeed been awesome =)
I'm impressed at how well you articulated yourself considering you only got time for two small sentences before being disconnected! That was some quick thinking.
Personally, I believe religion is the root cause of a lot of the evil we have these days. And I believe that as a general rule, atheists are WAY more ethical than religious people. Have you ever heard of an atheist committing murder? We've certainly heard of plenty of christians murdering innocent people (BTK, Eric Rudolph etc).
Great post. I am happy to see another good atheist blog. I'll try to send some readers your way.
David, I knew exactly what I wanted to say before I got on...no quick thinking on my part...I'm normally not that articulate :)
Thanks Vjack...linking to your blog now...
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