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December 6, 2009

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Letter: Extremism in religion menaces

Tuesday, July 19, 2005 | 9:02 a.m.

It seems to me that the religious commentators who are once again opposing the Harry Potter books need to examine their own practices and attitudes. They are worried that reading such books will encourage beliefs in supernatural phenomena such as sorcery and witchcraft, yet they begin from the time of the birth of their children to indoctrinate them to believe in another set of supernatural phenomena. A major difference is that these books are presented as fiction while the religious myths are presented as facts. Is one form of fiction innately superior to another?

In addition, I know of no instance where wars, inquisitions or intolerance were instigated in the name of sorcery or witchcraft, but a large majority of such occurrences have been associated with differences in religious beliefs.

It seems to me that these books are much less of a danger than are religious extremists. Opening books has the effect of opening minds and producing tolerance, while banning books leads to closed minds and intolerance.

WALLACE J. HENKELMAN

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