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[forde]

My step mother-in-law is currently in a foul mood over the fact that I am reading the first Harry Potter book with my 4th grader.
I have always encouraged my children to read and would never stop them from it, as long as it's age appropriate of course. Seeing as we're simply reading the first book and my child is mature for his age I feel this is a good start and will hopefully push him to read larger books. But I digress.
However she's quite mad, to the point of upsetting my child, because of the magical elements in it. I know many Christians find the books to be offensive and I respect their beliefs but her beliefs really shouldn't have an baring on how my husband and I raise our children.
What really burns me is the fact that her 13 year old daughter is currently reading the Twilight series as well as the Vampire Journals series, both of which are vampire fiction books and QUITE graphic/mature (especially The Vampire Journals)for a 13 year old girl. This honestly seems hypocritical to me because I can't image a religion condoning anything related to magic but approving/not having an opinion on vampires, premarital sex, promiscuity, foul language, extreme violence, etc. I mean correct me if I'm wrong but aren't vampires damned and essentially the antithesis of God?
Furthermore, why exactly does the content of the material matter if one can obviously discern the difference between fiction and reality? I know children often have a hard time doing that but is believing in magic as a child really anymore harmful than believing in the magic of Santa Clause? I was a foster kid and I use to believe I was secretly a mermaid and one day my father, The king of the ocean, would rescue me and that really didn't have any baring on the adult I became. I didn't go searching for mermaids or actually attempt/believe I could become one.
In fact, I think that helped me cope mentally more than it harmed me.
But I digress again.

Can anyone provide me with biblical passages relating to these topics and possibly offer any advice on how to diffuse this situation? I would normally just tell them to back off but this situation is delicate and being delicate isn't my strong suit.
My husband already has a tenuous relationship with his father because of this woman and I'd hate for this situation to further upset our children or completely dissolve his relationship with his father's family.

[cinnard]

The only way she is going to change her mind about Harry Potter is to actually read them for herself, which she obviously hasn't done. You could try explaining some of the Christian themes throughout the book like sacrifice, friendship, loyalty, etc. Your best bet is probably to continue reading them only when she is not around.

[newyddilyn60]

Well the catholic faith (that's what i am too) thinks that harry potter makes young kids want to practice witchcraft. and sometimes that's true i mean i love harry potter but i don't go crazy about it. i have my "fan girl' moments but I'm OK with it. i think its great that u are reading this to a 4th grader because the books taught me about love, friendship, loyalty, and the fact that good can always conquer evil in the end. So if it helps, tell your step mother in law that!

[sebastiano]

Careful!!!!! There is not the definite line between fiction and reality that there appears to be. To use a scriptural story; when Abraham complained about his 'lack of kids', God had himlook at the stars and see how many kids he would have. Another tale; God called Gideon a mighty man of valour at a time when Gideon was a kid. The mind may not separate things as widely as the USA and Africa.