"Every child in our world will know his name," Professor McGonagall said of wee Harry Potter.
Not every child. Not yet, anyway.
J.K. Rowling's first three books about the young wizard have sold more than 8 million copies and been published in 115 countries and 28 languages. The fourth installment, already a bestseller, arrives Saturday. But not everyone is wild about Harry.
Parents in South Carolina, California, Nebraska, Georgia and Minnesota have complained to public school administrators about the books.
"The book's main characters engage in occultic and Wiccan-style exercises. Harry and his colleagues routinely practice sorcery, cast spells, fly on broomsticks and talk with spirits of the dead," John Andrew Murray reports in Focus on the Family's Citizen magazine.
"Rowling's work invites children into a world where witchcraft is 'neutral' and where authority is determined solely by one's cleverness."
Linda Beam, Focus on the Family's contributing culture analyst, also rails against Rowling.
"Parents may breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Rowling isn't trying to lure their children into occult activity.
"But what the author does in her disbelief may be more harmful than she realizes, since children who become fascinated by her charms and spells could eventually stumble into the very real world of witchcraft and the occult," Beam writes.
"These are great fantasy books," said the Rev. Jeffrey Paul of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Carson City.
"They are wonderfully written and work the imagination and exercise the mind of the reader. My family and I are rabid fans of her (Rowling's) books. We have devoured every one. They are wonderful.
"The books are about friendship and loyalty and absolutely do not tout witchcraft. For crying out loud people, c'mon. These are great books for adults, too. I've made Katie,10, promise not to read ahead of me. But we just love them, they are great stories. They can be enjoyed by children and adults alike."
Kennedy's Bookstore Owner Melissa Gower said the series of Harry Potter books are popular sellers, but just as popular with adults as they are with children.
"I haven't seen another series of books that have sold as well as this, except maybe J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings,' said Gower.
"The parents buy the books to read them to their children. And once their children have gone to bed, they keep the book and continue reading it. They can't put them down."
Gower said only once has a Harry Potter book been returned. A grandmother with good intentions bought the book for her grandchildren, but the mother returned the book because she didn't want her children reading a "witchcraft inspired" book.
Brian Hodge, manager of the Christian bookstore The Manger on Fairview Drive, said he does not carry the books. "Our Chrisitan-based clientele doesn't ask for these books," said Hodge.
Rowling's publisher likens the Potter series to other fantasy/allegories such as C.S. Lewis's tales of Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth trilogy.
Not so fast, Anne McCain writes in a Howler published by World magazine.
In Narnia and Middle Earth, "the difference between good and evil is clear. In comparison, Harry Potter's topsy-turvy moral universe is confusing."
Charles Colson, evangelical author and activist, says the magic and sorcery in the Potter books are "purely mechanical, as opposed to occultic."
"Not bad lessons in a self-centered world."
Alan Jacobs, a professor of literature at evangelical Wheaton College, gives Rowling a thumbs-up. The Potter books promote "a kind of spiritual warfare, a struggle between good and evil," he says.
"There is in books like this the possibility for moral reflection (and) the question of what to do with magic powers is explored in an appropriate and morally serious way."
Perhaps Harry's greatest endorsement comes from Christianity Today, a magazine founded by Billy Graham.
"We think you should read the Harry Potter books to your kids," the magazine declared in a January editorial.
"We have the fourth book in the series on order," said Gower. "I'm not sure when they will come in, but we do get a big request for them. They are written for ages nine and older."
