JOSHUA CLINARD

For years, some people have argued that the Harry Potter series is dangerous or promotes witchcraft. But for those of us who actually know the books, we know that isn't true. Despite the headlines about school bans or even book burnings, there has never been any real evidence that fans are being led into the occult. Most of these claims are based on a misunderstanding of what the stories are actually about.

Real-world witchcraft is its own thing, and it isn't what we see in these books. In Harry Potter, magic is just the backdrop for a story about much bigger things: bravery, loyalty, honesty, and friendship. The books are clearly about the triumph of good over evil. The 'bad guys' are never the heroes, and the story always celebrates when justice wins out.

What’s interesting is that magic has been a part of our favorite stories for over a hundred years. If people are so worried about Harry Potter, then to be consistent, they would have to ban almost every classic family movie or TV show ever made. To show it isn't just about animation, here is a list of diverse media that utilizes magic—if you enjoy these but think Harry Potter is evil, it’s worth asking why:

It feels like a lot of the vocal critics just wanted something to complain about. If we can accept a nanny flying with an umbrella, a Jedi moving objects with his mind, or a lion ruling a magical wardrobe, we should be able to accept a boy wizard fighting for his friends. Let’s judge these stories by the values they teach—like being brave and standing up for what's right—rather than getting caught up in a 'panic' that doesn't really exist.