Blim or Bust

Have you read the new Harry Potter? I have. I wasn't going to, or at least not till there was a copy at the library I didn't have to get up too early to bag. But then the pope spoke out against it, and I damn near bought two (£8.97 in Sainsbury's, so reasonable and Nectar points too). In the name of the Institute for the Statement of The Bleeding Obvious, by the powers of Sybil Fawlty and Sir Sir Richard, I feel I must say:
OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
Please someone tell me why the man who is MEANT to be the highest authority in a religion supposedly based on the all conquering power of pure love has nothing better to do in these hideous painful days than to pick on a children's book? I rather feel that it should be beneath his notice. I also hazard that he has not read it, as dubbing it 'unchristian' makes no sense if you have. For non-Potterites I shall explain that Rowling at no point makes any claim for or explanation of where the magic powers that the characters have come from. Not a dickie bird. So it's not like it's a pagan book. I would also point out that the people who use their magic for bad or selfish purposes are portrayed as bad people, and those that are portrayed as good people only usetheirr powers within the law and for good. There is also emphasis on being able to love giving a person greater power than any dark magic. And as it happens, given aforementioned rough times, the book is about evil people terrorising the good and those who are entirely innocent, and the way people can support each other through those times and seek to overcome that evil. For a child asking mummy at bedtime what the meaning of what they have seen on the news is, for a child afraid, the best mode of explanationIi can think of would be to use this very book as a base for explanations.
For Is It Not Written, Mr. Pope, in that book of yours which is the only one that seemingly still has sold more copies than Harry Potter, that your Lord did tell FICTIONAL STORIES unto the people that they might better understand the point he was trying to make? Hmmmmmmm? And is it not the case that any story employing values compatible with Christianity might be read at bedtime, discussed with the child in question, put in context by a Christian parent, then say your prayers and go to sleep please for it is a school night?
I think that rather than pick holes in the books that have made a generation of readersoutt of a bunch of kids who looked set to grow thumbs the size of spades from too much Playstation, or continuing to propagate misinformation about other religions, the pope might try using his influence to spread peace? He could even go right out on a limb and start talking to the likes of Mugabe about the firey fate he no doubt believes awaits him.
Oh oops I forgot- Mugabe can do what he likes as long as he says sorry afterwards.
And while we're about it, by the way, as there's abeautifull example to use,Ii would like to clear up the following once and for all:
If you were to say that the suicide bombers are to Isalm what satanists are to Christianity, ie same texts, God and dramatis personnae, totally opposite outlooks gleaned from that, then if Pagans would be to Christianity what Hindus are to Islam. Totally different religion, don't believe in any of the same gods, myths etc.
There is also a little nuther issue: martyrs. I hear much about people choosing to bemartyrss for Islam (Satanic equivalent division). I'm not sure you can choose to be a martyr. I rather thought you had to be put in a position by a third party in which you had to choose to betray your religion or die. And so from a thousand tortured women dying slowly in one of the most hideous possible ways, I'd like to say to these 'elective martyrs' "You LUCKY bastards! You lucky, lucky bastards. You get a choice! We never did."
So to The Pope: In these times of awfulness, remember what your church did to previousreligiouss groups who were demonized by theofficiall sources of information, focus upon what needs to be done that you might be one of only a handful of people in the world who might be able to achieve, read your bible and try to use your influence to promote tolerance, understanding and love, and suffer the little children to read what they like. Or roll up a big fat spliff.
Cos at the moment,Iidon'tt like you at all.