My vicar has been using Harry Potter to illustrate the battle of good v evil and the triumph of love, as illustrated by Lily's sacrifice to save baby Harry since the second book came out.
He used the broomstick fight against the dragons on Battle of Britain Sunday to give the children an idea of aerial combat and had the elderly gentlemen of the British Legion (some of whom admitted to reading the books "to check they were suitable for their grandchildren") nodding in agreement.

CAM, Essex,

Isn't this a bit like using scantily clad ladies to sell practically anything to adult males ? Still , some great "reasons" given in this article for the supposed benefits of using Potter to get Children into the whole Jesus thing , after all if they love one work of fiction ... why not another .

If I was J.K. Rowling , I would have a fit .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

What a despicable society we live in.

With Rowling herself and every commercially interested hanger-on we now have religion, on familiar territory, exploiting child impressionability. How has it become acceptable that we adults can make pots of money and further our own interests by selling to and proselytising the relatively undisciplined?

Religion may think 9-13 year olds are fair game to peddle there wares and ASDA, or whoever, to sell to parents of insistent children but surely we can bring them up without this stuff and still give them a sense of wonderment of the world around them.

Martin Hughes, Oxford, UK

Just like religion to take something for children which is fun, exciting and pure escapism, then turn it into a way of indocritination. Without religion our children would grow up with less hatred and wars.

Les, Southport, England

What BS....part of the appeal of Harry Potter is that EVERYONE can read it and not feel like they're being bombarded by a certain belief. If you want to preach go to Church...leave Harry Potter alone.

Jessica, Atlanta,

Seem to recall a time what Mother Church was more than a little negative towards witchcraft, witches, heretics, midwives, herbalists, alchemists, astronomers, Jews, Muslims, ... Go back some 400 years, even 300 hundred years, and Harry Potter would have been burnt at the stake. Face it; this Mediaeval Christian BS is so last season; a panacea for the terminal gullible. Did Christianity also hijack the Age of Enlightenment? Talk about an emotional crutch for the weak-minded. But as deception I'm just gob-smacked with admiration. Believing your own BS has to be the finest way to convince others; now that's what I call a scam.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa

I'd be careful with that.

You're likely to get at least one kid who knows the books inside out and regularly points out errors in the way the stories are being presented.

I know I would.

Alice, Sheffield,

Its not the first time in history that fiction has been used to propagate religious views and it certainly won't be the last.

DS, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

How sinister and creepy, trying to get into vulnerable young minds to indoctrinate by the side door.

DJ, Loughborough,

Using nonsense to promote nonsense, nice one...

Mark, London,

Desperate times call for desperate measures

Adam, Kensington,

i don't agree that Harry potter should be exploited to promote Christianity. this film is not only watched by christians , but it's also watched by millions of Muslims and other faiths. If every religion tries to use cartoons as a way to spread itself, i think most people won't watch it. People want to watch movies to have fun not to be preached.

Lahcen Qasserras, Kenitra, Morocco

You must wonder if these big guys from the Catholic church and athe Anglican church are serious about their faith. Do they rever God? How much are they twisting the Gospel and the seriousness of dabbling in occult. Harry Potter is all about witchcraft and any serious Christians should stay far away from witchcraft and the occult. Dont be complacent about the devil as he will get you while you are asleep. How many times have we been warned in the Bible about magic and witchcraft. It is amazing that most cynical unbelievers think that the Bible is one big fairy tale book and refuse to have anything to do with it and yet they are more than happy to devour the harry potter book/movie etc. They cant get enough of it!! How clearly you can see unbelievers rejecting good and embracing evil. How they give full control of their lives to the devil. Is the Christian message that hard to tell that they have to use harry potter to convey the message of God? What have the church come to?

Virginia, Brisbane, Australia