Church Rejects 'Harry Potter' Spell

An Evangelical Protestant group held a book-burning Sunday (12/30/01), singing hymns as they consigned the "Harry Potter" series and other "satanic" works to the flames.

Hundreds of protesters chanted, "stop burning books", and were ignored.

Jack Brock, pastor of the Christ Community Church, said the books destroyed were "a masterpiece of satanic deception".

"These books teach children how they can get into witchcraft and become a witch, wizard, or warlock", said Brock, who founded the church. Members sang "Amazing Grace" as they threw books and magazines on the fire.

Across the street, the chanting protesters stretched in a line one-quarter of a mile long.

"It may be useless, but we want [the church] to know the community is not behind them", said Joann Booth, who protested with her four grandchildren. One protester dressed up as Adolf Hitler.

Hitler's Nazi party burned books that it considered offensive or subversive.

Protesters held signs reading "Book burning? Shame on our town" in front of the public library.