Harry Potter Fans
Turning to Witchcraft

The federation says the Potter books, by JK Rowling, and TV shows such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, had  sparked the new flood of interest.

Media officer Andy Norfolk said: "In response to the increased queries coming from youngsters we established a youth officer, not to promote paganism, because that would be against pagan ethics, but merely to answer these queries and allow someone to offer advice and information.

"It is quite probably linked to things like Harry Potter, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Every time an article on witchcraft or paganism appears, we had a huge surge in calls, mostly from young girls."

Mr Norfolk said that parents should not be alarmed by their children's sudden interest in magic. "Paganism is recognised as a valid religion," he said. "In no way is it a cult and certainly it offers nothing untoward.

"We do not allow members under 18. As for children, I think a lot of young people think that witchcraft will help them sort out problems in a quick and easy way.

"Some of them may wish to find out more about paganism and they will discover that it is a nature-based spiritual religion which places responsibility on people's individual actions.

"However, for most it will be just a passing fad, and it is not something parents should be concerned about."

A spokesman from the Roman Catholic Church said the books and shows which are provoking interest in paganism had been around for years, adding: "I haven't heard anything within the Catholic religion that suggests this is anything to be concerned about."

JK Rowling's publisher Bloomsbury was not available for comment and the Church of England General Synod refused to comment.

However, John Buckeridge, editor of Christian young people's magazine Youthwork, said he had no doubt that such stories could "fuel a fascination" in the occult, leading to "psychological and spiritual damage".

Mr Buckeridge said: "The growing number of books and TV shows like Harry Potter and Sabrina The Teenage Witch encourage an interest in magic as harmless fun.

"However, for some young people, it could fuel a fascination that leads to dangerous dabbling with occult powers. So what starts out as spooks and spells can lead to psychological and spiritual damage."

In March, Kent headmistress Carol Rookwood called Harry Potter an evil influence. She banned the books from the library at St Mary's Church of England primary school in Chatham and suggested parents take similar action at home, warning that the stories expose vulnerable young people to aspects of the occult.

And from: Ananova

TV shows fuel children's interest in witchcraft

The Pagan Federation is claiming that TV programmes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch have fuelled a rapidly growing interest in witchcraft among children.

The organisation says it deals with an average of 100 inquiries a month from youngsters who want to become witches, and claims it has occasionally been "swamped" with calls.

Media officer Andy Norfolk says the Federation is to appoint its first youth officer in September after receiving calls following recent articles about paganism in teenage magazines.

Mr Norfolk said: "Our youth officer will explain things like the principle ethic of witchcraft - that you should not cause harm to anyone - and that it's not just an easy way to get a new boyfriend!"

He insists that the Federation is a responsible organisation which does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to become a member.

Explaining the growing interest in recent years, Mr Norfolk claims the Christian Church has failed to provide "the right degree of spirituality for young people", whereas paganism involves "direct communication with the divine".

Kate West, a 42-year-old witch and vice president of the Federation, who was recently commissioned by publishers HarperCollins to write an introductory handbook on witchcraft, believes teenage interest in paganism has always been substantial.

She said: "When I was a teenager, there were only about 10 books on witchcraft around. But now there is so much information on the Internet which makes it is so much more accessible.

The growing trend has been described as "worrying" by John Buckeridge, editor of Youthwork, a monthly Christian magazine.

He said: "The growing number of books and TV shows like Harry Potter and Sabrina the Teenage Witch encourage an interest in magic as harmless fun. However for some young people it could fuel a fascination that leads to dangerous dabbling with occult powers. So what starts out as spooks and spells can lead to psychological and spiritual damage."

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