NEVER in my life did I imagine I'd be leaping to the defence of the Harry Potter franchise, but after reading the Rev Andy Kelso's comical little tirade (Advertiser, December 5) I felt compelled to write.

So the good reverend has decided that Harry Potter is the work of Satan?

Well, it makes a change from homosexuality and rock music, I suppose.

Whatever next? Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Terry Pratchett? Rentaghost?

The Rev Kelso is showing all the symptoms of knee-jerk fundamentalism - paranoia, scaremongering, trying to destroy that which does not comply with his world view.

The Church has always had one of the best defence mechanisms for defending its views; anything that opposes it or offers an alternative view is automatically branded 'the work of Satan'.

And, as they delight in telling us over and over again, Satan is the Nasty Bad Man.

Well, I'm afraid to say that, in the 21st century, that just doesn't cut the mustard any more.

Frankly, I couldn't care less whether Harry Potter stories feature the eponymous hero dabbling in the occult.

I hardly think a few broomsticks and a bit of meditation makes JK Rowling the new Alistair Crowley.

And ordinarily, I find Harry Potter distasteful simply for the hype-driven money leech it has become.

But, to its credit, thousands of children have started to pick up books and read because of Harry Potter who would otherwise probably not have done so.

It's interesting to note, in conjunction with this, the Church's historical attempts to suppress literacy in all but its chosen few in order to ensure the complete propagation of its doctrine.

Coincidence? You decide.

My personal belief is that for getting children back into libraries and bookshops, we can forgive Harry for his little sins.

MARK STEVENSON

Milcote Close

Greenlands