Dumbledore revealed to be gay

[Dr Mario]

Of course they're not the ONLY people who hate homosexuals, but they are a huge percent of the one's so against it, and that creates half the controversy.

Unfortunately, they aren't. They make a hell of a noise for their size, but hardline Christians are only a small percentage of the population (and hardliners of other religions are even fewer in number). The average westerner has no problems with discrimation against GLBT people (as seen by the laws that keep getting passed with majority votes), so clearly the hardliners cannot be a huge percentage of the ones against it.

[DeViOuS]

Well, i'm not against religion or gays, so it doesn't matter much to me. I'm just saying, the author probably only strengthen what she had fan base wise, rather than lost anyone, since the ones who've been against her this whole time would be the ones really getting offended by this.

[b1gwi11]

By itself, it would make very little difference (besides adding a slightly different spin on some of the scenes out of Dumbledores past). The real difference is meta-textual and has more to do with social conditions and why she chose to reveal this post-series rather than in the main narrative itself.

There aren't many GLBT characters in mainstream fiction. There's even fewer that are portrayed as anything beyond villains and/or flaming cliches. So when a well-rounded, flawed but ultimately sympathetic GLBT character turns up in a hugely successful book series, it makes waves. It's a role model sort of thing and it's heavily tied to social attitudes towards, and stereotypes of, said groups.

Now, springing this revelation after the series is finished (despite it looking like a long-planned character trait) suggests a lot of things outside the main work. It suggests an author who was afraid to include it for some reason, which in turn suggests things about the society she's operating in.

And that's where all the stupid controversy comes in.

edit: And if anyone thinks that hardline religious folk are the only people who have problems with homosexuals, their opinion is simplified to the point of caricature.

although that may be true.... i'd still not rule out the idea that it might not be true at all, and just have been thrown in there as an afterthought ..

edit: and also hes been a character since the beginning of the books.... which before writing the first one, i'd never heard of j.k. rowling... so including his sexuality from day 1, she wouldnt have had anything to lose, seeing as how she didnt have anything to begin with. or something like that.

[Paladin_Hammer]

She didn't lose anyone because of that, all the Christians and religious people hate her anyways.

And you heard this... where??? I have 6 Christian friends (3 Roman Catholic, 1 Mormon, 1 Lutheran, 1 Baptist) who LOVE that stuff. There are two others, but their Christianity is under offical review at the moment.

[Jetsetlemming]

It's not the Christians as a whole that hate her and the Harry Potter books, but rather the evangelical ones who still see witches and devil worshippers as a serious threat to the world and something trying to pervert their kids. The Jack Chick line of Christianity.

[DeViOuS]

Uh, Christianity is not Roman Catholic, Mormon, Lutheran, or Baptist...
Those are separate beliefs and churches..

you mean religious friends?

Maybe not all 100% but I have been to many "CHRISTIAN" churches and knew a lot of christian people and the news even, and they are against it because of witchcraft.

[Paladin_Hammer]

It's not the Christians as a whole that hate her and the Harry Potter books, but rather the evangelical ones who still see witches and devil worshippers as a serious threat to the world and something trying to pervert their kids. The Jack Chick line of Christianity.

I see your point.

[Jetsetlemming]

Catholicism, Mormonism, Lutheranism, and Baptist are all branches of Christianity.
Christianity as a religion is divided into two main parts, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Catholicism has a relatively small number of sects, such as Roman Catholicism and the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox churches. Protestantism is much more divided, including groups such as the Baptists, Mormons, Lutherans, Amish, Presbyterians, and Methodists. These are ALL under the umbrella of Christianity. There are also non-denominational churches, and many, many Christians who interpret the Bible and Jesus's teachings for themselves, without any typical stereotypes applicable to them. It's a very wide-spread, varying religion. The only real thing you can expect of the entire group as a whole is God and Jesus.


And oh sure, I'm sure you've just been all over the fucking place. You're obviously such an expert of religious studies.
Moron.

Oh, and lawls @ believing the news at face value and accepting that as a view of the group as a whole.
We're dealing with an absolute genius here, I see.

[Paladin_Hammer]

Uh, Christianity is not Roman Catholic, Mormon, Lutheran, or Baptist...
Those are separate beliefs and churches..

you mean religious friends?

They're all denominations of Christianity.

Maybe not all 100% but I have been to many "CHRISTIAN" churches and knew a lot of christian people and the news even, and they are against it because of witchcraft

I hear the Roman Catholic church is split on that issue. Some Cardinals say its okay, due to its ways of separating right and wrong. While others say it promotes witchcraft.

Wait... you state you've been to "CHRISTIAN" churches... but your not a Christian. Am I assuming to much in thinking your full of it, or are you a brand spanking new, fresh on the line to hell "I don't give a fuck" atheist? Either way is cool with me, so long as you don't give me that "Christianity/Religion in General is all that is wrong with the world" bullcrap.

[SegNin]

Uh, Christianity is not Roman Catholic, Mormon, Lutheran, or Baptist...
Those are separate beliefs and churches..

Christianity refers to any religion that believes that Jesus Christ was the son of God.

So, every one of those religions that you mentioned is Christian.

[DeViOuS]

I'm 18, my parents are christians. The other religions do NOT use the same fucking bible and preach the same bliefs. I went to their churches, and they do not read the same bible. Mormans for example believe there is no hell. I wouldn't put them all in the same catagory. Christianity is the belief that you need a personal relationship with jesus while the others believe you jsut have to be good or pray, blah blah.

[SegNin]

Christianity refers to any religion that believes that Jesus Christ was the son of God.

So, every one of those religions that you mentioned is Christian.

Afraid you're wrong.

[DeViOuS]

All I know is, Christianity is the belief that you need a personal relationship with jesus. You need to accept him as your savior. Other religions have things way out of context that that. They're more like catholic. If you're into christianity, trust me, anything but that is a big deal and a lot different. I lived around it for years, i know. I'm not just googling this shit up.

[Strongbad]

All I know is, Christianity is the belief that you need a personal relationship with jesus. You need to accept him as your savior. Other religions have things way out of context that that. They're more like catholic. If you're into christianity, trust me, anything but that is a big deal and a lot different. I lived around it for years, i know. I'm not just googling this shit up.

The Christians that you hang with are just telling you that because they don't want to identify the other groups that they don't agree with as Christians.

[Jetsetlemming]

No, you're MAKING this shit up. And for the last damn time, Catholicism is a part of Christianity.