A recent e-mail contained the dire warning, "Dear Christian, This is the most evil thing I have laid my eyes on in 10 years ... and no one seems to understand its threat." The e-mail proceded to recount how multitudes of children are turning to satanism as a result of reading the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling (not true). Numerous quotes are included, some attributed to children, others attributed to the author, but nothing actually substantiated with a verifiable source. The e-mail was forwarded to many people by well meaning believers who had received it from other well meaning believers who had received it from a "Christian" organization, and so forth.

Problem is, the e-mail is drawn almost entirely from an article on a phony news webiste called The Onion (nowhere mentioned in the e-mail). The site aspires to be parody or satire, and consists of made up stories and plenty of vulgarity. The Onion is not recommended reading. Unfortunately, as with so many hoaxes that get spread around (some of them making Christians look rather careless at best) people too often don't critically read what they're passing on or think about whether it makes sense or not.

The Bible is emphatic on the principle of not accusing people on the basis of flimsy evidence (two or three witnesses required) and yet many believers naively pass along misrepresentation (ie lies) with a gung ho attitude. The Bible strongly condemns gossip, slander, and busybodies, and the church can't win people to Christ with misrepresentation.

By the way, according to recent news reports, Madeline Murray O'hair's body has finally been found, more than five years after her murder, but I'm sure we'll still see the hoaxes about her trying to ban religious broadcasting making the circuit.