I dont think that BTVS is particularly harmful to teenagers, even if it does spark their interest in Wicca/Paganism. If it sparks their interest, all the better. True enough that the "magick" they portay on the show is exceedingly dramatized, but if shows like this open up kids minds to say "hey, maybe its not so bad as everyone always says it is," and it makes them want to look into it deeper, and actually learn what its really all about, then it's definitely a positive thing.
So many people are so close-minded, and even now, say things are soo wrong and soo evil without even knowing anything about it at all. Most teens arent going to start something that they see straight off TV, but instead, look into it and see what its really about. In our society still, there's the stigma to the word "witch," which is, in turn, also attributed to "wicca" or "wiccan." This is ingrained [sp?] into us from a very young age, with the negative stereotypes only aiding it. For kids to see that its not 'evil' as they've been raised to believe, is an excellent way of getting kids to accept others, even though they may be different.
Acceptance of others and others' beliefs is something that, in the 21st century, you'd think we'd have, but unfortunately, we're not all quite there yet. At many (I'm not going to say all, because I've obviously not been to all of them) Christian churches, they insist that their way is the only way and that all others are evil and wrong or blasphemous etc, and yet try to preach acceptance and brotherhood. Is this really teaching acceptance? what about the evangelism, and getting people to convert because their way is "wrong"? is this acceptance? what is this teaching the kids?Teaching children that people who arent the same as them need to change to be like them, is, in essence, teaching kids to not accept people who are different, and to alienate them. How is teaching inacceptance of a difference in beliefs any different than teaching inacceptance of a difference in race or nationality?
Even though the "wicca" portrayed on shows like Buffy and Charmed is extremely over dramatized, showing that its not evil and bad is an excellent thing for kids to see. The characters on these shows are positive figures, rather than negative, and it shows kids that its not so bad, opening up their minds to the idea that maybe they're not wrong or evil, and that maybe it's just as good natured as their own religion, even though its different.
Dont get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that anyone else's personal beliefs are wrong-- everyone has a right to his or her own beliefs, but I think that even though we should share our beliefs with others, its a better thing to keep an open mind, and just be like "okay, your beliefs are different than mine, but that's okay, and it doesnt make either of us wrong."
-lostgirl