I’ve never been for obsessing over worldly items or things. In fact, the last book on the Potter series warns against allowing your weakness of wanting, taking, and using wrongly to control your life. I do strongly believe that there is Christian symbolism in all of the books, especially the last one (I have posted serveral posts on the topic on my blog). Rowling, herself, claims to be a Christian. She refused to give details away of her faith because she knew it would spoil the ending. I’ll never put the Potter books over the Bible, but I do not think that we should shun the books because some idiots go too crazy over them. The books were merely a series well written and highly enjoyed until I started looking at the CHristian symbolism in them. I’ve found that they’ve given great menaing to my faith and pushed me forward. That is, my faith has made the books mean something to me. I do see the harm in making the books into a fad and joining that fad as you described, but I see no harm at all in discussing the books and learning from them. The site you provided actually seems a good one to me. Besides, why should you hate Harry Potter? It’s a good series. Don’t hate it just because the world loves it and tries to turn it into something evil. Just because an interpretation is evil does not mean the books are evil.

By the way, I forgot to mention that I was one of those who went to get the last book at midnnight (although I never did it for any other books). However, I made a promise to God that while I would be rushing through the final book to find out what happens, I would still take equally as much time out to read my Bible and spend time with the Lord as I did with the Potter book, and I did that. So, I think that the series is good and is full of Christian themes. I think that a love of the series can be tastefully measured. That we can still enjoy the series and get a lot of them, but get even more out of the Bible and our relationship with Christ.

If you are interested, the following link will take you to a post by someone other than me that has a similar opinion to yours (I commented in reply to that post as well).

http://www.sicarii.net/2007/07.....s-hogwash/

@Harmony: There seems to be a trend today where Christians attempt to inject Christian symbolism into just about every secular genre there is, whether in literature or in films. Not even Star Wars survives unscathed, which is apparently so rife with Christian symbolism that one one guy actually wrote a book about it.

However, I made a promise to God that while I would be rushing through the final book to find out what happens, I would still take equally as much time out to read my Bible and spend time with the Lord as I did with the Potter book, and I did that.

Are you suggesting that God is only worth 50 percent of your time, while Harry Potter takes up the other 50 percent? Do you really believe that God would be well pleased with how you’re setting your priorities here?

Regarding Rowling, she stated that she was a member of the church of Scotland. That’s like saying I’m a member of the human race. What does it mean really? In addition, you write that she did not want to disclose her Christian heritage so that the series ending for Harry Potter wouldn’t be spoiled. Remember that Jesus said whosoever would deny Him before men, him would He also deny before His Father in Heaven. It strikes me as odd that Rowling would refuse to proclaim Christ as her Savior just so a book’s ending wouldn’t be spoiled. Well THAT’s certainly a healthy perspective to have in light of all of eternity.

She also started a One Parents Group that seems to devalue marriage and the need for children to have two parents, and prescribes to leftist ideology that would seem antithetical to Christian faith (unless you’re one of them liberal type Christians who take umbrage at this remark of course). On the other hand she donates 1 percent of her billion dollar estate to charity. That’s nice of her.

I wonder about the naivete of Christians today. The Bible used very strong language in condemning witchcraft, equating it with rebellion against God. You would think those who become saved and “put on the new man” would tend to shy away from all appearances of evil. Why make an exception for Harry Potter? Because it’s pure fantasy?

Truthfully, I don’t understand how a work ensconced in wizardry and witchcraft, written by a woman whose Christian beliefs could be described as nominal at best, could lead any person into a deeper understanding and relationship with Christ. Isn’t that what the Bible is for? Why this endless need to supplant Scripture for what is sure to be an inferior alternative?

If you want to read Harry Potter purely for the entertainment value, that’s one thing, and I won’t begrudge anyone having a little bit of fun. But the degree of obsession that I’ve witnessed regarding the Harry Potter phenomenon leads me to believe that there is a much more deeper spiritual issue here than meets the eye. I only wish more Christians would see that.

Bottomline- Harry Potter is not kosher…not even close. Great post, Linc! How ya been?

Kristee

@Kristee: Shalom my friend! I’m still breathing, so as long as I have that there’s always hope.

You might find you aren’t that alone. I, too, am very much against the Harry Potter “phenomenon” so much so I’ve written a piece warning people against it on my blog, and which Harmony has referred to as well.

God bless, and Shalom!

@Sicarii: That’s good to know! Shalom to you as well!

Sorry, but you call yourself a Christian? Do Christians jump on everything and judge it? I know we aren’t all Jesus Christ but you can at least act as if you are a practicing Christian. Do you think it helps the Harry Potter “fad” that people bitch and moan about it? No, because I feel people will probably be more interested in it. Ever heard the saying “What Would Jesus Do?” Why don’t you follow that for pete’s sake? I’m tired of seeing Christians bitching and moaning and being so hypoctrical. People like Harry Potter, get over it! People will always like it and people will always hate it but just because you hate it and you are bitter about it doesn’t mean you have to spread the hatred. Jesus would have been tolerant and patient with the whole Harry Potter thing and I’m sure he knows it isn’t a religion or something! However, you are being bitter and ignorant. Not everyone is going to read the bible 24/7. Christians can read whatever the hell they want when they want. Harry Potter isn’t a sin, it is a book for enjoyment. Unless you are the crazy christian type that believes we should read the bible all day & feel no joy, if you are….get off the computer? eh? My final point is….GET OVER IT.

Ps. I don’t care if I left you a “rude” comment, it is the freakin’ internet.

The Harry Potter books are at least written by a real author. The real waste of time comes from people like you who can’t write. Nothing interesting came from this but I hate I hate. I know why you hate to your a jealous little whiner who has nothing better to do than complain. Maybe you should try to read a book than you wouldn’t be such a ******. Anyway, theres no hatred going on here, lets just say a lack of stupidity. Never mind what people do on their time because it will catch up to you one day. It’s inevitable to not die so, live brother, stop whining.

LOL @ stupid Christians.

I totally understand where you are coming from, however, my son has recently discovered that he likes reading and guess what book hooked him? Yeah. He watched the first two movies and then started reading the books with the third one, he finished it in a week and has started the fourth one without skipping a beat. He will be 11 years old tomorrow and getting him to read in the past was about like getting him to brush his teeth or wash his hands…constant battle!

But that doesn’t mean I’d let him read any ole thing just because he’s interested in it! LOLOLOL

Wow…CA…you let your child read something that glorifies witchcraft, occultism, and secularism? What WOULDN’T you let him read?
Fact is, Satan wants to infiltrate our children’s minds at a young age, before they’ve matured enough in spirituality and Biblical teaching to discern the spirit behind something. As parents, we have that responsibility. Why not substitue HP with the Chronicles of Narnia? It’s just as fairy-tale like, has young heroes, and teaches a Christian world-view.

I agree that we have to be careful what we allow our children to take in. Harry Potter does have some Christian morals and parallels in it with Biblical truths and stories, but that doens’t make it the best choice. I’d stick to Narnia for the young ones. However, you’d be surprised at how some young children can read books like Harry Potter and decipher Christian values in them. But not all children can do this and some may get the wrong idea when they read them. So, the parent should be careful in descerning what their chidlren can handle and understand. I wasn’t allowed to read the HP books until the movies came out (around jr. high for me). By then I was able to discern fact from fiction.

Oh, and I also believe that the efforts people put out against HP would be much better concentrated on books and movies such as the Golden Compas which are more likely to corrupt the minds of children. Golden Compas is an atheist film.

I will admit however, that I was appalled to learn that Rowling is just another Kristin Chenoweth - she supports the gay lifestyle and says Dumbledore is gay.

But that doesn’t mean I’d let him read any ole thing just because he’s interested in it! LOLOLOL

Good, because I was gonna ask you if he’s been reading Playboy lately.

If people just read, that’s one thing, but the degree of obsession people have with Potter is almost worse than the craziness you see from trekkies (crazed Star Trek fans). As William Shatner would say: “GET A #$%^ing LIFE!”

Good ol’ Bill.
Anywho…at the risk of sounding like a looney, I would submit to you that our battles are not with flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, and spirits in heavenly places… When your central story revolves around spiritualism and witchcraft, I believe you’re inviting those same spirits into your life by indulging in it. Doesn’t mean that you can’t separate fact from fiction, it means that you are giving the enemy greater control over your life, and opening yourself to greater temptation to move away from God.
I think we all agree REAL witchcraft is occultic and non-christian…that you can’t be saved and be a witch, right? Then why would we allow ourselves, and especially our children, to read and enjoy fantasy witchcraft? Would fantasy child sacrifices be okay? Fantasy molestations?
Maybe? As long as it’s done by someone with a funny name with a unicorn next to him?

@Casey: You’re loonie.

You do have a point though, but I’ve given up on this argument. It’s much more rewarding to make fun of overhyped fads and the manic behavior it brings out in people than reason with them.

I find all this very interesting. I haven’t been able to find reasons (such as quotes from the HP books etc.), other than opinions and assumptions that the HP books are in any way against the Christian faith. I would be very interested to learn what the issues are. If it is just the fact that the kids are exposed to magic, then the Narnia books should also be bad, correct? What about the Lord of the Rings books? There is just as much magic in them. I have read all the LOTR books, all the Narnia books, AND the HP books. The only difference I can find is that the LOTR and Narnia books may have been written with Christian parallels in mind (but perhaps not with LOTR), yet the HP books were written as entertainment. Does that mean that Curious George is bad too, because I doubt it was written with Christian ideology in mind either? I have heard that the HP books are bad because they may get kids interested in magic. Isn’t that a good thing? If kids believe in a power outside (and inside) themselves, won’t that open the door for some to believe in the Christian God as well? Please forgive my ignorance. I did grow up in a great church, learned all the parables, etc but I still enjoy the HP series and I feel no evil seeping into my soul.

Sarah, I don’t address the animosity HP books may present against Christianity so much as the mania it causes. The obsession fans have with these books to the point of turning their homes into Harry Potter museums is flat out creepy. It’s just not a healthy way to behave.

Hello!

I would like to begin by saying that I am a Roman Catholic, and I am a big HP fan. In fact, the whole idea of “Witchcraft” in the books according to you is, actually not very accurate. Harry and his friends alwyas use their magic for good, give or take a few circumstances. They are only human. You are human, and I am sure that you have sinned, just as sure as I am that you have felt remorse for them. Harry and his friends feel that way too. Most children are inspired by the good wizards… not the Death Eaters, or Voldemort.

I was very offended by your said hate of “Potterhead Christians”. Jesus doesn’t want us to hate ANYONE. If they are Christians, don’t they have most of the same beliefs as you do? God won’t damn us to hell if they read a certain book.

If people want to turn their houses into “creepy HP museums”, then they can. And how many people have you heard of doing that? I’m sure you’re a fan of something. I agree that sleeping in front of the bookstore is a bit over the top, but being a fan of the books isn’t “unhealthy”.

I was also hurt by this: It’s much more rewarding to make fun of overhyped fads and the manic behavior it brings out in people than reason with them. It wasn’t very funny at all, and you realize that you are hurting the feelings of thousands of people in the world. God doesn’t want people to be mean, or make fun of other people, for a certain likeing, race, religion, or anything. You are being a bully. Haven’t you ever heard of anti-bullying presentations? Bullying isn’t good, and you may not even realize that you are doing it. God also tells us that we are all equal. What you said was degrading, and you put yourself up higher than HP fans.

I also feel that you shouldn’t judge the books, seeing as you haven’t read them. If you wanted to post something like this thread, you should at least read them. Then, if you didn’t like them, you could say, “Does anyone find the mania of Harry Potter a bitt annoying?” There was no need to add the bit about religion. I personally don’t like the Twilight series, and how my friends obsess over it day and night. But I have read the books, and so I can say that I don’t really like them.

Thank you for your time, and I hope that you took my message into consideration.

I think Lincoln, while coming out a bit over the top, was not trying to be hateful or rude to other people, he was simple making the point that it is a sin to put other things over God. While it’s not unhealthy to have an obsession or hobby in one area, it is spiritually unhealthy to have an obsession that crosses the line and keeps you from God.

Jesus doesn’t want us to hate ANYONE…

Would that include Satan? Because you know that guy is really hard to love.

I meant humans.

I can’t stand humans either. They’re such sinners and all.

BTW, even though I haven’t read the books, there’s no rule that says I can only comment on a literary work after reading it. I don’t have to read Mein Kampf for instance to know that it’s going to be a pile of crap.

Besides, my comments were more borne out of observing how people reacted to the release of the last book than the contents therein.