I STILL don’t understand it. After the seven intensely addictive books by J.K. Rowling, I don’t understand why there are still many (Christian) parents who, when the Harry Potter books/movies are brought up, get all flustered and tell me that they and their children haven’t read/seen either, because of the subject matter. Yet, if I further press, I usually find out that they and their children HAVE seen the Star Wars series, the Lord of the Rings series, The Matrix series, many Disney movies, and on and on.
This is definitely one of those areas that are categorized in my head as Things That Make You Go, “Hmmm…”
I completely respect anyone’s religion/faith. Everyone needs to explore their own faith, in their own ways. But someone, somewhere, PLEASE explain to me in what way the Harry Potter story is by any way in favor of evil and Things Against the Bible (where the other ones aren’t)?
If I even approach this with someone who’s intent on “helping me see the light,” I usually get the answer that it’s about witchcraft, which you know, is the Devil’s work.
And here’s typically my answer: Wrong.
I’m sure there have been literary papers written about this, but I’m just ranting from my personal point of view (that’s what this blog is for, anyway, isn’t it?).
Here’s my point to you, to all of you out there who dismiss Harry Potter because of that: Harry Potter is not about “Devil’s witchcraft.” It’s about magic, wonderment, growing up, and above all, the battle of good against evil — on a LARGE scale.
There are so many things the Harry Potter saga covers that are essential to a positive life, including the rewards of bravery, doing the right thing, fighting evil with good, and taking the high road.
For example, one of the best lines spoken by Dumbledore (Hogwart’s headmaster) to Harry: “Harry, we are coming to a time when everyone must choose whether do what is easy, or what is right.” OK, that’s not verbatim, but pretty close!
Anyway, beyond that, like I said, the same families that have barred Harry Potter allow Stars Wars, Disney, Lord of the Rings, and the like, without a second thought. So, here are my questions to that:
- Isn’t “The Force” the use of magic (and thus, witchcraft)? Again, good vs. evil.
- Wasn’t Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother someone who used magic? And for that matter, what about all of the magic (not just bad) used in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and many, many others that the same parents insist are just fine for their children? Incidentally, these movies were actually barred from our household for a completely different reason, since those movies purport that a girl’s only purpose in life should be to find and win a man that will take care of her — but that’s a different blog for a different day!
- Lord of the Rings — magical rings, wizards, and elves, oh my
- Matrix — Talk about Christ-like stories!
So, there you have it. Typical hypocrisy of the church. Yet, there are still quite a few parents out there who think that Harry Potter is OVER THE EDGE. All I can say is, it’s their loss. Really, their children’s. Because there are so many lessons for a good life in those books, and they are really missing out on passing along such good lessons with such enjoyment related to it.
Now, talking about the Bible itself — which, when we read parts of it as a literary piece in 12th grade AP English class, our teacher introduced it as one of the books with the most magic, sex, drugs, and debauchery in all of history — there’s just so, so much I can talk about there. But that will be another blog, on another day, when I REALLY have time to sit down and go on about that!
’Nuff said! 
