The American Prospect published an article entitled "Fantasia: The Gospel According to C.S. Lewis" February 25th, 2002. It discusses the Christian message in C.S.Lewis, Tolkien, and J.K.Rowling. Consider this widely quoted extract: ... Rowling initially was afraid that if people were aware of her Christian faith, she would give away too much of what's coming in the series. "If I talk too freely about that," she told a Canadian reporter, "I think the intelligent reader -- whether ten [years old] or sixty -- will be able to guess what is coming in the books." The article goes on to show one example of this from the first book. It is important to recognize that Christians are split on the appropriateness of Harry Potter for children. After all - on the negative - characters use magic and talk to ghosts, and concerns have been expressed that this could lead a child to explore more sinister matters. On the positive - messages are Judeo-Christian, characters benefit or suffer from their own choices, and the 'magic' in Harry Potter is an alternative reality neutral power, far removed from the Satan controlled Spiritualism the Bible forbids Christians to explore. To be clear - I have no intention of getting into the middle of this debate or persuade anyone one way or another about whether reading Harry Potter is right or wrong. Very real concerns have been expressed and Christian leaders have taken both sides here for and against, so who am I to get involved? Objections Counter Objections All the main characters in Harry Potter series practice teachings that are forbidden in the Bible, and therefore should be avoided: When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21. The books include descriptions of shapechanging, meditation, human sacrifice, spells, charms, curses, communicating with ghosts, broomsticks, divination, reading tea leaves, looking at crystal balls, potion making, sorcery, teaching dark arts. These books are nothing more that an attractive door inviting the young to explore the occult. This series - along with other TV shows, films, and books - continues to desensitize children to the occult, as well as other forms of violence. It encourages disobedience to authority, and there is no 'higher power' to answer to. These stories are fantasy. The 'magic' in Harry Potter has nothing to do with the teachings forbidden in the Bible. The 'magic' in Harry Potter is a neutral power - a resource that can be used by good and bad alike. If you have a problem with fantasy 'magic' in stories, then you really need to be honest with yourself, and also give up the C.S.Lewis Narnia Stories, J.R.R.Tolkien and the Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars films (the 'force' is another type of magical neutral power), and even Arabian Knights, the Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Snow White, and Mickey Mouse (think Fantasia, the sorcerer's apprenctice.) There is much material out there worse than Harry Potter for children to get desensitized to. Kids are going to be exposed one way or another, sooner or later, to non-Christian and evil practices. Inappropriate censorship for some age groups can make things worse later on. Parents need to talk to their pre-teen and teenage children about such matters (smoking, drugs, sex, even more so than the occult) so they learn to make the right decisions for themselves. Teaching discernment should be the priority here. This is an opportunity to talk to children who have read the books to discuss the difference between make-believe fantasy and real world reality. In the real world, the practices the Bible forbids are those that get someone closer to Satan and Satan worship. The 'father of lies' is a master, and such practices only deceive, bring false hope, and ultimately lead to destruction. I'll conclude by saying that this is a personal decision everyone needs to make for themselves. I myself started reading these books several years ago, and while not sure at first - as the stories progressed - it became clearer and clearer to me that the concerns that I had about these books could be managed. Now after reading book 7 it is very clear to me that there is a great opportunity to use the stories in the Harry Potter series to reach to children and to use them to talk about Jesus and the Gospel message. In other words, if you have worries about any ill-effects of Harry Potter, read on. You can do something about it. I am always interested in opportunities in sharing the gospel, and for those children who have already read the Harry Potter books, this is one of them. And it starts with a statement that shocked me when I first saw it: Harry Potter is an allegory of Jesus Christ. Look at this table that summarises the evidence for this. What do you think? Right or wrong (and for sure Harry isn't perfect), it does provide ample material to turn any discussion on Harry Potter to that of Jesus. Focus on that. Spoiler Warning: if you haven't read the books, the following table gives away parts of books 1-6. I won't touch on Book 7 yet. Overview   The Life of Harry Potter The Life of Jesus The Enemy Lord Voldemort, a.k.a. Tom Marvelo Riddle, who can talk to snakes. Directs and organizes all that is evil. Is trying to become the greatest ever Wizard and to live forever. At school Tom was a model student, did very well, and became head boy. Name - a riddler tries to confuse and mislead. Satan, the Serpent, Devil, deceiver, father of lies Ultimately wants to be like God. Started out as a perfect angel, but fell from grace. Father Figure Dumbledore, not the uncle he grew up with. Leader of all that is good, the greatest wizard, seems to know about everything important, rarely reveals full powers, great observer, tends to direct others rather than get involved. Harry sometimes complains he feels abandoned by him. God the Father - not Joseph (at least we know very little on this one) Jesus called out on the cross 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?' Mother Aunt, Blood relative Mother, Blood relative Humble beginnings Lived under the stairs Born in a stable Threatened by death as a baby, and a young refugee Order out for the death of the young child, resulting in his family in hiding in 'Godricks Hollow' when he was 1. Order out for the death of the young child under 2, resulting in the flight to Egypt until it was safe. Celebrated beginnings After surviving a killing curse that backfired on Voldemort: Fireworks, many messages sent by owls, celebration by wizards. At birth: star of bethlehem, visit of wise men with gifts, visit of shephards, angels singing. Friend of the rejected Harry favored people and had friends who were not considered 'cool'. Spent time with 'sinners, tax-collectors, poor, ill', etc. Good v. Evil Dumbledore (and Harry) against Voldemort The phoenix (also known as the ressurection bird) against the snake Gryfindor against Slytherin Harry against Draco God (and Jesus) against Satan The cross against the serpent The church against the world Jesus against Pharasees/Saducees Companions Several school friends Disciples It's all in a name Potter - We are the clay, you are the potter; Isaiah 64:8 Stag (Harry's protector/patronus) - a medeival symbol of Jesus [jesus has many names] Scars Lightning bolt on forehead - a constant reminder of the act of Voldemort Scars on hands, feet, side, a constant reminder of taking on the Sin of the World. Persecuted Harry is persecuted by the family he lives with, and taunted by characters from the rival house 'Slytherin'   Seeking the Lost In a game called Quidditch, Harry has a natural talent as a 'seeker', finding a small golden ball that looses itself and needs to be found. In fact finding this ball is the most important part of the game, far more so than the goals that are scored by other other players. Jesus declared himself to do just this Hidden worlds The Magical word of Harry Potter is hidden to ordinary people (muggles). The spiritual world is hidden to non-believers. Blood Sacrifice Harry's real mother sacrificed herself and in doing so protected Harry through 'old magic'. This theme develops through the series. Jesus died for us on the cross. As such Christians claim protection through 'the blood of Christ' King's Cross Station Harry departs for school at platform 9 and 3/4 which exists through a hidden gateway. Like a world between worlds. Jesus - our King - died on the Cross. Also Jesus said, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13. Faith Power is enacted through the use of wands. Broken wands cause interesting things to happen. There is symbolism is the wands of Harry (who is fighting evil) and Voldemort (who is untimately trying to live forever by fighting death). Both use a core of a phoenix feather, but Harry's is made of holly (symbolising holiness, fighting evil) and Voldemorts of Yew (symbolizing long life, as well as having a poisonous sap.) Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20. Prophecy There was a prophecy about Harry, that he would have the power to defeat Voldemort, Many about Jesus Righteous indignation Harry openly rebelled at the authority of the Wizard government (Ministry of Magic) when they were clearly in the wrong. Jesus called the pharasees to account publically.       Book 1 - The Philosophers Stone In a nutshell Mystery: what is hidden at the school? At the climax of the story, Harry decends through a series of obstacles and temptations to prevent the 'Philosophers Stone' getting into the wrong hands. He is only able to get his hands on the stone and return to the surface because he has selfless ambition (i.e. a test of purity). Parallels to Jesus decent to hell and resurrection due to his perfect sacrifice are clear. The antagonist in this story is a 'possessed' teacher called Quirrel (almost like Quarrel eh?) Another antagonist is a teacher called 'Severus Snape'. Not quite a snake...     Book 2 - The Chamber of Secrets   What is causing sinister happenings at the school? Is there a secret chamber under the school that has been rediscovered? This story includes a type of possession by the antagonist, Tom Riddle, and can be used to warn against getting involved in things you don't really understand - the real world occult. This story includes a teacher - Gilderoy Lockhart - who even though is famous for writing about his many dangerous exploits, turns out to be a bit of a fraud and a coward. This name can be broken down - Gilded (i.e. deceptively attractive) King (Roi is French for King), Locked Heart - or someone who looks attractive but is spiritually dead. A great example of a wolf in sheeps clothing, a false teacher. Both the 'possession' which is through a book, and Lockhart and his false writings, can be seen as a modern fable against false teachings that abound in literature today, and how they can possess us in all sorts of wrong ways. The story includes a giant snake, called a basilisk, which will kill you if you look at it. Is this not the personification of sin? If we do one thing wrong, we're cut off from God. At the climax of the story, Harry decends to a chamber, opened by speaking the language of snakes. He confronts a giant serpent and is saved through faith and loyalty to Dumbledore, rescues an innocent from an accuser, and returns in triumph. A parallel to salvation through what Jesus has done for us are very clear. An interesting detail - during a battle between Harry and the basilisk, the phoenix attacks the snake and blinds it. Harry eventually kills the basilisk with a sword, but not before being injured with a bite which is poisonous. However pheonix tears heal, and this is how Harry is saved. If the basalisk is sin, the phoenix represents the cross, and the sword the 'sword of the spirit which is the word of God' then this is a very interesting way to represent how sin is defeated by what Christ did for us on the cross.     Book 3 - The Prisoner of Azkaban   Who is the Prisoner of Azkaban, and why are teachers so frightened for Harrys safety? This story is darker. It introduces a teacher who is a werewolf, 'boggarts' who become your worst fear, 'dementors' who feed off happiness and can kill by feeding on your soul, as well the prisoner, an individual called Sirius Black, who escaped. Regarding the teacher who is a werewolf - called 'Lupin', the teacher is otherwise a very good at his subject and is very kind towards Harry. He hides his handicap with a potion that helps him turning into a werewolf each month. It also emerges that Lupin was bitten as a child, and was friends with both Harrys father and Sirius Black who both demonstrated amazing kindness and sacrifice towards him at school. This story has loyalty and betrayal, heroism, and courage of supporting a friend with a dangerous 'handicap'. At the climax of the story, Sirius reveals himself to Harry, and it turns out that he is not after Harry, but another individual who was partially responsible for the death of Harrys parents. This person escapes but Harry discovers Sirius is a relative of a sort - being his God-father. However Sirius is still an escaped prisoner and has to go into hiding. (Sirius Black an interestingly ambuguous name, as Sirius is the brightest star is the sky.) Ultimately this is a story about salvation. Two individuals in the story are falsely accused and are condemened to die, but Harry (with Dumbledores guidance) helps them both escape, much to the dismay of the authorities. In fact one individual is saved twice. In one incident, Harry fends of hundreds of dementors who would otherwise kill Sirius Black. He uses an interesting spell called a 'patronus charm' (in Latin patronus means protector). The 'patronus' is a bright white object that takes on the characterictics of the individual casting the spell - for Harry this is a Stag. Consider that the Stag is an old symbol for Christ, that dementors represent death, and you have an illustration of the power of Christ over death.     Book 4 - The Goblet of Fire   Who will win the Triwizard cup? Three schools compete each with their own champion selected by the Goblet of Fire, but who entered Harry Potter and how did the Goblet select his as well? This story has both adventure and mystery. The tournament requires contestants to navigate three tasks - each could be considered to have Christian parallels. In the first, Harry has to fight a fire breathing dragon to obtain a golden treasure, in the second Harry has to find a lost friend (as in fact does more than he needs to), and in the third, Harry has to navigate a dangerous maze to find the cup (and in doing so helps others along the way). The climax of the story takes place in a graveyard. Harry, having reached the cup and touched it, gets transported there. It was all a trap. Here Harry is bound, tormented and used to restore Voldemort back to full strength. However he receives unexpected help due to the past sins of Voldemort and escapes. However the stage is set - and Harry is certain to meet Voldemort again. It turns out that a teacher at the school was working for Voldemort and set the trap, helping Harry through the tournament. This is a story of betrayal - there is a parallel with Jesus betrayal by Judus, and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where -alone - he wrestled with the task ahead of Him.     Book 5 - The Order of the Phoenix   Why does no-one believe that Voldemort has returned? What is hidden at the Ministry of Magic that Voldemort wants so much? This story puts Harry and Dumbledore against most of the wizarding world - Voldemorts return is not believed. Harry also has to put up with an awful new teacher called Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge obtains greater and greater authority at the school, ultimately becoming headmistress (albeit temporarily). Because the defense lessons Umbridge teaches are considered dangerously weak, Harry gathers a following who he helps teach in secret. These secret lessons are discovered an lead to the removal of Dumbledore. At the climax of the story, Harry and several friends are lured into a trap at the Ministry of Magic. It turns out that Voldemort is after a recording of a prophecy. Harry hears it, but the recording is destroyed during a battle, which ends in a confrontation with Dumbledore, Harry and Voldemort. After a dramatic scene - where a protective power Harry has in his blood plays a part - Voldemort escapes, but not before being seen. Voldemort is officially alive, Umbridge is fired, Dumbledore is re-instated. Later Harry learns about the prophecy and what it means: that he has a power (love) Voldemort does not have nor understands, and that one of them will have to kill the other. There are a number of Christian parallels in this story about the world who does not believe that Satan exists. about Umbridge and the Minstry of Magic who appears as a representation of the teachers of the Law in Jesus time who oppressed the Jews with the letter of the law. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Matthew 23:13. about the power of love/a blood sacrifice over Satan. Voldemort represents Satan. Harry's mother died in protecting Harry as a baby. This love - a blood sacrifice as it were - protected Harry at the end of this story. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18     Book 6 - The Half Blood Prince   ...       I plan to demonstrate this, but it means giving away some of the plot in book 7 (as well as the earlier books) so I won't do this for now. So watch this space. John Bell July 22nd, 2007, updated July 29th, 2007 Irvine, California, USA.

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