Supporters of the series have said that the magic in harry potter bears. Oct 07, 2015 christian version of harry potter rumor. Witchcraft and wizardry are central themes, and the lead roles are played by wizards, witches, and other magical creatures. I prefer family values and activities that lift up the light of the world rather than the dark of the worldany day. Why christians should read harry potter the archives. No book in recent times has been as maligned by a religious group as the harry potter books have. Place the harry potter books in order according to your favourite score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters. In addition to being national bestsellers, the harry potter books hold the dubious distinction of being the. A harry potter fan in australia reading the last book in the series. A few christians, though, argue that the harry potter books are not only compatible with christianity, but in fact contain implicit christian messages. Many christian leaders initially embraced the book as. Should christians watch or read harry potter is one of those questions that keeps popping up and popping up and well popping up. A number of protestant, catholic, and orthodox christians.
One christian familys experience with the harry potter series. Answers to the burning questions christian parents, educators, and others are asking about harry potter. A fan reads harry potter and the deathly hallows by j. Sep 01, 2018 granger wrote his books in response to antipotter books, such as richard abaness harry potter and the bible. Breaking her silence on the muchdebated question as. Cries of satanism, youll recall, attended the release of each new book, from christian. Harry potter has not been well received in the christian community as a whole. Redeeming harry potter the initial christian outcry against the boy wizard seems to be dying down. Legend has it that the reallife flamel discovered the secret to eternal life. Jul 27, 2004 after years of trying to ban the harry potter books, the religious right is now pushing their own christian alternative to the bestselling series.
Though sprung from christian roots, the genre of fantasyadventure is now largely the domain of postmoderns, neopagans, and even antichristians. There arent really any books similar to harry potter that are christian books. Harry smiled but then interrogated, but how do i be a christian. Tv preachers and the religious right have tried to undermine harry potter since the books first appeared on american shelves in 1998.
Some equate the books with the fantasy novels written by c. Neal says parents must use discernment in deciding whether to allow their kids to read harry potter. The literary magic of harry potter by greg garrett baylor university press and baptizing. Rowlings harry potter seriesmagical stories centered on one boys adventures at hogwarts. Nov 04, 2010 no book in recent times has been as maligned by a religious group as the harry potter books have. Rowling, mary grandpre october 1998 order in the next 7 hours 26 minutes and get it by tuesday, march 03. The menace behind the magic and connie neals whats a christian to do about. So your kid is reading harry potter a christian familys response. The books about sorcerers may head up the list again, for the second year in a row, if the shift in censorship cases continues to focus on books about fantasy. Religious debates over the harry potter series of books by j. I personally dont believe harry potter, however cute and charming, has a place in the lifestyle of a christian family. Nov 15, 2005 redeeming harry potter the initial christian outcry against the boy wizard seems to be dying down. John grangers looking for god in harry potter outlines religious analogies in j.
When shadowmancer was first published in britain last year, it was soon dubbed the christian alternative to harry potter and surged to the top of the paperback bestseller list, outranking. The best books to read if you love harry potter time. Harry potter inspires a christian alternative the new york times. Aug 04, 2011 should christians watch or read harry potter is one of those questions that keeps popping up and popping up and well popping up. Aug 28, 2017 these three stories are just a few examples of why the church today needs to think more seriously about how it approaches the harry potter books. What do christian protests about harry potter books teach us. Jun 25, 2019 when christians talk about the harry potter books by j. The hp books are set in an entirely alternative reality, much like narnia or middle earth. The pope may have condemned the harry potter books, but j k rowling has now revealed that christianity has been one of her major inspirations. A concerned christian mom has rewritten the harry potter books to remove references to witchcraft. In his book, harry potter, narnia, and the lord of the rings. Rowling as he sits outside a bookstore in the western indian city of ahmedabad on july 21, 2007.
Some have decided to keep a safe distance and look suspiciously at any christians who have read the books or watched the movies. Sep 16, 2009 the problem with finding christian books similar to harry potter is that one of the main religious objections seems to be the inclusion of magic and the portrayal of magic in a positive light. Rowlings books while pope benedict led a charge denouncing the series. The problem with finding christian books similar to harry potter is that one of the main religious objections seems to be the inclusion of magic and the portrayal of magic in a positive light. Harry potter author reveals books christian allegory, her. Tv preachers and the religious right have tried to. The trouble with harry christian research institute. Any good christian alternatives to the harry potter books. This question raises huge amounts of debate among christian experts. An eyeopening article about the popular harry potter movie and books, and the occultic themes contained in them.
But i wouldnt call harry potter christian fantasy as it doesnt set out to be. Maybe thats because more and more of us are discovering multiple redemptive themes in the series. Harry potter books and films are full of stereotypical magic. Lewiss narnia books and tolkiens lord of the rings trilogy. Witchcraft repackaged or, in contrast, that it is rich with christian symbolism expressed in a series of books by eastern orthodox layman john granger. I recently had the opportunity to speak with richard about his book. A number of protestant, catholic, and orthodox christians have argued. What you need to know about fantasy books and movies, he discusses why the j. Harry potter inspires a christian alternative the new. For all the controversy stirred up by the harry potter series, the truth is that harry potter is mild compared to some of the material that can be found on the same shelf at barnes. Engaging entertainment from a faith perspective, each entry in the series will equip you to reach adults, youths. Lets take a closer look at some of the arguments surrounding these seven books. Lots of churches have banned harry potter books and costumes, should you be attending a halloweenalternative fall festival.
Religious debates over the harry potter series wikipedia. Hogwarts school of prayer and miracles chapter 1, a harry. These are all from the fantasy genre, since thats the gig, and youll have to decide when your child is ready for them. Rowlings harry potter series is vastly different from the christianbased works of c. Rowlings harry potter series is vastly different from the. In the world of publishing, few successes have equaled that of j. But the phenomenon of conservative christian opposition to harry potter succinctly.
Finally, an evangelical fan fiction alternative to harry potter. Maybe thats because more and more of us are discovering multiple redemptive themes in. Since the 1997 release of its first book, the harry potter series along with the film adaptations has gained immense popularity worldwide. Rowling are based on claims that the novels contain occult or satanic subtexts. The literary magic of harry potter by greg garrett baylor university press and baptizing harry potter. Jan 07, 20 harry potter has not been well received in the christian community as a whole. Geo trevarthens seekers guide to harry potter unlocks the door to the rich alchemical material in harry potter, not for. Chuck colson, founder of prison fellowship ministries, advised parents in a past commentary on harry potter to teach their kids to be discerning like daniel, who read pagan literature but didnt defile himself. Other christians believe their kids benefit from the moral lessons the potter books teach. Granger wrote his books in response to antipotter books, such as richard abaness harry potter and the bible. That started to abate with the publication of books like looking for god in harry potter by john granger, which helped many christians find an ally in harry potter where previously they had seen a. After years of trying to ban the harry potter books, the religious right is now pushing their own christian alternative to the bestselling series. For example, kids with an unhealthy interest in the occult should probably not read these books.
Since harry potter is about a boy wizard who goes to school to learn magic, you probably wont find much that directly compares. Whats a christian to do with harry potter neal, connie. Insight is a unique series focused on hot topics at the intersection of culture and christianity. Cries of satanism, youll recall, attended the release of each new book, from christian parents. Jul 24, 2004 when shadowmancer was first published in britain last year, it was soon dubbed the christian alternative to harry potter and surged to the top of the paperback bestseller list, outranking. Now books are coming out evaluating the series as christian literature.
Tolkien while others believe that the books promote the occult through witchcraft and spells. Rowlings bestselling harry potter childrens book series topped the most frequently banned books last year. Many of them cite shadowmancer as a desirable alternative to the harry potter series. Many christians find themselves somewhere in between those two interpretations. Even secular media recognize the contrast between potter and thomas barrick, taylors young hero in. Seekers guide to harry potter, the from axis mundi books.
Should christians be reading the harry potter books. The magic in the harry potter books did not strike my husband and me as dabbling in the occult, unlike books which feature pentagrams, demonpossession, and the like. French t he reading phenomenon known as harry potter is sweeping the globe, and it truly has an international presence as readers in 200 nations, in over 40 languages, indulge in this series. Rowlings harry potter series is vastly different from the christian based works of c. Shop for harry potter large print online at target. Subtitle both christianity today and focus on the family recommend harry potter books to christian parents, continuing their downward spiritual spiral. A number of protestant, catholic, and orthodox christians have argued against the series, as have some shia and sunni muslims. Colson also recommended christianthemed alternatives such as c. We will discuss what they have to say, comparing their recommendations to scripture, to our indepth knowledge of the occult, and to christian common sense. Many in the christian right see the harry potter books and the resulting cultural phenomenon as an. Kids love the harry potter books, but should christian parents be concerned. Witchcraft repackaged or, in contrast, that it is rich with christian symbolism. Jun 26, 2003 though sprung from christian roots, the genre of fantasyadventure is now largely the domain of postmoderns, neopagans, and even antichristians.
The first book, called harry potter and the philosophers stone in the u. With the release of the harry potter and the deathly hallows. Rowling, its most often to complain about them for example, their use of magic. The bookend positions are that the potter books spread interest in the occult expressed in the film harry potter. Daniel radcliffe plays the devil metaphorically, anyway in horns, confirming the suspicions of fundamentalist christians who see through the. R ereading the entirety of the harry potter series is never a bad idea. Shop for harry potter books collection online at target. Jun 11, 2009 the bookend positions are that the potter books spread interest in the occult expressed in the film harry potter. When christians talk about the harry potter books by j.
Article on anglican vicar g p taylor and his bestselling christian childrens book, shadowmancer. Rowlings harry potter series is vastly different from the christianbased. A compassionate and enchanting commentary by an experienced shaman and seeker. Mar 26, 2015 in particular, what the books were almost called.
For me, it is a stretch to seriously consider that harry potter teaches christian ideasvalues, even in light of the authors suggestion that she incorporated christian ideas into the books. Geo trevarthens seekers guide to harry potter unlocks the door to the rich alchemical material in harry potter, not for its own sake, but for the wealth of wisdom hidden beneath its surface, wisdom that can help us magically transform our lives, and the life of the world. Jan 02, 2020 harry potter books and films are full of stereotypical magic. In the grand tradition of christian culture theyve even made their.
Harry potter book series 7 books harry potter and the sorcerers stone by j. With the release of the harry potter and the deathly hallows part ii at midnight tonight, the question will continue to be asked and the subject debated. Although the characters practice casting spells, reading crystal balls, etc. The occult is too deadly and dark a game to tinker withnot even for fun. Harry potter fans may remember nicholas flamel from his appearance in harry potter and the sorcerers stone. Reuters raised as a christian, rowling herself eventually came out to admit the christian parallels after the release of harry potter and the deathly hallows. This question raises huge amounts of debate among christian. The recent article in relevant magazine entitled the redemption of harry potter, has caused something of a firestorm in the evangelical community about the christian response to harry potter. Christian fantasy novel rivals harry potter christian books. So your kid is reading harry potter a christian familys.
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