With the hype surrounding the latest release in the Harry Potter books, once again the debate regarding the ethical values and spiritual indications of the book have been raised. Indeed the book did not need the extra publicity to allow it to become an instant best-seller and break records for copies sold on an opening, yet with the added voice and opinions of Pope Benedict being added to the hype, the book has come even more into the public attention than ever before.
Questions have been raised by a number of Christians and in particular many Roman Catholic leaders regarding the Harry Potter series of books. In some letters written by Pope Benedict two years ago, while he was still known as Cardinal Ratzinger, he was quoted as thanking a German author for, "enlighten[ing] us on the Harry Potter matter, for these are subtle, barely perceptible seductions, and precisely because of that they have a profound effect and can corrupt the Christian faith in souls even before it [faith] is able to properly grow."
In addition to this a number of other critics have condemned the books by British writer J.K. Rowling as promoting sorcery and making witchcraft appealing.
So does Harry Potter, now in the sixth instalment of its series, really instigate evil and dark spiritual urges in young children? Are the books simply a work of fiction, getting the minds and imaginations of young children moving, or are they corrupting the Christian faith in souls while they are still vulnerable?
Others have commended the books greatly, by testifying how it has helped educate children, and given them something that they want to read.
Millions have been bought almost immediately upon the latest book’s release; are so many people really being misled in such a drastic way?
