There is still a huge outcry against the new movie from several conservative Christian groups who warn families to keep their children away from the film, asserting that it can leave ill effects for normalising a dark spiritual world.
There has, however, also been a new wave of Christians supporting the literature. They feel that others exaggerate the problems of witchcraft found in the books.
One author and home-schooling mother recently had a change of heart when she read the books. After keeping "Potter" out of her house for years, Nancy Brown from Illinois gave the books a chance and said she found the books to actually be positive for child growth. She has written a new novel, "The Mystery of Harry Potter", that came out mid-June to even encourage Christian parents with the material.
"After reading Harry Potter for myself, I had to conclude that the Potter series is not about the occult or witchcraft but actually just the opposite," explained Brown in a statement. "The stories are morality tales filled with excellent opportunities for family discussions.
"In short, the Harry Potter books are great for all families and especially Christian parents, who for centuries have used literature to illustrate the struggle between good and evil when teaching their children."
The movies gained huge victories when conservative ministry heads such as Dr James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, and Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries gave their stamp of approval.
But looking at the whole landscape, it may be impossible to gain a firm consensus on how Christians feel about the wizard themes found inside "Harry Potter." Is the material innocent enough for its audience?
"Though the film version of 'Phoenix' is not as gloomy as the book, the story presented therein is still far too severe to justify the affections of its primary fans: kids," concluded Plugged In Online critic Keffer. "And that's true without even mentioning the ongoing dilemma presented by the omnipresence of magic and the clash with the real-life truth that there is no such thing as a good witch or wizard."
Have your say on this article
The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Tuesday, March 18, 2008, 7:56 (GMT)
Acts 19:19
A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Micah 5:12
I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.
# Divination by an alleged assistance of evil spirits)
# Forbidden (Leviticus 19:26-28,31;20:6; Deuteronomy 18:9-14)
# Denounced (Isaiah 8:19; Malachi 3:5)
# To cease (Ezekiel 12:23,24;13:23; Micah 5:12)
# Messages of, false (Ezekiel 21:29; Zechariah 10:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:9)
# Diviners will be confounded (Micah 3:7)
# Belongs to the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:20)
# Wickedness of (1 Samuel 15:23)
# Vainness of (Isaiah 44:25)
# Punishment for (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 13:5)
# Divining by familiar spirits (mediums or spiritists) (Leviticus 20:27; 1 Chronicles 10:13; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19;19:3;)
# Practiced » By the Egyptians (Isaiah 19:3,11,12)
# Practiced » By the magicians (Exodus 7:11,22;8:7,18)
# Practiced » By Balaam (Numbers 22:6;23:23; with;)
# Practiced » By Jezebel (2 Kings 9:22)
# Practiced » By the Ninevites (Nahum 3:4,5)
# Practiced » By the Babylonians (Isaiah 47:9-13; Ezekiel 21:21,22; Daniel 2:2,10,27)
# Practiced » By Belshazzar (Daniel 5:7,15)
# Practiced » By Simon the Sorcerer (Magus) (Acts 8:9;)
# Practiced » By Elymas (Bar-Jesus) (Acts 13:8)
# Practiced » By the girl at Philippi (Acts 16:16)
# Practiced » By charlatan Jews (Acts 19:13)
# Practiced » By sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14,15)
# Practiced » By astrologers (Jeremiah 10:2; Micah 3:6,7)
# Practiced » By false prophets (Jeremiah 14:14;27:9;29:8,9; Ezekiel 13:6-9;22:28; Matthew 24)
Carolyn, Tulsa, USA
Added: Monday, August 20, 2007, 21:28 (BST)
You people are whacked. You think this stuff is EVIL? Oh my goodness. Since I was rather young (around ten years old), I have played and enjoyed fantasy role-playing video games, which involve the use of magic and this so-called "witchcraft" you all seem so opposed to. What is so evil about seeing wizardry in FICTIONAL media? Why is that so horrible, and why do you think it means the Devil is luring children to do his dirty work? I also enjoy fairy tales, such as those by the Grimms, and Greek mythology is among my favorite literary subjects. I am fascinated by the worlds of fantasy and magic that so many great authors and creators have made (mind you, many of them probably do believe in some sort of God). So why are you all getting in such a fuss over this?
John, Moundsville, WV
Added: Saturday, July 28, 2007, 19:11 (BST)
Most people who proclaim Harry Potter as being Satanic have never read the books. If you don't want to subject yourself to the material in these books, that is fine, but don't try to analyze the books and say that they are evil if you have never cracked the book open and read it yourself. That is like someone calling the Song of Solomon perverted, sexual trash. We, as Christians, know that is not the case. It is an expression of love and desire in the true, Godly manner between a man and wife. But it is easy to see how it could be misconstrued, is it not?
Many, many hoax emails were floating around at the peak of the anti-Harry Potter movement which depicted the characters as being the names of demons (they are not...most are the names of constellations or names from Arthurian folklore), or of JK Rowling saying that she is a witch and created these books to lure children into Occultism (she is, in fact, a Christian, and the last book in the series, 'Deathly Hallows', is a testament to that fact). It is very easy to be sucked in by propaganda, and it is up to the people that read these things to consider the source, and research to actively find the truth, not just accept it no matter how ridiculous it is.
I am a devout, God-fearing, evangelical Christian and love these books. In fact, I was introduced to these books by my minister. I will, however, wait until my boys are older before I let them read them, because they are not appropriate for them at this age, but I will glady share them when they are older.
Christina, Abbeville, SC
Added: Thursday, July 26, 2007, 1:24 (BST)
On a side note to the last post you all might like to know that many teenage fans of Harry Potter have banded together to spread the word about the human rights violations going on in Darfur during the release of book seven.
Boy those Harry Potter fans really sound like a bunch of demon possessed little juvenile delinquents don't they. They actually care about the sufferings of strangers in a third world country shame on them. Also to find out if the fans think about their faith while reading the books check out the site mugglenet.com and go to the editorals there is one about about Christian Allegory in Harry Potter and it is a well written read by a fan who at least has read and studied the Bible.
Tonya, Galax,Virginia
Added: Tuesday, July 24, 2007, 9:06 (BST)
Quit wasting your time worrying about such a frivolous topic as harry potter - the core message of christianity isnt to shelter yourselves and your children from works of fiction; rather, its to love your neighbour as yourself.
If your looking to worry about something why not use your energy to help those dying of starvation in Africa or the hundreds of thousands of people being murdered in Darfur.
Harry Potter looks like a rather silly thing to worry about in comparison doesnt it?
Alex, Canada
Added: Monday, July 23, 2007, 1:24 (BST)
Wow, Lord of the Flies, Lord of the Ring, Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what exactly do these movies stand for all of you that do not believe children should be inclined to fantasize about magic and flying???? I live my life for God and pray on a daily basis, as this is an example to my children. I explain to them that God is IT, there is nothing else, but on the other hand you have to live life. Pick your battles wisely is my motto. If Harry Potter is soo very evil to all of you that consider it so, then tell me what you think of the INTERNET, the ruiner of lives and yet all of you sit on it and browse and naysay on what I consider to be (the internet), for the most part, pure evil with no upside.
Every parent can say no, that is a choice, but please I am still waiting, as a mother of six, who is reasonably sane, for an example of where a child who sees harry potter comes out and wants to be EVIL!! And, by the way, Goth is not a reason to not see harry potter, because the movie is about good vs evil not Goth (which by all standards are messed up children caused by extremely bad parenting) vs confused parents.
I have read and heard alot of different opinions, but yet to hear one that can stand on its own for a reason to stunt the growth of make believe in a child or a fantasy of flying. I grew up reading Ray Bradbury, and many other science fiction/magical books, never once have I wanted to creep to the dark side, maybe it was because I had strong PARENTAL GUIDANCE and a strong belief in GOD.
maggie, United States
Added: Friday, July 20, 2007, 18:18 (BST)
I started reading the Harry Potter books to my son after a friend who volunteered at the local library recommened them. My son Nathan was 5 at the time and Sorcerer's Stone was something we enjoyed reading together. Now almost five years later we still enjoy the books. But now every since Goblet of Fire I pre-read the books so that I can gage how age appropriate they are. While I'm a huge fan of the books I have kept the books back from my younger children until they are mature enough to understand the plot and the moral issues that go along with it. I allow them to play around in Harry's fantasy world my beliefs on the subject run very close to L.M. Montgomery's beloved character Anne when she says "All children should spend a few years in fairyland." Early childhood is a time when we should allow our childrens imagination to run free, because adulthood comes all to soon these days. I let my children dress up as witches and wizards and attend the book releases. We were all (the whole family from me and dad down to the baby) Harry Potter characters for Halloween our nieghbors got a kick out of it. But I also remind them several times while during the night or their playtime that Harry's magic is not real. That people who claim they can do "REAL" magic are fooling around with things best left alone, and that Jesus doesn't approve of messing around with the occult.
I warn them of my experiences as teen who did get into Wicca and the scary things that happened to me when I was involved in that stuff. It seems funny to methat people are so worries about Harry Potter. I was an adult when the Harry Potter books came out. My introduction to Wicca came from a pile of books my cousins wife brought home from the supposedly Christian bookstore she worked at. Yeah some Christian bookstores owned by larger chains get books that are anything but Christian. I worked at one a few years ago that had a book about Mary Magadalene and Jesus being married long before Dan Brown wrote his book. So my suggestion is actually read the books yourself and if your kids bring home anything by Scott Cunningham, Anne Cabot or Silver Ravenwolf (who actually wrote a book called Teen Witch which is a guide to Wicca) get rid of it.
But the real issues for Harry Potter is talking to your kids about it I use it as a tool to teach morals. Dumbledore is famous for saying "It is our choices that define us, wether we choose to do what is right or what is easy." Does that sound Satanic to you? Rowling even based her villian Voldemort on Hitler eaters on the becuase she wanted to show the evils of hating someone because of race or religion. The Harry Potter books deal a great bit with the evils of prejudice. But mostly you can find loads of Christian allegory in Potter if you simply read the books with an open mind. Rowling herself claims to be a Christian, and says that if she openly talked about her faith that it would give away the ending of the book. In an interview she stated that if she were to discuss her beliefs even a ten year old could figure out what the ending will be. So maybe we have all greatly misjudged the woman and her intentions.
Tonya, Galax,Virginia USA
Added: Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 16:20 (BST)
You've got to be kidding me. I read the Harry Potter books when I was a little younger and I still read them today. Guess what? I have no interesting in joining the occult. Neither have any of my younger brothers or sister. Or my nieces. In fact, I have only read of children joining the occult because of Harry Potter in that Onion article that so many Christian Right people fell for. Goths kids were around LONG before Harry Potter. Adults seem to think kids cannot separate reality from fantasy, but it's clear to me that it's the other way around. Kids no this isn't real. The witchcraft in Harry Potter is NOT ANYTHING like real witchcraft. And another thing, Harry Potter teaches things like love, loyalty, honor, friendship, ect. Last time I checked those were things parents would want to teach children. If you don't want your kids reading them, fine, that's your right as a parent. But Harry Potter is not evil. They'll just end up reading them later on in life just to see what the fuss was about anyways. I'd let my kids read them but make sure to point out that it's all fantasy and that real witchcraft is evil.
Jake, Liberty U.S.
Added: Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 0:43 (BST)
The stories, and fairtales that are told today do not tell the whole, or complete story... At a time in history they were told to the young, by the elders. Today this tradition does not exist, that is why they are dangerous. Does anyone today know why Jack, climb up the Bean Stock, and what the Giant stood for? Our very early Jewish brothers, and the Desert Fathers, understood this tradition very, very well. When a lesson is taught without "Tradition" then evil does exist. All this today is taught by in inexperienced. Those who have had a limited amount life's journey. Not an Elder.
David John, Canada
Added: Sunday, July 15, 2007, 21:52 (BST)
Get real, everybody knows magic is not real, like kids of yesterday and today know Jedis are not real, youngins of today will realize as they mature that magic is not real and that Jesus Christ is, so let your kids have fun and use their imagination, because their are life lessons kids can learn from movies and literature. After all my Harry Potter books are classified as fiction, but my 3 Bibles are classified as non-fiction.
Richard Grant, 18, Batesville, Mississippi
Added: Sunday, July 15, 2007, 4:27 (BST)
Please, spare me the happy Harry-ness. I look around and see the youth dressed in goth outfits and wearing pentagrams and this is just normal? This all started on the heels of harry potter. The book contains real incantations and has the names of real demon powers in it. It has grown increasingly dark and is practically required reading in public schools (which should be ENOUGH of a red flag). We have creation worship now, rather than Creator worship, paganism is surging and people are in denial because of societal cowardice.
It is a shame. Poor, poor children.
Teresa, NY
Added: Saturday, July 14, 2007, 19:30 (BST)
I'm a Christian and I don't consider these books and films to be harmless--I find them to be wonderful and useful.
Of course there's no such thing as good witches and wizards. There's also no such thing as talking Lions or all-powerful rings. No such things as puppets turning into boys, either.
Like everything else, it can be misused, but at its best, fantasy literature isn't a means of escaping the world, but a means of engaging it, poetically. It stokes our imagination and can heighten our sense of wonder at all that God has given to us.
Alan Thomas, Philadelphia, PA
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 19:38 (BST)
I grew up reading lots of science fiction. I LOVED Asimov, Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey.But I never had a good founding in Christ. I eventually turned to magic and witchcraft. Its very seductive. I praise God that HE led me out of it. But it caused a lot of damage in my life and I think that if I had been raised on the word of God, I would not have been reading those sorts of books, trying to escape reality, and I doubt I would have become a witch.
The Potter books are good, but I think no child should read them. Children are too easily influenced for evil. They are unable to discern the difference beteen good writing and godly writing. MOrals are defintely taught through books, and parents SHOULD encourage reading and viewing of movies that are not contrary to the word of God, and should discuss them later with their kids. But I still feel that children are swayed by media (books, magazines, TV, movies) away from what the word teaches. We should be apart from the world - different. Watching/reading things like the potter movies encourages us to move farther from God's word. And I dont care what big names have endorsed the Potter series, I think for myself.
WM, Collierville, TN, USA
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 19:26 (BST)
The Harry Potter books and films make witchcraft and sorcery look very appealing and fun. The Devil always entices us to sin by wrapping evil in a bright colored package. He is the king of spin. He has made sexual immorality look appealing and acceptable and somehow has even twisted our minds into firmly believing that killing our unborn children is a perfectly viable option. Of course he would try to lure our children the occult by inspiring these books that portray witchcraft as not only great fun but even something for doing good.
Mike S., Westford MA
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 18:54 (BST)
I am STILL amazed at those that consider themselves Christians that would still align themselves to think and believe that the Harry Potter franchise is harmless. Scripture clearly points out, among other things, that to be involved in anything concerning mediums, sorcery, witchcraft and the like are sinful and have great consequences. Additonally, the Bible points out where we will see a time where many those that are saved will become deceived by the things of this world.
We must understand that satan is the god of this world, and that his powers have and will continue to increase as long as Christians continue to be duped into believing that the harmful is harmless. Satan enters by way of a being that is either willing or ignorant of God's Word concerning giving place to him and being involved in those things that are evil. As this happens, all manner of evil and detesable things are allowed to take place, because we have allowed ourselves to let our guard down.
For those supporting Harry Potter, PLEASE take time to do your scriptural reading, IN IT'S PROPER CONTEXT regarding this series?!
-ncb, Philadelphia, PA
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 16:52 (BST)
JMJ -
I just wonder who pays this author, to make such comments. He has got to be a Liberal Catholic. In my life time, I knew of one person, who did fool around, with what she called, "white witches, and psychics" who casted spells, "white spells,"on others. She also knew of other, whiches, and warlocks, who tried to dominate the power of others (to steal the others powers). Truly believing in that it was their power, their strength, given to them by god? (god) in small case letters. (themselves? their power; self, self, self?) As the tellers of the now famous "The Secret," with Metaphysician as the story tellers, of "self" proclamation. Now 15 years later, having seen her from a far. Just enough to see her body, and hear her voice. And to see how she treats her young child, is enough to even make a man like me cry. (55 years old now, and a true Catholic). I love our Lord, and His Mother, with all my heart, and I can feel their saddness, "Their Tears," in this time of unholy faith. The author, should go to (spiritdaily.com/cursereality.htm) and taken this as a warning. Also read Father Gabriele Amorth, and Father Jose Antonio Fortea.
In Christ Our Lord,
David John, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 13:08 (BST)
I believe Harry Potter is just fun fantasy. Magic has been used in a lot of movies such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Lord of the Rings, The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. etc. I would not buy any books on using witchcraft, however, I feel that to just read the books and/or watch the movies is not bad, as long as you realize that they are just fantasy and make-believe. God Bless!!
Kathy Norris, Clearwater, Florida USA
Added: Friday, July 13, 2007, 12:47 (BST)
What worries me is that the children become interested in the darkness of this world without even realizing it.
Elfed Howells, Rhondda Wales
