The fables by Tolkien and Lewis, the article continues, describe the "rejection of magic and power" and offer "grave and destructive consequences" for those who are seduced by magic.
In contrast, Rowling's story shows a disregard for the "muggles", the humans in the story who do not possess magic, Rialti observes.
"There is nothing more antithetical to Harry Potter than Tolkien's young Frodo or Lewis' Pevensie siblings."
Tolkien and Lewis portray "the extraordinary discovery of true Christianity, for which the main character of history is not an exceptional human being, like in the ancient paganism or in today's ideologies, but a person who says yes to the initiatives of God's mysteries."
In Rowling's stories "we are told that, at the end, some things are not bad in themselves, if used for a good purpose: violence becomes good, if in the right hands and [used by] the right people, and maybe in the right dose."
Rialti concludes that "Harry Potter proposes a wrong and malicious image of the hero".
The English literature expert said that the model of an unreligious hero is worse than an explicitly anti-religious one.
In the Bible, the Devil "never says 'there is no God,' but presents instead the seductive proposition: 'you will be like God,'" writes Rialti.
He also warns that the Rowling books point toward a "new age spirituality" and lead to an "unhealthy interest" among youngsters in Satanism.
Representing an opposing view, Catholic essayist and writer Paolo Gulisano writes that Rowling's work is for a "post-modern" and individualistic world.
He contends that "behind the fabulous adventures of the different characters you can see the author's anthropological vision". She "wants to help the young reader understand that 'doing good' is the best thing to do," says Guilisano.
The article comes out as reports indicate the final installment in the Harry Potter movie franchise will be split into two parts, giving fans a double dose of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . The seventh and last book of the Harry Potter series was released last summer. The books have sold millions of copies every time and have been adapted into several movies that report record-breaking high box office sales.
