Is Harry Potter a Christian? A Surprising Perspective

The Harry Potter books and films have enchanted and delighted audiences both young and old for almost a decade, but they've also been surrounded by controversy.

Over at the Christian Broadcasting Network website, a message board is entitled, "Are the Harry Potter books harmless fantasy or a gateway to the occult?" The CBN web page entitled "The Harry Potter Controversy" also contains some pro-Harry Potter content like "Christian Lessons from the Half-Blood Prince. The latest Harry Potter book is still topping best-seller lists. Can Christians learn anything from the series?"

In an interview on the CBN website about his book "The Hour of the Witch" author Steve Wohlberg claims that Harry Potter is about the occult and witchcraft. He says "Those parents whose kids are into Harry Potter, who think it's just fantasy, are not concerned about the connection to the occult. "What parents don't realize with Harry Potter is the growth of real witchcraft across America." The conversation and ensuing arguments about witchcraft and the occult in Harry Potter has been ongoing in churches, home, schools, and libraries. "What are we to do with Harry Potter?" many have been asking.

In the wake of the release of the film Order of the Phoenix, the final chapter in the Harry Potter series, this week, a surprising perspective from an unexpected source has emerged to answer some of the questions that have arisen out of the Harry Potter controversy.

Author Nancy Brown's new book, The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide, asks questions like "Are the Harry Potter books evil?", "Can children really learn spells from the books?", "What about the magic, witchcraft and wizardry in the books?", and "Are they satanic?" Many will find her answers to be a breath of fresh air.

The author, a mother and Christian writer, who previously had not allowed the Harry Potter Books into her home, has arrived at a surprising conclusion after her in-depth look at Harry Potter:

"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," reflects Brown. "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."

Brown read the books for herself after other Christian friends confided to her that they'd read the books and enjoyed them. While Brown has no doubt that readers looking for the occult in the Harry Potter books will find it, she has made up her mind that with the final chapter of Harry Potter being brought to the big screen and says, "a new classic in Christian fiction may be revealed." She's hoping that her book The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide will shed some light for readers.

"At last, the voice of Christian common sense is heard!" says Catholic priest, Fr. Pierre Ingram. "Nancy Brown's careful study will provide reliable guidance to parents who seek to practice and impart to their children an attitude toward contemporary fiction that is both open and discerning."

Sources:

Just Who is Harry Potter?, Christian NewsWire, http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/540873616.html

CBN, The Harry Potter Controversy, http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/OnlineDiscipleship/HarryPotterControversy/abanes_potterQA.aspx

Hour of the Witch, http://www.hourofthewitch.com/