Harry Potter? Here we go again

With the new Harry Potter movie and the last in the book series coming out this month, my mind has turned to this phenomenon again. I have not nor will I read the books. They do not interest me in the least. My son isn't interested in them either. Some may think that is strange for a 10 year old, but he is already a veracious reader. I might also add that I feel the Lord has given him a gift of discernment for such things too. I tend not to feel the books are "harmless". I always found it strange that young people who never read much more than a comic book would devour these books in a matter of hours or days. What is the draw? I have read enough about JK Rowling to have a high index of suspicion. Are these the only books out there that kids perhaps shouldn't be reading? No not at all. But I do think that the Bible is pretty clear about being involved in witchcraft and divination. I think participating in the phenomenon is glorifying the very practice that the Lord calls ABOMINABLE That's a pretty strong sentiment that God only reserves for the most disgusting practices. Of course, that is Old Testament, but I don't think Christ died so we could be free to learn about white magic. That's taking "Grace" to the tenth degree isn't it?

This is an excerpt from an article on Christiananswers.net which is a site I trust with alot of movie reviews, etc.


But in the Potter series, the line is not so clear. The "good" guys practice "white magic", while the bad guys practice the "Dark Arts". Readers become fascinated with the magic used (explained in remarkable detail). Yet God is clear in Scripture that any practice of magic is an "abomination" to him. God doesn't distinguish between "white" and "dark" magic since they both originate from the same source.

"There shall not be found among you anyone who …practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you."


Deut. 18:10-14
Furthermore, if one were to use the reasoning that such objectionable material can be included in fantasy literature, then "that line of reasoning would tell you that you could include in fantasy any violence, pornography, whatever you wanted, and still defend those books by that very same statement." [11]

The problem is, witchcraft is not fantasy; it is a sinful reality in our world.

"J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has gone through an awful lot of research. She is very accurate (otherwise we would have witches all over the country and the world saying 'this is not a true representation of our religion'.) This is a true representation of witchcraft, and the black arts, and black magic. And yet we have people that say this is merely fantasy and harmless reading for our children. Actually, what makes this more dangerous is that it is couched in fantasy language, and children's literature, and made to be humorous, and beautifully written and extremely provocative reading. and it just opens up children to want to have the next one. This is what is so harmful." [12]
Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged studies elements of Rowlings's imagery and writings, including the use of the "Potter" name in Pagan religion [13], shapechanging [14], meditation [15], human sacrifice [16], feminine power, Wicca (the religion of witchcraft) [17], the tools, spells and curses used in witchcraft [18], Christian youth and their involvement [19], communicating with the spirit world, reincarnation, situational ethics in witchcraft, the lightning bolt as a power symbol, broomsticks and witches' hats as phallic symbols, dabbling in divination and sorcery, recruitment, teaching children dark arts, Scholastic Inc.'s involvement, and more.

We can be sure that this video by Jeremiah Films, while probably the first of its kind to deal with Harry Potter from a biblical cautionary perspective, will not be the last. The Christian Booksellers Association's 13,000 member annual meeting in 2000 had a noticeable lack of anything Potter.

"Clara Sessoms, who manages Living Water Christian Books in Marion, Ind. [says] 'I don't think people fully realize what they're dealing with, and I think anyone who knows anything about spiritual warfare knows those books can open the door to spiritual bondage.' 'And I think it's worse that children are the target,' said Jessica Ruemler, a buyer for Living Water. 'It opens the doors for young minds. You put sorcery in, what do you expect to get out?'" [20]
Many concerned parents agree. According to the American Library Association, the best-selling Harry Potter series has topped the list of the nation's most frequently challenged books for two years in a row. Complaints rose 37 percent in the past year. [21] Author John Andrew Murray believes that…

"With the growing popularity of youth-oriented TV shows on witchcraft -- 'Sabrina, the Teenage Witch;' 'Charmed;' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' -- a generation of children is becoming desensitized to the occult. But with Hollywood's help, Harry Potter will likely surpass all these influences, potentially reaping some grave spiritual consequences." [22]
Potter has caused quite a stir in many nations, with several Australian Christian schools supporting a banning of the books. "Dr. Chas. Gullo of the Christian Outreach College, a private school in Queensland state, said he read one chapter from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and was exposed to four murders. 'It was pretty gory,' Gullo said in Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper." [23] Rev. Robert Frisken of Christian Community Schools Ltd in Australia says: "The ordinary person is typified as being bad because they have no (magic) powers, and heroes are the people who are using the occult. Good finds itself in the occult, which is an inversion of morality for many Christian people" [24] Even many non-Christian parents have been concerned due to the greatly heightened fear that their younger children have after reading Potter's books. [25]



While some practicing Wiccans flatly deny any link between Potter's world and theirs [26], the evidence is undeniably clear that Potter promotes an interest in magic and the occult. Parents, whether Christian or not, must take an active role in what their children are being exposed to and determine what is appropriate. Christians especially should be guided by God's Word, the Bible.

Author Richard Abanes has written a book called Harry Potter and the Bible. He says that the movie and books not only teach anti-Christian lessons on the occult, but also moral relativism, and desensitize children to profanity and off-color humor.

So, what is a Christian to do? Ask, seek, and knock. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you lead your family in taking a biblical worldview of morality, seeking to please God (and not conform to man). Seek out what the Bible says about the occult (be sure to read our other articles) and how Christians are to react to it. And knock on the doors of your friends who may also be unsure what to do with Harry Potter. We highly recommend obtaining a copy of Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged to share with your family, your church, and others.

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/harrypotter.html