Some Thoughts on the Harry Potter Series

Lifecenter ^ | Michael O'Brien author of "A Landscape with Dragons" and "Father Elijah"

[OWK]

LOL - OWK, you don't believe in God, so you're free to do whatever you want to with the Potter books. Doesn't bother me a bit, and I even appreciate your humor :) But Christians are held to a different standard (please don't take that as condescension, it's not) - and they are being fooled when they should know better spiritually.

Sometimes my friend... a story is just a story.

[Arkinsaw]

Hysterical, in more ways than one. Elvis, The Beatles, Dungeons and Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Pokemon, and Teletubbies.

These so-called "issues" aren't really "issues" at all. They are meaningless hysterics chosen because they get press and attention because they piggyback on popular culture. Trying to scare naive fundamentalist parents about dangers that don't exist in order to increase exposure and donations.

Meanwhile, real problems with kids and teenagers, that don't get press and require actual hard work beyond hysterical speechifying are ignored by these hustlers because they cost money and won't get their name in the papers.

Be very frightened of Harry Potter books if you want and wring your hands over them and burn them in big bonfires. And remember NO DANCING!

[Lurking2Long]

And ALWAYS a fool is just a fool...

[bookwurm]

EXCELLENT. Thanks for educating those not in the know! Definite BUMP.

[geaux]

He had an unheathy obsession with horses.

I thought that was Catherine the Great.

[Theresa]

I am a Catholic and I love the books. It's a fairy tale!!! The writer is not trying to do anything but tell a tall tale. Up with Harry Potter!!

[art vandelay]

And Mein Kempf is just a book.

[bookwurm]

You are off base. To Christians, messing around with magick, occult and other such practices is very serious business and is prohibited in Scripture. Dancing is never said to be sinful in scripture. To infer that our children becoming entrenched in occultic practices or entertaining occultic beliefs is not a serious issue is wrong - it is just as serious as drug use and sexual promiscuity. You apparently don't see the danger, but many of us do.

[Utopia]

Meanwhile, real problems with kids and teenagers, that don't get press and require actual hard work beyond hysterical speechifying are ignored

AMEN!

Can you imagine the difference there would be if these same hysterical folks put their energy into educating teens about teenage pregnacy .. (among many other topics)? ...

[Aquinasfan]

I like Michael O'Brien. I've found your comments and posts on this forum to be excellent. I've read the Harry Potter series and I simply (and strongly) disagree with the characterization presented here.

Fair enough.

At root, Rowling's objective is to interest the young in a spiritual path that is the converse of what healthy Christian fantasy is about.

I disagree and he gives no examples to substantiate his point.

We can only speculate as to what her motivations are. If they are nefarious, it is not unreasonable to believe that she would disguise them.

I believe that she is deliberately attempting to interest children in the occult because, as O'Brien says, evil means are used to bring about good ends. That is, the casting of spells is used to bring about good ends. Also, witchcraft is presented as interesting, in contrast to the boring adult world of the Muggles. I can only conclude that this is deliberate.

The use of "magic" in Christian fantasy is always for the reinforcing of the moral order of the universe, the development of man's proper use of freedom. Rowling, by contrast, tries to turn that order topsy-turvy.

Again, a charge with no substantiation.

Actually, I think he contradicts himself a little here. The practice of witchcraft is usually portrayed as evil in Christian literature. Although "magic" (as in fairy godmothers) has been used as a stand in for good spirits (angels).

I think this goes back to the fact that Harry uses evil means either to bring about good or he uses evil means (wizardry) to bring about his ends.

The subtle and unsubtle manipulation which she uses to control the child's mind is obvious from the first few pages, prompting one to wonder if this is a deliberate attempt at indoctrination.

This is silly. "to control the child's mind" is paranoid.

Maybe "predispose the child's mind" would have been a better phrase. I would cite again the portrayal of the glamorous world of wizards vs. the drab world of the Muggles.

Among the many dubious messages, presented with charm and power, there are these: occult activity is liberating, noble, exciting, and not what your parents and Christians in general say about it. Coupled to this message is the gross characterization of traditional families, and anyone else who objects to the occult, as abusive hypocrites.

This too is silly. One could note that only the bad guys are involved in anything like "satanic" or "ritualistic" magic. Or, that Harry doesn't exactly find his magical powers or his magical school "liberating"; he has all manner of normal problems there. In fact Harry is happy with his friends, his sports, his teachers, and his surrogate family and not with his powers. As to the final comment, I think he refers to the Dursley's. They aren't meant to represent traditional Christian values by any stretch of the imagination. They are the archetypical bad step-parents.

"One could note that only the bad guys are involved in anything like "satanic" or "ritualistic" magic." And the good guys are involved in "good" magic. But to a Christian, there is no such thing as good wizardry. And that's how she normalizes wizardry and gets the camel's nose under the tent.

This article is silly and hysterical.

We'll have to disagree on this one.

[bookwurm]

I bet you read your astrology column too and think Ouija boards are JUST a game. You are a bit naive on this topic. Besides, remember, these are books for children. As an adult, the chances of YOU becoming swayed are slim but children with their malleable minds are very vulnerable to this clap trap.

[Utopia]

And Mein Kempf is just a book

Yes it is. I 've read it. In English and in the original German. Also read Das Kapital, among others. Thought it pure trash. But that was because I was free to read it and make my mind up about it.

[Aquinasfan]

Interesting how these books radically polarize people.

[OWK]

And Mein Kempf is just a book.

Would you burn Mein Kampf too?

[OWK]

Exactly

[Aquinasfan]

Among the young, an interest in witchcraft, sorcery, and allied occult activity is growing at an astonishing rate. Some libraries now put their occult section beside the Potter books, to make access easier for young readers. Thus, millions of children, including large numbers of Catholic children, are getting involved in spiritually and psychologically dangerous activity. Harry Potter provided the role model.

As a Catholic, does that concern you?

[Who is George Salt?]

"And please... ABSOLUTELY NO DANCING!"

... unless one is holding a rattlesnake.

[Utopia]

I get the feeling that the people who are afraid of Harry Potter actually have so little faith in themselves, that they are unable to view an idea, study it without thinking that the idea itself will crack the foundations of their faith.

All I can say, is if their faith was that fragile that it could be destroyed -- just from the very fear of having Harry Potter in the room - then it wasn't much of a faith to begin with.

And having a fragile faith is not the fault of Harry Potter's author or publisher.

[OWK]

Among the young, an interest in witchcraft, sorcery, and allied occult activity is growing at an astonishing rate. Some libraries now put their occult section beside the Potter books, to make access easier for young readers. Thus, millions of children, including large numbers of Catholic children, are getting involved in spiritually and psychologically dangerous activity. Harry Potter provided the role model. As a Catholic, does that concern you?

I'd submit that if your child was showing a serious interest in "witchcraft, sorcery, and allied occult activity", and you didn't know it... then you aren't a very good parent.

This ridiculous and reactionary nonsense that people spout about Harry Potter, makes it all but certain that they'll be ignored as fruitcakes when a real problem manifests itself.

[art vandelay]

Would you burn Mein Kampf too? Of course not. Im merely responding to your comment that the Potter books are simply stories. Everything you read, watch and hear in life influences you, whether you think it does or not. The Potter series does not reflect Judeo Christian values, therefore, it is something that I would prefer my kids not to read. Actually Im in the middle of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe with my 6 year old, and it is spurring great conversation about spiritual matters. If I was to read her Potter, I would have to say to my daughter "The magic that Harry uses is called 'wichcraft' and it is condemened in the bible." I prefer my daughters heroes to use "Godly" means, not demonic. But hey, if your not a christian, then you think my line of reasoning is out to lunch anyway.