194 — What About Harry?
We’ll get back to Celtic prayers soon, but this is a timely question that came in recently via Facebook.
I saw on your Facebook page that you and your wife went to see the latest Harry Potter movie. How could you??? The Bible is very plain in condemning witchcraft. How can you support this evil with your money???
I’ve heard things like this many times since the first draft of Harry Potter was written on the back of napkins over lukewarm cups of tea. Why did I see the movie — and all the others? Because I’ve seen evil, and Harry Potter isn’t evil. It is a fantasy. I am just barely old enough to remember preachers condemning Rex Harrison and “Doctor Dolittle” for talking to animals (and, yes, there was even a Cincinnati preacher who railed against Mr. Ed for the same thing… and claimed that playing the song backwards revealed Satanic messages). I’ve read the articles written against C.S. Lewis for engaging in fantasy, calling him a supporter of witchcraft. Tolkien fought against the same charges.
Some people have a very hard time differentiating between fantasy and fun on the one hand and evil and darkness on the other. In the Bible, the witchcraft being condemned involved ritual murder, the killing of children, bloodletting, serial adultery, etc. I’ve met with witches (self styled), coven leaders, Satanists, people who were convinced they were Warlocks… and found them almost without exception to be sad, lonely people. They are the precursors to the lonely man/woman playing computer games where they are a twentieth level mage… while in real life they work at the Quiklube.
Then I have met others — sorcerers and necromancers and pagans of a different ilk. They were evil. You could see it in their eyes, hear it in their words, and watch them as they spread darkness wherever they could. I have seen photos and films made of butchered men, women, and children; pregnant women whose wombs were ripped open and their babies killed for the amusement of this or that army that stomped its way through their village, raping and burning all the while. THAT is evil.
Harry Potter — and thousands of other like minded books, plays, and movies — are allegories. They are stories of light versus darkness where light is treasured, heroism is lauded, and courage, honor, and loyalty are elevated highly. The characters are told to do the right thing, regardless of personal cost. TRUE darkness mocks the light and encourages people to follow the Satanic slogan of “Do whatever you want to do” (that is translated from their faux olde English styling).
You find witchcraft everywhere nowadays, but it is disguised as comedy, music, and drama. Watch carefully and you see that everyone’s problems are solved by self love, self esteem, etc. and by applying either sex or violence to the situation. Self sacrifice, humility, and grace are never in sight. Light is covered up in darkness. Witchcraft no longer uses brooms and the devil no longer cares about cauldrons and potions. Darkness has moved into the cultural center and calls itself light.
And if Christians can’t see that but, rather, spend their time fighting about Madeline L’Engle, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, or Harry Potter… if they can’t tell the difference between metaphor, symbol, and reality… then we are in real trouble.
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Reposting this on my blog – sums up my feelings exactly.
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
[...] Mead made a post on Tentpegs today that I’d like to share with you … he writes: … this is a timely question [...]
August 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
[...] Mead made a post on Tentpegs today that I’d like to share with you … he writes: … this is a timely question [...]
August 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 am
Patrick,
Thank you so much for expressing this! I have been looked down upon by members if my church for reading the books myself and letting my kids read them. I keep saying the same thing: Come on, people! It’s a STORY!! It’s just nice to have you to back me up now!
-Shannon
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
I’ve always thought that the Harry Potter story was just Star Wars set in a wizard (magic) world. I happen to enjoy both series and so do my children. Those who I know that have major issues with Harry Potter and magic do not have a problem with Star Wars and science fiction, and I couldn’t see the difference. The basic story of Good vs Evil is the same and both are fantasies, yet they don’t see it. Thanks for your take on it.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Well, I suppose I’m to old for Harry, We bought the first book for my granddaughter. I picked it up and read for a while and it made absolutely no sense to me, by the time I had figured out how to pronounce the names I had lost my train of thought. I laid the book down and thought why would anyone waist their money on that gibberish. Many books and movies later, I still wonder, but that said, my grandchildren have all the books, (paid for by me) and as far as I know I have paid for them to see every movie. Nope haven’t seen any horns, no Gothic clothing or facial paints. If I had any thought that the books or movies were evil, I would be preaching against them. Instead my grand kids have taught me a lot about Harry, and I consider it money well spent, because that is the only way Harry and I will ever become acquainted.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hear, hear! I was talking to a friend the other day about how Satan didn’t get what God was about at the crucifixion, and we both said that was reflected (pretty well, I might add) in Voldemort.
There is a strong thread of Christian themes running through the books.
Frankly, most of the uproar against Harry Potter was started with a satire piece in The Onion. Some Christians took that as truth, and spread it around as if it was Gospel.
Amazing, isn’t it, how folks will spread nonsense freely, but will hesitate to share the Gospel. And I’m as guilty as the next person of hiding my light.
August 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Oh by the way Patrick, as I understand it there are far more evil characters within the pages of the bible, are we supposed to stop reading that book as well?
Ah, I guess not.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
My wife and I have been listening to HP audiobooks during our commute to and from work lately, and we’ve both commented on a particular irony — the fact that the main message Harry struggles to comprehend is precisely the same message we Christians struggle to understand.
Over and over and over, Professor Dumbledore tells Harry that he has power “the Dark Lord knows not.” He explains over and over to Harry that Harry’s ability to love is the power to defeat the Dark Lord, and the only power that *can* defeat the Dark Lord.
Harry consistently underestimates this power. Frankly, he thinks it is a joke, that the headmaster has gone a little loony in his single-minded focus on love.
Harry would much rather have a unique spell, or some sort of magical artifact, that would zap Voldemort to smithereens.
Lewis or Tolkien (I believe Lewis) said something about fiction being able to slip past the “sleeping dragons” of our preconceptions. It amazes me how often I set aside love because it seems puny compared to judgment and attack and rejection. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve learned from Harry.
August 3rd, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I believe that was Lewis who spoke of slipping past sleeping dragons, but I cannot remember the book or essay.
I have always learned a lot from fiction. God has used fiction to teach me many lessons about him. I guess there is a reason Jesus used parables.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I appreciate this blog, Patrick. I’ve not read any of the HP books, but I did – out of ignorance and arrogance – once put them down. I was wrong for that and thank you for this perspective. I may some day actually read the series. Or not. I just never have cared much for fantasy … I’m more the Three Stooges reality type!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Hey now, be careful talking about the gamers…
Well said.
August 4th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Bravo – excellent thoughts and well said! Please keep blogging – you are a blessing!
August 4th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“and, yes, there was even a Cincinnati preacher who railed against Mr. Ed for the same thing”
Patrick, you just don’t know how hard you made me laugh with that one!!
Funny but sad when you think about it
August 4th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Agreed. Well stated.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:09 am
Well said, Patrick.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I love Harry Potter and, as I mentioned in your Vampire thread, it’s fiction!!! Make believe. How anyone can have a problem with this yet laud other movies or books is beyond me.
Also, for those who say they tried to read it and couldn’t see what the fuss was about, I encourage you to stick with it at least thru the third book. That is when it really gets good.