Debating Abanes Part One, Part Two and Part Three.
The following is the final installment of the brief discussion I had with Richard Abanes over some of the issues surrounding the Harry Potter novels. Hopefully this has been instructive and helpful; I plan to take up the discussion with him when I’ve picked up his most recent book. Thanks again to Richard for the friendly discussion.
Here is the final exchange between Richard and myself. Again, the contents of the blockquotes are when are quoting each other.
Travis’ Comment on September 29, 2005 @ 2:00 pm
Lots to say here, Richard, so I’m going to stick to key points as best I can:
First of all, you are really playing fast and loose with the Vancouver Sun interview. Let’s look at EXACTLY what she said when asked if she was a Christian:
“Yes, I am,’’ she says. ‘’Which seems to offend the religious right far worse than if I said I thought there was no God. Every time I’ve been asked if I believe in God, I’ve said yes, because I do, but no one ever really has gone any more deeply into it than that, and I have to say that does suit me, because if I talk too freely about that I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what’s coming in the books.’’
She cannot be referring to either a generic God or a generic Christianity, because a generic, non-specific use of either of those words would not produce the ability to predict what’s going to happen in the books. You have to have specifics to do that, so she must indeed be talking about specific Christianity. She is not using it in the generic sense whatsoever.
This quote answers your other question perfectly. It’s not just an “interesting argument†[to say] that she’s not talking in great length about her faith in order to protect her storyline. It’s EXACTLY what she’s said she’s doing.
Are you really saying that someone with a true, deep, and abiding faith in Christ (like Lewis and Tolkien) is not going to express her faith to the world for the sake of a storyline??!!! Goodness, think about that.
Again, I’m not going to get into a debate in which we evaluate JKR’s life and works and quotes in order to prove (from all the way over here in America), whether or not she’s really really really REALLY a real Christian (really). I may disagree with some of her actions and priorities, but I’m not doubting her profession when I don’t know her and haven’t heard her directly “teach†anything about Christianity. She’s said she’s a Christian, and had in mind specific enough details about the faith that any intelligent reader could guess what’s coming.
Moreover, I have no doubt she may pull some kind of resurrection in the story, but goodness, how many other stories have done that too??? Such an element hardly makes every story like it Christian.
Aside from this being a funny statement (â€I have no doubt that she may…†what?! It’s like saying, “I’ll definitely probably go…â€), this statement shows how much you’ve missed. She “may pull†a resurrection? She’s already demonstrated at least 5 figurative resurrections, and I would argue 6 (one in each book thus far). Furthermore, if you have indeed read her interviews as you say, you’ll know that there will be NO literal resurrection in the series. So she’s not planning on pulling any literal rising Harry or Dumbledore. She’s playing with symbols, like it or not, and we’ve already seen resurrection many times.
Richard’s Comment on September 30, 2005 @ 11:39 am:
She’s playing with symbols, like it or not, and we’ve already seen resurrection many times.
Oh, goodness. I know that. That’s the problem. I see the Christian symbols, and the pagan symbols, and the occult symbols—and try to makae them all fit cohesively as merely an eclectic collection of symbols that appear in a terrifically derivative work. Granger:
a) virtually ignores the non-Christian symbols in order to prove his thesis,
b) invents symbols and name derivations that contradict Rowling’s own words/explanations, and c) pulls isolated quotes (like the ones you cite) that are usueful in proving his assertions—at the exclusion of other comments and thoughtful analysis of what these isolated quotes might mean in the context of her life, actions, and words.
I look forward to you reading my book that goes in-depth into all of these issues.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I temporarily ended our discussion with the following comment in response to Richard’s last post:
Well, I see we’re not going to move much further beyond “go read my book,†so I’ll jump back into this when I’ve had the chance to check it out.
Eventually I’ll have the opportunity to pick up the book and discuss these matters with Richard again. At the very least, we’ll be able to get the issues out there so the reader can decide.
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I did a search for “Richard Abanes” and I just finished reviewing his book, the same one you cite.
Do you want to borrow my copy? That way you are only out the postage and you get to read it yourself.
If you want to read my review of it, it’s at http://davensjournal.com/RHPNatLotR.xhtml
Shoot me an email and we can exchange addresses.
Hey, thanks for the offer. You’re the second person to offer that, so if I go that way, I’ll contact one of you.
Travis,
Thanks for publishing this debate. The one thought that I kept going back to is that the discussion as to whether or not JFK Rowling is a “real” christian is very much beside the point. Unless Abanes is saying that christians should only read “christian” literature written by professed christians where the fruit inspectors have certified their christian lives as organic. I don’t think even Abanes is saying that. He does know doesn’t he that Lewis was a High Church Anglican and Tolkien a *gasp* Roman Catholic. Since I believe the idea that christians should only read “Christian literature” (what is that anyway?) is absolutely absurd, I think the only relevant discussion for christians is whether or not engaging in this work of art will tempt us to sin. And that is a decision for each believer to decide. It certainly has NOT had that effect on me or my children, all of whom started on their path to a love of reading from the Harry Potter books. (A fact for which I am most grateful). The HP hysteria in the evangelical church just depresses and annoys me. I’ll let you and my brother Steve read Abanes book and hear y’alls take on it. As for me, I can’t wait for the final installment.
Scott
Richard, you use the “Lewis and Tolkien express ed their faith to the world”-argument, but this is just nonsense. Like Rowling, almost noone picked up in the Christian things in his early fiction. In fact, with the release of Out of the Silent Planet, just 2 of sixti(!) articles picked up on this, and Lewis thaught that this could be an opportunity to “smuggle the gospel” past “those watchful dragons.” Or in HP language: Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, “Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.”
And; are you here to discuss, or just sell books? If Harry Potter is this dangerous, why not discuss it openly like Granger, and not just point towards a book? Granger sells books too, but he is open. So, is this a genuine “protect the truth” warning, or just an opportunity to make money?
Best,