When I first started reading the Harry Potter series, the idea that J.K. Rowling (hereafter JKR) was a Christian escaped me. Maybe I was too distracted by the storyline to notice any deeper themes in the first four novels. It wasn’t until I was browsing the Literary Theory shelf at a Barnes & Noble that I discovered she was. The book was The Hidden Key to Harry Potter by John Granger. Glancing at the back cover, it laid out Granger’s thesis that JKR was “ironically writing the most charming and challenging Christian fiction for children since Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia”. What ultimately made me purchase the book, however, was the following statement on the page opposite the table of contents:
“I believe in God, not magic.” In fact, Rowling initially was afraid that if people were aware of her Christian faith, she would give away too much of what’s coming in the series. “If I talk too freely about that,” she told a Canadian reporter, “I think the intelligent reader“ whether ten [years old] or sixty“ will be able to guess what is coming in the books” (Michael Nelson, “Fantasia: The Gospel According to C.S. Lewis”, The American Prospect, vol. 13, no. 4, February 25, 2002)
I was shocked when I read that. It was one thing for Granger and others to see Christian themes in the Harry Potter novels but an actual statement by JKR herself? That was amazing. I had to read the whole article by Michael Nelson to see what he was getting at. I also needed the full quotation if there was one. A cursory look at the article off the American Prospect’s website revealed that I would have to do some digging and detective work. I had to find out the name of the Canadian reporter, the publication, and the actual article. Checking the sources in my case was instinctual since I was a Journalism student at the time. Eventually I found out that that quote was from an article by Max Wyman of the Vancouver Sun on October 26, 2000:
“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.”
I scoured the computers at Queens College (located in Flushing, NY) hoping to find a full text article on Lexis-Nexis but to no avail. I even visited the Vancouver Sun website and I was prepared to pay for a photocopy of the original article. It was not long before Quick Quote Quill (now Accio Quotes) of Harry Potter Lexicon, posted the article in its entirety in their online archive.
Now JKR’s famous (at least to those who see Christian virtue in the novels) statement was in response to a simple question. “Is she a Christian?” She answered in the affirmative and took it a step further by saying that she has not elaborated on her faith because it will reveal key plotlines in the later novels. Richard Abanes totally disregarded this bit of evidence in his discussions with Travis Prinzi of Sword of Gryffindor by saying that JKR “has never defined God” and the “term Christian has been so overused that is some senses it has become almost meaningless without clarification”. Abanes wants a bonafide confession and that is simply not fair. Whenever someone asks me if I am a Christian, I simply answer yes and that would be the end of discussion. We are on a slippery slope if we require everyone who claims to be a Christian to prove they are Christians. We should take JKR at face value and simply believe her. Only God knows for sure and I might add, that goes for any Christian.
Numerous times we see articles that mention the fact that she is a member of the Church of Scotland and a Presbyterian to boot. In a Washington Post article (“Charmed, I’m Sure,” October 20, 1999), we learn that JKR belonged to a congregation at Edinburgh and even had her daughter, Jessica christened there. An elderly woman named Susan, who attended the same church would watch Jessica while JKR worked on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This is quite possibly the same Susan whom in Goblet of Fire, JKR devotes a portion of the book’s dedication to, “…and to Susan Sladden, who helped Harry get out of his cupboard”. In an earlier article Joanna Carey writes that during her interview with JKR, “she speaks of some of her beliefs and inspirations“ including her involvement with the Church of Scotland (“Who hasn’t met Harry?” Guardian Unlimited, February 16, 1999). Notice how the article does not elaborate further on these beliefs as if the reporter either did not deem them important for the subject matter of the article or maybe it was the wishes of a woman protecting her storyline.
Hesitation and carefully worded responses are the norm with JKR, especially in regards to her faith. Take for instance her interview with Lev Grossman. Grossman goes out of his way to present JKR as a rebel and one who is at odds with C.S. Lewis. This flies in the face of everything she said about Lewis before, namely that he is a genius and that she cannot stay in the same room with a Narnia book without reading it. But take a close look at what Grossman wrote in his article, “Interestingly, although Rowling is a member of the Church of Scotland, the books are free of references to God. On this point, Rowling is cagey. ‘Um. I don’t think they’re that secular,’ she says, choosing her words slowly. ‘But, obviously, Dumbledore is not Jesus’ (Time Magazine, July 17, 2005). Another example, and more compelling I might add, is her interview with Evan Solomon:
ES: When you talk about dealing with death and loss in the books, does this come out of your own – you’ve had loss with the loss of your mother – did it come out of a personal spirituality? I mean, are you are religious person? Does your spirituality come from a certain place?
JKR: I do believe in God. That seems to offend the South Carolinians more than almost anything else. I think they would find it well that is my limited experience, that they have more of a problem with me believing in God than they would have if I was an unrepentant atheist.
ES: You do believe in God.
JKR: Yeah. Yeah.
ES: In magic and
JKR: Magic in the sense in which it happens in my books, no, I don’t believe. I don’t believe in that. No. No. This is so frustrating. Again, there is so much I would like to say, and come back when I’ve written book seven. But then maybe you won’t need to even say it ’cause you’ll have found it out anyway. You’ll have read it (CBCNewsWorld: Hot Type, July 13, 2000).
This above quote is in the same category as the famous Vancouver Sun quote. The context for JKR’s frustration is the “South Carolinians,” who were the first to protest the reading of Harry Potter in the school classrooms due to the supposed “violent and occult themes” in them (Farber, Celia. “Harry Potter’s Toughest Foe,” Sunday Herald (Glasgow), October 17, 1999). This frustration is deeply rooted in being misunderstood and having to say time and time again that she does not believe in magic, real or imagined. Constantly JKR is being asked if she believes in God and to reiterate on her beliefs and this is unsettling to a person protecting her storyline while trying to defend them at the same time. JKR’s response is yes, I believe in God but wait till book seven to learn more. JKR is saying that she wants to say more after book seven comes out but then again maybe book seven will do the talking for her. Amazing, indeed. It is worth noting that when asked afterwards if she was a churchgoer, JKR replied nodding, “Mmm hmm. Well I go more than to weddings and christenings. Yes, I do”.
JKR spent much of her childhood living at Tutshill, a small village near Chepstow in the Gwent county of Wales, finding residence with her family in a church cottage near St. Luke’s Church and the Church of England Primary School of Tutshill. This does not prove that she is a Christian but it does show that she grew up around a Christian environment. I mentioned elsewhere that one of the sources of inspiration for the interesting names of her characters was from “medieval saints”. Mind you, these are Christian saints she is referring to. And her favorite painting? “Perhaps my favorite painting is Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus when Jesus reveals himself to the disciples having risen from the dead. I love it. Jesus looks very likeable“ soft and rounded“ and the painting captures the exact moment when the disciples realize who this man is, blessing their bread” (Lindsay Fraser, Conversations with J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, 2001, pg. 30-31). Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s painting is based on Luke 24.13-35 but more specifically verses 30 and 31, “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight”.
This article sought to show through JKR’s statements that she is in fact a Christian. It is often the case that people question whether she is one and going so far as seeking bonafide creedal statements of beliefs and more from her. And this is simply not fair to JKR. The Scriptures tell us that we will know them by their fruits. Now what are JKR’s fruits? Well she has said many times that she is not a witch nor does she desire to be one. JKR has been blessed with riches through the sales of her novels and as a result she has donated great amounts of money supporting multiple sclerosis and cancer research, helping one parent families, and promoting children’s literature. She is very much philanthropic and is following the Christian principles of giving that Christ laid down for us. We will do well to reserve any judgment until the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes upon us. Perhaps the final novel will address and put to rest people’s fears of JKR’s use of magic in the novels and reveal her true intentions and beliefs; that of faith reflected in a Christian worldview.
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Wonderful summary! The only thing off the top of my head that I think s/he left out was choosing a Chesterton poem as her contribution to a collection of celebrity favorites.
How many radical secularists and Wiccans love Gilbert?
I’ll be sending my future correspondents here for the best short course on why “the Christian reading” of Harry Potter may just be “the intelligent reading.”
Well done! I would like to add, as a Catholic, that there are Christians in the U.S. and elsewhere who would insist I am not a Christian and that I, and those like me, are doomed to hell. From what I can see, these are the same people who judge J.K. Rowling so harshly. But, once you have been alerted to the Christian themes in her books, they become extremely clear. Her use of Christian symbols was always obvious to me, and I now have no doubt she is telling a specifically Christian story. I always thought she was telling a moral story, and was puzzled by those parents and educators who believed otherwise.
mary, yes, it is this really weird strain of fundamentalism that thinks this way. I know it well, because I grew up in it. Catholics were very, very bad, of course. And I’m quite certain the church I grew up in would be radically anti-Potter.
Like wise Mary. I know people in my Greek Orthodox community who would think the same about me as well. And others, who are of other Christian denominations. I have even gotten into an argument with someone whom I use to work with. He calls himself a Christian. He has a very different take on Christianity, one that I can respect. But what I don’t respect was how he blatantly told me Rowling was a Satanist. To this I asked if he had read any of the books, and IF he had, did he see any of the underlying messages that us Christians believe in? Messages of love, and choice, of forgiveness… and so much more. To which he said he hadn’t even read the books. I told him how can he make an educated guess about a series of books, when he had only seen a visually stimulating, Hollywooded carbon copy of them. To me he said that by her using such satanic symbolism (witchcraft) that she is a believe herself of the occult. I told him he 1. had no right to say anyone was part of any such belief. He doesn’t even know her or her works, and 2. his argument had no basis as he hadn’t even read the books. And yet he himself, a movie buff, is happy to pay money to see such ’satanic’ movies. Hypocritical much? Yes, and very uneducated, seeing as this man was well educated.
John, I support your cause 100%. Your frustration is shared by myself and many of your HP fandom friends. This closed minded perception on Harry Potter and Christianity is baffling. John, being part of the American Greek community, how is Harry Potter seen there? My grandparents see it as ‘evil’ to some degree. I haven’t brought up the subject with them yet. It’s not that it’s taboo, it just hasn’t come up that often. But I do try and tell those who have asked about my religion and where I stand with the series, that Harry Potter and religion are not chalk and cheese. Far from it in fact.
I think part of the problem is people who are unable to discern between individuals and institutions. Or as Snape might put it “to make subtle distinctions”. I have a some major problems with Catholicism (or at least certain practices in the Catholic Church), but I’ve come to realize you can become a born-again Christian in the Catholic Church.
And I’m learning to gain some respect for the Catholic Church as an institution even though I still disagree with certain things.
…..
I’ve been researching the “proofs” on hisvoicetoday, and one thing I’ve noticed is a gross misdefining of the word occult.
I think that’s a big part of the problem. A lot of so-called occult experts who have only a very surfacey understanding of what they’re talking about.
And unfortunately, they’ve got the ear of a lot of gullible Christians, who really had no reason to be educated on the subject.
I’m going to be adding some 101 type articles on the website. It’s just taking time, and I need to do some research.
I’m racking my brain and unable to think of anything. Does anyone know any Bible verses that expressly forbid occult knowledge…using the appropriate definition of “hidden knowledge”? I know the sorcery verses, but I don’t think sorcery=occult.
Speaking of hisvoicetoday.org . I just dropped by their front page and the Bible verse of the day is “Do no go about spreading slander among your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.” -Leviticus 19:16 (NIV)
…I’m trying to decided whether that’s funny or tragic…
Um- Carla – isn’t it wrong to think you can judge an entire religion? Isn’t that also prejudice?
I mean – I have problems with certain types of Protestantism, too, but one thing I am sure of is that God is greater than any religion, even mine. Catholicism is true and deep and mystical, but God, who gave us our faith, is even truer. We need the Church and the Sacraments on this earth, but perhaps not in heaven. And people of all faiths – and none – will be in heaven. That’s what I believe.
I guess what I’m saying is that I was a bit offended by your post and found it puzzling. What I think I’d said was that I’d found anti-Catholic sentiment among Christian Harry-haters. I have. Many of these people ignore the Christian symbolism in her books because it is medieval, and therefore Catholic. Therefore, they consider it pagan. That’s all I was saying. I did not mean to start a debate about my Church or any other. And I really don’t want to have such a debate.
No offense, I hope.
Carla,
The only Bible verse I can think of is in Acts where Simon the sorcerer wants the gift that the Apostles have and offers to buy it from them. There’s something after that (from memory) where lots of people bring out their scrolls of sorcerous knowledge and have a big bonfire. Just from memory.
Matthew
Well, this has gotten interesting. I don’t really want to get into a huge debate either, but a few clarifications do need to be made here.
mary wrote, isn’t it wrong to think you can judge an entire religion? Isn’t that also prejudice?No, and no. I mean, it can be prejudice, but you’re using loaded words here. There’s a difference between reasonable discussion about the right-ness and wrong-ness of religions and prejudice against them (pre-judging without getting all the facts). What do you mean by “judge”? How did Carla “judge” Catholicism? If anything, she admitted she has problems with it (which was honest), but is learning more and learning to respect it.
“judge” Catholicism? If anything, she admitted she has problems with it (which was honest), but is learning more and learning to respect it.There’s a strange double irony to the comments here, really. Ironically, it’s “judging” to say that you believe everyone will be “in heaven,” since this tacity judges all religions that believe otherwise – which, ironically, includes ancient orthodox and Catholic Christianity.
All of that said, mary’s original point about anti-Catholic prejudice being behind some of the Potter-hating from fundamentalists is right on the mark. (Which is, once again ironically, a judgment! See? We can’t really avoid judgments…)
…and doubly ironic is the fact that JKR is not Catholic.
Travis and all -
I was very tired when I wrote my last – said to my sister, “I think I overreacted”. She took a look and agreed. So I’m sorry for that. Let that be a lesson to me not to post anything when I’m exhausted! Again, I’m sorry, Carla, if I offended you.
Of course, I also forgot to mention that nutty woman in Germany, who is a Catholic! (Perhaps because I prefer not to think of her at all!) So I think Michael is right that there are Harry-lovers and Harry-haters in all faiths, just as there are good and evil people in all faiths. Probably best to leave it at that.
Mary, I’m not offended. Nor was I trying to offend, though I’m not a person to shy from controversy.
I think you are right that a lot of Fundamentalists/Protestants who are Harry haters miss the symbolism, because they hold a bit of an anti-Catholic grudge. Which is a shame, I would like to see the church be able to come together again as integrated body.
But I did grow up in the mentality that Catholics were “not quite” Christian (I have a somewhat different thinking now). So I understand the reasoning behind it, but I think it’s unwise for anyone to completely dismiss the Catholic Church, because there *is* a lot of good in it and even the most radical protestant group has their historical roots in it.
The weird thing about a lot of the occult is that much of it is a warping of some Judeo-Christian belief or practice. I think people like Abane, Kjos, and Caryl M. don’t realize that (or at least don’t want to recognize it). They know the occult to some degree, maybe well, but they don’t understand Christianity very deeply.
korg, I looked up the verse. It’s Acts 8: 9-25…but there’s nothing about scroll burning in that chapter.
Later in Acts 19: 13-20 in an unrelated event, except that it deals with sorcery, is where they burn the scrolls.
These are actually pretty helpful. They support the conclusions I’ve been coming to on the true nature of witchcraft/sorcery.
Thanks
Yeah…
The stories had become amalgamated in my mind. Funny how that happened.
I’d be interested in talking with you about the nature of sorcery/ witchcraft. I used to think that it was demons behind everything. I’m not so sure now. Whatever the situation I’m sure it’s not a God-pleasing thing to be doing.
Matthew
Carla, this discussion is interesting to me because it may go along with what I said to you, below, about the Unbreakable Vow. And you never got back to me. Did you read my comment?
Matthew, feel free to e-mail me at carlaluteATaolDOTcom or IM me carlalute (my creativity know no bounds when it comes to screennames). I’m not averse to discussing the matter, I’m just not ready to do it publicly until I have my thoughts in good order. I will say agree that I don’t think demons are directly behind all of it, but they do present one of the dangers involved.
Mary…lemme look for it. I certainly didn’t mean to ignore anything you said.
Carla - Hope you don’t mind – I converted your email address to a text format so that the incredibly high number of spammers that come along here don’t find easy prey
John, what Chesterton poem are you speaking of? Is it “Jim, Who Ran Away From His Nurse and Was Eaten by a Lion” by Belloc? I did some digging and that is all I could find. Supposedly Rowling was a member of the UK branch of the Chesterton Society also. Fascinating stuff.
Also when looking at those verses in Acts, we have to keep in mind that the Roman Empire was mostly pagan with their own worldview. There was no fear or hysteria over witchcraft or paganism like there was in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The Christian movement, especially with Paul and his companions, were invading this area with the Gospel. What we see is not so much the demons behind the magic of Simon or the scrolls being burned but these magicians and mystics being intrigued with an alternative. That of Christ. However it wasn’t that simple. They could not use Christ to further their own enterprise or as a test case for a new spell. When people burned those scrolls, they saw not so much the demonic entities in the magical arts found in them but the real alternative…that of trusting in Christ. I know I’m repeating myself but the point has to be made.
Fascinating article and discussion, everyone. I’d read the ones where JKR confirms that she is a Christian, not just in name. And I, as most of you, find it baffling that some of the more outspoken Christians who are Harry-haters aren’t willing to hear her or believe her.
There is a lady at my church (Presbyterian) who originally was a member in several different very fundamentalist churches, and she still frowns whenever I make a reference to Harry Potter–but she loves the Lord of the Rings books and movies. Go figure. I don’t see how people can accept one, which has a lot of evil magic going on in it by Sauron and Saroman, and then refuse to even read one Harry Potter book to see if it’s really evil.
It will be interesting to see the reaction of all the Harry-haters when the last book comes out. Even if it’s obviously Christian, which is what JKR hints at, I doubt that will be enough for most of them. And my guess is that even if she gives them a full confession of faith, they won’t believe it. They are too invested in proving that HP is bad and evil, and I’m not sure some of them could ever back down from the stance they have taken.
mary, just one more word about the Catholic Church. My two best childhood friends were Catholic, so I went to church with them a few times, and shared many meals at their homes and they at mine. One of the wise things that our parents did was that after they said the blessing before the meal, I was asked to say mine–and my parents did the same. It was an early lesson in respecting the beliefs of others.
I do have some differences of opinion over the teachings of the Catholic Church, but that goes for other denominations as well–which is why I’m a Presbyterian. That is closest to my childhood religious background. However, when we spent some time in Guatemala, we took a little walking tour in the city, and stopped in every church–almost all are Catholic. I felt so at home there, knowing that I was in a place of God. And isn’t that what we are all looking for when we go to church?
It’s certainly what my youngest daughter found when she went to Hong Kong at age 14 with her Chinese friend’s family. They were site seeing and had visited a temple, and sat down to rest. Laura spotted a Catholic Church and asked the mom if she could go over there. She said that when she went inside she felt so enveloped in love that she wept. It was the one place she found that fit with her Christian beliefs.
Anyway, the point is, I think very often that we, as Christians, do ourselves more harm by our attacks on other Christians than all the non-believers could ever do. (I’m not talking about anyone here, btw, but about people like Abanes and company.)
Pat
I was reading through some posts on Leaky Lounge and I found it interesting that what a few people (a few, mind, not too many) identified as what they most feared would happen in Deathly Hallows was J.K. Rowling getting “preachy” like C.S. Lewis. I was sort of saddened to realize that some people can’t enjoy a book if it is written with a hidden religious meaning (you’re telling me that everyone who read Narnia was religious? I have a friend who is athiest who loves it!) On the other hand, I was amused that they could even anticipate that sort of ending to the series while being so admantly opposed to the idea. Either they’ve sensed a more spiritual direction in the series too, or they’ve read some opinions like ours and disagreed. I enjoy the former idea most.
Shadowquill, I don’t think that the people you’re talking about necessarily have a problem with a “hidden religious meaning”. The trouble with Lewis is that it is not all that hidden. He is so focused on religious dogma that at various points the natural flow of the story gets subverted and turned to the service of an overtly religious agenda.
FWIW J.K. Rowling has commented on several occasions that she does not like the “preachiness” aspect of the Lewis books. So in fact I do not think there is much cause for concern on that score. There will be a moral perspective, no doubt, but I don’t think it will overtake the storyline.
J.K. Rowling has always said that she does not set out to preach but that morals are drawn. In some of her interviews on Quick Quotes Quill, she mentions morality frequently. Now in the article above, there were some quotes that referred to JKR not revealing her religious beliefs because it would give big hints as to the ending of the series. Yesterday I came across a gem of an article that says the same thing.
“Rowling, aware of the protest, said she couldn’t answer the questions about the book’s religious content until the conclusion of book seven” (Tucker, Ernest. “No end in sight for Pottermania,” Chicago Sun-Times, October 22, 1999).
Now I do not believe that JKR has a religious agenda but I do believe based on this and others that her beliefs will spill forth in Deathly Hallows. Maybe it won’t be as obvious as what Philip Pullman in His Dark Materials did for atheism. But I’m hoping she will. All we know is that we will get a clear idea of her beliefs in book seven on the matter. Mark those calendars.
well ive always been a little on the edge about it, not that i didnt want to read them or beleived that they were bad, its just all the churchs in my area(7 to be exact), would put up signs, and on the bulletons”harry potters the devil”,so of course this put a burden on me. But still i read them with much enthusiasm, and i cant beleive the narrow sided mind set of some christians who just totally turn there heads to Harry Potter, especially to Ms. Rowling. I mean thers many prechers who make surmons on c.s. lewis’s books, and look at all the fantasy in that.People just need to chill, and understand for one thing that it is JUST FANTASy,and why get so up beat about it, if parents think there kids are going to run off and join the occult or something, then they need to get off there ass’s and do some parenting, becuase its just fantasy, and its just a book, theres no use to make a big deal over something. Parents need to know the mental maturity of there children if there afraid there going to be possessed or imatate the hp books, which of course is silly anyway. Lets all just set down and chill people(this being for those narrow minded crazies),if you dont want to read them good, if ya dont want your kids to read them good, stop making speeches and writing articels about how EVIL, Evil these books are…. THAnk you and GOd bless america.lol
Remember the saying “You are what you eat?” Well, when I eat a candy bar, I do not turn into a candy bar, but I enjoy the taste and also gain the calories at the same time. I will offer this saying which certainly may not be original “You are what you read”. When we read Harry Potter books, what are we reading? The author is made up of what created her. Her writing influences different people in different ways. My wife and I read Harry Potter books together over several evenings. I found it entertaining. I even went to a Harry Potter Movie and enjoyed it. To be honest, I really don’t know what the Harry Potter books are supposed to convey. I hear people on both sides of the issue, some think it is Occult and some think it has Christian themes in it. I will judge myself and say that I need to pray more to discern what God wants me to understand from the Harry Potter Books. And while I find the books entertaining, I also know that I need to read the Bible more than read for entertainment. But that is a real challenge! Only recently (at age 46) have I discovered how the Bible has really taught me important lessons about how I should conduct myself and treat others. The most important thing I have ever read and will ever read in my life is in the Bible from the book of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16. I invite you to check it out! If you read it, then turn to the book of Matthew and read Chapter 7, Verse 1-29. My prayer is for the readers here to ask God to reveal to them what is important, what is false and what is real. May the Lord Bless Each of You, Dave
I just wanted to thank you for the insightful piece analyzing the Christian undercurrents in the HP series. I am writing an article titled, “5 Reasons Christians Should Read Harry Potter”, and in my research, was recommended this site. I am so excited at the plethora of information you have found, and cannot wait to finish my article!
Thank you again.
This is a very interesting article! I agree with what you said about waiting until the final book to judge! I completly agree. It’s good to see that some Christians do their homework on her and do look around. Hopefully what Rowling has said here will truly represent the final novel, and this is could be part of the speculation that Harry will die in the final novel. I myself believe, that he will die out of sacrifice for someone. As for the Witchcraft in the books…well I don’t believe in that magic. In reality I don’t believe in Magic at all . I mean, even those magic tricks that Magicians perform arn’t real. Besides, not ALL Christians who don’t like the books don’t like them because of religous reasons! Some just find them boring that’s it, and even if they don’t like the books for whatever reason as long as they have read them a bit somewhat and isn’t let it get in the way of any relationship I’m fine! But Again, everyone who is looking for Christian meaning in these books are really walking a tightrope here because, let’s face it, we have all put our faith in Rowling and we hope she won’t let us down. Many Catholic School libraries where I live have accepted the books and there are Catholic adults who have read the books and I think that if Rowling throws out her Christian morals down the drain then the trust of all her Christian readers will be lost and we will certainly be dissapointed in her and we don’t want that to happen. So let’s keep our fingers crossed that Rowling follows through with her Christian morals through the end…or at least the moral of Good winnning over Evil!
Well, now that the seventh book is out, I hope that most people can see exactly why she chose not to overtly express any Christian beliefs that she holds. I have no doubt in my mind anymore.
Travis Prinzi,
A wonderful well written column in the Speaking Out section of July 26, 2007 Democrat and Chronicle!
Like Harry, you are the hope of the future. Keep on writing.
MM
mary, thank you!
All: The article to which mary is referring can be found here. I’ll post it on the main blog later.
After reading the last book, I am glad I reserved judgement. I have seen so manu urban myths and complete lies spread through churches; it is enough to dent one’s faith! So many Christians have unreasoned fear of fantasy and the supernatural…..
Yet, wihout fantasy, in its broadest terms, life is only machinery. Rowlings reminds us of that. Even if some elements of her story telling are not as pleasing to me, her efforts deserve acknowledgement. Her faith, I believe, comes out clearly in the last book; so many fruitful discussions have begun! I must confess; Rowlings magic has more potential than any amount of pulpit thumping (I say that as a lay preacher in my own church). If we let go of our terrors, the world may have been spared so much bloodshed in Christ’s name.
I am touched by the basic message of the story, and will carry HP as a hero for many years; beats Big Brother or other ‘entertainment’ by light years.
Feargal
PS – I am ANNOYED that JKR took one of my main charcter names (Kendra) from a book I am writing. One again, where magic is ‘real’ but carries a terrible price…
Feargal,
Power- at a cost, is the underlying theme in much of fantasy writing. If you read Robin Hobb’s Farseer trilogy both “the Wit” and “the Skill” come at great cost or at least risk and temptation. In Lord of the Rings Gandalf’s use or magic comes at the risk of revealing his location to Sauron or other. Even just lighting a fire by magic caused him to say ” ‘If there any to see, then I at least am revealed to them,’ he said. ‘I have written GANDALF IS HERE in signs that all can read from Rivendell to the mouths of Anduin.’” Later in Moria Gandalf only comes to the notice of the Balrog when it perceives the shutting spell he’s put on the door of the chamber of Marzabul.
So I think you’re in great comapny when you write about these themes.
Matthew
Interesting that I only found this entry AFTER reading book seven. I’m so glad I waited to go looking until after.
I’ve written a short, sharp musing on the Far Right’s missing the point on my ms Blog… have a read if you’re interested…
Mike
Wow!! Thanks for this article. I guess my mind was poisoned by the religious haters of JKR Harry Potter; the possibility that JKR was a Christian herself it had not even entered my mind. I did not even notice the symbolism the first time I read HPDH (of course I read it within 48 hours, so my reading comprehension was pretty low the first read through)
I am a Christian who has enjoyed the HP series from the beginning, for both its entertainment value and its ability to impart morals in an imperfect universe. I believe that this attribute makes the Harry Potter books parallel our world in a way that C.S Lewis and other writers could not achieve: Dumbledore may be an imperfect man, but like so many of OUR mentors, we can learn a lot from him.
Now I must resist the temptation to snigger at all those Harry Potter book burners.
Thanks to every one who writes on this web site. I am a minister of religion in a reformed church in South Africa and after reading Deathly Hollows last week preached on themes from it last Sunday. Now a storm has broken lose in our congregation about the controversy. Some of the primary school parents are very upset with me (even those who did not attend the sermon). I only found this website afterwards and I am finding it very helpful. Please pray for me in this time, where I need to be brave like a true Gryffindor. I need to keep sticking up for my sister in faith J.K.R. But I am struggeling with my own emotions towards those who judge her, and me because of my love of her books. I do not want to be like Ron who sometimes (for other reasons) abandoned Harry when he needed friends most. Durring the sermon I found that I had the attention of children who never came to church, much less paid any attention to the sermon (they were their as part of their school choir). But I also know the people who are judging us, and they are not bad people. At other times they are loving devoted believers, and it is fear that makes them react so viciously. Now I am tested on my own sermon message. I preached from Matthew 10:32-40, on being willing to loose your life and finding true life. And I find I might be loosing a lot of respect these believers held for me before this.
Thanx
Wow! As I’ve read these comments, my eyes have been really opened. There has been so much said about the “evil” in these books, and I am glad that I really didn’t say anything much about this myself, because I didn’t feel I could since I hadn’t read them. I love fantasy writing though, and enjoyed fairy tales when I was young as much as anyone. At the same time, God has always been so real to me, that he was like a father to me always, and then when I was saved at age ten, the wonderful truth that he really “is” my father was so wonderful to me. Anyway, keep up the good work you’re doing here, and I pray that others will find there way here through searching, just as I did.