The Harry Potter Thread

[supernova8610]

Thanks to a discussion in another thread, I figured I should start a separate thread for this. So, discuss anything Harry Potter related here!

[pastor's wife]

Well, since I was part of it on the other thread, I'll bite!

I read the whole series and liked them. My 10 year old son hasn't shown an interest, but he's not as big a reader as his older sister. She read the whole series and reread them a couple times. I watched the movies with her, and we're waiting to see the final one when it comes out this year.

One book that helped was "What's a Christian to Do with Harry Potter?" http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Christian-Do...962&sr=8-1 My circles at the time were pretty much completely anti-Potter, and it helped to read the views of Christians who had no problem with reading the series.

[Beowulf]

Enjoyed the entire series. I thought they were clever, creative, and was pleased with the way it got kids reading.

As for the movies, I'd definitely wait until the kids are able to handle scary visuals. Reading about it is one thing. Watching it jump out of a movie screen at you is entirely different.

[supernova8610]

I first read the Harry Potter books when I was 13, in Dec 1999 (I'm 24 now... In Dec this year, I'll have been a Potter fan for 12 years. I feel old). Fell in love with them! Only the first three books were out then, so when the 4th book came out, I got it on the day it was released and read it all in one sitting. I did the same thing for books 5, 6, and 7 (I went to a midnight release party for book 6). I read up on all the arguments for and against HP... both sides were convincing. There are a lot of positive aspects in the books, imo. I think if you read them with the right mind and know the difference between reality and fiction, then you'll turn out ok. Obviously I don't have a problem with Harry Potter... being a Christian, I believe that if a person is strong enough in their faith, then they should be fine with reading the books. I wouldn't recommend HP for Christians who easily stumble in their faith, however.

[I'm not telling]

We had not read the books or watched the movies. Our previous churches had all been extremely anti-Harry Potter so we went along with the crowd. We had seen the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and I started thinking how many elements in the Potter world were probably not that far removed from the LOTR novels. Anyway, I rented the first movie on Netflix and after watching it as a family, we were hooked. I like what Jenni French wrote on her blog regarding Harry Potter.

It became a weekly tradition during the summer to watch one Harry Potter film every week on pizza night until we got caught up. We went opening weekend to see the most recent film at the theater and eagerly awaiting the final film! Some of my kids have read all the books and others are working their way thru the series! I have recently begun reading the books and am thoroughly enjoying them!

[Jenni]

I also appreciated John Granger's "How Harry Cast His Spell," in addition to Granger's other writings. He was getting flak from Christians for saying HP follows a long tradition of Christian writings. Christians think he's nuts for saying something with witchcraft in it has anything to do with Christianity (which isn't really what he's saying) and non-Christians think he's nuts for saying something this popular has anything to do with Christianity.

http://frenchizal.blogspot.com/2010/11/h...otter.html

[Just Curious]

I've yet to read the books, but I am familiar with the plot-lines and the characters.

I don't know anything about the guy who said this--googled him and came up with nothing--but a friend had this quote on his FB status. I like the perspective here. "And then, there fly the Harry Potter characters having a great time, being playful, heroic, earthy, unresentful, humorous, smart, risk-taking--all the things evangelicals fear most, all the things that should properly characterize Christian life." --Douglas Jones

[greg]

I asked the question on the other thread, which I can no longer find, if folks thought it was good for kids of all ages to read the Harry Potter books, with all its magic and spells and wizards, really don't know much else about them because I have never read any of the books or saw any of the movies. I was neck-deep in the Kool-Aid when the series started and the MOG sternly forbade us from exposing our kids to it, I went right along with it at the time, but I'm still not sure if this would be good literature for christian kids or any kids for that matter, especially for the very young. I see Pastor's wife apparently thinks its harmless, so that means alot to me, but how about someone else? Is Harry Potter just simple fun or not?

[pastor's wife]

If it would hurt someone's conscience, they shouldn't read it. The girl I was at age 11 (of course, long before the Potter books were written) was sensitive and sheltered and very trusting of what authorities said. I would have thought it a sin to read it. If someone's child is overscrupulous about avoiding all appearance of evil, I would never encourage them to read Harry Potter. But to me, if they read fairy tales with friendly godmothers casting spells, love Narnia with friendly wizards, watch Lord of the Rings and admire Gandalf the white wizard, and cheer along with superheros as they battle powerful villains, I don't see why Harry Potter is that much of a stretch. I did feel a bit funny about it with witches/wizards as good characters, but I felt she was old enough to understand that the author had made up an imaginary world. I did ask her to not act out any scenes from Harry Potter. We love drama and imaginative play. I've bought the Narnia action figures and we've set up castles for battle scenes on the living room floor. But I just couldn't have us pretending to cast spells.

One big thing for me is that the characters in the Potter books never see to call on spirit guides to help them. Magic just IS, but it's not tied in to anything demonic. Yes, the dementors are awful, but they're just another sort of creature in that universe; they're not some manifestation of an ultimate outside power. I've laid aside several young adult books as unfit for our family because they do refer to spirit guides. That freaks me out completely. But I don't think Harry Potter fits that.

I can understand why some people stay away from Harry Potter completely. I can respect that. But I do believe it's wrong to demand that all Christians boycott Harry Potter. I think it falls under Christian liberty.

Also, what is the reader's intent? If the child is enjoying an exciting book, that's fine, but if the child is rebellious and angry and looking for any excuse to reject the Christian teachings of his parents, Harry Potter might definitely not be simple fun. He might use it as a stepping stone toward defiance or greater interest in the occult (or anything else to show his rebellion against his parents). I don't think there's a simple answer: "Harry Potter is evil incarnate" or "Harry Potter is fine for everyone." Discernment must be used in this area.

[greg]

PW - Thanks for your detailed response. I remembered when Lord of the Rings came out, I didn't have any real objections to taking my son to see those. I personally engage with a book more than I do with a movie, but I was a big reader as a kid, and as I am thinking about it, I don't think I was ever adversely affected by anything that I read as a child.

Yes I would have had a problem with them calling on spirit guides, for sure, that is, were I considering it for my children. One other thing, and you really didn't mention, do they conjure up the dead at all for anything in the series? I would probably have a problem with that.