Is there hope for Harry?
I have debated with my cousin, Brooke about the Harry Potter books since she first read the novel. She’s tried to get me to read the books for years. I won’t. The realist in me just can’t believe that I’d ever relate to a character who is a wizard, doing wizard tricks in some fantasy wizard school. I’ve never been a big fan of fantasy. She argues that Harry’s life is believable and even if he is a wizard, he deals with the same life issues we do.
This little game continues every time we get together. We were discussing summer plans recently and she told me the big events happening in her life this summer– taking a trip to England, spending time with her boyfriend–and of course, reading the soon-to-be-released Harry Potter book and see the new movie! Of course, this re-kindled the ongoing debate.
“So what’s the big deal about Harry?” I finally asked her. “Who cares about some wizard and his magic tricks?”
“Everyone cares!” She said emphatically, “Everyone wants to know what happens to Harry!”
She’s probably right. And it’s to be expected. Before Harry, everyone wanted to know what would happen to Frodo and the ring. And before Frodo, we were concerned with Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Edmund in the
Lev Grossman, a writer for Time magazine, wrote in his blog that the power of Harry Potter represents something huge for our culture saying, “In the new millennium magic comes not from God, or nature, or anything grander or more mystical than a mere human emotion…By choosing Rowling as the reigning dreamer of our era, we have chosen the most hard-nosed, realistic of fantasists, a writer who dreams of a secular, bureaucratized, all too human sorcery, where psychology and technology have superseded the sacred…. Something tells me no such comfortable retirement awaits Harry in the Deathly Hallows.”
12 Responses to “Is there hope for Harry?”
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All I can say is I rather read the Bible then Harry Potter’s book. God has all the answers in His word we Christians don’t need to go looking else were for answers especialy not in the Harry Potter’s books. Satan is a deceiver he loves to deceive people especialy Christians.
I’m with Pamela and Angie.You have to let God work.This is a wonderful tool! For people who don’t often read,to pick up these books…for children to become aware of the very real war going on between good and evil in this world.
There is friendship.There are peer rivalries.There is love.There is putting the good of others before yourself.There is death..Good people dying and this being OK with us because death is a part of life and for the good, the hereafter is a place where they seem to be happy and safe.For the evil,there seems to be something else!
I am in my 50′s. I was Baptized at 21. I don’t consider myself a fool (or too easily fooled!)There is goodness in these books if one chooses to find it.Let God work.
I hardly think that Harry could be compared to David in the Bible.
David’s focus was strictly on his God and became “a man after God’s own heart”. Harry is focused not at all on God, but on the magical and manipulating ways of witchcraft.
The reason David beat Goliath was because of his faith in God.
The True and One and Only Living God is completely missing in these books. So, without our Lord, why should believers even begin to get “life lessons” or anything else from this work? Wrong source to take advise and give credit as truth.
The Bible strictly states what we are to do about witchcraft. Hate what God hates and love what God loves. God hates the evil of witchcraft, so we should be following suit, if we love our God and call ourselves followers of Christ.
Just because it is candy-coated as a great “work” it’s still evil. Satan comes “as an angel of light”. This whole subject should be off limits for followers of Christ, if we truly are walking with our God.
Choices have consequences. Yet, God allows us free will to read these books. I hardly think that is pleasing to the Lord. Shouldn’t that be our concern? God sets before us the choice of life or death, blessings or curses. He tells us to “choose life”. If we aren’t in agreement with the Word of God, then we are in alignment with evil and chosing death. We each have to decide for ourselves which we choose. God doesn’t want our minds divided but devoted only to Him.
first of all they are not real spells in the books because no 1 its alot of latin words and no 2 thers no such things as spells its a wonderful story that mirrors alot of issues in the world like racism for example i have friend who refuses to let her daughter read the books but what she doesnt seen to realize that they are no more satanic that bedknobs and broomsticks or return to witch mountain
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil. How can you argue with God’s Word? The Bible talks about witchcraft and warns us to stay away from it. The Holy Spirit has convicted me to keep these kinds of books and movies out of my house. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
I was surprised to read the comment that claimed the spells in the book are real — it’s a work of FICTION. Rowling never claimed that it was any more than that. Most of the “incantations” are thinly veiled Latin or rather clever puns.
The Harry Potter stories stand out today as stories which actually carry a positive message. The books and movies can be used at teaching tools, showing that it is right to stand up for what is good and right, regardless of whether it is difficult. In the Christian community people cry out for books and movies for families which have positive messages and when one comes along they are prejudged as bad and placed in a negative light by those who have literally judged a book by its cover.
As a care giver one of my clients asked me what was so special about “Harry Potter” books, after several times I decided to read it myself. I couldn’t put the book down and have read every one since. In many cases I identify with his life so it meant something to me.
The book gave me hope. Not in Harry Potter or the idea of witchcraft. It showed to me that true love always overcomes, not always as we would like it – and hope comes often in ways we don’t expect.
The bible has a story of David fighting Goliath, in many ways Harry Potter is not unalike.
Look at the message and forget about witchcraft and it’s implications and you find the real treasure. However, it depends how you perceive the book for yourself.
No body is perfect . Harry Potter certainly isn’t but in this case I see a clear message of hope and that is what people are crying out for.
first of all a wizard is a male witch, those are real spells that they speak in the books and movies. We need to be careful of the things we read, and allow our children to read. Second, ask your self why has her books and movies have made her a billionaire in such a short time. People have gotten so caught in witchcraft, and hollywood knows it’s a money maker…………..he isn’t a celebrity, he’s a witch that practice witchcraft and I know people are going to say its just a movie but its not just a movie.
You haven’t read any of the Potter books? You really should — not because everyone else has read them but because they’re way too much fun to pass up.
I think that the draw of Harry is that he’s living the dream — here’s a boy who for the first 11 years of his life is told that he is nothing. And one day, out of nowhere someone comes along and tells him that actually he’s a celebrity. Isn’t that exactly what so many of us wish for as we buy our copies of People and Us Weekly?