Great post! I don't really care much about Harry Potter, but I have experienced those Christians who think it's evil. My family and I don't have anything against the series. It's actually one of my older sister's favorite series. I can tell that you probably like Harry Potter just about as much as I like Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
This post was delightful. I read it and laughed out loud. XD Any one who's read them knows that the HP books rock, and here's an extra-fun-fact for the author of "Harry Potter and the Bible": there have been HP readers who were so moved by the ending allegory to the series that they researched Rowling's original inspiration, discovered Christianity, and gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
...Sounds pretty demonic, am I right? Readers coming to Christ definitely sounds like the Devil's end-goal. XD
I think it's more important to teach people to think for themselves and be discerning than it is to hate on any one book series. If I'm not devoted to God, I'll do whatever the crap I want, but if I am devoted to God, then Scripture and the Holy Spirit will help me discern what books are good for me or what are not, and I won't be unduly influenced by books or music that aren't 100% sound.
I haven't even read Harry Potter (I will soon; I promise) but this (no offense to the author) sounds like a joke and a half.
One thing I have noticed is when an apologist wants to convince everyone that a specific book series/movie/tv show is satanic, their logic doesn't really add up very well. Keep in mind though, there are truly satanic books and movies out there. Even so, I always find it odd and comedic when someone says "(super popular story), praised by Christians and atheists alike, is evil and you all must repent of your sins and must model the perfect image of a Christian: me." Of course, you should be careful of what you read and how it affects your life, but they often come off as self-worshippers. (I don't mean to say that apologists are dumb. I love apologetics).
Anyways, I should be done with this essay.
This post was absolutely hilarious. Great job, Jack.
This book by Abanes has a very specific context: it was written during a few years of a strong debate in Christian circles about whether the wildly popular HP books were a danger for kids to read. Abanes wrote his book after only 2 or 3 of the HP books had been released, so he didn’t know where the series was going or how it would end. In 2005, at the heart of this debate in Christian circles, the university where I teach hosted a debate between Abanes and John Granger (several books being written at the time on this topic of the dangers of merits of HP). That debate fostered good dialogue amongst our students about reading choices (& Granger showed better the merits of the HP books than Abanes the dangers). All that to say, it was a book written for a very specific time and does not hold up past that time.
I don't disagree that the criticisms can be over the top, but I personally know someone who dabbled with witchcraft and the occult as a child as a result of her love for Harry Potter. Thankfully, she repented.
The most reasonable criticism of HP versus Tolkien and Lewis that I know is that HP follows seemingly ordinary boys and girls that become extraordinary due to their own magic use, and it's presented as something good and desirable. It's very inviting to certain types of children. In Lewis and Tolkien, the reader is not invited in to try spells and incantations. They are more of a plot device used by extraordinary characters of a different nature to humans, and the corruption of humans who exercise power is clearly shown.
That being said, I read all seven of the original series multiple times and was unaffected. I won't give them to my own children, though.
Great post! I don't really care much about Harry Potter, but I have experienced those Christians who think it's evil. My family and I don't have anything against the series. It's actually one of my older sister's favorite series. I can tell that you probably like Harry Potter just about as much as I like Charlie & The Chocolate Factory.
hilarious 🤣🤣
This post was delightful. I read it and laughed out loud. XD Any one who's read them knows that the HP books rock, and here's an extra-fun-fact for the author of "Harry Potter and the Bible": there have been HP readers who were so moved by the ending allegory to the series that they researched Rowling's original inspiration, discovered Christianity, and gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
...Sounds pretty demonic, am I right? Readers coming to Christ definitely sounds like the Devil's end-goal. XD
I think it's more important to teach people to think for themselves and be discerning than it is to hate on any one book series. If I'm not devoted to God, I'll do whatever the crap I want, but if I am devoted to God, then Scripture and the Holy Spirit will help me discern what books are good for me or what are not, and I won't be unduly influenced by books or music that aren't 100% sound.
very true
I haven't even read Harry Potter (I will soon; I promise) but this (no offense to the author) sounds like a joke and a half.
One thing I have noticed is when an apologist wants to convince everyone that a specific book series/movie/tv show is satanic, their logic doesn't really add up very well. Keep in mind though, there are truly satanic books and movies out there. Even so, I always find it odd and comedic when someone says "(super popular story), praised by Christians and atheists alike, is evil and you all must repent of your sins and must model the perfect image of a Christian: me." Of course, you should be careful of what you read and how it affects your life, but they often come off as self-worshippers. (I don't mean to say that apologists are dumb. I love apologetics).
Anyways, I should be done with this essay.
This post was absolutely hilarious. Great job, Jack.
This book by Abanes has a very specific context: it was written during a few years of a strong debate in Christian circles about whether the wildly popular HP books were a danger for kids to read. Abanes wrote his book after only 2 or 3 of the HP books had been released, so he didn’t know where the series was going or how it would end. In 2005, at the heart of this debate in Christian circles, the university where I teach hosted a debate between Abanes and John Granger (several books being written at the time on this topic of the dangers of merits of HP). That debate fostered good dialogue amongst our students about reading choices (& Granger showed better the merits of the HP books than Abanes the dangers). All that to say, it was a book written for a very specific time and does not hold up past that time.
*dangers or merits of HP
I don't disagree that the criticisms can be over the top, but I personally know someone who dabbled with witchcraft and the occult as a child as a result of her love for Harry Potter. Thankfully, she repented.
The most reasonable criticism of HP versus Tolkien and Lewis that I know is that HP follows seemingly ordinary boys and girls that become extraordinary due to their own magic use, and it's presented as something good and desirable. It's very inviting to certain types of children. In Lewis and Tolkien, the reader is not invited in to try spells and incantations. They are more of a plot device used by extraordinary characters of a different nature to humans, and the corruption of humans who exercise power is clearly shown.
That being said, I read all seven of the original series multiple times and was unaffected. I won't give them to my own children, though.