Is Harry Potter of the Occult?
Well, I certainly don't think so. There are many people, however, that do. They can be divided into several main categories:
1~ The first and certainly the most outspoken if not the most common are the ones who have received, via e-mail, usually, a copy of the article on Harry Potter published by theonion.com, which would be rather terrifying in its tales of the poor children led astray and the gleeful leaders of the occult if it were not for the fact that theonion.com is a satirical site publishing articles which are not based in fact but entirely made up, which becomes clear when you look at their other articles...
2~ The second type are generally just as forcefully condemnatory of anyone espousing the virtues of the Harry Potter books but a tad more credible because they don't base their opinions on things they learned from satirical newspapers. But their ammunition is slightly less forceful because of it: they generally discuss either the way that many of the "fictional" characters of Harry Potter are based on characters from mythology, which they take to imply she was really trying to subliminally teach children about important occult figures, or else they cite general immorality in the books such as the way Harry and his friends break rules and lie sometimes, and McGonagall gets a little tipsy at a feast. Which are perhaps the best-founded accusations, but lose steam when it's pointed out that most of the times they break rules it's either to help a friend or to fight against evil. I am also puzzled as to why these people, if the presence of such things in literature so concerns them that they want to do away with the Harry Potter books, they seem in no way inclined to seek out the thousands of other children's books in which children disobey their elders and destroy them as well.
3~ Finally we have the group of Christians (the only of the three groups I am pleased to share that title with) who have heard of the books and the wizardry they contain but haven't read them and are concerned and curious about the people who have read them and found them to be acceptable. They are generally concerned with the idea of exposing themselves to something God has condemned, witchcraft, and wonder how I justify this. These people are generally calm and reasonable, and quite a bit less inclined to condemn the opposite side to eternal damnation, which makes discussion with them slightly more pleasant.
I have communicated with each of these types (well, generally I have been sent an e-mail by them, have sent a reply back discussing the points they brought up and eagerly anticipated a reply, but been dissappointed when I don't receive one), and I've posted their letters and my replies below for anyone who'd care to see my responses to these three different types of anti-potterites.
If you happen to be of one of these types, or another I've failed to mention, and you'd like to discuss our divergent views, I am very much open to the idea. You can e-mail me at dragonfyre52@hotmail.com I hope that before you e-mail me you will take the time to fully understand what my views are so that you do not find yourself denouncing me for views I don't actually hold. For my responses to specific arguments, see below.
My Beliefs
As for my personal beliefs, I am a Christian, so I believe in God, I believe that the devil exists, I believe in the soul, and I believe in heaven and hell, I believe in right and wrong. (For a more in-depth view of my spiritul beliefs, go to My Faith Page.) What I do not believe is that reading the Harry Potter books will bring people to evil. I agree that there are scenes in which Harry and his friends disobey rules occassionally, but usually when they do it is to help a friend or to prevent evil from happening. Of course it is still not good, but first of all there are many other books in which children disobey rules. So why aren't the people who think this is a reason the Harry Potter books are so evil also opposing all these other books?
It seems to me that the real issue is the presence of witches and wizards and magic in the books. So what is my opinion on this? The people, spells, books, etc. that J. K. Rowling mentions are almost entirely made up by her, except in certain cases where characters or their names are based on mythology. Much as people like to claim the books propound Wiccan ideas and are an attempt to incite people into that belief, the ideas in her books are in no way based on Wicca or any other such group. The magic in the books is purely fictional, and, in my opinion, does not refer to the uses of magic by the occult, but is rather intended as a metaphor for the imagination. Muggles, people in the books without magic, really represent the people in the world who are oblivious to the use of imagination in the world. they exist in their totally rational visible worlds without a thought to what could be. Within the magical world we see the people who give their imaginations free reign. Some of these people are bad, and use their imaginations to bring evil into the world. but the books clearly designate them as Dark Wizards, and the wizards characterized in the books as good, like Dumbledore and Harry, expend their efforts to defeat these Dark Wizards and to allow good to conquer evil.
As far as the influences of the books on children, I agree that children are easily misled and can't always tell truth from fiction. But this is where parents come in. Parents must constantly teach their children right from wrong. This is true in life in general, not just in regards to Harry Potter. Many parents don't want to spend time teaching and raising their children--they focus on their jobs and making more and more money while dealing with their kids only in the trips from school to day care. They would rather have any risky books banned so they don't have to worry about it, as opposed to taking the time to read the books themselves and help their children through the difficult but all-important concepts of right and wrong.
But the Harry Potter books CAN be dealt with by parents in such a way that the children enjoy the stories and still learn the lessons of good in the books (when Harry and his friends strive to help one another and defeat evil) while making sure they recognize which things in the stories are bad. I have a sister who is five to whom I am reading the Harry Potter books, and as I read them I constantly explain to her that there are no such things as witches and wizards and magic spells and that lying and cheating and disobeying and making fun of people are bad things. Sometimes I ask her if something is good or bad, real or make-believe, and she is always able to discern. I definitely think it is important for adults to explain to children what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad, what is true and what is false. but as long as this is being done, I find more good in the Harry Potter series than bad.
So those are my general thoughts on the matter. Again, I am always open to other people's opinions and welcome any e-mails on the subject. I have two main requests if you decide to e-mail me, though: (1) I'd like it if, when I have replied to you, you would at least acknowledge having received my response, even if you don't want to reply to the things i have replied to you about, and (2) I'd appreciate it if you could restrain yourself from condemning me to hell, as, in my opinion, only God has that authority. Thanks!
My Replies to:
TheOnion.com-Influenced Anti-HarryPotter People
Harry Potter's Bad Because The Kids Misbehave People
Reasonable, Curious People
Wondering how the webmaster can be a Christian and still like Harry Potter? Wondering what kind of Christian the webmaster is? Go to My Faith Page
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