I just finished reading the book "What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter?" by Connie Neal...it was actually recommended by my English teacher when he suspected that I was testing my beliefs...he's either agnostic or atheist but won't tell me which one. He told me I'd really enjoy the book if for nothing else a good laugh...and that's exactly what I got from it. A big joke.
The book's purpose is to expose the debate on whether or not Harry Potter is appropriate Christian literature. Both sides of the debate are represented by Christians and represent relatively valid points...until you actually think about what they say.
Think about it...there's a whole book dedicated to the argument over a fictional children's story. How petty can we be?
The major argument against Harry Potter is that is portrays the image that witchcraft is real and is okay. Riiiight. Okay seriously how many kids truly buy into that stuff? I can't recall one time that I've walked into a parking lot and seen someone trying to get their broomstick started. and I can't tell you how many times I've seen kids walking down the halls at school with their wands or practicing incantations...oh that's right...none...b/c it doesn't happen. Seriously how many more occult cases occurred b/c of Harry Potter?
Another main argument that is brought up is that in the books the power lies within the person, not in some higher being. But, even in Bible stories like Jonah and the Whale, Noah's Ark, and others the power does lie in the individual with the guidance of a higher being. The same is true of Harry Potter, he wouldn't be able to accomplish anything without the help and guidance of Albus Dumbledore.
As Connie Neal points out Harry Potter is simply a fantastic story composed of other elements of acceptable children's literature...like myths, folklore, and fairy tales. If we condemned Harry Potter for mixing these elements in such a way that promotes witchcraft then why not condemn the Disney Channel for showing movies like Twitches and Halloween Town or shows like the Wizards of Waverly Place?
I'm just really sick of people making up things in order to condemn harmless literature...it's entirely unfair....if a kid wants to read Harry Potter let them...in fact I'd recommend it...then they can see the difference between fantasy and reality....you know the obvious fact that I'm a witch who secretly practices magic to get back at Christianity.
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