Mad About Harry

What better way to relate Christian morals and Values than via fantasy magic.

Purhaps some are influenced towards the occult via this, but I am sure that those same people are influenced so by the gospels, Tolkien, C.s. Lewis, and even by their church.

People can and will say as they believe about these books, and I've heard much worse than the comments below this article, which (the article) I find balanced and logical.

Having read the books, (Yes all seven very long books), I see no problem with Harry Potter, and having read the Narnia Books, for which I owe much of my Christianity, one sees how such books relay the Christian worldview, morals, and Gospel to those who are due to presumption, less than likely to hear it otherwise. It is also a wonderful tool for clearing the way to the Gospel, especially in the similarity of the books' end to the Christian message.

I don't have much value for Rick Warren's watered down gospel, so mention of Warren is my first red flag in this article.

Furthermore, I don't care what belief system Rowling claims or what church she is a card carrying member of; her books and her message is nothing to compare to that of C.S. Lewis and to put Rowling or her work next to Lewis is literary blasphemy.

And last but not least, Dr. White has either turned a deaf ear to the Potter message or he's been mentally seduced by the magic. Harry Potter is full of violence, sexual innuendos and consistent messaging and visual pictures of drug use and eastern mysticism. I would expect a different message from a Gordon-Conwell guy. Guess I'll keep steering my children towards Wheaton.

Thank you Dr. White for a balanced perspective. My children are too young to know anything about the Harry Potter phenomenon, but I know many solid Christian families who have allowed their older children to read and see the movies. My wife and I decided to see the most recent movie this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it, just as we enjoyed Narnia and Lord of the Rings. No one I know is suddenly interested in the occult or turning from their Christian faith. I wish some believers would think twice about lifting the condemnation finger, and realize three fingers are pointed back at them.

I think it gives out wrong message to children. Its a book about curse, magic and sorcery. It says in the bible you are not to be around this type of stuff. Now your saying it is ok to read about it. Its like saying read your horoscopes

It seems Dr.White has failed to see something far more sinister here. The Potter series IS a stepping stone towards the occult (Witchcraft and Idoltry) because it uses and teaches magic and sorcery to interact and deal with good and evil. Turning to sources other than God to receive power and to have needs and desires met= idolotry. The enemy is clever since he brings his agenda in under radar. So many Christians beleive these stories are "simple morality tales, and maqic is used as a metaphor for power" and "Rowling herself is a professing Christian" etc. The Bible see's differently (Glatians 5:19-20; Lev.19:26-31,20:6; Deut.18:9-16; Heb.13:8). Since you can't deal with evil apart from The power of God how are Potter readers seeing the Truth? I witnessed the "Potter" book event at Borders on Friday as excited costumed children urged parents to purchase materials on Wizardology and spell casting. Centered within the festivities was a book stall filled with hundereds of occult titles.