Potter Mania: Should Christian Kids Read 'Harry Potter'?

Breakpoint with Chuck Colson ^ | 7/20/2007 | Chuck Colson

[Mr. Silverback]

If there’s a child in your house, then you probably know what’s going to happen when the clock strikes 12 tonight. The final Harry Potter book—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—will be unleashed on the world.

The big question that has millions of kids on edge: Will Harry live—or will he die?

But the big question many parents have is: Should their kids be reading novels about wizards and witches and magic?

A Christian expert on Potter mania says, “It depends.”

Connie Neal, a veteran youth pastor and mother of three, is the author of a book titled What’s a Christian To Do with Harry Potter? Neal says parents must use discernment in deciding whether to allow their kids to read Harry Potter. For example, kids with an unhealthy interest in the occult should probably not read these books. Other Christians believe their kids benefit from the moral lessons the Potter books teach.

Neal’s belief that it’s okay for Christians to read secular novels comes from her reading of the biblical book of Daniel. Daniel, you will remember, was a teenager when he was taken away from Jerusalem to live in exile in Babylon. There, he was taught the language and literature of the pagan culture. He studied at a school that trained Babylon’s magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers. The actual practice of sorcery and astrology was, of course, forbidden by God. But Daniel studied it well to understand it.

One day King Nebuchadnezzer called on his magicians and astrologers to interpret a dream; none could do it. In a rage, the king ordered that all of his wise men be put to death. Daniel asked to see the king, who then asked him, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel responded: “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery which the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.”

Daniel had immersed himself in his culture’s pagan literature in order to understand it. But, because of his deep devotion to God, he didn’t defile himself. As Connie Neal told BreakPoint, “God put Daniel in Babylon to be a light in the darkness—and he was. He was not afraid to read literature that resounded in the hearts of the people with whom he lived. He used his familiarity with this pagan literature to reveal the true and living God.” And Neal knows some kids who have done the same in our own post-Christian culture.

Now personally, I don’t recommend the Potter books. I’d rather Christian kids not read them. But with some 325 million of them in print, your kids will probably see them and hear others talk about them, and they’re probably going to read them anyway. So use this occasion to teach them to be discerning—like Daniel. Dare them to have Daniel as their role model, not Harry Potter.

And if your kids do enjoy Harry’s magical world, you should give them copies of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia books and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

These books also feature wizards and witches and magic, but in addition, they inspire the imagination within a Christian framework—and prepare the hearts of readers for the real-life story of Jesus Christ.

[oneamericanvoice]

There are 400,000 Jedi Knights in England (At least that's what they told the nosy parkers at the Census Department) So there are 400,000 nuts. Just because they think they are, doesn't mean that they are. There are alot of Napoleans and Jesus around too.

[oneamericanvoice]

I was basing my supposition that you have a problem differentiating between fantasy and reality because our your comments and citing various Bible versus. I stand by my claims. I would much rather err on the side of righteousness than compromise with the world. Me too. But I am not compromising just because I've read the books and saw the movies. My faith is strong. And I've never been tempted. taking heed when my God gives me a warning. I heed God too. But God didn't tell me about fantasy. He was talking about reality. That is my personal decision to make. Of course it is. So what was your point? You don't see anything edifying in the Potter series because you haven't read them. I didn't say your life isn't complete without them. My life is complete without them, but it has given me alot of enjoyment. Hardly sad. It was you who try to state that I or others base the value of a person's life on reading the books. Far from it. Reading Potter doesn't make witchcraft "more palatable". It doesn't teach witchcraft. It teaches about defeating evil, friendship, courage, strength, ingenuity, respect, perserverance, sacrifice, family, etc. Do any of those sound familiar to you?

[oneamericanvoice]

“What they do do for some kids is whet their appetite to learn the mechanics of spells and potions and necromancy and get involved in witchcraft.”

Not even.

BTW, what kind of things do you think those that practice White Witchcraft can do? Do you think they can do anything like in HP?

I’m not a witch...never been one, nor do I wish to be. However, I wouldn’t suppose that just because you are Christian that you can part water or turn it into wine.

[Charles Martel]

I don't think anyone should be reading them.

Ja, ja...

[Secret Agent Man]

Wow, blown away by your incredible logic. /sarc

[mountn man]

That was a highly intelligent comment. Why don't you come over and I'll beat some intelligence into you.

Where in the world do you get off making a half witted remark like that?

Ooops, just noticed your name. That explains everything. I'll leave the wife beating to you.

If you ever get one.

[Barnacle]

He read the Harry Potter books and didn’t join the occult.

You're right. I know many smokers who don't have cancer.

Here's a general statement to the Potter crazed among you. I know you love the crap. Go ahead and enjoy it. But, I'd just like to share with you the first hand account of a friend of my family who works in library. She said many of the same kids who are enthralled with Potter when they are young, come in looking for books on the "real thing" in their teen years.

So, go ahead and give it to your kids, I'd give mine cigars before I'd give them Pot or Potter.

[myrabach]

Who said I hadn’t read any of the Potter books... I did start to read the 1st one and considered it a waste of time... sorta like the McDonalds of the literary world, lots of mass appeal but way short on substance.

As far as differentiating between fantasy and reality, I ask you... how often is fantasy used to teach a reality? Are you saying that there isn’t witchcraft? Are you saying that there aren’t people who read Harry Potter and wish they could cast spells, etc. for real?

Wicca and voodoo are alive and well where I live, it’s a very small jump from fantasy to reality. Not all parents are ideal Christians who make sure kids do know the difference between light and darkness. I just don’t happen to agree with you that all children see past the witchcraft and wizardry in either the books or movies to glean the virtues you stated. My opinion may be based on my limited experience, but it seems the kids I’ve asked do in fact say it’s the witchcraft and wizardry that make the books fun and interesting. And I stand by my opinion that it is exactly what makes the reality more palatable.

[oneamericanvoice]

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought that you hadn't read any of the books. As for substance, why does a book always have to be a great literary work. Isn't it nice to sometimes have McDonalds? I do think that some of the books have substance, but then they aren't meant to be "War and Peace". ...how often is fantasy used to teach a reality? Narnia, Lord of the Rings taught about reality in a fantasy setting. I think that stories regardless of medium teach about reality. Pick a story that doesn't. I never said that there isn't witchcraft. Of course there is. However, there are those that practice an earth based religion who are referred to as witches or warlocks that have nothing to do with Satan or evil, and there are those that worship Satan and evil. Harry and his friends DO NOT worship Satan or deal with evil except to fight against it. What kid didn't wish they could cast a spell and have their homework done, their room clean, or make the bully at school leave them alone? Heck, there were probably a few that wanted to turn their brothers or sisters into toads. But wishes are wishes and reality is reality. Not even a real witch can do those things. Wicca and voodoo are far different things. It is not a small jump from fantasy to real witchcraft. And your community is no different. If it is so pervasive there, why have you not succumbed? How many of your children have left the church for evil? In fact, ask some of those kids that have read Potter, who they would like to be like? I'll bet none of them would say Voldemort. They may say that witchcraft & wizardry make the books fun, but it is no more than in Narnia and Lord of the Rings or Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. You are basing your opinion on adulthood, rather than looking at it as you would have done in childhood. Without creativity from which fantasy springs our children can not grow up to be well rounded individuals. You didn't want to join a coven after watching fantasy. Why is that? Are you exceptional? I don't think so. It is sad that you live so much in fear. And unfortunately, you don't see what that does to the kids, however well intentioned you are. Take care.