Harry Potter Problem. News from Hollywood Jesus

THE HARRY POTTER PROBLEM

Harry Potter flies on a broomstick, casts spells, and fights evil spirits -- and some Christian parents want him out of public schools. Potter is the main character in a series of books by J.K. Rowling (http://www.saxe.org/HarryPotter.html) that feature magic and promote elements of the Wiccan religion, parents charge, according to the Washington Times. "There's no denying that 'Harry Potter' has a lot of symbolism for Wiccans," Karen Jo Gounaud of the Family Friendly Libraries in Springfield, Va., said. "Everyone is a witch or a warlock, they're casting spells, drinking blood, they believe in reincarnation."

.....Gounaud said she has received hundreds of calls from parents who are concerned that books promoting Wicca are allowed in school while books that portray Christian themes are banned on the grounds that they promote religion. "There's one school that put on The Sound of Music and couldn't show Maria as a nun. They had to make her a businesswoman," Gounaud said. "Well how come it doesn't matter when it's a pagan religion? You can't have it both ways."

.... Not all Christians agree that the books are harmful. They contain dark themes but show the difference between good and evil, and good always wins, Prison Fellowship's (http://www.prisonfellowship.org) Chuck Colson said in his Breakpoint radio broadcast. Thecharacters "develop courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another. Not bad lessons in a self-centered world," he said.

THE HARRY POTTER PROBLEM Harry Potter flies on a broomstick, casts spells, and fights evil spirits -- and some Christian parents want him out of public schools. Potter is the main character in a series of books by J.K. Rowling (http://www.saxe.org/HarryPotter.html) that feature magic and promote elements of the Wiccan religion, parents charge, according to the Washington Times. "There's no denying that 'Harry Potter' has a lot of symbolism for Wiccans," Karen Jo Gounaud of the Family Friendly Libraries in Springfield, Va., said. "Everyone is a witch or a warlock, they're casting spells, drinking blood, they believe in reincarnation." .....Gounaud said she has received hundreds of calls from parents who are concerned that books promoting Wicca are allowed in school while books that portray Christian themes are banned on the grounds that they promote religion. "There's one school that put on The Sound of Music and couldn't show Maria as a nun. They had to make her a businesswoman," Gounaud said. "Well how come it doesn't matter when it's a pagan religion? You can't have it both ways." .... Not all Christians agree that the books are harmful. They contain dark themes but show the difference between good and evil, and good always wins, Prison Fellowship's (http://www.prisonfellowship.org) Chuck Colson said in his Breakpoint radio broadcast. Thecharacters "develop courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another. Not bad lessons in a self-centered world," he said.


Bulletin Board: UNDERSTANDING MAKES US STRONGER Subject: The Harry Potter Problem Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 From: "Gord & Mary Willms" Harry Potter has provoked some interesting discussions. Your editorial raises several issues that I'll respond to individually. 1. Regarding Wicca etc. The moral lessons in the Harry Potter books are mostly in harmony with a Christian world view. My first concern is the "moral of the story". "Popular culture" has embraced a wide spectrum of morals (and even worse, in some cases a virtual absence of morals) many of which are in conflict with the basic teachings of Christ. Hate, revenge, violence, destruction, for example are promoted as beneficial and even necessary from some corners of popular culture. We need to focus our alarm and outrage, for the sake of our children, on these anti-Christ morals. As for Harry Potter's means to an end; true it's Wicca (although only vaguely, as I understand it), but I'll put up with that for other reasons listed below. And the issue of intolerance for Christianity is a separate one. 2. Regarding religion and public schools. Here in Canada as in the US, religion and spirituality has been systematically weeded out of the education system over the last few decades -- or so it seems. Actually the brunt of the weeding out has focused on Christianity simply because Christianity is seen as the "institutional" religion of North America. Although God and spirituality have become taboo subjects In our schools, it's often still OK to affirm and even celebrate "other" religions because doing so demonstrates our tolerance in a pluralistic society that's framed within a Christian historical context. But in the process of embracing tolerance we commit that common human weakness of over-compensation. We've become selectively intolerant -- in this case intolerant of Christianity. (The irony is that the majority of educators would not characterize themselves of practicing Christians.) I don't think we need be concerned with a book -- like the Harry Potter series -- that promotes Wicca, especially given its underlying moral lessons. But we should be concerned with the prohibition on books that promote Christianity. We're far from tolerant if we do that. 3. Regarding reading in general. The love of reading is one of the best gifts that the education system can bestow on our children. Anything that encourages reading is beneficial. Then, when that reading includes good literature, even better. My limited knowledge of J.K. Rowling is that she produces reasonably good literature. A child that gets hooked on reading because of compelling writing can then be encouraged to expend their reading. This encouragement can come from teachers to encourage diversity in reading, and by parents to encourage such family issues as passing on the Faith (including but not limited to Christian authors like C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien who produce compelling literature as well.) 4. Regarding diversity. Jesus said; the Truth will set you free. We do live in a pluralistic society. North America is possibly the greatest experiment in diversity in the history of mankind (This is a personal opinion only that I will willingly revise upon credible evidence to the contrary). Exposure to a diversity of world views (which must include Christianity) should be a part of any child’s education, and the responsibility of the school system. Education regarding ones personal Faith is the responsibility of the family and the church. By understanding someone else's belief systems, we become stronger and more deliberate in what we believe.
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