A Question for Christians about Harry Potter?

Question

I am puzzled and would love your input if you could please supply it. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are both Christians. They are separated and my niece lives with her mother. My niece is 9 years old and is behind her reading level in school. She does not like to read because she doesn't like the books she is exposed to. Last year for her birthday, my husband and I gave her the first Harry Potter book, thinking that if she could not read it herself, one of her parents might read it to her. My sister-in-law went through the roof and subjected me to a 10 minute diatribe about exposing her child to witchcraft and Satanism. The thing that puzzles me is that she routinely watches PG-13 and R rated movies with her child. My sister-in-law regularly watches films like "The Ring" and "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" with my niece. Why is Harry Potter not appropriate when films made for adults are? Why does she have a problem with Harry Potter, but not with violence, horror, and sex?

My brother-in-law does not seem to have a problem with it, but does not wish to discuss it with us. He simply says that as his daughter lives with her mother, her mother can make the decisions about what books or movies she is exposed to. I am not trying to lay blame on anyone's doorstep, I am genuinely puzzled and would like your thoughts.

Thank you.

Answer 1

In my opinion, your sister in law's attitude comes from someone telling her that Harry Potter is bad and an evil influence on kids. She is missing a great opportunity to dialogue with her child concerning things spiritual. Allowing your child to read and/or view things that is age inappropriate is certainly not something that I endore. However, certain topics, especially ones that you have a strong opinion on, should be talked about openly and not just shoved aside with the label that those things are evil or Satan inspired. No matter how well you control your child's environment during their growing years, they will, in spite of you, form their own opinions and attitudes someday. Better that you teach them how to evaluate things and ideas based on their own merit. It sounds like you sister in law has never learned how to evaluate things for herself either. There is nothing you can do to change her mind. There are plenty of comparable "Christian" books for children out there. I would visit a local bookstore to see what's available.

Answer 2

The Harry Potter books do, in fact, glamourize "witchcraft". The good guys in the books are practicing witches and wizards, and the author makes no attempt to conceal this.

I think the books are a wonderful fantasy for kids, and I applaud the author. However, even as an atheist, I will say this...

I don't like the fact that it does glamourize something that is actually believed to be factual by a sizeable group of people, and many of these people are not the types I would want my kids spending time with.

For example, I may not be a Christian, but I do not associate or condone anyone that wants to be a "Satanist", for example. And the same goes for "witches". Yes, I'm sure many of the "wiccans" out there will disagree with me. But to call yourself a "witch" is not a positive way to live your life. I would not want my kids attempting to cast spells any more than I would want them to join a cult, or sacrifice a cat, or anything else.

I would have no problem with my kids reading the books, but I would certainly make sure that they know that it is escapist fantasy, and has nothing at all to do with "real" witchcraft, as practiced by the leather-clad weirdo down the street...

Answer 3

Well, I would say that your sister-in-law is very hypocritical. I am a Christian, and the problem that I have with Harry Potter is that it makes light of witchcraft. Witchcraft is a WICKED, DISGUISTING thing. Harry Potter approaches it as being cute and fun. I want you to realize that Satan is absolutely behind Harry Potter. He would love for you (and most of America) to believe that witchcraft is fun and exciting. Well here is the cold, hard truth: I have met many witches/wizards/wickens, and I can tell you that they are all miserable, depressed people. On the other hand, the other movies that your sister-in-law watches are just as wrong. They go the other way, and display man as more powerful than Satan. This is also not true. The only being more powerful than Satan is God.

Answer 4

That is puzzling. The Ring and The Excorcism of Emily Rose would be considered a lot worse than Harry Potter, which isn't even bad. Witchcraft is only bad if the intention is, and Harry Potter has absolutely nothing to do with Satanism. It seems to draw more from paganism. I don't wish to offend you, but your sister-in-law sounds like a hypocrite.

Answer 5

Don't stereotype an entire group.... there are plenty of us that enjoy Harry Potter. And plenty of ministers that enjoy it as well. As a teacher, I see all of the lessons that come out of it. And that is what my 12 year old daughter has picked up on as well. Now, she does want a marauders map, but who can blame her... that would be very cool! I do think that parents need to make sure the kids are old enough to read the books and to understand them. Not sure the 4 and 5 year old crowd really gets it! My girls had to be 10 to be able to read Harry Potter, since that was how old he was in the first book.

Answer 6

Your sister-in-law is being a hypocrite.

Harry Potter is about good versus evil, despite the overall theme of the books/films. He doesn't teach you to do witchcraft or even believe in magic. The point is, good always overcomes evil, as it is in Christianity, since Jesus has overcome the world (and the prince of this world, Satan) by what He did on the cross.

If the child is interested in the book, teach her that magic is indeed fake but the moral of the story is that good overcomes evil.

Answer 7

The mother does have the right to teach her children what she deems appropriate.

I am Catholic and have read all the Potter books which I really enjoy. However can see how a devout Catholic/Christian would object to the magic and witchcraft in it. If you have ever studied the history of the Catholic Church and the separation of the Protestants from the Catholics you would have a clear view of why the Protestants/Puritans adhore such practices as magic and witchcraft. It was the Puritans who did the "Witch" burning in Salem Massachusetts.

Gosh, there is so, much history behind this fear of witch craft and magic in many of the religions ... unless you're religious too, it's really hard to go into without delivering a novel.

I can't really answer to her psychology behind allowing the other media like "The Ring" and other violent-sex entertainment ... but again, as she is the mother, I would have to say she's go the right to attempt the raising of her children as she deems appropriate.

Answer 8

I find that very odd, if not hypocritical if, as you say, your sister-in-law is happy to watch supernatural and horror films. Does she watch them perhaps because she feels it's her duty to keep aware of what might be threatening and to be able to prevent any supernatural harm coming to her daughter? Or does she watch them with her daughter perhaps to frighten the child into keeping away from such things? Either way, I don't think it's very healthy at all - but who am I to judge?

Harry Potter is harmless fantasy - didn't we all read or have told to us fairy stories with fairy godmothers and wicked witches? Even "The Wizard of Oz" is still loved today by young and old, and I don't think all of these have inspired young people to experiment with black magic. And I don't think Harry Potter uses anything like a ouija board - we all understand Hogwarts is a wonderful, fictional world out of J K Rowling's imagination. Isn't there just a little part in each of us that would have loved to go there? But we all know it's fantasy, and without fantasy life can be very drab. Plenty of adults read it as well as children, and read sci-fi and other fantasy too!

I think your sister-in-law might be swayed too much by whatever kind of Christianity she believes in and has not or will not read the books herself to make up her own mind. If her church says "Don't do this!", then she will just obey without thinking it through. I am a Christian myself, and have absolutely no problem with it; I've read and enjoyed Harry Potter, and have given them to young friends to encourage their reading - which it seems to do! Your niece, I think, is old enough to make up her own mind - I doubt very much you would give her something unsuitable to read!

Anyway, the bottom line is that I do not agree with your sister-in-law! Perhaps you could try to explain the books to her - what does she expect her daughter to read? I personally would not allow any child to watch horror films, or those with sex or violence, as they could do far more harm than a little enjoyable fantasy. (And J K Rowling draws on the classics, and mythology.)

Answer 9

I think that the problem here is that your sister-in-law only knows what she has heard about the book series, and that information is loaded with inaccuracies. I am the daughter of a minister (not the rebellious type, either), and I love the series because it deals with the themes of real life and of the overarching conflict of good and evil. Assuming that a book series about witches and warlocks is simply about witchcraft and Satanism is a very narrow way to think. It is about witches and witchcraft, but it is not about Satanism. It is about a boy who struggles with being different and deals with the loss of those he loves, all while trying to do the right things in life. It is about trying to be a good person in a world (his world) filled with evil. Sure, magic is involved, but not to a bad end. Encourage her to read one of the books herself, and she will see. She doesn't want to be one of those people who speaks in ignorance, does she? The other films she lets her daughter watch are beside the point, but are a true testament to the irony of the situation. Good luck.

Answer 10

good grief! well, u really cant tell her how to raise her kids, but i think shes totally off with her assumptions cuz Ive just read HP and i thought with all the stuff ppl say about it it would have some dark references or something but it doesnt. Its a really good book about GOOD vs EVIL and how Love conquers all as well as loyal and sweet friendships forming. Given the kids mature & so do their situations so ur niece may be a bit young to start reading the later ones (5) but these are ideal books to get a kid interested in reading! In my opinion, theres nothing wrong with them and u should ask ur Sister in law to read them before she judges them that harshly, but I hope everything works out well. You could try other boos like The Chronicles of Narnia (ur sis-in-law might find those more suitable) and Nancy Drew (I was crazy about both of those series at that age) Best wishes!

Answer 11

It seems somewhat inconsistent, and I can only guess, but it may be possible that The Ring and The Exorcism of Emily Rose are OK to her because they present satanic elements as being bad. They may be more violent, but they're clear on what's evil. The problem she might have with Harry Potter is that it presents something she considers evil (witchcraft and sorcery) as being good (depending on who uses it). And that, to her, might be a worse influence on her child.

I'm not saying she's necessarily right, but it could explain the apparent inconsistency.