Is Harry Potter Harmless?

Question

a lot of religious leaders have openly stated that the immensely popular series holds hidden messages of demon worship and teach children to turn from God. a Harry Potter fan myself, I believe a book is a book, and everybody has to interpret it in a way that will most improve their lives. I wouldn’t let young children read it (I don’t want my child pointing a stick at me and yelling latin spells, all the while attempting to get the broom to fly him to his friend’s house), but if it does hint at any occultist themes (which I did find but am not worried about)…..maybe it’s better to keep them out of children’s hands until they’re old enough to know better.

Answer 1

Those leaders who rage on about the occult in Harry Potter cannot have really read the books or researched the author. JK Rowling is a Christian, and her faith has had a significant impact on how the books have progressed. In fact, she said that she is not overtly open about her faith to the media, because that would be a dead giveaway to how the series is going to end!

To someone who is not a Christian, they are just great books that give a great moral story about how to resist doing bad things in the face of evil, and how to have courage to stand up for what is right, even if it makes you unpopular.

To someone that is a Christian, the parallels between the story of salvation and Harry Potter are obvious. Sacrificial love conquering evil, loyalty, courage, faith, and symbols like the Phoenix and the Lion only reinforce that parallel.

For a really really good essay on the Christian themes in Harry Potter, and the role that magic can have in Christian-themed literature, go to this site:

http://www.digital-disciple.com/harry_potter_granger.htm

There is NO Satan or devil worship in Harry Potter. The line between good and evil is clearly drawn and not in conflict with faith. There is nothing that is "anti-Christian", such as saying that church is useless or Jesus was a fake. There is no swearing or use of God's name in vain.

Answer 2

Harry Potter is just a fantasy book, Just Like the Lord of the Rings and any other fantasy book I have read. It's made up. You have read the book, Have you seen a hidden demon message in those books? Well neither did I and, I must have missed the "turn from God" part. A lot of these religious leaders, are so extreme that they even find hidden messages in Fairy Tales too. Although I agree that some of the books a child must be older to understand( the last two books for example). Not because of secret messages but of the plot.

Answer 3

These people have probably never read the books so they have no right to comment or condemn. The Harry Potter books fuel the imagination, something that is seriously lacking in our children today. The messages of the books are of good overcoming evil, making the right choices even when it's the hardest thing you have to do, acceptance and tolerance and seeing the good in people that you normally wouldn't think twice about. Isn't that the basis of most religions? I agree that they aren't appropriate for young children, though not for the same reasons as yours. My children and I sometimes play Harry Potter and pretend to be the characters. I just think that very young children wouldn't be able to understand what the story is really about. One more thing is if older children can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy then their parent's aren't doing their jobs properly. These parents generally let their children watch cartoons and don't think there's a problem with that, so what's the big deal about Harry Potter?

Answer 4

Well, I don't think that Harry Potter has anything to do with the demon worship, that's never existed except in the minds of some people who I personally don't respect.

Anyway, a Catholic Priest was able to find very religious icons in Harry Potter that led to the love of God and some related topics.

I do agree that Harry Potter does affects children. I, for example, yell latin spells in my younger ones faces, and they reply to me with those spells. I find it very good way to learn them how to pronounce well (specially one has some speech problem), and I give them a glance of the meaning of the spells, we study English and Latin grammar that way.

We also speaks of mythology and such things (not with terms).

Harry Potter helped me to get close to my younger ones, and allow me to teach them a lot of things. In languages, speech, athecs.. etc..
And it really made them read..
We have now a weekly cometetion to figure out a good spell to help at a certain subject. It must be made out two english words are related to the mater.
That's an example of the things I could do with them using Harry Potter series.. Children are so clever and can understand the complicated things in an impressive way.

About the broom stick, with or without Harry Potter, children will dream of flying, and that may used to explain to them the "Muggle" great way of flying.

My younger ones are five, the eldest is eleven and the youngest is five. They are my nephews.

Answer 5

I love Harry Potter and have been reading them since age seven.i have had no religion leaders tell me it is bad. i never jumped out a window on a broom and i certainly believe that small children can read it. did you know that if a child doesn't have a imagination by age seven they never will. well i read harry potter and i am one of the best students in English and have a great imagination.
those religion leaders should be more worried about stopping the wars then about a book.

Answer 6

I think Harry Potter is harmless. We're a Catholic family and all six of us are fans. There is a clear difference between entertainment and imagination, and our faith. It's an excellent story so far and all the magic is fun and thrilling, but it hasn't brainwashed us or our children into seeking crystal balls, wands and phoenix feathers. If anything, our children are more alarmed that Harry is so mercilessly picked on by his Uncle and family than they are about potions, charms and spells.

Answer 7

there is NOTHING in it about demon worship! It never teaches any kids to turn from god only to FIGHT EVIL!
Kids have been copying movies for many years!
Look at them back in the 70's and to this day waving LIGHT SABERS from Star Wars...!
In my day KIDS played Cowboys and Indians!
We played Queens and Kings and all kids of stuff...
Kids will jump from roofs playing SMACK DOWN!

Most of the religious leaders have not read it HP books just claim to because IF they did they would KNOW what the books are about!
I would not let any KIDS read the Bible that book is full of mean spirited misconceptions too!
People can interpret THAT book many ways and they have!
The books 1-3 are mild but after 4 they are getting darker but not in DEVIL WORSHIP!
Harry Potter is battling evil in this series and it is getting grown up because Harry is 16 in book six...IF you have NOT read the book don't scream EVIL!
It is religious people like you that give me the CREEPS!
I worry that I might get burned at the stake like the Burning Times!
Because of all you hysterical people and your mixed up bible views.
People have been witches for centuries even beyond the burning times!
IF a kid tries to fly a broom or wave a wand they are just not educated but expressing their creativity!
Not every one of US goes around in black capes and witch hats NOT so YOU would see any way!
And it takes TIME for spells to happen but in MOVIES they make them happen faster because we do not have time to wait for reality!
Any one with an education would know that!
I see kids playing SPIDER MAN and BAT MAN...maybe They are evil as well?
Maybe KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE HERO'S!
What a load of rubbish!
GRRRRR! at people like YOU! and all your religious leaders too!
BLOODY HELL !
Maybe WE should teach OUR children to FEAR you!????


AND STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHO ARE A DIFFERENT RELIGION THAN YOU THAT WE ARE SINNERS!
WE DON'T BELIEVE IT YOU DO WE ARE NOT SINNING YOU ARE!

Answer 8

Yes Harry Potter is harmless and its a fiction book and its a good childrens book because it teaches them whats real and whats not .

Answer 9

I believe that Harry Potter is horrible for children. I am not trying to start a religious battle, but witchcraft and magic like that is, in the bible, a horrible thing to do.

Answer 10

Then why is it in the children's section. As long as you don't put that crap into his/her head...they will just see it as a fairytale. Seriously , I use to hear it as a kid and I never thought of that or any of my friends. Stop believing hat everyone says. Geez, just believe in our powerful great lord who loves us all and wont abandon us for reading some stupid book.