Have the Harry Potter books had any effects on interest in Wicca/Paganism among the young?

Question

Similarly, have the Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe) had any effects on interest in Chrisitianity among the young?

In general do the written and visual arts have any effects on the beliefs of young observers.

Answer 1

I doubt that children recognise Narnia as being a Christian metaphor.

I don't think Harry Potter gets people interested in Wicca or Paganism. Harry Potter fans seem very grounded in reality and know that HP is make believe. At most HP could give them an interest in magic, which you can study without being Wiccan or Pagan. WIcca is a religion and Paganism is a group of religions, and HP doesn't address religion. But seriously, HP fans always seem to know their favorite book is make believe.

Charmed, on the other hand, and spawned all sorts of teenage, misguided interest in Wicca, thinking that Wicca is anything close to what the Charmed sisters practice.

Answer 2

I think people make more out of these books than there is. As a witch and a Pagan if someone came up to me and said they had read all the HP books and they wanted to learn to do magic, I'd say no. We don't do missionary work and this is a poor reason to tell a Pagan/Witch why you would want to learn magic.

Also you will find that no *respectful" Pagan/Witch would take on a student who is not of the age of consent. We would open ourselves up to all kinds of legal problem that none of us need.

I have been a Pagan all my life and I have read every type of book you can imagine and yes there were some books that gave me fuel for my imagination. But mostly what I read helped me to see how I fit into this world. Hitler banned and burned books, so is this the image we want to give children? If these children's parents would learn to talk with their children, rather than talk at them they might find that there is a lot their children can learn from them. Most children will jump through hoops to get a little positive praise.

Answer 3

as a young christian (of sorts) i read some of the narnia books, with no real effect either way... later in life, i read the space trilogy, also by Lewis (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength) all of which are much more christian-themed, though buy this time I had pretty much embraced a more pan-theistic view. again... no real effect
My 7 year old son is a big fan of the Harry Potter books, but other than a fantasy/imagination interest, he is not a believer in magic.

Answer 4

on the grounds that Harry became not reported in a suited way, he goofed off with Ron most of the time rather of spending time with Hermione at Hogwarts. Ginny would have slipped Harry a love potion, in the different case Harry does not be kissing her without thinking while she threw her palms around him.

Answer 5

The phenomenon of sorceries has been growing society for sometime. Movies/Books such as the "Witches of Eastwick" has shown us this. The idea of "Magic" has become a part of pagan/secular culture. They will defend it on the basis that it is "just fiction" but then they actually have a church of satan in America these days . ..

Revelation 9:20  And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Revelation 9:21  Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts.

But they will allow kids in schools to read this. But JESUS is a controversy . .. this is precisely because they prefer the lies of the devil to the TRUTH of JESUS CHRIST.

LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.

Answer 6

Yeah, they mentioned CHRISTMAS in almost EVERY Harry Potter book, and it drove kids to Church each Sunday...the impact was amazing, even the Jewish kids were converted...Christmas trees being shoved down their throats in each book! Good thing it wasn't a menorah in each book...or else we'd have an explosion of conversions to Judasim!

Answer 7

My kids love Harry Potter. I love the fact it creates them to use their imaginations. I hate the fact that people don't realize it is just a movie/book. It is like watching a cartoon, it means nothing. And my kids know they can't turn things into things. It is just for fun.

Answer 8

Pop culture always has an affect on people.
Overexposure has the opposite affect.
That's why Disco was bigger than God then hated like an Atheist at a revival.


Blessed Be!

Answer 9

Hopefully.

Answer 10

I doubt if most kids have ever even heard of wicca.