The latest Harry Potter book goes on sale at midnight tonight. Thousands of young fans will line up. Media will cover the frenzy. And the debate among Christians will heat up once again. Here are some interesting quotes from John Granger's book Looking for God in Harry Potter as he takes a look at the animal symbols used in the books which point to Christian reality.
Does it seem odd that there are so many symbols of Christ? There is a big difference between symbols and allegorical figures. Allegories are stand-ins or story translations of a worldly character, quality, or event into an imaginative figure or story. There can be only one figure representing the other, consequently, or it's difficult to translate; I cannot have two Hitler figures if I'm writing an allegory of the Second World War, or the allegory fails.
Symbols, in contrast, can be stacked up. If I am telling a fantasy story with a Christian message, I can include characters and beasties and events that all point to the various qualities, actions, and promises of Christ. If the symbols correspond with these qualities, even if they are not consciously understood as Christ symbols, they open us up to an imaginative experience of those supernatural qualities. A variety of these symbols woven into a story that itself echoes the Great Story will powerfully stir the soul because the heart is made by God to be receptive to this message. Our soul radios are always tuned to the frequency of the message.
The Harry Potter stories, in their formulaic journeys that end every year with love's triumph over death in the presence of a Christ symbol, find their power and popularity in the resonance they create in our hearts. We connect with them because they point toward the Truth Myth that saves us. The gospel has rarely, if ever, been smuggled into the hearts and minds of readers so successfully and profoundly.
Sounds as though Granger is rather positive towards the books.
On the other hand, here's what the new pope apparently thinks of Harry Potter:
The Pope has said that the Harry Potter books "erode Christianity in the soul" of young people, a German writer claims.
Bavarian-based Roman Catholic Gabriele Kuby, who wrote a book criticising JK Rowling's blockbusters, said the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger made the comments in an exchange of letters two years ago.
In March 2003, Ratzinger wrote thanking her for sending him a copy of "your informative book". He said: "It is good that you are throwing light on Harry Potter, because these are subtle seductions that work imperceptibly, and because of that deeply, and erode Christianity in the soul before it can even grow properly."
What do you think?
1 comment:
I think any parent should be wary of what they let their kids read. Some kids would be fine with Harry Potter. Others might be dragged into actual pursuit of magic. Or (much much) more likely, might think all his ignoring the rules (or his general disdain for authority) is acceptable behavior.
In any case, I find them well written, enjoyable, and not nearly as harmful as many would have us think. And honestly, there's been no solid christian alternative for 49 years. What did people expect would happen, that maybe everyone would stop reading and imagining while some Chritian finally decided to develop the gift God gave them?
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