Author Topic: Question about Harry Potter? (Read 13408 times)

gobosox91 · « **on:** June 15, 2013, 08:37:18 PM »

I'm just curious to see what the general Catholic opinion on J. K. Rowling's popular saga. I understand that very fanatic people will call it satanic and evil, as they say it promotes witchcraft.
First off, I only liked Harry Potter from 1999-2003 and just gave up on it, because they were making the movies while the books were still being written and it took forever for book 5 to come out, and in that time I came to love J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. I love The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

But why do Christians endorse J. R. R. Tolkien's works, which he wrote as Christian (particularly Catholic) allegories, as well as C. S. Lewis' Narnia series, but believe Harry Potter comes from the depths of hell? I was always aware that true witchcraft was bad and that the only true faith was Christianity, particularly Catholicism. I never met anybody who was inspired to dabble in satanism and the occult because they read Harry Potter? This magic they speak of is fiction, and real magic is to be condemned. As long as they know the difference...? How can we endorse certain fantasy stories by people like Tolkien and Lewis, but we condemn J. K. Rowling as being inspired by the devil?

Anthony Benedict · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2013, 08:48:02 PM »

I'm not going to do your homework for you.

However, if you do a little search work for comments by ACTUALLY practicing witches about what HP contains, that should close the matter.

Even Pope Benedict told Catholics NOT to read that crap.

TheKnightVigilant · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2013, 08:49:33 PM »

One important distinction is that the Harry Potter books are utter garbage, while the Lord of the Rings saga has something to it. Besides of that, the Potter books are completely mired in Occultic themes and the glorification of such.

Many people are inspired to dabble in the occult as a result of Harry Potter and similar stories. My younger sister loved the books and films as a child, along with similar stories like The Worst Witch, and by the age of 10 had an unhealthy interest in Ouija boards, tarot cards, casting magic circles and other such things.

Pheo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2013, 08:53:22 PM »

I used to have some of the same questions, but the fantasy elements do differ quite a bit in their basic construction.

In the Harry Potter series, magic is an inherent quality of some of the characters. It's there for them to manipulate to their own liking and the only laws that bind them are issued by the government (the "Ministry of Magic" in this case). It really strikes me as a sort of secular subgenre of fantasy.

It's the exact opposite in the LoTR series, especially if you read the back story in The Silmarillion. It's made quite clear the source of all the powers in Middle Earth is God (Eru) - even Gandalf is an agent of Eru who is sent into Middle Earth during its ultimate struggle against evil, Sauron being a servant of a sort of fallen angel called Melkor.

On top of that, ex-Wiccans have said that Rowling incorporated lots of Wiccan elements into the stories. I forget which details, but the info is out there and it doesn't sound great from a Catholic perspective. I read the Harry Potter series as it was coming out, but knowing what I know now...I wouldn't bother picking it up again.

Nadir · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2013, 10:24:11 PM »

Quote

I understand that very fanatic people will call it satanic and evil

Can you name one of these very fanatic people?