Elves and Fairies

Should Christians read Harry Potter?

by Ælf

SHOULD Christians read the writings of J K Rowling about the adventures of Harry Potter?

In the view of a certain class of Christian, the answer is definitely in the negative.

Jeanine McGill, of Africa Christian Action, has written letters to newspapers across South Africa decrying the phenomenon of Harry Potter, and especially expressing concern about its influence on the youth.

Her judgment in this issue is based on reports she has had from others concerning the books; she admits candidly that she has not read the books.

As a Bible-believing Christian who has read the books, I have a different view of the issue.

But I will not force the issue by decrying her as misinformed. I will discuss her various arguments elsewhere. In this article I will focus solely on one question, namely whether reading these books is advisable for Christians.

In weighing up this question, I turn to Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth,^[1] where he discusses whether Christians should eat food sacrificed to idols.

This appears to have become an issue in the Corinthian church, because after discussing other matters he begins a passage (now known as chapter eight of his letter) by saying: “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols . . .”

He states: “We know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom we are are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”^[2]

Some members of the Church, he remarks, have been in the habit of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols regarding it as being sacred to those idols. He adds: “Their conscience, being weak, is defiled.”^[3]

Others, he says, do not regard such meat as having anything to do with pagan deities. This in itself he does not see as a problem, but he also cautions: “But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”^[4]

With my knowledge concerning witchcraft, and the firm faith in Jesus Christ that keeps me from believing in it, I am unaffected by the mentions of witchcraft in Joanne Rowling’s books. My children, who are similarly informed, are likewise unaffected.

At the same time there are many families where the reading of Harry Potter books is banned outright. I respect the right of the parents in those homes to forbid their children to read the books.

When I was a child my parents wanted my brothers and me to read literature that would teach us something. We were allowed English comic papers, but American comic books were forbidden. Although I let my parents down and devoured American comics at other people’s homes whenever I could, their rule set me on a sensible path, and I did not become obsessed with mindless literature.

Now in the 21st century, we have an entire generation of children who do not read books at all. The lure of television, video games and the Internet draws them away from the old-fashioned discipline of reading a story for themselves. The great value of Ms Rowling’s writing is that she has drawn a generation of young people back into the habit of reading.

For reasons I will explore in other articles,^[5] I see this as a positive contribution to 21st century culture.

Mrs McGill refuses to see anything positive in this trend. I respect her feelings in this regard, but I seriously doubt that it will result in a generation of young people who read books also turning to witchcraft, and becoming practising witches, indulging in divination and other occult arts.