Yes, this is one of the many posts regarding the Harry Potter series. The movie series based on the very popular book series by
J.K. Rowling has finally come to its much anticipated end. In full disclosure, I'm a fan of the books and the movies. I know the series is placed in the context of magic which has caused some concern for many Christians, but I think the story itself contains many touchpoints with the Christian faith. And this is not surprising since J.K. Rowling is open about her faith. Scot McKnight (
here) and Ben Witherington (
here) have both already posted about this. Just a few of these touchpoints, as I see them, are: (1) resurrection, (2) sacrificial love, (3) fellowship, (4) the conflicting nature of the Holy Spirit with the sinful nature (Rom. 7; Gal.5:16-17). These topics could be used as discussion points for non-Christians who are Harry Potter fans. There are others out there who have already touched on this on a much deeper level. So I'll leave it at that.
What I really want to talk about, or ask, has to do with the book series itself. Rowling has mentioned that both Tolkien and Lewis are major influences for her. Most everyone knows the impact that Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (along with the Hobbit) have had and continue to have on the world. My question is this: Do you think that the Harry Potter series is on the same level as these other works? Should Rowling's work be placed together with the work of Tolkien and Lewis as one big happy family?
What are your thoughts?
I am writing a paper in my Christian Worldviews class and have settled on writing on Christianity in literature. Of course Tolkien and Lewis are being used for their contribution to fantasy with Christian undertones. Then there is Rowling with her Harry Potter books. I myself am a huge fan of HP and I with little literary support would put Rowling up there with Tolkien and Lewis just based on the sheer influence HP has had on the world with reading.
ReplyDeleteHi Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteI would agree with you. Sounds like it's going to be a good paper. You may want to check out the July 2011 version of Christianity Today. John Granger has an article, Harry is Here to Stay, about the influence of the HP series. He also touches on Rowling's use of literary techniques, which interestingly enough are similarly to the techniques employed by Tolkien and Lewis. Thanks for the comment.
-chris
If you are a writer then stay with the book and tell the whole message that is has neve been told in the heathen church of the Lord Jesus Christ to the heathen gentiles of this world. Warning the gentiles of the wrath to come and take the message of Matthew 16:19 correctly to the ethnee as Jesus commanded to be done. He said to go to the ethnee they are not gentiles but Hebrews of the House of Israel. The translators distroyed the invitation in verse 19 by making it the church. Ekkleesian is not the church and it is a her the wife of the Lord Jesus Christ. ek-klee-sian being the one is the ones invited out from among the ethnoon where the ethnee were scattered by my father following the divorce (Jer 3) and the gates of Hell shall not prevail agginst her.. She is not an IT and her name is not the church.
ReplyDeleteGo to my webpage and read more about the ethnee and the ekkleesian and the ethnoon. and the reason Jesus had to die.
www.myprivatelib.com
Jerry Collins
If you read all the authors listed then you will never find the truth of God's word for none of them knew the truth that Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world he died for the Hebrews only. Salvation is by race and race alone no gentiles accept or approved no matter what they do for they were rejected from the foundation of the earth. No one can choose to be a Hebrew if they are not one already by birth, The House of Judah never has to be saved for she was never lost. God said to the house of Israel that you are the only family I have ever known Amos 3 it will be the ethnee ruling over the ethnoon in the end as it was promised in the beginning. Repentance, beleiving, confession will not convert you to a hebrew of the house of Israel, all others are rejected.
ReplyDeleteSee myweb page at www.myprivatelib.com
Jerry Collins
Hi Gerald,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I politely disgree though. I believe we can see God's truth everywhere.
-Chris