Wild About Harry—Not About Witchcraft

In the nine years since Bloomsbury released the first Harry Potter novel in Britain, a constant debate has raged as to whether or not Christians should read these books. Many have blasted the books by saying that they endorse magic and witchcraft. J.K. Rowling does use magic as the main tool in the forming of her stories, but she also uses the tools of friendship, loyalty, bravery, and self-sacrifice throughout the entire series. Nevertheless, many critics of the novels have even gone so far as to suggest that these books not only promote real-world magic but also encourage young children to become involved in the Wiccan religion—a religion that promotes such “real magick.” One woman, self-proclaimed “occult expert” Caryl Matrisciana, claims that, because of many similarities between the magick of Wicca and the magic of Harry Potter, the books lure children into Wicca. However, the clear differences between Wicca and the magic contained in Harry Potter prove the utter falsity of this statement. Despite countless critics who say the books endorse nothing but evil, J.K. Rowling’s stories actually contain significant positive elements, within both the characters and the ongoing story itself. Those who dismiss the books as “evil” and “occultic” reveal their ignorance of the story’s true meaning.

Mrs. Matrisciana, in an hour-long video made in 2001, claims that numerous similarities exist “between the spells and magic used in Harry Potter and those used in the witchcraft of the Wiccan religion.” Yet J.K Rowling derived almost all of the spells in Harry Potter from Latin words with meanings similar to the desired result of the spell. For example, the spell Expelliarmus, used to disarm an opponent, means “to expel a weapon” in Latin. Another example comes from the spell Accio, which summons an object to the spell caster. In Latin, Accio means “to summon.” Should the reader require further proof, Terri Paajanen, a practicing Wiccan, states, “True spells require practice, experience, and the focused control of will. Shouting a phrase in Latin and waving a wand won't get you very far in the real world.” Now, if Harry Potter truly did represent and promote the Wiccan “religion,” and used Wiccan spells, why would a Wiccan blast down the magic of the books? Quite simply, because the magic in Harry Potter does not at all represent the magick in Wicca—or any other real-world magic or sorcery.

Another example that Mrs. Matrisciana brings against the books comes from a chapter in which Professor Trelawney, the teacher of divination at Hogwarts, prophesies “a message of death in a very realistic trance state.” We learn later that Professor Trelawney predicts the death of at least one of her students every year, but none have yet died. She prefers the dramatic, and frequently falls into these “realistic trances” for effect. I feel bound to point out that of all the magic taught at Hogwarts School, only one subject exists that remotely resembles any “true” magic—divination—and out of all the subjects taught, the students view divination as the least useful or practical, and some find it simply ridiculous. Hermione Granger, one member of the famous trio of the Harry Potter books, refers to divination as “a very wooly discipline,” and such a statement perfectly describes the subject. Rowling uses divination to subtly poke fun at the “real-life magic,” even to the extent of having Professor Trelawney teaching her students how to read crystal balls and tea leaves. Much hilarity ensues when she tries to get Ron Weasley to read his crystal ball, and he responds that he sees “an old bat with oversized specs,” referring quite obviously to Professor Trelawney’s own reflection in the ball. Divination provides a way to lighten the mood of the books, and the students rarely take the class seriously. Neither should the reader.

Yet another thing that Mrs. Matrisciana brings against Harry Potter comes from a part in the fourth book in which a servant of Voldemort kills a friend of Harry’s. Mrs. Matrisciana states, “The diabolical truth in this is an intentional human sacrifice, a symbolic human sacrifice and very necessary for the ritual that is about to take place within the next page or so. In serious magic, a human sacrifice is essential for the power to work.” In response to this claim, I would like to point out that Voldemort portrays the very definition of evil in the book. He provides the driving force behind all of the bad wizards, and the good wizards relentlessly fight against him and his followers. When one of Voldemort’s followers kills this boy, Rowling portrays it as both evil and tragic, and it serves to further prove the utter wickedness of Voldemort. Additionally, reading this narrative section more carefully proves the absolute nonsense of Mrs. Matrisciana’s claim that this “symbolic human sacrifice [is] very necessary for the ritual.” This boy’s death has absolutely no connection to the ritual that occurs a page or two later. Voldemort had the boy killed only to make certain that he would not thwart Voldemort’s plan, not because he needed a human sacrifice.

Throughout all the Harry Potter books, Rowling places a strong emphasis on the battle between good and evil—that war which rages every day and everywhere in our own world. J.K. Rowling sets a strong example in these books that the good must fight the evil, no matter the cost. While not explicitly Christian, these books do have decidedly Christian morals about them, particularly with regards to this battle between good and evil. In 3 John 1:11, John states, “do not imitate what is evil but do what is good.” These books very clearly portray this, as the heroes of the stories seek after good and unrelentingly battle the evil that attempts to overthrow them. Rowling’s characters also show strong bonds of friendship and loyalty, to the point of willingly sacrificing themselves for their friends. God’s Word commands us, as Christians, to do this as well: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)


Original article can be viewed here: http://www.khouse.org/articles/2001/374/.