Comments on: News Flash! Christian Content in Harry Potter!

By: Travis Prinzi

Travis Prinzi — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:59:28 +0000

If so, his having the same insights and conclusions is a cause for rejoicing and encouragement, in that people of faith may now reconsider the books they previously rejected, for the wrong reasons.

Agreed. But it should also be noted that it’s the responsibility of a person publishing a scholarly work to be familiar with the work that’s already been done. So I’m interested in his book, his work, etc., and I’m just as interested in his works cited.

By: Joivre

Joivre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:38:16 +0000

Ditto Arabella Figg – I was waiting for a charitable and truly Christian response to this news. It makes me happy it was you who wrote it.

By: Arabella Figg

Arabella Figg — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:15:16 +0000

Perhaps Fr. Luke is isolated from the kind of news we take for granted on things pop cultural. So for him these really are original insights, and he’s unaware of the previous work on them. If so, his having the same insights and conclusions is a cause for rejoicing and encouragement, in that people of faith may now reconsider the books they previously rejected, for the wrong reasons.

I would definitely like to read his book.

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:44:16 +0000

It always makes me chuckle to see this kind of news written up as “news.” On the other hand, I’m with y’all (of course). The more the merrier when it comes to intelligent discussion of HP! And it might be very interesting to hear the particular take of a Benedictine on the series. I wonder if he delves at all in the community aspect of Hogwarts.

By: Rumor

Rumor — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:22:42 +0000

Since I have found that JKR uses a lot of Dracula notes in her work, that should be a huge sign to anyone who is Catholic, since Bram Stoker was writing about the sacraments being used to defeat Dracula, the demon. Good thing this man is on the up and up and fair minded enough to write it down and share the truth.

By: David

David — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:26:16 +0000

John, the reloaded url worked fine.

I’m with Arabella and Emily in their comments relating to the Catholic element to the story and also to the fact this came through the Telegraph UK, which rarely touches a story related toward Christianity these days.

That this book is coming from a minister in the Benedictine order will perhaps indeed change some of the negative perceptions of those in the Catholic community toward Harry Potter.

Who knows ? Perhaps Fr. Luke will join us one day on the HP conference circuit as a speaker along side the Potter Pundits.

By: Arabella Figg

Arabella Figg — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:49:11 +0000

Although not a Catholic, I echo Emily’s comment. Hopefully this will blunt the impact of the hostile Canadian Catholic group falsely claiming the Pope decries HP. Perhaps many devout Catholics will be able to “discover” Harry for the first time.

If only he knew of your books, John (and Travis). However, a pointed HT to Fr. Luke Bell.

By: Emily Strand

Emily Strand — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:19:14 +0000

It’s good to hear another Roman Catholic voice sounding about Christian themes in HP… leave it to a Benedictine!

By: Eeyore

Eeyore — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:27:49 +0000

Hmmm, yes, I do seem to remember hearing some of this before. Oh wait – we’ve all been saying the same thing for a very long time, thanks to John and to our own reading.

While this doesn’t seem to offer anything new, I’m always happy to hear that more people see beyond the magic to the deeper themes in the HP books. Maybe if the non-reading critics hear it from enough different people they will finally decide to read the books or, at the very least, stop spreading lies about what is in the Harry Potter books.

By: revgeorge

revgeorge — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:50:00 +0000

Sounds similar to some things a certain Potter Pundit has said numerous times for quite some time.