I’ll be posting short versions of my Prophecy 2007 talks tomorrow but today I wanted to share some of the things I have been reading on the Internet. For your comment, correction, and amusement, I give you hyperlinks to an article in The Guardian about the Church of England and Harry Potter and something similar from The Telegraph about winning souls with Harry.
I was mentioned in this article by Tim Lai in The Toronto Star about Prophecy 2007. He was quite generous compared to the Harry Haters that have inducted me into their “Hall of Shame” and these others who think I am the leader of a dialectical New Age heresy. A Presbyterian Elder named Stephen Jones seems to have read one of my books (or, more likely, the Kjos condensed version online?) and left a note on The Presbyterian Outlook page reviewing Deathly Hallows to say that I have built a “publishing empire” on “Ms. Rowling’s coattails” to advance my universalist agenda.
Who knew the Hogwarts Professor was a corrupter of youth and the advocate of new religions? Arise, citizens of Athens!
Christianity Today began what I think will be an avalanche of post Deathly Hallows claiming Harry (and Ms. Rowling) for Christ in a piece called “Harry Potter 7 is Matthew 6.” It misses the importance of Harry’s conclusion about the scriptural passages in the Godric’s Hollow graveyard, but more on that tomorrow and Thursday.
The UK’s Tolkien and Chesterton maven Stratford Caldecott was very kind in mentioning me and Unlocking in his 2 August review of Deathly Hallows on Second Spring. My favorite boaster of how little time it took to read Deathly Hallows comes from this Catholic priest (not even two hours, you know, because it isn’t the heavy lifting I am used to…) who, after reviewing The Oresteia, recommends Michael O’Brien to his faithful for some perspective on Harry.
Ouch.
And, last, this older, pre Deathly Hallows piece from a Roman Catholic reader called Character, Choice, and Harry Potter that was posted at the St. Thomas Logos site.
Tomorrow, “The Alchemical Quarters of Deathly Hallows.” See you then!
Welcome back, John!
I read most of these and found them wonderful reads. I especially enjoyed Christianity Today’s. They’ve really come around. I put the link for their review of DH on the #30 Best Links Discussion Point.
Interesting point about Snape’s eyes; they were always described as having a rather dead quality to them. I also believe DD put the inscription on the Potters’ grave. But I do believe Hermione knew and understood these verses by what she says to Harry at the Potters’ grave.
Did you read the article called Spoiler Alert further down on the CT page? What a commentary on how we’ve “dulled” the gospel!Here is the link (hope this works): http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/augustweb-only/131-44.0.html – 50k –
I loved your interview with Jeremy Reynaulds; you acquitted yourself beautifully and eloquently, with repeated respect for concerned non-HP readers, even if the artice was posted on that sad, hateful hall of shame page. If only Harry-haters would accord you the respect you accord them.
Actually, I found the priest interesting. Here is a one who actually reads the books and sees the films, a faithful guardian for his flock. So he’s maybe a stuffy pedant; at least he’s likes and endorses the books.
I would have enjoyed the conference and Hall. Perhaps next year!
Accio kibbles for the kitties…
I’m not really surprised at the C of E response. It’s (supposed to be) a liturgical church and the liturgical elements of Harry Potter seem fairly obvious. The Catholic priest said, I believe, that it only took “a few hours” to read “books like this”: I couldn’t quite tell if he said that it only took two hours to read this particular book, but at least he thinks it won’t be harmful.
Incidentally, I noted some of the comments on reading for adults. I teach *Harry Potter* in my *Children’s Literature* class, and a few students (not mine) in other sections have stated that they won’t read the book at all. When the teacher asked the student if she would be willing to do a presentation along with another student on the pros and cons, her response was a fairly cut-and-dried response along the lines of “it’s evil, it’s immoral, etc.” and she did not read the book.
My response to that was to state on the first day of classes that *all* students would be required to read *all* books on the syllabus, or risk failing the class. (That way students have the option of dropping the course and taking another section with another teacher.) To me, adults *do* have the responsibility of testing books and other materials for children to see if they are safe or even good, and that goes double for teachers. I have the same policy for books labeled as “unacceptable” by other groups–future teachers need to be able to read it first. So far, in a class with all sorts of religious and ethnic representation, this hasn’t been a problem.
The Character, Choice, and Harry Potter article was absolutely fascinating… Thanks for the link.
I just finished the Character, Choice & HP article. Didn’t have time last night. This is the kind of thoughtful reading that both explains and enhances the books. I particularly liked the part about fortunetellling. This is helpful to Harry-defenders on this issue.
Well, Madame Scrawny forsees a treat…and she’s right!