Ships from: Wilmington, NC
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from: acton, MA
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
For the latest edition of this book that covers all 7 Harry Potter novels, see How Harry Cast His Spell.
John Granger, a Christian, a teacher of classic literature, and a father of seven children, explores the surprising reasons J. K. Rowling's books are so popular and examines what the author believes are strong Christian themes throughout the Harry Potter books. Granger helps readers understand the classic literary devices used in the Potter books and contends that Rowling is writing in the tradition of Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Are they just a good read, or do they nourish the soul as well?
The "sorcery" in Harry Potter supports biblical teaching, not practice of the occult.
More than any other book of the last fifty years (and perhaps ever), the Harry Potter novels have captured the imagination of the reading public worldwide. Hundreds of millions of copies have been sold to date. However, although the books have been wildly successful, no one as yet has been able to explain their popularity.
The Harry Potter books, in case you too have lived on the Planet Zeno since 1997 or have recently come out of a coma, recount the adventures of an English schoolboy as he advances from grade to grade at Hogwarts School. Hogwarts is no ordinary boarding school, however, and Harry Potter is no typical student -the former is a school for witchcraft and wizardry, and Harry is not only a wizard-in-training, but the target of attack by the worst of evil wizards, Lord Voldemort, and his followers, the Death Eaters. Each book ends with a life-or-death battle against Voldemort or his servants and enough plot twists to make you dream of saltwater taffy.
I am convinced that the fundamental reason for the astonishing popularity of the Harry Potter novels is their ability to meet a spiritual longing for some experience of the truths of life, love, and death taught by Christianity but denied by a secular culture. Human beings are designed for Christ, whether they know it or not. That the Harry Potter stories "sing along" with the Great Story of Christ is a significant key to understanding their compelling richness. I take hits from both sides for daring to make such a declaration-from Potter fans who are shocked by the suggestion that they have been reading "Christian" books and from Potter foes who are shocked by the thought that there could be anything "Christian" about books with witches and wizards in them.
As the magical setting of the books has caused the most controversy, I'll start with the setting and several formulas Rowling observes in every book.
MAGICAL SETTING
Some Christians object to Harry Potter because Christian Scripture in many places explicitly forbids occult practice. Though reading about occult practice is not forbidden, these Christians prudently prefer (again in obedience to scriptural admonishments to parents) to protect their children because of the books' sympathetic portrayal of occult practice. These Christians believe that such approving and casual exposure to the occult opens the door to occult practice.
Other Christians, whether Harry fans or sideline observers of the controversy, point out the books are "only stories" and that many stories beloved by Christians (usually the Narnia or Lord of the Rings books are invoked as examples) have portrayed witches and wizards in a positive light.
These two groups square off with compare-and-contrast sessions about Frodo, Aslan, and Harry-arguments as much about taste and prejudice as about substance. Both responses miss the mark, I think. With a clear lack of charity, both camps have made Harry Potter into something of a litmus test-of fidelity to principle on the one hand and of human intelligence on the other.
Given this impasse, I think it pays to note three observations:
1. Occult practices are universally denounced by major world religions. Every major religion-Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (not to mention animism)-prohibits invocational sorcery and individual (or unguided) exploration of the spirit world. Why? Calling down occult forces and demons is dangerous, and the world's traditions protect their own by condemning it. Invocational magic and sorcery never work according to human plans (the dark forces always have a different agenda for the sorcerer and his community). Being concerned about the occult is not a silly, parochial Christian concern restricted to "ignorant fundamentalists"; it is a prudent human concern evident in the faiths of the whole world.
2. Scripture itself contains material about occult practices. The Bible nowhere forbids reading material with occult elements in it. As there are witches, soothsayers, and possessed prophetesses in the Bible (almost all negatively portrayed), it would be more than odd if Holy Writ spoke against itself. If anything, the New Testament slams those who charge the righteous with sorcery (see Matthew 12:24-28 and Mark 9:38-40). I know devout Christians who hate Harry as well as many who love him; both groups read their Bible daily and enjoy fantasy stories with occult elements and magic in them-stories as diverse as Shakespeare's The Tempest, L. Frank Baum's Oz stories, Lewis's Narnia and Ransom novels, and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
3. Whether or not to read Harry Potter from the logical, human view, then, is a question of whether reading Harry fosters a curiosity in the occult or in a rewarding spiritual life. Scripture forbids occult practice and tells us to "train a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). The much debated question, then, is not whether we are allowed to read these books but whether the depiction of magic in them lays the foundation for future involvement in New Age "spirituality." The issue boils down to this: Does Harry foster an interest in the real world occult or doesn't he?
Despite initially having forbidden my children from reading the Rowling books, reading them myself has convinced me that the magic in Harry Potter is no more likely to encourage real-life witchcraft than time travel in science fiction novels encourages readers to seek passage to previous centuries. Loving families have much to celebrate in these stories and little, if anything, to fear.
I say this without hesitation because the magic in Harry Potter is not "sorcery" or invocational magic. In keeping with a long tradition of English fantasy, the magic practiced in the Potter books, by hero and villain alike, is incantational magic, a magic that shows-in story form-our human thirst for a reality beyond the physical world around us.
The difference between invocational and incantational magic isn't something we all learned in the womb, so let me explain. Invocational means literally "to call in." Magic of this sort is usually referred to as sorcery. Scripture warns that "calling in" demonic principalities and powers for personal power and advantage is dangerously stupid. History books, revealed tradition, and fantasy fiction (think Dr. Faustus) that touch on sorcery do so in order to show us that the unbridled pursuit of power and advantage via black magic promises a tragic end. But there is no invocational sorcery in the Harry Potter books. Even the most evil wizards do their nasty magic with spells; not one character in any of the five books ever calls in evil spirits. Not once.
The magic by spells and wands in Harry Potter is known as incantational wizardry. Incantational means literally "to sing along with" or "to harmonize." To understand how this works, we have to step outside our culture's materialist creed (that everything in existence is quantitative mass or energy) and look at the world upside down, which is to say, God-first.
Christianity-and all revealed traditions-believes creation comes into being by God's creative Word, or his song. As creatures made in the image of God, we can harmonize with God's Word and his will, and in doing so, experience the power of God. The magic and miracles we read about in great literature are merely reflections of God's work in our life. To risk overstating my case, the magic in Harry Potter and other good fantasy fiction harmonizes with the miracles of the saints.
C. S. Lewis paints a picture of the differences between incantational and invocational magic in Prince Caspian. As you may recall, Prince Caspian and the Aslan-revering creatures of the forest are under attack from Caspian's uncle. Things turn bad for the white hats, and it seems as if they will be overrun and slaughtered at any moment. Two characters on the good guys' side decide their only hope is magic.
Prince Caspian decides on musical magic. He has a horn that Aslan, the Christlike lion of these books, had given to Queen Susan in ages past to blow in time of need. Caspian blows on this divinely provided instrument in his crisis. By sounding a note in obedience and faith, Caspian harmonizes with the underlying fabric and rules of the Emperor over the Sea, and help promptly and providentially arrives.
Nikabrik the dwarf, in contrast, decides a little sorcery is in order. He finds a hag capable of summoning the dreaded White Witch in the hope that this power-hungry, Aslan-hating witch will help the good guys (in exchange for an opening into Narnia). Needless to say, the musical magicians are scandalized by the dwarf's actions and put an end to the sorcery lickety-split.
In the Narnia stories and other great fantasy fiction, good magic is incantational, and bad magic, which is contrary to Scripture, is invocational. Incantational magic is about harmonizing with God's Word by imitation. Invocational magic is about calling in evil spirits for power or advantage-always a tragic mistake. The magic in Harry Potter is exclusively incantational magic in conformity with both literary tradition and scriptural admonition. Concern that the books might "lay the foundation" for occult practice is misplaced, however well intentioned and understandable, because it fails to recognize that Potter magic is not demonic.
Perhaps you are wondering, If Harry Potter magic is a magic in harmony with the Great Story, why are the bad guys able to use it? Great question.
Just as even the evil people in "real" life are certainly created in God's image, so all the witches and wizards in Potterdom, good and bad, are able to use incantational magic. Evil magical folk choose of their own free will to serve the Dark Lord with their magical faculties just as most of us, sadly, lend a talent or power of our own in unguarded moments to the evil one's cause. As we will see, the organizing structure of the Potter books is a battle between good guys who serve truth, beauty, and virtue and bad guys who lust after power and private gain.
Some fans of Lewis and Tolkien contrast their use of magic with Rowling's, arguing that, unlike the world of Harry Potter, the subcreations of these fantasy writers had no overlap with the real world. They suggest that this blurring of boundaries confuses young minds about what is fiction and what is reality.
But Lewis and Tolkien blurred boundaries with gusto in their stories-as did Homer, Virgil, Dante, and other authors whose works regularly traumatize students in English classes. Certainly the assertion that Middle Earth and Narnia are separate realities is questionable, at best. Middle Earth is earth between the Second and Third Ages (we live in the so-called Fourth Age). Narnia overlaps with our world at the beginning and end of each book, and in The Last Battle is revealed as a likeness with earth of the heavenly archetype, or Aslan's kingdom. Singling out Rowling here betrays a lack of charity, at least, and perhaps a little reasoning chasing prejudgment.
That the magical world exists inside Muggledom (nonmagical people are called "Muggles" by the witches and wizards in Harry Potter), however, besides being consistent with the best traditions in epic myth and fantasy, parallels the life of Christians in the world. I don't want to belabor this point, but C. S. Lewis described the life of Christians as a life spent "in an enemy occupied country." What he meant is that traditional Christians understand that man is fallen, that he no longer enjoys the ability to walk and talk with God in the Garden, and that the world is driven by God-opposing powers. Lewis's Ransom novels illustrate this idea.
Christians believe that their resistance to the occupying powers and their loving service to God qualify them as a peculiar people who are "in the world" but not "of the world" (John 17:13-16). Though the church has left the catacombs (except in some Muslim and totalitarian countries in which Christians still worship in secret and at risk of their lives), Christians true to their revelation and tradition understand that they serve a different Lord than the lord of the world.
The magical and secret world inside Muggledom is not cause for concern so much as it is a parallel to celebrate. I am not offering the magical world as an allegory (shudder) for the church; Rowling satirizes every institution-media, government, courts, schools, hospitals, families-and most human foibles in her subcreation. But I do think that her secret world within our world coincides with rather than contradicts the worldview of Christians.
Which brings me full circle. I started by saying that understanding incantational magic requires turning the modern worldview on its head, putting God first rather than last. I hope you see that the magic by spells and wands requires that we understand our world as a created world dependent for its existence on God's creative Word.
We live in a time in which naturalism, the belief that all existence is matter and energy, is the state religion and belief in supernatural or contra-natural powers is considered delusion. The incantational magic in Harry Potter, because it requires harmonizing with a greater magic, undermines faith in this godless worldview. And by undermining the materialist view of our times, it can even be said that the books lay the foundation not for occult practices but for a traditional understanding of the spiritual life.
The magic in Harry Potter is consistent with and even fosters a worldview affirming spiritual realities because
it is incantational rather than forbidden invocational magic;
it illustrates the right and wrong uses of power and talents;
its world inside Muggledom parallels the Christian worldview;
it reinforces the Christian view of the world as a creation rather than a natural accident devoid of meaning.
Have you heard stories of children being sucked into witches' covens because they want to be like Harry? Reports of rising membership in occult groups since these books were published inevitably turn out to be generated by proselytizing members of these groups. People who track the occult for a living explain that, despite Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harry Potter, membership in these groups in Europe and the United States are minuscule and are in decline despite a decade of Harry, Buffy, and occult milieu entertainment.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Looking for God in Harry Potter by John Granger Copyright © 2004 by John Granger. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Anonymous
Posted November 11, 2006
This was just plain funny! It made unsupported claims which were not fully researched out, and assumptions on the books that have been proven wrong since. The connections that it did make were about 50/50 (if that) in their relevence. J.K. Rowling did not write these as Christian books, and though she DEFINATELY didn't write them as anti-Christian books, putting in Christian references where the author herself put none is misinterpreting the text to fit your own views. The upside to this is that it is at least allowing some Christians to see that the books don't have negative or dark connotations to the main storyline, and it allows more people to feel open towards reading a wonderful series. However, the stories are wonderful even though they are not Christian in nature. The themes of the book are much more basic, such as love and light, but not necessarily a Christian love and Christian light, and that is what this book overlooks and misinterprets. So-so in it's analysis and unsupported to boot.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2006
I really enjoyed this book because I am a strong christian and this book showed some strong comparisons. My teacher and me and a couple of my friends started a bible study at my school using this book as the bases. Love the book!!!!!!!!!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 28, 2005
I read this book in one night--I couldn't put it down. Not only did this book feel validating as I thought about the spiritual connections I had made when reading the Harry Potter books, but I reveled in the fact that Granger had made 200 pages of revelations. And he backed them up with research! I sat with a notepad and pen and jotted down thoughts as I read, including additional connections that I made. Except for one questionable and controversial mention about abortion, euthanasia, and voluntary sterilization that the author makes to try to prove (overprove) a point, any Christian, whether liberal or conservative, will find this book of interest.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 30, 2004
This is an excellent second book by John Granger on Harry Potter¿s connection with the fight of good against evil. Granger covers the five initial Harry Potter books and connects the story line and the characters to the messages found in the Christian bible. We are all looking for stories that show the good people winning, and Harry Potter is a perfect example. The work John Granger does in this book is scholarly and very much to the point as he points out connection after connection to the Good News. His prose is neither dry nor boring. It is often hard to put the book down, which I cannot say for every book I have read. We can see our own relationship to God as we read each of the Potter books and John Granger helped me with that insight. I recommend this book to any parent with children who are reading Rowlings¿ books. Parents might have to explain some of the Christian connections to children, but often children wind up explaining things to the parents. An excellent read!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 19, 2004
I think Granger did a wonderful job praising the highly debated series. I enjoyed reading his thoughts and PROOFS about the hidden meaning lying within the story most people don't pick up on. I'm glad someone decided to articualte it so well to defend the very worn agrument that these books involve magic and are 'evil'. I applaud Granger for his literay genius and academic understanding from a Christian view proving that some great literature doesn't have to be like everything else in the world. I challenge every person, both Christian and non-Christian, to read this book to gain a different understanding of this series of good vs. evil.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 26, 2004
Last summer John convinced me in The Hidden Key to Harry Potter that Rowlings¿ series is great literature whose plots, themes, characters, images and allusions are an inspired and imaginative rendition of the Great Story. He couldn¿t leave well enough alone. In this summer's release, Looking for God in Harry Potter, he presents an even stronger case for his premise that Harry Potter is based on Christian principles and themes. This book is stronger for a number of reasons. He reviews his original arguments, adds new insights, and includes a new analysis of the then unreleased Order of the Phoenix. The structure of the book is much improved: removing any need for unnecessary repetition of explanation. The clarity and concision of the style helps make this a more forceful argument, yet his writing is still as readable and accessible as ever. Is this a book just for Christians? NO. Certainly parents who are concerned about allowing their children to read the books should read it. Also, parents who want their children to read Harry should read L for G. It offers many ideas for ways to discuss the novels with their children and help them get even more from the experience. Teachers and librarians who have had parents complain about the books would be well armed to answer objections after reading the book. Teachers who teach it, or just want to talk to their students about Harry would get plenty of ideas here. If you are unfamiliar with Christian teaching or Biblical literature, reading the book would help you enjoy Harry on several new levels. Finally, if you don¿t fit into any of the above categories, read it anyway and decide whether or not you agree with John¿s theory. You¿ll enjoy thinking about the novels in a whole new way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 9, 2004
I've always had a love for books that tell 'A Great Story', good vs evil, love conquerors all. Perhaps you do too. I've always been a little embarassed at my love for what some would consider children's or pre teen literature, the Narnia books, Tolkien and Rowling. Not anymore. After reading John Granger's Looking for God in Harry Potter, I understand that I've always yearned for the 'Greatest Story' and John explains why. Perhaps non Christian readers will disagree with his premise that '...all humans resonate with stories that reflect the greatest story ever told-the story of God who became man' but I wholeheartedly agree with it and think others will too. John Granger states that Western Literature, great Western Literature is primarily Christian literature. I never really gave this a lot of thought till reading John's book but after examining my book shelves, I see they are full of stories that have Christian symbolisim. I'm looking forward to discussing this more with my young nephews, both are avid Potter fans and both are at the beginning of the Christian school careers, so having this as a tool to initiate some conversations is truly appreciated. I would recommend this book at any Potter fan, to anyone just curious about the whole 'Potter-mania' and of course to all Potter haters, just so they can see how wrong they are.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 24, 2004
I first noticed this book in the Harry Potter display at Barnes and Noble. I thought it intriguing, but after reading the introduction, said, 'I HAVE to buy this book.' and immediately went and did so. Granger not only unpacks the meanings of names and spells in Harry Potter, but also shows the moral lessons in each book which are valuable for both those who believe in God and those who don't. As an eighth grade English teacher myself, I would highly recommend this book for any teacher who uses Harry Potter in the classroom, or whose students have read Harry Potter (Which covers just about every teacher...) as well as any parent who is concerned with sharing moral lessons with his or her kids. Defintely a must read--I couln't put it down!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
Looking for God in Harry Potter is an updated and improved version of Granger's earlier writing on the subject. Not only is this book up to date with reference to every Potter book Rowling has written, it is also edited in a superior fashion. This book succeeds on a number of fronts: 1)It details the important themes of the Potter books extremely well. This has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the books much more than when I first helped read Sorcerer's Stone to my son. The Potter stories are great on their own but Looking for God in Harry Potter allows you to see the deep themes Rowling is baking into these stories. I guarantee you will appreciate her writing skill and the books themselves significantly more after reading this guide. 2)This has helped me to reinforce the themes in the Potter books, which are really the great themes we are faced with in life, for my son. It has given me an informed, view on Rowling's writing that has created many 'teachable moments' with my son. I consider myself a decent reader but, to be honest, it's amazing how much I missed in Rowling's books that John Granger has captured in great detail. From the themes in each of the Potter books to the hidden meaning of most of the character's names--the detail and analysis will astound you if you are a Potter fan. If you'd like to see a serious treatment of Rowling's world as literature--and benefit from the experience--this is your book. If you are a Christian reader who has felt a bit guilty in your love (or your children's) for the Potter books I urge you to buy this book. The loud, opposing voices in the Christian media have created a dangerous image for Rowling's stories and you may know people who have warned you not to let Harry Potter into your home. This book gives you the other side of the story and it does it with a great analysis of all the themes. This will help you see why the fears of many people (many of whom have never read a single Harry Potter book) are misplaced. It explains why when you read the books you couldn't see what the negative warnings were all about and indeed, you felt just the opposite.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
That this book is under the aegis of Tyndale House speaks volumes. John Granger, an educator with strong Christian credentials, has been at the forefront in seeing JK Rowling as 'a Christian novelist of the Inkling School.' In his book, 'A Charmed Life,' English pastor and Anglican theological college headmaster Francis Bridger acknowledged only 'snippets of traditional Christian theology' in Harry Potter, despite understanding that 'what runs most deeply through the entire Potter series is the theme of sacrificial love.' John sees that Christian theology forms its entire tapestry, transformed through Rowling's art into a magic carpet. Speaking plainly, Granger explains that this magic captivates children not to lead them into temptation--dangerous experimentation with occult forces--but to 'baptize the imagination,' as did CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, and before them, Scottish novelist and minister, George MacDonald. Symbols are central to such baptism. Although this book's full of talk about Christian symbolism, don't be put off. As Granger puts it, 'Symbolism is not just an English major's thing-it's a human thing,' a language of the soul used in dreams, prophetic visions, poetry, and fiction. As an educator who's worked with castaway children, I'm sure that if Rowling were to read John's book, she'd feel that his Sorting Hat has seen truly into her heart and mind and perceived there, along with abiding love for children, a fierce desire for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Read this book. Understand her vision and, hopefully, make it yours.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
John Granger has emerged in recent years as one of the most important voices in the literature concerning J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Looking for God in Harry Potter offers Granger at his most accessible and compelling. His careful analysis provides an exceptional guide to the content and meaning of the Harry Potter novels, as well as practical suggestions on how to approach the books in a meaningful way with children. Those who know and love the Harry Potter series will find that this volume adds a new dimension to their understanding and reading enjoyment. Those who are new to and undecided about the series will gain a great appreciation for what Rowling accomplishes in her novels and for the larger religious tradition that informs her stories. Granger writes with clarity and conviction, and his work is both a joy and an education for the reader. All of those interested in the ways that fiction and faith intersect owe it to themselves to read this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
Granger has refined and sharpened his already-potent message of how these phenomenally successful books have such broad appeal and why they deserve to be taken seriously as literature from his first book on the subject (Hidden Key to Harry Potter, 2003). Granger's base message is that love conquers death, a fundamental principle of Christian thinking ... but it is a message that has resonance for others as well. Granger shows compellingly how Harry is resurrected from the dead via sacrificial love and/or a clear Christian symbol in each of the 5 books. Accordingly, I thought his writing was at his strongest in Chapter 7, titled 'The Triumph of Love Over Death.' I always enjoy hearing (or reading) Granger's explanation of the alchemical imagery and structure in the Harry Potter novels. Once the reader understands the basics of alchemy and its uses in great literature, it is possible to appreciate the rich layers in these novels so much more. I think that appreciation of the alchemical structure and symbolism, following a grand tradition in British literature in particular, is fundamental to really understanding these books, and this is an area of analysis of Rowling's work not previously touched on by many (or any?) scholars. The chapters in Granger's book relating to the symbolism replete in the Harry Potter novels, as well as the name meanings, are also a joy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the book-by-book analysis, which is perhaps an excellent starting point for Christians who are skeptical or even hostile to Rowling's novels. Granger's analysis of each of these books is so compelling that it should foster questions and reflective thought in even the staunchest of critics. I now also have a greater understanding of why I favor the 3rd and 5th novels in the series so much (the 1st, 3rd and 5th novels being more introspective, while the 2nd and 4th novels are more focused on the greater world around Harry). I think this is easily one of the greatest commentaries on the work of J.K. Rowling. As one promotional reviewer noted, it will make Christians who love the books appreciate them all the more, and it will give Christian critics much to consider. But, I want to emphasize that this isn't just a book for Christians; Granger's fundamental thesis and his explanations of alchemy and doppelgangers should have appeal to all Harry Potters fans, regardless of religious persuasion. I heartily recommend this book to all the Potterphiles out there!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
As an English major and literature lover, I have often been dismayed by the tendency of 'Christian' books to dismiss or ignore the importance of literary craft in their rush to the jugular of authors on their suspect list. LOOKING FOR GOD IN HARRY POTTER is a rare and refreshing exception: Granger's literary savvy provides a wonderful springboard into Rowling's work. If other 'Christian' authors cannot match Granger's acumen, perhaps they can at least follow his lead in trying to understand writers on their own terms. Thanks, JG! Write on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2004
John Granger has done it again! In this much improved version of *The Hidden Key to Harry Potter*, he once again lays out a feast of insights in his treatment of the Harry Potter series from a Christian perspective. He leaves no doubt in the reader's mind that J.K. Rowling is a self-consciously Christian author writing in the same genre as 'Inklings' literature (C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, etc.). He very compellingly offers his opinion that the HP series is among the best Christian fiction ever written. This is an excellent revision of a one-of-a-kind book. It should be considered a must-read for anyone interested in the Harry Potter series or good Christian literature.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2004
In the old days, Christians might hide their pack of playing cards or a cigarrette from the pastor. Now, both young and old stash Harry Potter videos and books. However, after reading this book, you might want to proudly display them instead. ............... **** John Granger (no relation to Hermione), takes apart all five volumes of the demonized books to miniscule detail and finds vast amounts of Christian allegory inside them. Going beyond the obvious, he brings to light enough material to keep a Sunday School class going for six months, at least, in a style almost as entertaining as the books themselves. In fact, by the end of Finding God in Harry Potter, you will be convinced that we can learn as much at Hogwarts as in Narnia or Middle Earth. Maybe more. ****
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 11, 2007
Christianity, which teaches that the end does NOT justify the means, is by definition an adversary to Harry Potter's relativism.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 13, 2007
I mean no offense, but this book is...quite nonsense, really! (I mean no offense, but proceed to read my following arguements£¬ please) I fail to comprehend why adults are so intimidated by fantasy novels about child wizards, flying brooms and a magical school! Do you REALLY believe that J.K. Rowling really MEANT to insult the Christian beliefs? Do you think she just suddenly thought, 'Hey, I should write a book that insults my own faith and permeate the minds of innocent children with negative content!' REALLY, she DIDN'T EVEN EXPECT HER BOOK TO BE A BESTSELLER! She was a poor, single mother struggling to keep her baby child alive! What did she hope to gain by making enemies with Christians? Now, as far as I know, NO religion expresses such fear of childrens' novels! The theme of magic in the books is entertaining, but magic DOES NOT EXIST IN THE REAL WORLD! How can fantasy books contradict ANY religion worldwide! And, you know, there IS a reasonable number of parents and teachers that do not fear and/or despise the Harry Potter books, you know! The books have won countless awards and received high praise! Billions of children, teenagers and adults worldwide love these books. Thus, it does indeed seem that not all hate these books so. These books are of love, friendship and the triumph of purity over sin and evil! They are about informing readers what is right and what is easy, overcoming tyranny and injustice and biased opposition, and warm, immense care and love in family and friends. There may be some inadvertent notes to witchcraft and Wicca, but they are practiced only by the series' antagonists, NOT the protagonists, who prevail over those who do practice such hideous, terrible arts at the series's end. If you deem these books so corruptive and horrifying, then WHY READ THEM? Parents have the undebated right to decide what their children is exposed to. If they detest this series so, then they can forbid their CHILDREN from reading them, but most definitely not anyone else. Other people have their rights too, you know! I fear you cannot FORCE them to stop reading their favorite books, you know! Rowling, by all accounts, is kind, compassionate, humorous and generous, loyally following the Christian belief! She herself publicly declared she 'believes in God, not magic'. Rowling gave (or, rather, gives) much money to charities combating poverty and social inequality. Charity organizations and companies such as One Parent Families, Comic Relief, International Fund for Children and Young People in Crisis, Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Haven Foundation, NGO M¨¦decins Sans Fronti¨¨res, Children's High Level Group,just to name a few. Rowling has also paid $495,000 for the safe return fund of a young girl by the name of Madeleine McCann, who was kidnapped. Rowling cares much about her children and children around the world, regardless of race, color or nation. She acknowledges her immersion in wealth and luxury, yet exerts her full efforts into bringing some degree of wealth and luxury to the poor and less fortunate. I do not think J.K. Rowling disrespected or insulted any beliefs about God, and I repeat, I do not see why you do. J.K. Rowling herslef has publicly denied that her intention for writing the books was to lead children into witchcraft. The Harry Potter series is, in my opinion, an excellent series indeed, and I must confess I believe this critisism book very poor indeed. Also, I must also reveal that opposition to the Harry Potter books seems to be waning. The ALA notes that Harry Potter books have not reached the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of the U.S.A. since 2003. To date, no school or library in both the U.S. AND Britain has banned the books because of legal cahllenges. In protest to one banning by a school superintendent in Zeeland, Michigan, numerous brave children have set up clubs, petitions and a website called Muggles for Harry Potter. A Russian woman filed charges against Rosman Publishing, the publis
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 9, 2006
The Harry Potter book's does not support witchcraft but can someone tell me where they recieve this false sense it is very hards for me to understand what I beleve to be a miconception.Are we to limits the imagination of children. Imagination is a key to a child's developement. I do not know why you would limit this to what your beliefs are. In every book there is a lesson. If you read the books and also let your children read them this can lead to a discusion on which can lead to the message of the book. But do not let yourself limit imagination of your child which is the true crime.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 1, 2004
John Granger has found a stylish, conversational way of telling everyone what I have always believed--HP is Christian, and it's time the world woke up and saw it! This book is informative, humorous, easy to understand, and a must read for anyone, whether they're a Pottherholic as I am or a Harry hater. So, get out there and read it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 6, 2004
I loved JOhn's book! I was closed minded to Harry Potter before I read it, because I thought it exalted the idea of witchcraft. But it is fantasy, it is a story meant to be learned from by lifting us out of our everyday world, it's not smuggling the occult into our lives. So many times I have seen the power of story in Jane Austen, J.R.R. TOlkein and C.S. Lewis books to teach me truths I need to understand about human nature and GOd. Harry Potter does it just as well as these books. There is no encouragement to practice the occult and John Granger helps you understand this. Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
For the latest edition of this book that covers all 7 Harry Potter novels, see How Harry Cast His Spell.
John Granger, a Christian, a teacher of classic literature, and a father of seven children, explores the surprising reasons J. K. Rowling's books are so popular and examines what the author believes are strong Christian themes throughout the Harry Potter books. Granger helps readers understand the classic literary devices used in the Potter books and contends that Rowling is ...