Sunday, January 02, 2011
Harry Potter is not any kind of Christian
Last week I read on Beliefblog that author Danielle Tumminio recently published a book, God and Harry Potter, in which she asserts that Harry Potter, of the hugely successful fantasy series, is a good Christian. While she has a point that Harry Potter displays some characteristics of a Christian, her assertion that the character is a "good Christian" can not be defended.
According to Tumminio, she sees Harry Potter "as a seeker in a world where Christianity is not the vocabulary. I see him best as a seeker trying to live a life of faith in the same way a Christian seeker tries to live a life grace.” She then goes on to say that Christians have not been fair to Harry Potter, and that she is shocked that so many Christians who a critical of the series have not even read the books.
To be sure, Ms. Tumminio has the credentials to write a compelling book on this subject. She considers herself an Episcopal Christian, and has two Masters in Religion from Yale University's divinity school. So, I am sure her book is a good scholarly work.
Unfortunately, her basic premise is just wrong. Perhaps Harry Potter does learn to love people as he grows through the series. It may also be true that he seeks to do the right thing throughout the series, proving that he grows in morality. However, while these traits do line up with Christian motivations, they do not make Harry Potter a good Christian, nor do these themes make the Harry Potter books good reading for Christians of any age.
A Christian believes in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the savior of all humanity, who took on human form, lived among us for a brief time, was crucified so that our sins may be forgiven and now has returned to live with our Father God in heaven. Jesus opened the way for us to have a personal relationship with God, but that is only possible through faith in Jesus. It is through that faith and through our relationship with Jesus that we desire to love other people and to live in a just a righteous way.
Neither Harry Potter, nor the author, J.K. Rowling, profess faith in Jesus Christ. J.K. Rowling does not suggest ever that her stories are an allegory for God's work in the world. In fact, Rowling has insisted that the main theme of the Harry Potter series is death. If she were a Christian, her main theme would be just the opposite. Her creations have been compared to The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. However, both Tolkien and Lewis were followers of Christ who stated clearly that their books were Biblical allegories.
It is not my desire to condemn J.K. Rowling, nor the Harry Potter books, nor those who read them. Not even the Christians who read them. I have seen a number of young people in my own church carrying the books (even reading them during the Pastor's word!). However, the definition of a Christian begins with believing in Christ. The only proof that Ms. Tumminio has for her thesis is if she can point to Harry Potter's profession of faith in Christ in the books, or J.K. Rowling's statement that she was writing books that are designed to tell the story of Jesus Christ in a new and creative manner.
According to Tumminio, she sees Harry Potter "as a seeker in a world where Christianity is not the vocabulary. I see him best as a seeker trying to live a life of faith in the same way a Christian seeker tries to live a life grace.” She then goes on to say that Christians have not been fair to Harry Potter, and that she is shocked that so many Christians who a critical of the series have not even read the books.
To be sure, Ms. Tumminio has the credentials to write a compelling book on this subject. She considers herself an Episcopal Christian, and has two Masters in Religion from Yale University's divinity school. So, I am sure her book is a good scholarly work.
Unfortunately, her basic premise is just wrong. Perhaps Harry Potter does learn to love people as he grows through the series. It may also be true that he seeks to do the right thing throughout the series, proving that he grows in morality. However, while these traits do line up with Christian motivations, they do not make Harry Potter a good Christian, nor do these themes make the Harry Potter books good reading for Christians of any age.
A Christian believes in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the savior of all humanity, who took on human form, lived among us for a brief time, was crucified so that our sins may be forgiven and now has returned to live with our Father God in heaven. Jesus opened the way for us to have a personal relationship with God, but that is only possible through faith in Jesus. It is through that faith and through our relationship with Jesus that we desire to love other people and to live in a just a righteous way.
Neither Harry Potter, nor the author, J.K. Rowling, profess faith in Jesus Christ. J.K. Rowling does not suggest ever that her stories are an allegory for God's work in the world. In fact, Rowling has insisted that the main theme of the Harry Potter series is death. If she were a Christian, her main theme would be just the opposite. Her creations have been compared to The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. However, both Tolkien and Lewis were followers of Christ who stated clearly that their books were Biblical allegories.
It is not my desire to condemn J.K. Rowling, nor the Harry Potter books, nor those who read them. Not even the Christians who read them. I have seen a number of young people in my own church carrying the books (even reading them during the Pastor's word!). However, the definition of a Christian begins with believing in Christ. The only proof that Ms. Tumminio has for her thesis is if she can point to Harry Potter's profession of faith in Christ in the books, or J.K. Rowling's statement that she was writing books that are designed to tell the story of Jesus Christ in a new and creative manner.
Labels: Christian, Danielle Timminio, God, God and Harry Potter, Harry Potter
