Letters to the Editor - Harry Potter

These letters to the editor are in response to James F. Sennett's article "Thank God for Harry Potter" which appeared in the May 15, 2005, issue of Christian Standard.

'Very Delighted to Read This Article'
(posted 3-25-08)
I just read a CHRISTIAN STANDARD article from 2005. It’s the first time I’ve been to your site and I think I’ll be revisiting it regularly. The article was “Thank God for Harry Potter” by James F. Sennett. I’m currently reading the Potter series with my oldest daughter and we’ve seen all the movies. I never found any objections with Potter and now I’m starting to read articles that suggest that the writing even contains Christian symbolism and themes. So I was very delighted to read this article by Professor Sennett. I attend a pretty conservative church and a lot of the times there’s more of a focus on “getting to liberal” then there is on common sense. When I tell friends that my daughter and I are reading the Potter books, I get raised eyebrows. But I will continue the series because I believe it is a great learning tool for our own moral compass.
 
Just wanted to say keep up the good work! 
—Dave
Via e-mail

Two Main Problems With Anti-Potter Letters
(posted 9-28-05)
I believe that most anti-Harry Potter writers are making the following two mistakes in their arguments. (Click here to read all Harry Potter letters; click here to read the article, "Thank God for Harry Potter" by James F. Sennett.)

When Will We Learn?
(posted 9-21-05)
Regarding “Thank God for Harry Potter” by James F. Sennett (May 15)—Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that God is fairly intelligent. Boise Bible College also entertained this out-of-date idea. They had a big word for it—“omniscience.” A fancy way of saying that God knows everything.

I’d like to thank Sennett for showing me that God is actually quite shortsighted and out of touch with modern times. God says in the Bible that witches and wizards are something he hates (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). In fact, he had several nations annihilated because they practiced magic. But God didn’t realize that Harry Potter mania would sweep the U.S. God didn’t know what Mr. Sennett has discovered: that all of our children should read these books in order to learn “Christian morals.” According to Mr. Sennett, celebrating a hero who is a wizard in training is a safe pastime that all Christians should enjoy. Will someone please e-mail God and tell him to edit Revelation 22:18. How embarrassing to serve a God who is so out of it!

Then again, maybe God has been to Africa. I watched Irene shrivel up into a human skeleton because of AIDS. How did this happen? She couldn’t afford a wizard’s charges so he asked for sex. She paid with her life. I knew an elder in a Christian church whose faith in God crumbled when he got cancer. He was sure a colleague was jealous of his promotion at work and had cursed him with magic. The police found a human head in the trunk of the mayor’s car. He was using it to cast strong spells. The authorities were so afraid of the mayor’s magic that they refused to prosecute him. People in Zimbabwe live in terror because of witchcraft. Africa is a continent devastated by sorcery; I know, I live there. How can anyone say sorcery is only a children’s fairy tale considering what it has done to Africa? Sanitize it (and) market it as a children’s book with “good” morals, (but) sorcery is still a deadly lie and a very real power of Satan to destroy people.

When will we learn to fear God and tremble at his word?
—Nick F. Adams
Via e-mail

Potter and Pornography: Compare and Contrast
(posted 9-14-05)
In regard to “Thank God for Harry Potter” by James F. Sennett (May 15):

I hope you can explain something to me. We claim that the Bible is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). In short, the Bible is our source of knowledge regarding what is acceptable and what is not acceptable, what is good and what is evil, how we should train our children and how we should not train our children. In this spirit, why are some forms of entertainment or fantasy acceptable for us Christians, while other forms of entertainment or fantasy are not acceptable? A case in point, why is it acceptable to take our children to see the current Harry Potter movie that glorifies witchcraft, but it is not acceptable for us to watch pornography?

It seems to me that in the Christian community all kinds of “red flags” are correctly raised in regard to the issue of pornography. Why the almost deafening silence in regard to such forms of entertainment as the Harry Potter phenomena? Would we Christians be so indifferent if our children brought a book home from school about a fictional hero who glorifies the sin of pornography? Isn’t it true that on a spiritual level you are either on the Lord’s side or you are on Satan’s side? When the “hero,” Harry Potter, acts as a sorcerer and casts his spells, he is practicing witchcraft. Hasn’t our Lord incessantly spoken through his Word about the evils of this practice (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-13, and Revelation 21:8 to name a few)? Then why would a Christian want to participate in the glorification of witchcraft?

Our Lord has given us a basis for acceptable entertainment in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” With Harry Potter, the fictional device is almost completely based upon witchcraft and the “hero” uses witchcraft as the source of his strength. Is this really something our Lord would find admirable or praiseworthy? Moreover, in Galatians 5 we are told by our Lord how we should live. We are told about the fruits of the spirit against which there is no law. However, in the same Scripture our Lord tells us of acts we should not participate in, because they are the acts of the sinful nature; among these are sexual immorality and witchcraft. And the Lord concludes with, “I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

One might argue that watching a movie or reading about a young boy practicing witchcraft is not an issue because it is just fantasy. But if this is a valid argument, then explain to me how a fantasy, where the hero practices witchcraft, is really any different than pornography? Pornography is just fantasy, too. Remember, our Lord condemns both practices. Moreover, if you really investigate this, you will find many adults who were drawn into sexual immorality through their choices of entertainment and they were the most vulnerable when they were children. Similarly, there are many adults who claim that they were drawn into the occult as children by reading books or watching movies about witchcraft, playing with Ouija Boards, or by jokingly conducting séances. Couldn’t Harry Potter have the same effect?

How does this all measure up with the biblical standard of bringing up a child in the way he should go? As Christians shouldn’t we make every attempt to keep ourselves pure for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ? And more importantly, because Harry Potter is marketed toward children, shouldn’t we keep our children pure by properly condemning this form of entertainment? As adults, and more particularly as parents, we should never forget what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6 about causing children to stumble, “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” It seems to me that by embracing the Harry Potter phenomena we are following Satan’s example rather than the Lord’s. That is, our Creator tells us to have nothing to do with witchcraft, so we give our children books and take them to movies that praise witchcraft. I wonder if, in a spiritual sense, this could be similar to sacrificing our children on the altar of false gods as the Israelites did.

We should also remember what the Lord has told us regarding the last days in 1 Timothy 4:1, “In later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” And Revelation 21:8 states, “But the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” We should take these warnings to heart and be mindful of what our children are being taught through the fantasy world of Harry Potter. Harry Potter offers the idea that witchcraft is a way of performing good deeds. On the other hand, God’s Word condemns witchcraft without contradiction. In other words, one does not perform good deeds or fight evil through witchcraft because witchcraft is evil. In addition, while our Lord tells us to have nothing to do with witchcraft, the characters in Harry Potter who find witchcraft objectionable are mocked and presented as bigoted, hateful, unsympathetic, uncharitable, untrustworthy, immoral, and ignorant. Therefore, the value system that we introduce to our children through Harry Potter is exactly the opposite of what is taught in God’s Word. In fact, through its glorification of witchcraft and mockery of biblical standards, Harry Potter actually ridicules the Word of God. Could our children’s interest in Harry Potter become the fulfillment of the prophecies and warnings that we were given by our Lord in 1 Timothy 4:1 and Revelation 21:8?

In the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:16, I ask you, is it really acceptable for us Christians to glorify that which the Lord condemns by embracing the fantasy of Harry Potter? Or instead, could it be true that from our embracing of that which the Lord condemns we show the world, as well as instruct our children, that while we call ourselves Christians, what we really crave is to fall back into the cesspool of sin? In the Lord’s eyes is there really a difference between reading a Harry Potter book, where the hero practices witchcraft, and looking at a Playboy magazine?  Is there really a difference between watching a Harry Potter movie and watching a porn movie? I ask you to please help me, in the light of what God’s Word says about witchcraft, to understand how Harry Potter is acceptable entertainment for our children?
—Charles White
Bright, Indiana
Via e-mail

What Do You Read Into This?
(posted 9-7-05)
I read many books to my children when they were growing up. Now that they are adults, I have some observations.

--I read them Dr. Suess—but they did not grow up to eat green eggs and ham.

--I read them Edgar Rice Burroughs—but they did not grow up live in the jungle among the apes.

--I read them Ronald Dahl, but they did not grow up to be oompa loompas.

--I read them Tolkien, but they did not grow up to be hobbits.

--I read them C.S. Lewis, but they did not grow up to live in wardrobes.

--I read them J.K. Rowling, but they did not grow up to witches or wizards.

--I read them the Bible and they did grow up to become Christians. Hmmmm . . . 
—Steve Jones
Oviedo, Florida
Via e-mail

Ponder These
(posted 8-16-05)
In doing research on Harry Potter and the people who are for and against the series of books, I found a few interesting facts.

1. Several have never read the books but condemn them.

2. Several have read them but will not admit it.

3. Of those who condemn them, many participate in Halloween (as it is “just for fun”).

4. Of those who condemn them, most participate in Christmas by telling their children or grandchildren that Santa Claus is watching to see if they are being naughty or nice.

5. These same people watch cartoons and other shows on television such as King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

6. They have gone to scary movies such as Friday the Thirteenth, Dracula, Jason the Series, etc.

7. Of those that have read the books I have not found one person who has decided to practice the art of witchcraft.

8. I know of one person whose Christianity has been strengthened by the books (he has come to realize just how stupid they are).

I am neither praising nor condemning the books, but merely suggesting that before you do either, you have an open mind about what you are doing. If you desire to read the books, do so realizing that God is the only Lord. If you condemn the books, make sure you are not being a hypocrite by having fallen into one of the many traps, such as those listed above.

I stand by my faith that God is my King and Jesus Christ is his Son and that only through him will I enter Heaven.
—Name withheld by request

Christians Must Speak Out Against Such Books
(posted 7-26-05)
Regarding “Thank God for Harry Potter” by James Sennett in the May 15 issue of CHRISTIAN STANDARD. I am not shocked anymore when we allow such articles.

Harry Potter: The Truth Behind the Magic      
Just who is this little boy with the lightening bolt scar on his forehead that has captured the hearts of millions of kids from all over the world? He is the product of J. K Rowling, a student of mythology who consulted with members of Wicca in order to accurately write about witchcraft in her book series on Harry Potter.

One hundred million Harry Potter books have been sold in over 200 countries and translated into 46 languages making J.K. Rowling a billionaire in the 4 years since publishing her first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone".

Harry Potter is fun and his stories are making kids read. He is a nice guy, he takes care of the bad guys, and that makes him a hero. But there is a problem.

What is the real story behind Harry Potter?  Is it fantasy, or is it fact?

With all due respect to James F. Sennett, a professor of philosophy and interdisciplinary studies at Lincoln Christian College, Harry Potter is teaching our children witchcraft! I felt that I had to write a rebuttal to Professor Sennett's article "Thank God for Harry Potter" in the CHRISTIAN STANDARD on May 15th. I have personally seen the movies, and, although there is no mention of Satan or demons, occult phenomena is definitely introduced to the viewers in the film.

J.K. Rowling admits that the potions, curses, and spells that she writes about are authentic and that she obtained them from books that promote the religion of witchcraft. She writes her book series as fantasies, but the facts and details that she describes about witchcraft are very real!

I am of the opinion that this is one of Satan's greatest victories, and one of our saddest hours.  Witchcraft has established a foothold in a fashion that has not happened since the time of Moses, when the Israelites entered Canaan.

Two hundred countries have embraced Harry Potter as their hero. In God's eyes Harry Potter is described (in 2 Corinthians 11:14) as Satan coming as an angel of light.

He has captivated over 50 million American children with the blessings of our public education system. The schools are using the book series in their classrooms and busing our children to theatres to see the Harry Potter movies. Their reason is because Harry Potter is teaching our children to read. What they are reading doesn't seem to matter . . . “Johnny” is reading for the first time and that's what is important to them.  And in a few short years, the parents and educators of these children will wonder, "What on earth possessed a large segment of them to turn to witchcraft and sorcery and Satanism."

The publisher of Harry Potter is Scholastic Inc. And guess what? They are also the leading publishers in America for our public school textbooks. Not only does Scholastic Inc. publish the book, but they also publish lesson plans embracing the philosophy of Harry Potter. Their website is filled with curriculum that teaches our children witchcraft!

The book teaches everything that God despises, including witchcraft, talking to the dead and reincarnation. Of course it is all wrapped up in clever covert fun.

My understanding is that there is a separation of State and Religion, yet in a covert way it is taught in schools and there is no doubt many of the children are practicing how to cast spells etc. This is religion pure and simple, yet Christians are forbidden to mention the word of God in school.

Children are very impressionable, and seeds are being sewn in their minds. The old adage goes, "what you see (and read) is what you are."

Scholastic Inc.’s website also has material encouraging teachers to answer questions. However, if a little girl gets up and says, "My Sunday School teacher told me that Jesus said, ‘No one enters into the Kingdom of God except through me,’” then that is unacceptable, but it is permissible to ask questions pertaining to witchcraft because it's fantasy, and it's fun, and it's Harry Potter.

About seven years ago, Wiccans in the military protested because they did not have their own chaplain. It was then that the Supreme Court ruled that Wicca is a religion. Therefore, if it is not OK to teach Christianity in school, then it should not be OK to teach witchcraft in school!

 Let's take it a little further; Scholastic Inc. also has links to other websites.

They have a place where you can link to other books. All a child needs to do, for instance, is this: where it says 'Search', just write in "witch" and it will bring up adult websites, promoting books such as WICCA, How to Become a Teen Witch, and many other books unsuitable for children. Type in "witches" and it brings up links to pornographic sites and the home page for The Church and School of Wicca. And you say that witchcraft is not an organized religion? Brothers and sisters, they even have their own website! (www.wicca.org)

Another teaching tool found on the Scholastic website is the Harry Potter journals. Pastor Bob Coy of Calvary Chapel in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida tells of a public school teacher who looked into the journal of one of her 5th grade girl students, who wrote, "I'm a witch! You know you are a witch if you have dark spots on your private parts". The 10-year-old child said she got the information out of one of the witchcraft books that she found on one of these web sites after searching the Internet for more information on Harry Potter.

This rubbish being taught in school is unacceptable. The problem is that the majority of people in America don't know the Bible, period! No wonder God said, "My people perish for the lack of knowledge."

Over the past 5,000 years history shows us that God closed the doors on 20 major civilizations when they permitted three things to happen:

1. Kill their children

2. Practice witchcraft

3. Tolerate homosexuality.

God then permitted that civilization to be terminated.

A case in point is Canaan, which we now call Palestine. According to Deuteronomy 18:10, the Canaanites were killing babies, were into divination (fortune telling), astrology, casting spells, drugs, witchcraft, and calling up the dead.

God hates these things and made it clear that those who practiced them will not enter into Heaven. I believe that America is in danger of God closing the door on this great country.

1. We have permitted the killing of 40 million babies since the Supreme Court, on January 22, 1973, allowed us to murder our children through ABORTION (I might add here that if the reader has committed the above and repented, then I want you to know that God has forgiven you (1 John 1:9).

2. Witchcraft is rampant in The United States of America.

3. Homosexuality is tolerated and even taught in schools as an alternative lifestyle.

We are truly, Brothers and Sisters, in one of our saddest hours!  I will be praying daily for the Truth and that the educators of our children in this great country will come to know it.

—Ben Alexander
Evangelist, ESP Ministries, Inc.

Are We Being Consistent?
It seems as though the only responses to the Harry Potter article (“Thank God for Harry Potter” by James F. Sennett, May 15, 2005) have been negative.

Over a year ago I made contact with Professor Sennett in regard to the Harry Potter books. I find his analysis to be well constructed. For many years the Christian community has embraced much fantasy fiction (i.e. Lewis, Tolkien, Sayers). In fact some of these authors are studied in our Christian colleges. While most of us would not take these books as occult or demonic they nonetheless have examples of the “dark” side. 

Are those who find fault with the Potter series as diligent and consistent to find fault with others embraced by some in the Christian community? Casting stones is most dangerous.

James Sennett has raised some excellent issues and it is time for the people of God to stand with one who challenges our thinking, while at the same time providing some guidelines for reading.

—Myron Williams
Via e-mail

As Occult as It Gets
I just read your article on why you thank God for Harry Potter (May 15). Witches and warlocks are as occult as it gets, spells and curses are occult also. You should test the spirit behind the books ... remember that even Satan has masqueraded as an angel of light. Please do not be fooled by the spirit behind these books; enjoyable or not, the spirit is evil. Jesus has no witches and no warlocks; Jesus cast no spells, and did not impart any curses. If Jesus didn't do it, and if Jesus didn't endorse it, it isn't of God. Harry Potter books and movies encourage young children to try out casting spells, Jesus never encouraged us to cast spells (hurt one another). He calls us to love one another and encourage one another.

Please prayerfully consider your position on Harry Potter. Just because it isn't blatantly labeled occult, doesn't mean that there aren't real occult principles being demonstrated.

—Krista
Via e-mail

Mortified by Potter Article
I studied the occult and Wicca before I was saved several years ago. I was a high-level witch in our coven. I have read the Harry Potter series. I am mortified at the article I read recently on your site (May 15) praising the Harry Potter books. Citing reasons as to why you "Thank God" for them? Are you for real? Leave God out of this. I have had firsthand experience with this and I can most certainly tell you, unless you have studied the occult and Wicca deeply or been involved, you will not and obviously do not understand the dangers of this. It is cleverly packaged for children, however it is dangerously deceptive. I pray that you will reconsider your support of these books.

—Rev. TK Herron
Via e-mail

Thank God For His Word Which Exposes Harry Potter
When I received my issue of the May 15, 2005, CHRISTIAN STANDARD, I was both shocked and dismayed to read James F. Sennett’s article, "Thank God For Harry Potter." I was shocked that a professor who is involved in training our future Christian leadership would so heartily endorse the J.K. Rowling books, and I was dismayed that he has bought into the "harmless but beneficial" spin that religious liberals have put on such entertaining literature. I fear that Sennett is both sadly and dangerously in error in his treatment of the Harry Potter series.

While not having read all of the books in the series, I did purchase and read the first two books, Sorcerer’s Stone, and Chamber of Secrets. Like Sennett, I discovered these books to be delightful* (*but disturbing) reading, in that they are well-written, full of suspense, and rich with humor. But unlike Sennett, I believe these books to be one more example of how our spiritual enemy, who poses as an angel of light, seduces both old and young readers into accepting witchcraft as having the potential for good. I have searched the Scriptures, and have yet to find a single instance where the word of God pronounces witchcraft, in any shape or form, "delightful," "moral," or "innocent."

On the other hand, my search found a passage that calls such things "detestable," or an "abomination" to the Lord. In the Law of God, handed down to Israel through Moses, God warned Israel: "When you enter the land which your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations" (Deuteronomy 18:9, New American Standard Bible). The passage goes on to list what those "detestable" ("abominations," King James Version) things are: divination, witchcraft, interpretation of omens, sorcery, spell casting, a medium, spiritism, and necromancy. Also, Exodus 22:18 issues the command that witches should be put to death.

Has God changed his mind? Is it not all right to "just pretend" to be a witch, or to be titillated with fantasies about magic? Surely, exposing impressionable children to such entertainment will be harmless, don’t you think? God must really be old-fashioned and prudish if he should disapprove of all this "harmless fun."

I regret that respectable speakers and writers have put their stamp of approval on the Harry Potter series of books, when the subject matter of these literary enticements really is, obviously, occult. The fact that they do not openly label themselves with Satan’s name does not mean that they are not of the occult. Remember, the devil likes to pose as an angel of light. What really disturbs me about the Harry Potter books is that children ARE reading them! As for me, I do NOT thank God for Harry Potter.

—Dan Snider
Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Fired Up by Article
I am writing in response to the article in the May 15, 2005, issue, "Thank God for Harry Potter."

I was shocked and amazed as I read this article. The more I read the more fired up I became. How can a magazine that bills itself as a standard for Christians hold this view?

James Sennett writes that these stories are OK because they do not mention the devil or demons or the occult. Is this all that it takes to make it right? That it is just a story that shows a fight between good and evil and therefore should be accepted as moral? To take this stand would be to take the stand that we should accept the Koran as a morally acceptable book and encourage our children to read it. Where do we draw the line?

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 sets down guidelines for us on witches; it says that anyone who does these things is "detestable to the Lord." Yes I know that this is Old Testament, and most people today say that we have been delivered from this, but did not Jesus say that he did not come to destroy the Law? We also read that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So how has this changed that God no longer finds witchcraft detestable? I still read in my Bible, "Abstain from all appearances of evil," or have we been delivered from that verse too?

When we pick and choose what part of the Scriptures we want to listen to or obey, what difference is there between us and the church of Pergamum?

I am a youth leader and use the articles in your publication as teaching aids, tools, and sometimes just to help build strengthen myself. If this is the kind of stand that you are going to take against the schemes of the devil, I’m afraid that I will not be taking your magazine any more in the future.

—Kevin S. Coryell
North Vernon, Indiana

Not a Good Recommendation
I can’t imagine what possessed the editors to publish James Sennett’s opinion piece praising the patently occultic Harry Potter series (May 15). For Mr. Sennett to suggest that these books, which acurately describe real wiccan practices, are beneficial simply because they have excited young people about reading again is about as sensible as suggesting that the well-written, informative articles of Playboy or Penthouse are good because previously illiterate prison inmates are now excited by the prospect of learning to read from them. It’s not a good idea!

Futhermore, I’m shocked by the naivete of Mr. Sennett in comparing the extensive use of magical powers by the "good" characters in the writings by the non-Christian Rowling with the intentionally limited use of magic by the "good" characters in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien & C.S. Lewis, who both claimed a relationship with Jesus Christ. In their literature, as in real life, the supernatural world is portrayed as a dangerous place that must only be delved into under the most strict rules, even by the "good guys." I certainly hope the readers of the STANDARD are sensible enough to realize that Harry Potter is a dangerous gateway into the darkness of occult practices and will not follow Mr. Sennett’s poor example of recommending it to anyone, let alone impressionable children!

—Thomas J. Short
Mishawaka, Indiana

Standing Firm Against Harry Potter
I would like to respond to the article about Harry Potter written by Professor James F. Sennett (May 15).

The argument that I have about this article is found in the reason for this article to be found in the CHRISTIAN STANDARD. I am not a person who regularly speaks up about such things but I find myself a little disturbed by this article. My objection is found in the person saying that this book is getting children to read again. If this is the case then it is a sorry day if children are reading something that does not promote Christian principles.

Witchcraft does not promote God, or anything that resembles a Christ-centered life. When we say it is OK to see this series of books as just fantasy, we are falling into the same trap as a lot of people who say it is OK to read anything or watch this or that, and say we are strong enough to deal with the parts that corrupt. I say that young minds do not have the capacity to distinguish between what is fantasy and what is reality. The trouble with promoting these books is seen in the fact that it says it is OK if there is nothing too wrong with them. Why not say, "Well, it is just OK to read Playboy because of the articles"? Why do we need to promote a series of books that do not mention the love of Christ, or that the way to know God is through accepting him?

Why can’t we tell our children that this is not the right kind of literature they need to read because it does not promote Christian living. We don’t need to promote it because it does not promote Christ.

I have had to stand firm against the Harry Potter series of books because I have had some in the congregation try to claim that it does not distort anything. It does not hurt anyone. I was at a men’s retreat in 2003 and a young man was reading this series before he went to bed. He woke up screaming after a nightmare. Some will say this is just coincidence. I am not sure of that. People will have to make up their own minds as to what they see fit to promote and not. I guess this question remains: what do we promote? . . .

—Philip Eagling (a concerned minister)
Newcastle, Australia
Via e-mail