Abracadabra --- The Magic Controversy of Harry Potter

The movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone brought in the first days of its showing over $188 million in 10 days. Though the story deems popular among the children, it has captured the attention of adults as well. and also of the Christian community.

by Jim Duke
LIFE ISSUES HOST

Harry potter is about a young boy who on his 11th birthday, discovers that he is the son of two legendary wizards murdered by an evil magician named Voldemort. We know of no religious significance for the name, so we will not rip it apart 9though I'm sure if you transpose the letters, change "v's" to "s's", an "ol" to an "a", "de" to "t", etc, eventually it will spell out Satan. Try it with your own name (or any word in any language). Harry lived with an aunt and uncle who make him sleep in a cupboard. Harry makes his way to Hogwarts, a boarding school for wizard children where he learns his secret.

The story drew many with a sort of hypnotic drive. Many parents permitted their children to skip school for the day to see the movie. School field trips directed their studies to the educational benefits of the the movie's content. But are these things something to be concerned about?

The schools claimed that the story provided a means for the children to read. Seeing the movie does nothing more than how we used to cheat to do books reports --- watch the movie then write about it as if it was read. (The next one I'm working on is "War and Peace.")

Controversy

Some have come against the movie's theme, claiming it to be supportive of, and perhaps even teaching, the concept of the occult. The story, written by Scottish author J.K. Rowling, is said to contain messages of the occult and occult theme, but Rowling denies the claims. At the same time she admits studying the occult (witchcraft) for integrity of its theme, she doesn't feel it was the drive of the story. At least no more than JRR Tolkien's, The Lord of the Rings or C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Despite the author's denial, the story is filled with occult themes and hidden messages. Supporters claim that the character uses good to fight evil, yet the character distinctly uses deception to get his way, and takes revenge on those in his way. It was the goal of Satanists as Aleister Crowley, Helena Blavatsky, and Albert Pike to use the entertainment arena to make magic popular and acceptable. Rowling helps carry that out.

Rowling also fails to admit messages hidden within its text that elude to occult symbolism. For instance, she names a character after Blavatsky and uses numbers as a symbol. The age of Harry is significant with Crowley's idea of "11" being a sacred number.

The number "4" is also used in regard to the Hogwart's wizardry school: 4 headmasters, 4 founders, and 4 houses. In the fourth book of the series, Harry is the fourth challenger to enter an occult contest, and pulls out the fourth item from a bag. Albert Pike claimed that 4 represents man bearing a Divine principle and that it generates magical power. Led Zeppelin (who's Jimmy Page was attracted to teachings of Aleister Crowley) used the fourth album as the "mystical" album.

The story of Harry also makes fun of and ridicules those who don't accept magic. It refers to unbelievers as "Muggles." The general idea is to mock those who fear magic or believe it to be harmful (as Christians do). Therefore it is a direct shot towards Christians.

Support For

But not all Christians question the story. Famous Christian apologetic, Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries, views it as a means to follow a Christian theme of developing courage, loyalty, and making sacrifice for one another. The magazine Christianity Today also supports the book and movie for teaching morality of good over evil

Using other means
But those who support the story fail to understand the means by which Harry obtains his task. The usage of lies, deception, stealing, and taking revenge are clearly violations of God's means for carrying out duty. The character does not apologize for any of this. This is the opposite of what God wants from His believers. A fine line remains that distinguishes Harry's good with actual moral good. The story also obviously takes shots at Christians as being biggots and not understanding.

Some state that even Tolkien and Lewis used a bit of magic in their stories. But the focus was different. While Rowling makes no apology for her references to the occult and the support of it, Tolkien and Lewis were proclaimed Christians using their stories to benefit the story of the gospel and leave people seeking a Savior. Rowling makes no such claim and probably would rather them seek the occult.

Moses and Elijah in the Bible used magic to prove God's power. The difference is, they didn't use "magic," but God's power. Their acts were to ward off magic in the first place, but for the glory of God. Many practicing the occult or witchcraft don't make the claim as those of the Bible, drawing their power from elsewhere.

Just Entertainment

For some, they claim that the story is purely entertainment and ha no harmful values. The story is fun and doesn't lead readers amd viewers to the occult. Yet at the same time, practicing witches are concerned that the story actually DOES lead them to it and naively at that, without any training for proper use. Many people don't realize that producers admit using their entertainment for pushing agendas. The hidden messages are to lead unsuspecting viewers to seek. This is a way of introducing the occult (wizardry, etc) to kids. Those denying this claim simply are in denial of truth.

But Harry never goes that far. Or does he? The story has the character drinking the blood of a goat. Isn't that synonymous with Satanism?

Radio talk show host Dennis Prager claims that though we know something is fiction, we are still taken through the psycholgical responses (dying, sadness, heroism, and power.). The mind may understand the difference, but the brain goes through the emotional response.

What is the difference between Wile E Coyote, Batman, Sabrina, and Harry? Wile E. Coyote brings a different response than the violence of "Die Hard." Batman uses a utility belt, but doesn't support or proclaim the occult, while the X-men do. Sabrina is a teenage witch, but a witch nonetheless, occasionally using magic for manipulation and for revenge (characteristic of Black Magic).

For some the story is entertaining, but for others it reminds them of the essence of evil and what is against God. Rowling says the witchcraft portrayed in the books are borrowed for content only from historical resources. What she fails to mention is that a vast amount of what she uses is still practiced and plays a role in modern witchcraft.

The problem with a story as this is that it attracts children who are depressed, down, and feel alone in the world and feeds them ways to cope that is passed off as entertainment. Some say this story gives those who are lonely, or orphans like Harry, hope in something... a way to use imagination and get away... or perhaps a way to "wish harm" on those who bother us.

This story is more than fiction as it communicates with the aspects of human nature and emotions, as every story touches. It may lead children to aspects of the occult or witchcraft to cope with their problems. Simply "Wishing harm" on others is the first lesson in casting spells or curses. If the Bible is not real, then anything we do to deal with life is permissible. Then leading children to mysterious domains of magic is just as significant as telling them to do good. If the Bible is real and true, then so are its warnings that tell us not to be deceived to the doctrines of demons that are dangerous and devastating to the soul. Harry's teachings are a dangerous way to cope with problesm because we are warned against those methods.

What the Bible Says

The story of Harry may appear innocent, but the problem is the smiling face put on evil. We already mentioned the support of unrighteous means to reach an end. But what about the mask of good over the forbidden acts of magic. Consider this scripture from 2 Corinthians 11:13-15:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Deut 18:9-14 - When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.

Gal 5:19-21 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, £murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Mal 3:5,6 - And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien- Because they do not fear Me," Says the LORD of hosts. "For I am the LORD, I do not change.

Ex 8:18-19 - Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the LORD had said.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.