All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others--even if this were for the sake of restoring their health--are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. (Sparks).
This code is a specific rule of all Catholic churches, and yet, parishioners ignore this rule and proceed to be influenced by the world of evil. One example of a Christian who was side tracked by the influences of the occult was Clare McGrath Merckle, and in an article discussing the controversies of Harry Potter, writer Toni Collins describes Merckle’s fight with evil, “Clare McGrath Merckle is a former New Age healer, well educated in the occult, and a revert to Catholicism. Her concern about the Potter books run deep because she recognizes within its passages so many of the arts she once practiced … she now recognizes that in reality there is only one kind of magic, black magic” (Collins). Just as Merckle experienced, the world of the supernatural can be very powerful and alluring, and even good Christians can get mixed up in the evil of witchcraft. In addition, Merckle is proof of the fact that history does indeed repeat itself, and Michael D. O’Brien, a researcher of occultism recognized the continuous effect of occult religions throughout history. Just as the Christian faith was being corrupted by the occult beliefs of Gnosticism in the past, we are again living that same tragedy. In the past, cults and other invalid religions threatened the faith of Christian churches, and now many honest Catholics are unconsciously conforming to the world of Satan because of the manipulating series of Harry Potter (O’Brien). Moreover, Merckle stated, “My sister wrote to young family friends of hers who were big fans of the Harry Potter series: the fallacy that magic is good is the chief temptation for entry into the occult. Palmistry, astrology, fortune telling, and divination are violations to the First Commandment” (Merckle). Harry Potter books do break the first commandment of believing in only one God because the belief in magic is the belief in other powers. Like Merckle, Sparks believes that people who claim to be “True Christians” and still accept the Harry Potter books in their home are hypocrites because there are rules in the Bible that protest against the actions displayed throughout the Harry Potter Series. The irony falls that these “True Christians” allow the most innocent of humanity, their children, to indulge in the Potter books, which teach occult beliefs; nevertheless, they claim to be loyal to only one higher power (Sparks). The last reason supporting the church in the fight against the world’s greatest wizard is the quote from scripture:
When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the people there. Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or his daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord, and because of such abominations the Lord, your God, is driving these nations out of your way. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13).
Even in scripture, God himself forbids witchcraft and magic, and therefore, the Harry Potter books are not appropriate reading materials for Christian children because they contradict the beliefs of the Christian religion.
Next, because of the immoral attitude of the main characters, Harry Potter books should be banned from children. Throughout the book, Harry Potter and his posse rebel against many of their teachers, even disobeying the wisest wizard of all, Dumbledore. Furthermore, in one part of the Harry Potter series, it is obvious of the main character’s promiscuous behavior:
The moral tone of Book II is set on page 30 where Harry discovers that the Weasley brothers were only able to rescue him by taking their father's bewitched car without permission. Fred Weasley comes up with a simple way to explain Harry's presence at their home: lie. But when this plan fails to work because Mrs. Weasley catches the boys coming home, the only thing they must endure is a brief lecture about how they could have been injured. Then, when Mr. Weasley finds out is sons flew the car, his first response is "Did you really? . . . Did it go all right?'" (Abanes).
In response to the lack of disciplinary action, a concerned parent thought that “Through Harry Potter books and audios, children as young as kindergarten age are being introduced to human sacrifice, the sucking of blood from dead animals, and possession by spirit beings” (Foster). Similar to Foster, Kristen Sparks is appalled that such young children are permitted to read Harry Potter books. She has acknowledged the problem that parents are just too ignorant to see the harmfulness of the Potter series. Moreover, many people undermine the detrimental effects that Harry Potter books can cause, claiming that the sorcery, spells, and other similar occult practices are less than harmful. People continue to act as if the Harry Potter books are just like any other novels on the bookshelf, but very slowly, the underlying message that J.K. Rowling presents will become clear to our youth, and only then will people begin to worry (Sparks). However, by then it may be too late. Even more alarming than the long-term effect that Harry Potter will have on children is the insight from an anonymous writer of the Crusader Magazine who wrote:
Why do we allow our children to wear Potter’s evil lightning-bolt tattoo on their forehead as pictured in Time Magazine? The lightning-bolt in the Potter’s series represents a powerful evil curse. This symbol is of the wicked Voldemort. It is interesting also to note that the lightning illustration is found also in the Book of Luke 10:18- symbolic of Satan. (Anonymous).
Similarly, another concerned Christian added, “Satanic "S" - Represents a lightning bolt that means "Destroyer". In mythology, it was the weapon of Zeus. It is a symbol suggesting power over others, and it also was worn by the feared SS of Nazi Germany” (Foster). Hence, it is symbols as these in Harry Potter that teach children that it is explicable to act, say, or dress in such indecent ways. Furthermore, Richard Abanes elaborates on this idea, stating:
It is not surprising that people see Rowling’s books as unacceptable for the classroom. According to Karen Gounaud, former president of Family Friendly Libraries, Potter books contain a great deal of symbolism and activities honoring witchcraft. (Abanes).
Moreover, the characters in Harry Potter work with illegal drugs while they brew unsavory recipes together in Potions class. A children’s book analyzer, Joseph Chamber, discovered that in one section of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the drug wormwood is incorporated as Harry learns a new potion. While this information appears harmless, J.K. Rowling has subtly managed to expose a highly illegal drug to millions of children (the illegal drug of thujone is used to make wormwood) (Chambers). Lastly, Abanes describes the harmful actions of the main characters, “One man interviewed by the Baptist Press explained that there is a general nastiness underneath the mantle cuteness of the Potter book. “The kids lie, steal, and are vengeful. This is a disturbing moral world, and it conflicts with what I am trying to teach my children” (Abanes). Because of the unlawful actions of Harry Potter and his friends, children are just too easily influenced to act like the seemingly heroic character, Harry Potter, and as a result of this alarming affect, the Harry Potter series is not an apt reading material for such naïve young children.
In addition to the fact that Harry Potter books are unsuitable for children because of religious and immoral issues, is the ultimate reason that the Potter series is too vivid and real. The detail incorporated while making potions, casting a spell, and fighting another spirit persuade children into believing that witches and wizards are fascinating, and soon after, children begin to idolize Harry Potter and his friends. For instance, Jaqui Komschilies remarks:
Furthermore, author J.K. Rowling admits that some Harry Potter readers have convinced themselves that Harry’s world is real. Rowling has said she gets letters all the time, desperate letters addressed to Hogwarts, begging to be allowed to attend Harry’s school. When fantasy produces that kind of reaction, we are naïve to assume that witchcraft is merely a harmless, fun literary device. (Komschilies)
Along similar lines is David Dooley who believes that the Harry Potter series is very unconventional and depicts the work of a person whose imagination has been poisoned. J.K. Rowling has managed to convince millions of naïve people that her book encourages children to learn. However, it is only provoking children to follow the occult world. Just like a disease, J.K. Rowling is poisoning the minds of our world’s youth (Dooley). Equally important is Abane’s remark of how the school supplies and owls in the Potter books are very similar to real witchcraft supplies:
Even the "school supplies" that Hogwarts' students are required to use parallel tools commonly used by contemporary witches and sorcerers: wands, black robes, and cauldrons. As well, there are the owls in Rowling's novels, which are used to send messages back and forth between witches and wizards. During the Middle Ages in Europe, owls were thought to be the "associate of witches and the inhabitant of dark, lonely and profane places, a foolish but feared spectre." It also was believed that their appearance signaled an imminent death or some nearby evil. (Abanes).
Consequently, Harry Potter merchandise (t-shirts, stickers, stamps, etc…) has become extremely popular amongst young children, but little do they know that they are sporting symbols of wickedness and witchery. Furthermore, Julie Foster agrees that “Because the books are so well-researched, the values and ceremonies portrayed closely resemble Wicca, which is a legitimate, government-recognized religion” (Foster). This may present the conflict that the Harry Potter books are an actual attempt to convert a whole generation to Wicca. In a like manner, Berit Kjos believes:
Children don’t read Harry Potter merely to reach the conclusion and resolve the suspense. Many read the books over and over because they delight in identifying with the "good" wizards in this newly discovered world -- and sometimes even with the obviously evil wizards. They build memories based on felt experiences in an occult virtual reality, and they are desensitized to the danger. The talent and knowledge of the author makes this seductive world all the more believable. (Kjos).
Furthermore, Michael D. O’Brien discusses the idea that Harry Potter demonstrates that the world of the supernatural is indeed fun and exciting. As a result, children make role models out of these fictional characters and create images of alternate ways of living. In addition, Rowling has admitted the books will become more dark and murky as the series progresses (O’Brien). Moreover, Foster has become increasingly fearful of the effects of the Potter books as she proclaims, “The Potter books are engaging in pagan discipleship, disciplining our children to spiritual alternatives, and also turning them away from the biblical principles of God’s protection” (Foster). Finally, O’Brien conveys the true messages that Harry Potter books are teaching children, “Among the many dubious messages presented with charm and power, there are these: occult activity is liberating, noble, exciting, and not what your parents and Christians in general say about it” (O’Brien). Thus, J.K. Rowling has successfully managed to brainwash millions of readers, and has created a book that should be banned from all bookshelves so that the world’s youth may be kept innocent.
Ultimately, the Harry Potter series is a manipulating way in which the Wicca religion can recruit young children and corrupt their world. These Potter books of wizardry are not proper reading books for particularly Christian children because they are paganistic, encourage illegal activities, and portray Wicca as an enticing religion that is full of magic. Moreover, Harry Potter books disobey the laws of Christianity, influence children to act dishonestly, and taint the pure souls of children with dangerous ideas. Every minute that we ignore this controversy, the number of innocent youthful children lessens. Humanity needs to recognize that the greatest concern is that the godly fear that protects mankind from dabbling in the spirit world is being taken away from children who read the Potter series (Foster). If we allow this to continue, we are ourselves accepting the demon like ways of the supernatural world and dishonoring the Lord Almighty, God. Therefore, the mad wizard behind the Harry Potter books needs to be stopped, or else she will succeed in destroying our somewhat sane world. J.K. Rowling is trying to re-revolutionize the traditional Christian religion and create discord amongst the loving relationship we share for God, and she is doing so by targeting the most important part of society, the ingenuous little children. So to conclude, stop Harry Potter and save God’s little children!
