- Just Wild About Harry!
Book #1 Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone
Book #2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Book #3 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Book #4 >Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Kids, millions of kids and many adults are just wild about Harry Potter! Here are the statistics. A U.S. consumer survey reported that over half of all children in the United States between 6 and 17 have read at least one Harry Potter book. In fact, “there are 116 million books in print in 200 countries. They have been translated into 47 languages (USA Today; Monday, October 22, 2001; Life Section D). I do hot have any current earning statistics, but I do know the first three Harry Potter books have earned, a conservatively estimated, $480 million in three years. These popular books have made Scottish divorcee Joanne Kathleen Rowling a very wealthy woman and she is enjoying her newly realized power. She directed her publisher how book #4 was to be released. In fact, she orchestrated the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire down to the minute. I was watching the late evening news on July 7, 2000. News cameras focused on huge crowds of kids congregated at bookstores around the country waiting for “the witching hour,” midnight! What were they doing there, so long past their bed times? They were waiting to buy the 700 plus page newest release. I must admit that is hard to believe. At 12:01 a.m. July 8, 2000, bookstores doors opened and kids pressed in and began shucking out $25.95 for book #4. This was a publishers bonanza with advanced orders topping 1.8 million and a first printing of 5.3 million copies. Newsweek Magazine said, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth installment of the series, promises to break every book-selling record in the book.” (Newsweek; Why Harrys Hot by Malcomb Jones; July 17, 2000; p.53). But, there is more to come! Ms. Rowling plans seven books in all. Each book covers one academic year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the boarding school Harry attends.
- Warner Brothers Harry Potter Movie
Harry Potter enthusiasts are “chomping at the bit” to see Warner Brothers biggest release ever, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. The director of this $125 million extravaganza is Chris Columbus, known for his work on the first two Home Alone movies and Robin Williams movies Mrs.Doubtfire and Bicentennial Man. “On November 16, the movie version of the tale of the bespectacled young wizard (Harry Potter) will open in at least 4,000 theaters around the USA, which should be a record number. On the same day, it also will open in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales (where both the book and the movie are called Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone). It will be released in 130 foreign countries (and in 40 languages), making it the biggest international release of any movie distributed by Warner Bros. The movie likely will draw huge crowds. It has been dubbed into 24 languages, and another 16 countries are getting subtitled versions.” (USA Today; Monday, October 22, 2001; Life Section D). I want to point out that the movie carries a PG rating because of the bad language used and some very scary scenes.
- The Smell of Money
Businesses are rushing to jump on the Harry Potter honey wagon. The London Times wrote, “get ready for Harry Potter action figures, Every Flavour jelly beans and Hogwarts trading cards. Hasbro said that it will sell role-play games, Pokemon-style trading cards and sweets. Mattel aims to produce dolls, games and high-tech toys. Merchandise may have to be toned down in some respects; in the books, the Every Flavour Beans include a vomit flavour.” (London Times Sweet deal for Harry Potter Adam Jones; February 12, 2000). Coca-Cola has now thrown their hat into the ring. It seems that Harry Potter has a bewitching appeal world wide.
- Harry Potter Collector Card Game
In August, 2001 I attended the 34th annual Gen Con gaming convention. My first stop was the Wizards of the Coast display. Their “hot item” was the new Harry Potter collector card game. The game is based on J. K. Rowlings first book Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone. It is a game of occult magic powers vs. occult magic powers. The players must choose which witch or wizard they will be. The goal is to defeat your opponent by casting powerful magic spells. One Spell Card I picked up and read was a Noxious Poison spell card. The card quotes Professor Severus Snap of the Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, “the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind and ensnaring the senses“ In the Potter books, the purpose of the Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is to teach the students how to practice witchcraft! This game will only reinforce the occult philosophy that Rowling clearly articulates in her books.
As a side note, Wizards of the Coast is also the makers of the occult card game Magic the Gathering and Pokemon card games.
I should also tell you “Harry Potter is to become a computer wizard after a British company won the rights to transform his exploits into interactive video games.” (London Times Harry Potter to become computer wizard by Adam Sherwin; August 11, 2000).
Indeed, Harry Potter has the magic “Midas touch” because he has turned everything to gold for the author. If Ms. Rowling were to quit today, and never write another word, she and her eight year old daughter Jessica would be sitting pretty and be able to live high on the hog the rest of their lives on her share of the booty. In fact with royalties and movie rights, etc. she could sponsor and finance Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. One article I read noted that Ms. Rowling is the third richest woman in Great Britain.
- Harry Potter Books Are Popular, But Are They Acceptable?
There is no denying that Harry Potter books are wildly popular! I hear the claim all the time that they have nothing to do with witchcraft and the occult. If that is true, why are they being used as a springboard to promote witchcraft? Public schools are using the books as part of their curriculum. And what is even more interesting is that “major publishers have even released study-books and class-room discussion guides so teachers can lead their students through the origins and mysteries of Harrys world, including its occult themes.” (Elizabeth D. Schafer, Beachams Sourcebook: Exploring Harry Potter; Beacham Publishing Company, Osprey FL. See – http://www.beachampublishing.com) In that book, which is used in many schools, real occult books are suggested in Reading For Research section. Here is exactly, without alteration, some of the books listed for reading by students
Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today. Boston: Beacon Press, 1986. Describes modern witchcraft practices in the United States.
Alderman, Clifford Lindsey. A Cauldron of Witches: The Story of Witchcraft. New York: Julian Messner, 1971. A history of witchcraft written for children.
Alderman, Clifford Lindsey. Witchcraft in America. New York: Julian Messner, 1974. Explores regional witchcraft practices in New England, New Orleans, the southwest, and other places.
The first book listed is by Margot Adler. She is a witch and outspoken promoter of contemporary paganism and witchcraft. Adler says her interest in witchcraft was fueled at age 12 by her study of ancient Greek deities, particularly Artemis and Athena for their images of strength and power. Later, “she was initiated as a first-degree Gardenarian priestess in 1973 and then formed a A Pagan Way grove in Manhattan.” (Rosemary Ellen Guiley; The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft; pub. Facts on File; p.2). I should note that the Beacon press edition that I have in my research library has an obviously naked witch, though darkly outlined, standing before a candlelit altar. Included are pictures of naked witches. One of titled “dance the dance, and chant the spell,” another “setting up the Yuletide circle” and another captioned, “the moon is drawn down on priestess Elspeth.”
Ah yes, if Harry Potter does NOT teach witchcraft, why is Adlers book recommended reading?
Theres more. When you come to their suggestions of internet resources and sites to visit you come across
http://celticcrow.com/
http://www.witchvox.com/
http://druidry.org
Witchvox.com is a web site dedicated to teaching witchcraft, the real thing! They have a section devoted to “Teen Pagan Essays” as well. It is obvious that Harry Potter is a vehicle for promoting witchcraft in more than one way. And thats a fact!
- Deceived Evangelicals
Evangelical Chuck Colson praised the Harry Potter character and his friends for their “courage, loyalty and willingness to sacrifice.” The May 29, 1999 issue of World Magazine characterized Harry Potters world “a delightsafe, inoffensive, and non-occult,” (which is totally misleading). Professor Alan Jacobs of Wheaton College advocates reading the Harry Potter books because they offer “the possibility for serious moral reflection[and] the question of what to do with magic powers is explored in an appropriate and morally serious way. Even “a vicar in the Church of England” held “a special Harry Potter family servicecomplete with wizards, pointy hats, broomsticks a game of quidditch.” (London Times Church to lure youth with Harry Potter by Ruth Gledhill; September 1, 2000). Not only are journalists, teachers and preachers praising Harry Potter, but witches are exalting him as well. Buck Wolf of ABCNEWS.com wrote in an article dated July 16, 2000, “Harry Potter sure knows which witch will bewitch a real witch. Real witches just love the series of novels about the boy wizard who flies on his high-powered broomstick, The Nimbus 2000 (upgraded to a Firebolt), and studies all sorts of sorcery at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. And just like everybody else, theyre eagerly awaiting the next installment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
Wolf backs up his statement with an interview of Phyllis Curott, Wiccan High Priestess, President Emeritas of the Covenant of the Goddess (one of the largest and oldest Wiccan religious organizations), author of Book of Shadows and high-powered Manhattan lawyer. She told ABCNews.com, “Its great fantasyit is positive. [In the Potter books] They [witches] are friendly. They are good. The book might change the way people feel about us.” (The entire article can be found at – http://more. abcnews.go.com/ sections/us/ wolffiles/ wolffiles 122.html). Now, when a high profile witch and idolatrous goddess worshipper commends a book so highly and when witches are “eagerly awaiting the next installment” that leads me to question the judgment of “Christian” leaders who are lauding the books. I contend that Isaiah 5:20 applies anyone who claims that Harry Potter books are good! “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Further, I have learned from previous experience that just because something is popular, that does not make it acceptable. And, with our children at stake, I think it is important to know whether Harry Potter paraphernalia is acceptable or not! No one can deny that books that are so widely read and circulated DO have an impact on the readers! Therefore, the books must be evaluated to determine if what is coming across is good or bad, acceptable or unacceptable.
The problem in our culture is, that too many people, even those who are professed Christians, are ambivalent about what is right and what is wrong (the Bible calls it double minded James 1:8)! They have adopted the humanistic philosophy of relativism and just cant decide whats right and whats not right. But, if you are a Christian there is a standard that you can and must use to determine right and wrong. It is the Holy Bible! The commandments and principles of the Bible are true and enduring. The Psalmist declares, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160 The Apostle Paul put it this way — “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16 I am fond of paraphrasing the verse like this. The Bible tells us whats right, whats not right, how to get right and how to stay right!
- Putting Harry Potter To The Test
So, lets put Harry Potter to the test as we are instructed to do in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 which says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” But, just exactly how can we do that? By comparing what we find in the Harry Potter books with the Nine Biblical Principles For Determining Acceptability. I have carefully read the Bible and come up with Nine Biblical Principles For Determining Acceptability. While I do not have time to go in depth explaining each of the nine points and showing the Scriptural support for each one, you can view the report on my web page at — ..\Believers\acceptable.htm or by ordering your own copy of that research report at (414) 768-9754. Here are the nine principles
- Are belief systems and/or doctrines evident or advocated that are contrary to the Bible?
- Are values & philosophies espoused that are unbiblical?
- Is Supernatural power evident that has a source other than the God of the Bible?
- Are there occult, witchcraft, psychic, satanic, or New Age, vampire-Goth symbols, names, or practices incorporated?
- Are the imaginations and thoughts of the participant steered in an unwholesome direction, unbiblical direction?
- Is immorality, sensuality or immodesty depicted, or does it arouse lust?
- Does it incite fear or glorify evil or violence?
- Is the language used questionable?
- Will it promote questionable character traits?
If you have examined a book, game, video, music, toy, etc. by these principles and have had to answer yes to any of them, the item is NOT acceptable. Get rid of it!
- What Belief System Is Encouraged In Harry Potter Books?
An article in the December 1, 1999 Christian Century magazine gives a pretty good overview
Harry discovers on his 11th birthday that he is the son of two legendary wizards murdered by an evil magician named Voldemort. Harry has been living with his loathsome aunt and uncle (who make him sleep in a cupboard) and their mean son, Dudley. Apprised of his real identity, Harry eventually makes his way to Hogwarts, a boarding school for wizard children, and starts learning the family trade.
Make no mistake about it. Harry Potter books are about witches and wizards, and their practices of divination, necromancy and sorcery. Harrys world is the world of witchcraft through and through! Harry Potter wisdom is the wisdom from beneath spoken of in James 3:15 “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”
To be sure, the reader is drawn into Harrys world. Witchcraft is presented as being exciting, titillating and powerful. Witches are portrayed as friendly, positive, supportive and good! However, non-witches are presented as being boring, dysfunctional, cruel, abusive, bigoted, and hateful.
Arthur Stuttaford catches some of this in his article of the October 11, 1999 National Review. He writes,
“It’s no surprisewhen Rowling reveals leftish social prejudices all too typical of the British intelligentsia. Harry’s main rival at the school, nasty Draco Malfoy is-two strikes-both rich and aristocratic. Meanwhile, the dysfunctional Dursleys, Harry’s ghastly family, are a caricature of the vicious bourgeoisie that would have delighted Vyshinsky. They are contrasted with the poor-but-happy Weasleys, a wizard household that befriends Harry. Old man Dursley is a brutish capitalist, director of a company that makes drills.”
Page after page after page the readers minds are exposed to charms and casting spells. Here is just a partial list of the ones I have come across
Accio The summoning charm
Alohomora A spell to unlock doors
Animagi/Animagus By this spell wizard(s) are able to transform into an animal form
Adava Kedavra The killing curse
Cruciatus Curse Torture curse
Dissendium A spell to open a secret passage
Expecto Patronum A spell of protection
Expelliarmus A disarming charm
Finite Incantatem A charm used to stop a student commotion
Homorphus Charm A charm which turns a werewolf back into human form
Impervios Charm to repel water
Locomo mortis spell for the leg-locker curse
Lumos a charm to light the end of a magic wand
Mobiliarbus Magical spell to move objects
Nox A charm used to turn out the light on a magic wand
Oblviate A memory modifying charm
Peskidiksi Pesternomi Spell used to get rid of destructive Cornish pixies
Petrificus Totalus Spell to cause someone to be motionless
Rictusempra A tickling charm
Serpensortia A charm to summon snakes
Tarantallegra A dancing spell
Transfiguration A spell which changes the nature of a person or object completely
In the book, The Prisoner of Azkaban “good witch” Harry Potter casts a spell on his Aunt Marge to get revenge, when his frustration and anger reach the boiling point because she called his mother a “bitch” and proclaims that his parents got killed in an auto accident as the result of driving drunk. The revenge spell is bad enough, not to mention the language.
- Divination (fortunetelling) is commonly mentioned, taught and practiced.
Here are a few examples.
Harry is called a “true seer” in The Prisoner of Azkaban, with the gift of divination powers. This is confirmed in the 4th book when his clairvoyant powers are exercised. Further, a professor assigns Harry and company the task of mapping out their astrological birth charts. That is divination as well. There are other examples of divination
Arithmancy This is an actual early form of numerology where divination is made through numbers, especially those associated with a persons name.
Rememberballs — Marble sized balls that turn red to tell the holder if they have forgotten something.
Parseltongue Snake language spoken by a dark wizard in communication with snakes.
Mirror of Erised This is a divination mirror with writing around the frame that reads — Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Hold the sentence up to a mirror and carefully read the reflection, ignoring the spaces. It reads: I show not your face, but your heart’s desire.
The Bible says in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD” It is clear that Harry Potter books are an abomination unto the Lord!
- Sorcery, which includes the mixing of magical potions as well, is clearly present!
It does not take long to realize that magical potions made with various herbs and fungi play an important part in the witchcraft of Harry Potter and company. We read in book 1 “Three times a week they went out to the greenhouseswhere they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for.” In deed, Doreen Valiente (a real witch) writes, “witches would have an herb garden and use its products in their spells.” (Doreen Valiente; The Rebirth of Witchcraft; p.87). Lets look at some of the ingredients used in the sorcery of the Potter books.
Thujone You will find this drug used in Potter potions. It is a dangerous psychedelic drug used to make a drink called Absinthe. Absinthe was very popular in the 1700s but has been illegal for sale or manufacture in the United States since March 16, 1915.
Mandrake This herb is used in Potter Potions as well. It is a real herb. The mandrake has long been known for its poisonous properties. In ancient times it was used as a narcotic and an aphrodisiac, and it was also believed to have certain magical powers. Its forked root, seemingly resembling the human form, was thought to be in the power of dark earth spirits. It was believed that the mandrake could be safely uprooted only in the moonlight, after appropriate prayer and ritual, by a black dog attached to the plant by a cord. Human hands were not to come in contact with the plant. In medieval times it was thought that as the mandrake was pulled from the ground it uttered a shriek that killed or drove mad those who did not block their ears against it. After the plant had been freed from the earth, it could be used for beneficent purposes, such as healing, inducing love, facilitating pregnancy, and providing soothing sleep.
Monkshood Is another herb used in Potter potions. It is also called Aconite and wolfsband. The entire plant, including root, herb and seed, is a deadly poison if taken in sufficient dosage. Aconite is generally used in a very dilute form in homeopathy. If you are interested in the occult connection of homeopathy read my report located on my web page at ..\NewAge\na-med.htm
Wormwood Is the common name for a perennial herb or shrub whose leaves and flowers contain the toxic terpene thujone. In a Potters potion it is mixed with ashphodel said to make a powerful sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the “drought of the living dead.” Just as Wormwood is a real herb (and dangerous) so is ashphodel. Though there are several types according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, I believe the Potter variety is the Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum), also of the family Liliaceae. It is a small herb growing in boggy places in Great Britain with rigid, narrow leaves and a stem bearing a raceme of small golden-yellow flowers.
The Elixer of Life A potion that has the power to make a wizard or witch live forever.
Unicorn & blood drinking There is most certainly an element of sorcery related to this creature in the Harry Potter story because it is stated that if you drink its silvery blood, it will keep you alive for a limited time if you are near death. Unicorn hair is also used in Potter potions. Lets focus on the drinking of blood. In The Sorcerers Stone, chapter 15, page 256 we read Professor Quirrell, possessed, comes “out of the shadows, a hooded figurecrawling across the ground like some talking beast. The cloaked figure reached the unicorn, lowered its head over the wound in the animals side and began to drink its blood.”
Sorcery is an abomination to the Lord! Sorcerers are said to be deceivers, children of the devil, enemies of righteousness and perverters of the right ways of the Lord! Check Acts 13:8-10. Why would you allow you children to be exposed to something that is perverted? Harry Potter books are perverted!!!
It is not possible to address all the aspects of witchcraft doctrine and practice associated with the Harry Potter books. Let me quickly go over just a few more. There are the wizard trading cards with the names taken from the Potter books, some who are real historical occult figures. Some of the names mentioned in the books are Arrippa, a noted founder of Alchemy; French occultist and alchemist Nicholas Flamel (picture next page left) and wife Perenelle; There is also Paracelsus a 16th century German-Swiss alchemist, magician, physician. The list could go on and onMerlin and Margana the witch half-sister of King Arthur; Circe, a Greek god who turns men into animals, Cliodna a Druid goddess of beauty and the otherworld.
Then there are the elementals, elemental demons or earth spirits that witches actually believe exist. They are readily seen in the Potter books. Here are a few that I have run across water spirits (called Kappas), gnomes, pixies, banshees, elves and trolls. We still have a research report and a video that I did many years ago called The Truth About Trolls. In fact, when I reported on the Parliament of World Religions in the early 1990s I attended a seminar called The Celtic Fairie Faith taught by two witches who were telling those attending how to contact these demons. The reader will also find ghosts, werewolves, vampires, centaurs, unicorns, phoenixs and merpeople all traditionally associated with the occult. Not to mention the three headed dog summoned, reminiscent of Cerebus, the three-headed hound of Hell. And what about Voldemorts vile snake familiar in book #4. This huge snakes name is Nagini. Do I need to remind the reader that the serpent is one of the most ancient and pervasive symbols of the occult? “The Satanic serpent of the Garden of Eden finds expression in most pagan systems as the Serpent God, from the ancient Egyptian god Set to the sacred cobras associated with both Vishnu and Shiva in the Hindu pantheon to the ophiolarty or snake worship practiced over much of pagan Africa and in Hatian voodoo.” (Harry Potters Hocus-Pocus by Steve Bonta). I do not think it is an accident that Rowling names the snake Nagini. In Sanskrit the name means pertaining to cobras.
I have to agree with Steve Bonta who wrote in his article Harry Potters Hocus-Pocus, “All of these imagesseem to be derived from occult material, suggesting a sophisticated knowledge of the occult on the part of the author.” Indeed Joanne Kathleen Rowling has a sophisticated knowledge of the occult. Even the London Times noted it in a July 12, 2000 article titled Muggle Adventures in Potterland. The article reads, “Magical feats and spells, fantastic charms and startling metamorphoses, conjuring exploitsHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fireis crammed to the bursting with vanishings, flights, zombies, replicants, identity switches, cryptozoological monsters,” etc. To a restless, channel-surfing rhythm, Rowling switches tone, now teenage psychology, now Alastair Crowley-ish Satanism.”
In an 1999 interview on the Diane Rehm Show Rowling admitted that she studied witchcraft and mythology in order to write her books more accurately. She said, “I do a certain amount of researchso when Im mentioning a creature, or a spellI will find out exactly what the words were, and find out exactly what the characteristics of that creature or ghost were supposed to be.” She went on to say that about one-third of what she had written is based on actual occultism. (J.K. Rowling interview on The Diane Rehm Show, WAMU, National Public Radio, October 20, 1999). There it is from the horses mouth. Her books are based on the so-called real occult!
Personally, I have to wonder if J. K. Rowling is a witch. Every place I turned in my reading of her books I ran into subtle but sophisticated occult knowledge. Another example is the key Satanic character in the books, Voldemort. I took French for several years and I noticed something interesting about the name. It is French. In my research, I discovered that Dr. Rowlings (the doctor is honorary from the University Exeter) undergraduate degree was in French and the Classics. She had subtly used her French to name her key evil character, Voldemort. Voler means “to fly” or “to rob” and de means “of” and mort means “death” or “a dead man.” Hence the name means the flight of death or the flight of a dead man.
Harry Potter books are the perfect primer for teaching the occult!
- The Occult Doctrine of Dualism
Laced through ever one of Ms. Rowlings books is the yin-yang, occult doctrine of dualism. This is the key doctrine of occultism. And without knowing it, children are buying into that diabolical lie. Let me explain the concept of dualism. Dualism teaches that good and evil are warring equals or, two sides of the same coin, as it were. Occultist believe that they are two equal and opposite sides of the “Force.” There is good in evil and evil in good and they are all from the same origin. The ramification of this heresy is that good and evil are never clear-cut! Bonta explains how this principle works out in the Harry Potter books.
This anti-Christian take on good and evil is vigorously reinforced in the Potter books by various twists suggesting that Harry and Voldemort, despite being mortal enemies, are not really that far apart. Harry, in fact, during his infant encounter with Voldemort, has actually taken on many of Voldemorts traits, thereby absorbing some of his powers. He, like Voldemort, has the rare gift of being able to speak with snakes, and also ends up with a wand manufactured from the same source as Voldemorts. The result of this is that, during one conflict between the dread foes, Harrys and Voldemorts wands cancel each other out, and the encounter ends inconclusively. In Book Four, Voldemort is restored to full strength by absorbing a phial of blood taken from Harry which, the Dark Lord explains, will impart to him those attributes that allowed Potter to resist him as an infant. Finally, Harrys most distinctive feature, the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, was received from Voldemort and is ultimately the source of Harrys exceptional magical abilities.
This is dualism! Harry is part of Voldemort and Voldemort is part of Harry. Another clear promotion of dualism is a statement by Professor Quirrell, the stuttering professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. In The Sorcerers Stone on page 291 Professor Quirrell said, “He is with me wherever I go. I met him when I traveled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power” He goes on to say, “Since then, I have served him faithfully.”
Like Star Wars, the Harry Potter books promote the unscriptural doctrine of the devil, dualism. Some protest when I say that. They claim that the struggle between good wizard Harry Potter and evil wizard Voldemort is just like the classic struggle between good and evil that we have in the Bible! It is NOT so! The Bible declares God is wholly good. The Bible says, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 The Bible asserts that the Devil is totally without truth and therefore evil. The Bible says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44
In the Bible evil is always subordinate to good. God and good are omnipotent (all powerful) and God and good ultimately win. Jesus, the Son of God is the victor and his followers are more than conquerors (Hebrews 2:13-15; Romans 8:37). The devil is the loser and he and his followers will be damned to the Lake of Fire for all of eternity (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:2-3 & 10). Biblical good and evil are distinct and separate. There is neither ambivalence nor ambiguity! Dualism on the other hand promotes ambivalence, ambiguity and uncertainty. Dualism is one of the key doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1). There is not both good and evil wizardry or witchcraft. All wizardry-witchcraft is evil and the Bible says so!
Leviticus 19:31 “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
Leviticus 20:6 “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.”
Leviticus 20:27 “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.”
Isaiah 8:19-20 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Gods charge to His children is “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (rebuke) them. Ephesians 5:11
Shame on you J. K. Rowling for promoting what the Bible condemns! These books awaken the readers curiosity about witchcraft, and occult powers and practices. Joanne K. Rowling finds herself in the place of Simon the Sorcerer of Acts 8:9. She is using sorcery and bewitching the children! And she plans to make the coming books darker than her first ones. Time Magazine, September 20, 1999 says, “Rowling has been dropping increasingly pointed promises that the four remaining Harry Potter books will be darker than the first three.” The article goes on to quote her “There will be deaths.” She states that Voldemort is going “to kill someone the reader cares about.” I tell you, “It were better for [her] that a millstone were hanged about [her] neck, and [she] cast into the sea, than that [she] should offend one of these little ones.” Luke 17:2
To be sure Joanne Kathleen Rowling has offended many little ones by exposing them and enticing them into the occult realm. It is really happening too! The July 26, 2000 San Francisco Chronicle carried an articled titled What readers think about Goblet? This was the comment of Gioia Bishop, age 10. She said, “I was eager to get to Hogwarts because I like what they learned there and I want to be a witch.” Jeffrey, Age 11 said, “It would be great to be a wizard because you could control situations and things like teachers.” Catherine, Age 9 said, “Id like to go to wizard school, learn magic and put spells on people. Id make up an ugly spell, and then its payback time!” (Jeremiah Films, Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged.)
David Cloud reports that “the headmaster at a school in Raligh, North Carolina noted: The throngs that lined up to meet Rowling [to autograph their books] are often teeming with children clad in wizard cloaks and sporting lightning-bolt scars tattooed temporarily to their forheads.”
The truth of the matter is that the Harry Potter books have generated so much interest in witchcraft that “The Pagan Federation has appointed a youth officer to deal with a flood of inquiries following the success of the Harry Potter books which describe magic and wizardry. The federation says the Potter books, by J. K. Rowling, and TV shows such as Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, had probably sparked the new flood of interest. Media officer Andy Norfolk said: It [the flood of interest in witchcraft] is quite probably linked to things like Harry Potter, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Every time an article on witchcraft or paganism appears, we had a huge surge in calls, mostly from young girls.” (Potter fans turning to witchcraft; August 4, 2000)
I have only touched the tip of the iceberg so to speak. However there is one more area that I will address briefly. That is the allegation that Harry and his friends are “good” characters with “good” values. Nothing could be further from the truth. Harry and Ron are rewarded when they break the rules. Headmaster Dumbledore says, “I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more rules.” He goes on to say, “You will both receive Special Awardslet me seeyes, two hundred merit points for Gryffindor.” (Rowling; Chamber of Secrets; 328).
Another illustration focuses on Hermonie. She is portrayed as a “good” character. However, Ron and Harry do not like her, that is, until she lies to protect them. Then Ron and Harry take her in and make her a part of their group. In Goblet of Fire dishonesty is glamorized and nearly everyone cheats throughout the Triwizard Tournament. Repeatedly the so called “good” characters show no remorse for their evil actions.
In conclusion, at the beginning of this article I pointed out that there are Nine Biblical Principles For Determining Acceptability. We have just looked at the Harry Potter books in light of the first principle — Are belief systems and/or doctrines evident or advocated that are contrary to the Bible? The answer clearly is YES! In light of that, we should follow the course of action that the early Christians followed in Acts 19:19-20 “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
The Bible warns that in the last days people will reject biblical truths and believe the devils lies (1 Timothy 4:1-2). In fact, they will be bewitched by occult fables (2 Timothy 4:4). Harry Potters books vividly illustrate this point.
Listen dear reader, sorcerers are among those listed in “the roll call of the damned” who will be condemned to the lake of fire (Hell) for all of eternity. Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” I would urge you to repent of any occult involvement, including reading Harry Potter books, and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus said, according to John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Apostle Paul said, Romans 10:9-10 & 13 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you have never prayed and asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior and take control of your life, I would urge you to pray and ask Him to do that right now. Receiving Christ, as your Savior is the best decision you could ever make!
Picture Credits
Books in different languages from Time Magazine ; December 25, 2000/January 1, 2001 ; p.117
Hermonie, Ron and Harry – Warner Brothers
Noxious Poison Spell Card – Wizards of The Coast
Diane Rehm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/features/daily/rehm0823.htm
>Additional Reference Material
Book: Harry Potter and the Bible by Richard Abanes; Horizon Books
Video: Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged; Jeremiah Films