Is Harry Potter Evil?

The grand debate of the day among the Christian circle as well as secular: Should the Harry Potter books and movies be burned at the stake, or is there some redemptive value to them?

Listen.

I have read parts of the books. I have also seen some of the movies. I can’t be considered a die-hard fan, nor someone who has read and seen everything there is to read and see about Harry Potter. But I do have a perspective on the matter.

Christianity Today reviewed the latest Harry Potter book, and although I have respect for the CT family of magazines, I was not pleased with what I read. The writer of the review pointed out a couple of things that seem pretty Christian, namely sacrificial love and a couple of inscriptions on tombstones that, unbeknownst to the book’s characters, were taken from Scripture. He then went on to compare the Potter books to C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. I think this is uncalled for.

Just because something has a hint of something spiritual, even scriptural Christianity, does not make it okay to partake in.

The theme of good vs. evil can be found in just about every story ever written, be it in book or movie or any other form. This is nothing special, and because this element exists doesn’t make it wholesome.

Likewise, many people quote the Bible, but many of these do not understand the meaning behind what they are quoting. They may take a couple of verses that are true enough, like “God is love” and go with that. Or they may take a scripture verse completely out of context, for example, “Judge not lest ye be judged,” and use it to support their position. Quoting Scripture does not make something okay just by virtue of Scripture being quoted. The question to be asked is, “Is what the story is saying true? And is it beneficial.”

The Bible says that although things may be permissible, not all things are profitable or beneficial (1 Corinthians 6:12). You may read the Potter books with the intention to read a good story. You may have no interest whatsoever in practicing witchcraft or magic. You may even be looking for a good fight between good and evil. But again these things don’t make the books beneficial to read.

I wouldn’t call the Harry Potter books Christian by any stretch of the word. I think it is foolish to try to rationalize it and say that they can be.

As for the permissibility for a Christian to read them, I think the Bible is clear that stories of witchcraft and wizardry are not wholesome or beneficial for the Christian.

If your conscience permits you to read these books, so be it. But make sure you have checked your desires and the door and really checked with God what he would have you do. Still, I think it’s wiser to just stay away.