Harry Potter and Christianity

Religious allusions are a mark of great literature. The Bible, the Koran, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, the Avesta, and other such works are pillars of culture, and by leaning on this spiritual and temporal wisdom, authors bring power to their own writing.

I know, I know. The preceding paragraph doesn't jive with political secularists. But I don't care.

Harry Potter has been a particularly controversial work. From 1990 to 2000, the series by J.K. Rowling was the seventh most challenged book in the world. Certain Christian groups, appalled by the Hogwartz practicum, which has similarities to modern Wicca, have denounced Harry Potter as flat-out evil.

Father Michael Bernier, parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish in Westfield, MA, has a different opinion. He told the Catholic News Service, "I happen to be one of the people who believes that there's a great deal of Christian imagery and symbolism in the books. And I think it answers, at least in parts, a longing that we have for Christ."

However, Father Bernier also admitted that, "On the surface level, [the magic in Harry Potter] does sound suspect and does raise red flags."

Jeff Diamant, a religious reporter, and Dave Kopel, a columnist for National Review Online, have likewise noticed Christian allusions in Harry Potter.

Citing John Granger's book, The Hidden Key to Harry Potter, Kopel argues that the Potter series is not, as some have claimed, anti-Christian. The phoenix, unicorn, the stag, the griffin, and other beneficent animals found in the books, he says, are traditional symbols for Christ. Further, the young wizard's parents are named "James" (the brother of Jesus Christ) and "Lily" (the flower of Easter).

"It's Pilgrim's Progress for a new audience," Kopel says.

Is Harry Potter great literature? Many critics, including Harold Bloom, have aruged to the contrary, though only time can reveal which books are ephemeral phenomena and which are truly great. Without question, however, Rowling has included no shortage of Christian allusions in her narratives, and although her publishers have not specifically marketed the Potter series as a Christian allegory, the religious debate surrounding Harry Potter has undoubtedly boosted publicity.

Controversy, particularly Christian controversy, sells.