Angry in the Great White North

In 2003, a German critic Gabriele Kuby, criticized the faithlessness of Harry Potter:

A 1993 German-language interview with Kuby, the author of "Harry Potter — gut oder böse" ("Harry Potter — good or evil?"), by Zenit news summarizes Kuby's objections to Potter neatly as its theme being "My Will be done' opposed to 'Thy Will be done." In that interview Kuby readily admits that many people, Catholics included, do not see the dangers she sees in the Potter series. "I have no desire to see and depict devils where there are none, but when I see with my own eyes, when my intelligence and heart inform me, that there is a devil painted on a wall even though most everyone else sees on this same wall one flowery wallpaper design, then I feel obliged to give witness to the truth, whether convenient or unwelcome. There is such a thing as public deception — we Germans know about that," she says.

She has a point. The characters in the book wield magic that seems to come from no particular source, and that has no particular limits. One can only assume the power comes from within (compare with Robert Jordon's Wheel of Time series). That would be counter to Catholic teaching, and to an undiscriminating child, might mislead them, theologically speaking. But going on:

In the Zenit interview, Kuby quotes from the letter she received from Cardinal Ratzinger. In the letter, then-Cardinal Ratzinger specifically pointed to the fact that the danger in the Potter books is hidden was greatly concerning. "It is good that you shed light and inform us on the Harry Potter matter, for these are subtle seductions that are barely noticeable and precisely because of that deeply affect (children) and corrupt the Christian faith in souls even before it (the Faith) could properly grow and mature," said Cardinal Ratzinger.

I have read the Potter books, and intend to read the next in the series, but I'm an adult. I have also my own criticism of the Potter universe and its post-Christian European world-view.

I noted that the characters in the books celebrate Christmas (trees and gifts and all) but did not make any mention of Christianity. In this magical world, religion has no power. Compare that to Joss Whedon's Buffyverse (the universe in which "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" exist) where the cross and holy water have power over vampires. Whedon implies, though he never says it, that Christ's power is real.

In the movie "Fright Night", the vampire crushes a crucifix presented to him, telling the would-be vampire slayer that "You need faith for that to work". Later, the same character returns after having had a crisis of faith, and the vampire is shocked when this time he is repelled by a crucifix.

In the Granada Television "Robin Hood" series, Christian, Jewish, and Pagan power are real, and in conflict.

I thought that JK Rowling missed a very important source of material for plotting, and I thought the books were weaker for it. Moreover, to put magic in her universe side-by-side with our secular muggle world and also with Christianity, but then to reduce Christianity to window dressing, bothered me, but I'm old enough to know what Europe is like, and how religion has been sidlelined and made into a draw for tourists.

So I too have a theologically-based beef with Harry Potter. Would children be misled about the role of faith and the true nature of power, and of good and evil, and the power to make choices, by reading Harry Potter? Perhaps. I think JK Rowling is making a lot of money off of what is frankly a weak series.

I know when it comes to fantasy, I'll be reading C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, and the works of JRR Tolkien, with my kids first. That's how I was introduced to fantasy literature. We'll talk about what happens in the books, and what lies behind the choices the characters made, their consequences, and how characters like Aslan and Gandalf portray the complex ideas of grace and free choice.

Will I let them read Harry Potter? Definitely, but I'll be confident in their ability to think critically, and I'll always be there to talk to them about what works and doesn't work well in the series.

I'd like to think the Pope would approve.

[Jimmy Akin deconstructs the meme.]