One of the highly-rated movies and best-selling novels in the 21st Century is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. In fact, in addition to the 8-series novel, the movie series definitely gained everybody’s interest. However, there is a contradicting issue regarding this masterpiece, wherein many Christians and conservatives claim that it is not good for watching or reading. The inclusion of witchcraft, sorcery, magic, and so on throughout the series led these people to judge the movie as violent and inappropriate for the public – especially their children. Indeed, the Bible itself stands against such practices. It does not exalt Simon, the sorcerer, when he was mentioned in Acts 8:9-13. Besides, he was even astonished when he saw the signs and wonders Philip was doing by the power of God. God even tells the Israelites to never let a witch among them (Exod. 22:18). Along with Revelation 21:8 and Galatians 5:20, many verses and passages in the Bible consistently view witchcraft as against God. Nevertheless, in the midst of such criticism, Rowling claimed that Christianity is one of her inspirations (Petre Telegraph.co.uk) in the novels. Compared to the well-renowned novels The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and The Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter seems to fail in representing good and evil. Because of witchcraft and sorcery, one may view it as full of violence and confusing thoughts about good and evil. Nonetheless, any [seemingly] ‘wrong’ representation of good and evil may still be able to show expressions of morality and goodness in intensive ways. Such is the case with Harry Potter. The entire series consists of good themes one may consider as beneficial for learning. The novel shows expressions of friendship and love towards one another, which are also presented in the Bible and are observed in Christian living. Having the two themes in consideration, this paper compares and contrasts Harry Potter to Christianity.
First of all, friendship and love are two major themes in the Bible. Christians are told to love one another and to deepen their relationships within the church. In fact, Paul even commends love in 1 Corinthians 13:13 as the greatest gift Christians are expected to have in themselves. Love is the greatest one, without which all is nothing. Now these themes are presented in the series, particularly the first three books: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
One sensational event in the first book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is in the latter part. Professor Dumbledore said to Harry, “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is loveto have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever” (SS 299). What Lily Potter did, sacrificing herself for her infant child, is absolutely a great manifestation of love. By His own words, Jesus said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:12-13). It would be easier for a man to give a cent or a piece of bread out of all that he has to another person than to give his whole life – his future, his aspirations, his body, and everything else. God Himself exemplified this truth in dying on the cross for those whom He will believe in Him. For this, all Christians are also to have the mind of Christ, always willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others. However, this does not necessarily mean death in the place of others. For instance, a husband would not dare to die for another woman at the expense of leaving his own wife and children behind. This simply implies that we love others when we give them whatever we have in the best way possible.
Another expression of friendship is when Dumbledore said, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends” (SS 306). Although this is not sufficient to be represented with relation to Christianity and the Bible, it still has something to say about unity. When it comes to Christians, unity is an essential matter. For instance, in the series of Acts 1:12-14 and 2:43-47, the apostles and other believer were united in prayer, fellowship, generosity, Bible reading, and so on. However, when it comes to danger such as persecutions, it is not the same with the ideal representation in Harry Potter. Indeed, their [Christians] enemies – the persecutors – come but these Christians are not united in fighting back. Instead, they simply praise God and even pray for those who persecute them. In Harry Potter they fight on their own terms. For a Christian, everything is left to God even the revenge.
In the second book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, friendship is expressed by trust and assurance. Gilderoy Lockhart said, “You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm” (CS 78). The only representation of this in the Bible is God Himself. Besides, looking at the imperfections and limitations of mankind, no one can trust in and be fully assured with man. Paul writes, “We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death is no longer has power over Him” (Rom 6:9). The message of Jesus’ resurrection is what makes Christianity a living truth. The reality that man is sinful, weak, and worthy of God’s wrath is a dreadful thing to grasp. Death and God’s judgment are man’s worst fears in this life. But knowing that God has overcome death, Christians have their hope in Him. This gives them assurance that if death has no power over Christ and that those who believes in Him will also have life through Him, nothing is worthy of their fear. If Gilderoy is the redeemer in Harry Potter, Christ is in the real life. Moreover, Gilderoy asks them to remain calm. This is also what God says to all His people. Christians are prone to be worried too much with various things in life, even to the point of forgetting that God is more powerful than anything else. Christians should just calm, simply trusting that God will work in the midst of trials and hardships.
In the third book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, friendship is expressed by uncompromising regard of others. This is seen in one situation where Sirius said to Peter, “Then you should have dieddied rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you” (PA 375). The main message implied here is that betraying one’s friends is never the good option. Betrayal is a great breaking point of any form of relationship – marriage, friendship, family and so on. It is the manifestation that one does not regard highly the value and reality of his current relationships. Paul elaborates, “But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12:24-27). The issue in this passage pertains to indifference. God is not pleased with indifference. When one suffers, we are not to rejoice. When one rejoices, we are not to go away and live on our own. Betrayal is a form of indifference, which Christians should never do. This case happens very commonly in marriages. When hardships and trials come, faithfulness and steadfastness is always far from being in reality. No matter what comes and no matter what it takes, one’s relationship should be kept firm and uncompromised.
Now it is also essential to analyze the nature of the characters in the books in order to further grasp other realities related to friendship, God, and the Christian life. Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are the two loyal friends Harry met at Hogwarts. Throughout the adventures of Harry Potter, the two have always been useful. This truth is also real in the Christian life. Paul exhorts, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thess 5:11). Paul even makes an example of Mark being “useful for service” (2 Tim 4:11). Christians are useful for one another, and that is a good thing.
Another thing is with Hermione, who – in relation to Harry – valued friendship instead of obedience and perfectionism. Many have wrong understanding regarding this matter. They insist that whatever it is that makes one’s relationship better should be done. Gangs deepen their relationships when they do more crimes – and they like it. But this is contrary to the Christian life. For instance, Paul even instructed in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 to never associate with those who live sinful lives even if they call themselves as ‘brothers in Christ’. Relationships are never to be kept when morality is at stake.
Furthermore, another contrast with character representations in the books is with Harry Potter himself. Others view this character as the parallel for Christ. Indeed, Harry Potter becomes the hero throughout the series. However, unlike Christ, Harry Potter got help from his friends. Such is not the case of Christ. Romans 5:6, 8, and 9 states that we were helpless, sinners, and enemies of God when He died on the cross to save mankind. He did not need man’s help. Besides, man – with his sinful condition – cannot even help to save himself. For a poor man can never make himself rich, and a blind person can never make himself see. Indeed, Christ Himself is the perfect Redeemer.
Since Harry Potter is not the Bible, it will not be sufficient to accurately represent the Bible by itself. Nevertheless, it contains things that call to mind truth and goodness in reality. Even a seemingly ‘bad’ representation of good things will still represent those that are good.
Works Cited
Petre, Jonathan. J K Rowling: ‘Christianity inspired Harry Potter’. The Telegraph. 20 Oct. 2007. Web. 13 June 2013. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/fictionreviews/3668658/J-K-Rowling- Christianity-inspired-Harry-Potter.html>.
Rowling, Joanne. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998. Print.
---. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1999. Print.
---. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1999. Print.
The MacArthur Study Bible. Ed. John MacArthur. Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, 2006. Print.
