Looking for God in Harry Potter

Despite the controversy that surround them, millions of Christian kids are reading the phenomenally best-selling Harry Potter books and watching the Harry Potter movies. In this book author John Granger, a devout Christian, literature teacher and father of seven home-schooled children, gives parents and teachers a roadmap for using the Harry Potter books to teach children Christian truth. This book explores the surprising reasons J.K. Rowling's fiction is so popular and examines what the author believes are strong Christian themes in the Potter book. Along the way, Granger contends that Rowling is writing in the tradition of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and reveal the three tests of great fiction. This book is for Christians who want substantive answers, and for Potter fans who will devour the book to see if they agree with Granger.

Millions of children, even Christian children, are reading the mega-selling Harry Potter book series and are exposed to the Harry Potter movies. John Granger, a devout Christian, teacher of classic literature, and father of seven children, first read the Harry Potter books so he could explain to his children why they weren’t allowed to read them. After intense study, however, he became convinced that the books are underestimated as literature--and reflect important Christian truths. In Looking for God in Harry Potter, Granger gives parents and teachers a roadmap for using the Harry Potter books to teach Christian truth to children.

Granger (no relation to fellow brainiac Hermione), a homeschooling Christian father of seven, initially resisted when a friend encouraged him to read the Harry Potter books. But Rowling's novels, sprinkled with literary allusions and strong biblical values, won the classicist over quickly, and he became an avid spokesperson for the series. This book transcends the responses of some other Christian writers (those in support, like Connie Neal, or in sloppy accusations, like Richard Abanes) to offer a serious literary and Christian appraisal of the first five books. Granger begins with the thesis that all humans are "wired" to respond to "stories that reflect the greatest story ever told," including that of Harry's struggle against evil. The best part of the book is Granger's lucid commentary on Rowling's use of language-the insights into character names alone are worth the price of admission-and his keen awareness of word play. Although some arguments are a stretch, and there are a few tiny mistakes (in a footnote, for example, Granger claims that the hero of James and the Giant Peach was named James Potter, like Harry's dad, when it was James Henry Trotter), this is obviously a painstakingly researched book. It is easily the best examination to date of the spiritual legacy of "the boy who lived." (June) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by liz b. (Atlanta, GA), January 17, 2009

THERE IS A REASON THESE BOOKS HAVE MASS APPEAL THE WORLD OVER!!! Why don't Christians bother to find this out?? Granger explains why in this book. I HIGHLY recommend it; Even if you never read one Harry Potter book, read this one by Granger; it will explain to you the appeal of the series, as well as answer many questions you may have had, or even correct false accounts of the content of Rowling's series.

Reviewed by Jessica Chicas (Tennessee), December 26, 2007

I wholeheartedly agree with the review before mine. Well written yes. May have some names pertaining to Christianity in them. But how can we who teach our children let them be exposed to something so ANTI BIBLICAL as witchcraft?? Just play and fun and games? The Bible speaks of witches and soothsayers and divinations of various sorts. In which NONE of them God was pleased.Nor did He view them as a joke but as something to stay away from. As should our children learn to stay away from this thing that Rowling is making so very intriguing for our young ones' minds. I can't even say this book deserves half a star. There are no "Strong Christian Themes" found in any Harry Potter book or movie. If the Saviour is not clearly portrayed or shown in something,and we have to look for scraps of things pertaining to our faith. It's either not there or it's pointing a different direction than my Bible speaks of.

Reviewed by natalie (california), October 27, 2007

I really loved this book. I thought it was the best Harry Potter book I have or will ever read. It shows that Rowling searched names pertaining to Christianity, the many similarities to the Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings, and that the 'spells' are Latin based words(in other words, not real spells). I also like how it doesn't blame Harry Potter for people looking into that kind of thing. I mean, there's Luigi boards and Wicca and you can even find that kind of book in a library. This book helped me get out of some tough situations. I recommend it for all that want to know what the hp books are really about. Granger did much research on where Rowling got her ideas.

Reviewed by Gena (Cape Coral Fl), November 25, 2006

I read that Muslims actually boycott HP not just for "witchcraft", but bc they say it's "Christianity in disguise." This book is fascinating and it shows the western Judeo Christian thought in hp very well. As for Jay's argument that Harry believes in "The ends justify the means", that philosophy is present in the Bible. Rahab lied to protect the Israelite spies. God wiped out a few cow-worshiping Jews to keep the others in line. ANd yes, Harry Potter disobeys a stupid rule sometimes to save a life, fight evil, or help a friend. Sometimes it's a mistake (like in book 3 when he sneaks into Hogsmeade), and Rowling clearly paints it as foolish and selfish by having both Snape and Lupin reprimanded him, leaving him feeling guilty for his actions. An interesting character makes mistakes. And a courageous person has the guts to know when something is more important than the law (like hiding Jews from Hitler, or Jack Bauer shooting a terrorist in the leg to save thousands of lives.) And magic is just a literary device here. Chill yo.

Reviewed by Jay ( Ny), May 18, 2005

I'm 16 years old and I am home schooled have been so ever since pre-school along with my brothers and sisters. I have a problem with the Harry Potter series. I will admit, truthfully, they are well written, pleasing both children and adults, and that they may have kids reading because the books are interesting. Morally, they may be right sometimes and learn from their mistakes but it seems to me the characters believe that the end justifies the means no matter what the cost. I am a huge Tolkien and Lewis fan but if one was to compare Rowlings to them it would be like comparing the brothers Grimm fairy tales to George Macdonald's fairy tales, same thing at first look maybe, but there’s a clear difference if one was to look harder and see pass the words. Alchemy, yes, is real, witch craft is pretty much taught in the Potter books but screened carefully so as not to appear realistic and fun. When did God say witchcraft was fine? Maybe Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowlings were wrong about having magic and witches in their books. Also think about the time lines when each author lived. Define fantasy witches then and now. I don't believe anybody is emailing Frodo in the West or trying to visit him. Or are they?

Reviewed by Trudy K. Cretsinger (Blaine, Minnesota), February 24, 2005

If you've ever been reading a Harry Potter book and thought you glimpsed something familiar from the Christian tradition, you were probably right. Granger offers a fascinating analysis of the various symbols and underlying meanings that J. K. Rowling has woven into her best-selling series of the boy wizard in training. Granger's explanation of why the magic of Hogwarts is not unBiblical will not persuade those who are opposed to any use of magic in literature. However, for those open-minded enough to consider reading a Harry Potter book, Granger's work is a well-researched and thorough guide to the positive spiritual messages in the pages of these books. Most helpful is his explanation of the process of alchemy (which itself was rooted in medieval Christian spirituality) that shapes each story in the series and the series as a whole. Granger also catalogs the Christ-symbols found in the books -- and there are many! After discussing the series (to date) as a whole, Granger offers a book-by-book analysis of each story in the first five books and the spiritual teachingsin each book. As a mom, a Potter-fan myself, and a seminarian, I found Granger's work to be very well-researched, thought-provoking, and helpful in connecting these wildly popular books with Christian truths. I highly recommend it.

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