It’s taken ten years, but a piece in the Boston Globe suggests Christians in the US have finally succumbed to Harry’s charms. Upon publication, the supernatural series sparked controversy among evangelical Christians, who took umbrage at its perceived satanic themes and banned the books from many US libraries. But the narrative focus on morality, tolerance, eternal life and grand battles between good and evil has forced many Christian critics to take another look. As the Globe notes:
Harry’s ultimate struggle with death has cemented the romance between religion scholars and the Potter series, the initial controversies over wands and wizardry now largely overshadowed by discussion of Harry’s character and life choices.
And it quotes Mary Hess, of Luther Seminary in Minnesota:
Rather than decrying as wicked certain elements of the series – as far too many Christians have done – we ought to be inviting our communities into deeper appreciation of both the similarities and the contrasts between the stories and our Christian faith.
After you’re done with that, take a peek at Ryan Gilbey’s New Statesman review of the penultimate Harry Potter film, The Half-Blood Prince.
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