For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
"The most successful book series in history: approximately 450 million copies sold internationally. Translated: 67 languages. The film series by Warner Bros.: $7.7 billion worldwide...." -- from magazine.pepperdine.edu, May 2013.
Why Potter?
- Writers like C.S. Lewis (Narnia), J.R.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), and many others aim to awaken a sense of the spiritual in young readers. They also help secular thinkers discover their inner longing for the things of the spirit. This is a good thing.
- Protagonists in Harry Potter resist the dark world -- and the dark Lord -- just as we should. These books would be evil indeed if readers were urged to emulate the evil characters (Voldemort, Malfoy).
- Such novels help the relativist to believe in the good and evil, far better than an academic lecture or sermon ever could.
- An additional advantage is that these books get children reading.
- Moreover, if it's wrong for us to read books about dragons, sorcerers, and magic, then the book of Revelation would have to be excluded!
- On a related note, in the words (I think) of G. K. Chesterton, "Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." My interpretation: Fantasy isn't an inherently bad thing -- unless the message takes away hope. It is yet another way to open people's minds to the truth.
John Granger's intriguing essay:
- I found this article by John Granger (no relation to Hermione) so intriguing that I thought it would make for a great podcast. After seeking the proper permissions, I am pleased to read it to you.
- Is Harry Potter here to stay? And is HP a good thing, or a bad thing? See what you think.
- Content warning: This article is penned by a brilliant literary critic. (He's a lot more cultured than I am!)
- To read the entire article at Christianity Today, click here.
Source: Article from Christianity Today, July 2011: "Harry is Here to Stay," by John Granger. Read with permission of Christianity Today. Borrowed with the blessing of John Granger.
- "The Dean of Harry Potter Scholars" -- TIME
- Author of The Deathly Hallows Lectures
- Author of How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J.K. Rowling's Bestselling Books.
- Read more at www.HogwartsProfessor.com/johngranger.
