Reading Harry

Posted on March 30, 2010 
Filed Under Media, Parenting, Spiritual Life

My 15 year-old asked me last night if she can read the Harry Potter books. I know the pros and cons of saying yes, and I am sure my decision will offend someone.

After remembering some excellent opinions from Chuck Colson and Plugged In and further personal deliberation, and after seeing one or two of the Potter movies, I told my daughter she can read the books. She was quite happy and gave me a big hug!

This was a matter of letting go, just a bit, so my daughter can exercise discernment and can apply some of the values and truth-training we’ve given her. She is, after all, almost 16. And I think that as a result of this decision we’ll have some good conversations about the Potter worldview, Truth and life.

I wonder if you’ve allowed – or prohibited – your kids from reading Harry Potter? If so, why? And if they’ve read the books, are you pleased with your decision?

Comments

13 Responses to “Reading Harry”

  1. Jacquie on March 30th, 2010 7:11 am

    I just saw all of the HP movies a few months ago and then read the last book in the series. I loved it all! I think parents and children can have great conversation about the themes throughout this story line. Things like don’t judge based on appearance and good always wins but not without cost. I hope you post snippits of conversation you and your daughter have about the series. It will be interesting to read her thoughts and yours!

  2. Lynn on March 30th, 2010 8:19 am

    It was a dark night outside and three of us Christian counselors were sitting on a teen to hold him down as the demon spoke from his mouth and struggled to raise the body up and drown him in the nearby creek. This event changed the way I saw spiritual battles…they are real and demons are trying to kill our kids. Am I overly dramatic and protective(as I have been accused of) or am I more realistic than others who haven’t experienced this? I am concerned about anything that makes witchcraft out to be fun and games…that deadens consciences to truth. The Word of God tells us to stay away from these things.
    I did not allow my kids to read Harry Potter. I weighed the matter carefully and also saw the consequences of reading them. As my 16 year old daughter just told me, “It is really weird when a six year old boy says, ‘Let’s make a spell! Make a magic potion!’ …goodness sakes! He’s SIX years old!”
    In the bookstores I saw Harry Potter books flanked by books on witchcraft, casting spells, and other satanic training books. Next to Tolkien and Lewis were books about finding God in “Lord of the Rings” and godly searching books. My kids read Tolkien and Lewis for their fantasy and watched those movies (over and over and over…).
    I asked my 16 year old your question to get her input and she says she doesn’t feel she has missed out by not reading Harry Potter. The only drawback is that she can’t join in on some of the conversations with the school kids about the books (but she can’t relate to some of the other things they talk about either, thankfully!).
    This choice is a tough one for parents. It takes a lot of prayer and conversations. I would highly recommend the book by Richard Abanes, “Fanatasy and Your Family”. It has helped me in understanding the different views of fantasy literature.
    Just as I choose to not feed my kids junk food, I choose to feed their minds with literature that gives them a healthy worldview. It is up to each parent, but I am very glad I made the choice I did even if I caught flack for it.

  3. Teresa on March 30th, 2010 8:19 am

    I have always believed you are what you read. But don’t jump to conclusions concerning how I handled HP. I read the books out loud to my children during long car trips. They were a captive audience providing a lot of time for discussion. As they grew older, they finished the series on their own. We have had fun with the characters, silly words and great characters.

    The books are not “twaddle”. They are well written, well constructed and fun. I don’t find them offensive IN GENERAL. There are some specific parts that irritate my good sense.

    Good literature is good. It challenges, stretches and enriches. I don’t have to agree with it, accept it or follow it. The contrary is true as well….bad literature is just bad!

    A child exposed to good reading will choose good reads.

  4. Nazareth on March 30th, 2010 1:24 pm

    I never allowed my kids to watch or read Harry Potter but they’re reading Percy Jackson and the lightning theif. ( A book and a movie about Greek Gods). You can never win. My advice: Listen to Focus on the Family. They give good advice.

    Blessings my friend.

  5. Elizabeth on March 30th, 2010 2:59 pm

    I am not a fan of the series Harry Potter. Knowing that the author is not a believer and wrote the series because she wanted children to have something other to read then the Bible, this is a red flag to me. The foundation of why the books were written bothers me.
    So with that said….would i allow my child to read or listen to the books? Well….right now my oldest child is almost 6 and I would tell him no. If my child was 16, it would depend on how strong their faith was in their beliefs. I believe every child is different. The parents need to know their child. If i had a child who struggled with being drawn to witchcraft or sorcery then I would not allow Harry Potter into my home.
    I think we need to equip our children how to know what is of God & what is not.
    John, I agree with you, your daughter is 16 and it is time to let go & let her begin discerning whats right & wrong. And the conversations that you two can have will be great for both of you.

  6. Mike on March 31st, 2010 12:22 am

    According to scripture, we are to not subject ourselves to this. I certainly do not allow my kids to view or read anything that contains any form of witchcraft. As scripture tells us, that the enemy slowly makes us numb, not realizing that our moral values and Christian principals are being slowly stripped away. It’s when it’s too late that most people realize and recognizable the changes. It’s when we say no and protect the minds of our children, by not subjecting them to these things,will they be better equipped to identify and uphold things that are true and pure.

  7. Admin on March 31st, 2010 8:17 am

    Thank you for the conversation you’re providing about this important matter! What a vast difference there is in perspectives on this subject. I’m grateful for the reasoned, thoughtful responses, and appreciate the concerns many have expressed here and also on Facebook and via Twitter about the Harry Potter books (and movies).

    I’d be grateful for even more input, and trust we’ll continue to see some good discussion here about a common parenting decision.

    John

  8. Ann on March 31st, 2010 12:26 pm

    I weighed the matter carefully, and allowed it. But, neither of my boys actually read the books. We’ve watched the movies and discussed how it differs from what the Bible teaches. Our kids, like it or not, are subjected every day to this sort of thing. I prefer to have them armed with the truth, learn how to recognize deception and know how to respond to it. When they both are away from here, they will encounter it. They’d better be ready to fight against it.

  9. Julie on March 31st, 2010 5:43 pm

    John, We have allowed our son to read Harry Potter. Some of the most practical and meaningful conversations on Biblical worldview we have had were surrounding these books, mainly because I have read them too. I love it that he is growing in his discernment and asking the hard questions. Read them with your daughter if you haven’t already and enjoy the time sharing them with her and your insights. I doubt she will ever forget that you went along on the journey with her.

  10. Raul on March 31st, 2010 6:00 pm

    We discussed it and allowed it. Our kids were in their later teens and strong in their faith. They were intelligent enough to know what is and is not acceptable and knowledgable about when Satan uses seemingly innocous methods to plant his poison. We are much more concerned with how the world uses an all pervasive media to espouse a corruption of sexual integrity. To us this is a MUCH greater danger. The consequences of sexual immorality is the greatest danger our teens – and adults – face, not witches on brooms.

  11. Marc on March 31st, 2010 6:48 pm

    I guess when it comes to things like this, some times varied opinions can confuse the issue, rather than simply looking at through the eyes of a child… (by asking) “WWJD” my 2 cents?? hmmm, food for thought!! Blessings always to you and yours, and thanks for continuing to carry the toarch!! :) < MW

  12. Paul on March 31st, 2010 8:10 pm

    I always look at stories like this with the question, “What is this really about?” I’ve seen all of the HP movies (but read only the first book), and have come away with a sense that these stories are primarily about character and moral choices, rather than promoting a spiritual agenda in general or witchcraft in particular. Hogwarts and environs are the setting for these issues to play out, but I’ve never gotten the impression that Rowling is trying to recruit converts to occult practices. Frankly, I was far more concerned about all of the monistic/energy field/”All is one” stuff in the first three “Star Wars” movies (which were actually episodes 4 through 6), a theme that was even more blatant in Jim Henson’s “The Dark Crystal” in 1982. We actually used all of these films to contrast monistic and biblical worlds views, a distinction that our kids understood at an early age as a result of our watching these movies together and then talking about them. Bottom line: Even questionable stuff can provide great opportunities for parents and kids to interact about values and worldviews. If the kids want to read Harry Potter, read it with them and plan some conversations over the dinner table.

  13. Keith on April 4th, 2010 6:27 pm

    We did not allow our children read the HP books or go to the movies. We have seen one or since they were on TV. I do not think they are all bad and are entertaining. Not sure if they have read them on their own, they are all over 18 now. My main problem is that I do not want to support that financially. Everyone has a vote on these types of things with their wallet. That being said, we should all remember that when choosing movies, books or any entertainment.

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