- Two worlds. Just as in Christian belief, there is more to
reality in Harry Potter's world than we can see. Parallell to our everyday
existence, there is an invisible world, "the supernatural" if you will.
Only some people can see it. Some stubbornly refuse to believe in it
even when it is revealed to them. Just as with the Christian faith.
Introducing this idea to children is clearly important for anyone wanting
to give his children a Christian upbringing.
- The weak is chosen. Harry Potter grows up in the ordinary
world and leads dreary life because he is an orphan and the relatives
who take care of him are mean and nasty. But on his 11th birthday, Harry
gets to know that he is in fact a wizard. "That which is weak in the
world was chosen by God, so that the strong should be put to shame"
(1 Cor 1:27). Clearly a biblical motif.
- Rowling's characters are not stereotypes but have real depth,
and as the story moves, they develop. We learn that first impressions
are often misleading, that looks and charm don't mean you are a good
person, and that an unpleasant person is not necessarily evil. We learn
that rumors, reputations and media reports are not always true. Rowling's
characters have dark and bright sides, they are imperfect, sinners,
but have the opportunity to change and make up. This fits rather well
with how Christianity sees humans.
- Harry as Jesus-image. In the first book we learn that Harry
was attacked by the evil powers as early as when he was a baby. But
they could not kill him. Does this not remind us of a certain baby in
Bethlehem? This does not mean that Harry is depicted as analogous to
Jesus. But there are co-incidences and parallels. A child who has read
these books will probably recognize concepts in the Christian faith.
- Harry as a Christian. Like any Christian believer, Harry struggles
with temptations and enemies. He is subject to doubts and difficult
moral choices. He senses that there is a higher purpose in his life,
but he does not know what it is. He is seeking to find out. God is not
always at hand to help him, but in the final instance Harry is always
saved by God or some of His servants.
- Power. As a wizard, Harry has the power to do magical things,
but he is forbidden to perform magic among ordinary people. Suffering
the cruelties of his nasty relatives, Harry could easily use his powers
to escape, but he obeys the rules and stays. Jesus was tempted in the
desert to use his supernatural powers for personal gain. Similarly,
Harry is tempted to use his magic for self-aggrandizement, but chooses
not to go that way.
- Voldemort is the evil wizard. Just as satan was originally
an angel who fell, Voldemort was a good wizard who went bad. He was
defeated the very first time he met Harry, but always tries to come
back. As a symbol of evil in the stories, he is more a power than a
physical person: "I only take form when I can become part of someone
else's body... but there have always been those who are willing to let
me into their hearts and minds."
- God is symbolized by Dumbledore, the headmaster of Harry's
wizardry school. He is the greatest magician in the world, and the only
one Voldemort truly fears. Dumbledore usually stays in the background,
watches events and occasionally intervenes carefully to help Harry.
- Good and evil. In the second book, the cunning evil sorcerers
manage to force Dumbledore to leave his job as rector. He accepts this
calmly but declares that he will not be passive: "I shall only really
have left this school when there is no longer anyone here who is loyal
to me. And you shall find that whoever asks for help and support at
Hogwarts will get it." Thus the book deals with the problem of evil
in a very Christian fashion; man has the freedom to shut God out. God
respects such choices. But prayer can create an opening for God to act
in the dark world. Which is exactly what happens when Harry fights Voldemort.
In desperation, he calls for Dumbledore and immediately gets help. The
Son calls to the Father and is answered.
- Race, lineage, fate. A common non-Christian view is that our
lives are ruled by fate. Astrologers say we are ruled by the stars.
Some scientists claim that our genes determine everything; we are born
a certain way, and can't really change anything. Similarly, the world
tells us that race, nationality, family lineage and social position
determine who we are. Some people are better than others because they
are rich, famous, gifted or beautiful.
Rowling emphatically denies all these ideas. In the first book, Harry
Potter is offered membership in a boardingschool house where he would
fit excellently because of his special gifts. That house could help
him achieve his full potential and become a powerful, famous wizard.
But Harry chooses a different house where his prospects are less good
- because he has seen other qualities there which mean more to him than
fame and power. In a key line, Dumbledore explains to Harry how important
it is to choose the right side: "It is our choices in life, Harry, that
show who we really are, much more than any abilities we have been born
with." An excellent lesson in Christian thinking.
- Fight and victory. Harry Potter does not defeat evil with
magic. He is only a schoolboy and his enemies are always much bigger
and more powerful. When Harry still comes out as the winner, it is not
because he is a great magician but because he chooses to act morally
even when it costs. The bad guys always assume that others think selfishly
like themselves, and they underestimate the good people's ability for
self-sacrifice.The theme is Christian: Jesus defeats evil by sacrificing
himself, not by attacking with armies and strength.
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