Harry’s
Last Battles and Rowling’s Beliefs
A Review of Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows
By
Berit Kjos
The Church of England published a guide advising
youth workers how to use Harry Potter to spread the ‘Christian’ message. The
guide, published by Church House Publishing, encouraged youth leaders 
to
use the Harry Potter books and films as a ‘launch pads’ for exploring ‘Christian’
themes.
In an editorial by Abigail BeauSeigneur on a
website devoted to Harry Potter (mugglenet.com) the author states “The story of
Harry Potter is, and always was, a ‘Christian
allegory’ - a fictionalized modern day adaptation of the ‘life of Christ,’ intended to introduce
his character to a new generation....” She continues, “...knowing more about
her [Rowling’s] religious beliefs is not just crucial, not just enormously
significant, but will blow the whole thing open, so that ‘even a 10 year old will be able to figure it
out.’”
Author John Granger, a respected Christian
publisher (Tyndale House), applauds alchemy and sorcery as a pathway to God, “The
Harry Potter novels... address the need... we have for spiritual nourishment in
the form of edifying, ‘imaginative
experience of life in Christ.’”
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. My response:
“Woe to those who call evil good, and
good evil... “ (Isaiah
5:20)
Rowlings a Believer?
“The story of Harry Potter is an allegory,”
observed Peter, a former temple-master in an occult order. “It is written and
packaged to look like fantasy when, in truth, it is a carefully written true
description of the training and work of an initiate in an occult order.” Peter
continues,
“...everything Harry does is an extension of his
belief system. His foundation is in magic through will.
The concept that magic is an extension
of will is a foundational occult
truth and is diametrically opposed to the Christian concept of will
where every born again believer’s individual will is brought into submission
under Christ.”
In spite of this unbridgeable chasm between
occultism and Christianity, Joanne Rowling insists that she is a believer. She
has kept the details of her faith a secret, explaining that such information
would disclose the mysterious ending of her popular series. So when asked if
she was a Christian, she gave this answer:
“Yes, I am, which seems to offend the
religious right far worse than if I said I thought there was no God. Every time
I’ve been asked if I believe in God, I’ve said yes, because I do, but no one
ever really has gone any more deeply into it than that, and I have to say that
does suit me, because if I talk too
freely about that, I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be
able to guess what’s coming in the books.”
Now that the final book is out, there’s no
need to guess. We know the end of the story -- one that supposedly matches the
author’s beliefs. So what does it tell us?
Rowling created a hero with some noble
characteristics. In this last book, Harry willingly gives his life. Responding to a message he
magically received from
Hogwarts’ former Headmaster Dumbledore through
Professor Snape’s memories, the young wizard walks unarmed up to the evil
wizard Voldemort, who points his wand at him and projects a killing curse.
Harry falls down, apparently dead.
He awakens in a large hall. Noticing his own
nakedness, he wishes to be clothed -- and some fitting clothes magically
appear. [See my article A New Mask for an
Ancient Secret] Then Dumbledore (who died in the previous book) arrives and
praises Harry for his courageous sacrifice. Here are some glimpses into their
long, mysterious conversation:
“‘But
you’re dead,’ said Harry.
“‘Oh
yes,’ said Dumbldore matter-of-factly.
“‘Then
... I’m dead too?’
“‘...
on the whole, dear boy, I think not....’
“‘...But
I should have died -- I didn’t defend myself! I meant to let him kill me!’
“‘And
that,’ said Dumbledore, ‘will, I think, have made all the difference.’
Happiness seemed to radiate from Dumbledore....
“So
the part of his soul that was in me. ...has it gone?’
“‘Oh
yes!’ said Dumbledore. “Yes, he destroyed it. Your soul is whole, and
completely your own, Harry.’...
“‘But
if Voldemort used the Killing Curse... and nobody died for me this time — how
can I be alive?’
“‘I
think you know,’ said Dumbledore....
“‘He
took my blood,’ said Harry.
“‘Precisely!’
said Dumbledore. ‘He took your blood and rebuilt his living body with it! Your
blood in his veins, Harry.... He tethered you to life while he lives!’
“‘I
live... while he lives? But I thought... I thought it was the other way round!
I thought we both had to die?’...
“You
were the seventh ‘Horcrux’....
What you must understand, Harry, is that you and Lord Voldemort have journeyed
together into realms of magic hitherto un-known and untested.’” (707-709)
A
Horcrux? What is it? Why is it Important?
Fearing death, Voldemort had hidden pieces of his soul in seven Horcruxes
(containers). By now, Harry and his friends had found and destroyed five of
these magical receptacles. Two were left when Harry’s near-death experience
began.
One was Harry himself. So if Harry had
simply killed his arch-enemy, a piece of Voldemort’s murderous soul would still
be hidden inside Harry. For some time, this soul-link between the supposedly ‘good’
wizard and the evil wizard had given Harry a painful access to Voldemort’s
thoughts and emotions. Only by giving his life could Harry be freed from this
bondage.
Now, the only remaining Horcrux is Nagini,
Voldemort’s huge pet snake. Knowing the challenges ahead, Harry continues
his conversation with Dumbledore:
“‘That
is up to you.’ ....
“‘Tell
me one last thing,’ said Harry. ‘Is this real? Or has this been happening
inside my head?’...
“‘Of
course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that
mean that it is not real?’” (721-722)
Harry chooses to return to his lifeless body
at Voldemort’s feet. After some torturous tests to verify the absence of life,
Voldemort declares that Harry is dead. He will soon realize his error, for the
two rivals have yet another battle to fight. Harry must rise as the ultimate
victor over evil -- bringing peace to a divided realm.
By presenting a counterfeit version of
Biblical salvation, Rowling prompts her readers to imagine a false Christianity
that embraces the occult. To most readers, it will feel true, for such dialectical lies (union of opposites) --
taught through occult systems such as the Kabbalah, Gnosticism, Rosicrucianism,
and Unity -- have now become an accepted way of thinking around the world.
Indeed, what God calls evil, now seems deceptively good!
Only by standing firm on God’s Truth can we
resist such tantalizing deceptions. Yet churches around the world are choosing
to ignore politically incorrect Scriptures such as these: “There shall not be found among you anyone
who... practices witchcraft, or
a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures
spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead [necromancy]. For all who do these
things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the
Lord your God drives them out...” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12) “And you shall be holy
to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that
you should be Mine.” (Leviticus 20:26)
Merging
Opposites: Good and Evil, Light and Dark
As in Old Testament days, today’s world sees
God’s guidelines concerning occult influences as a hindrance to their quest for
mystical thrills. In contrast, blending good and evil makes sense to postmodern
churches. And as Harry and his friend Hermione point out, such compromise
serves the pluralistic vision for “common good.”
John Granger, author of Looking for God
in Harry Potter, may be the most effective promoter of this dialectical
heresy. He puts the entire series into an occult context. Notice the references
to the union of opposites -- and to the occult use of Scriptures -- in Granger’s
quotes:
“...the principal activity of alchemy is the
chemical marriage of the
imbalanced ‘arguing couple’: masculine
sulfur and feminine quicksilver.
These two qualities have to be
reconciled and resolved (die and
be reborn) before then can be rejoined in a perfected golden unity. Opposites have to be reconciled and resolved for there to be a new
life.
“Alchemists frequently cited Christ’s words:
‘...except a corn of wheat fall into
the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth
much fruit.’ (John 12:24)
Alchemists took this verse and the hope of eternal life in Christ’s death
and resurrection as a scriptural confirmation that their doctrines were
correct.” [Page 44]
Those who immerse their minds in Rowling’s
occult message enter into a virtual experience -- not of Christian redemption
-- but of this magical merger of good and evil. God warns us to shun any such ‘common
ground’ between His Truth and the world’s illusions. For, “...what fellowship has righteousness with
lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has
Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the
living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will
be their God, and they shall be My people.’ ‘Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord.” (2
Corinthians 6:14-17) “Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit
is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10)
Rowling’s twisted gospel clouds minds and
corrupts the truth. It pleases man, not God. Yet, even global leaders like Rick
Warren support this pagan movement. His “Ministry Toolbox” newsletter (June 21)
included this promotion by James Emery White:
“Though the seventh and final installment is
yet to be released (July 21, to be exact), when it does, it will be well-worth
reading. Though some would disagree, I am one to put Rowling’s work in the
camp of fantasy literature, along with Lewis and Tolkien, with her use of
magic more mechanical than occultic. I found her earlier six volumes instant
classics of the genre, and the final book will undoubtedly cement 
this
series as among the best written.”
But our friend “Peter” (who left the world
of the occult decades ago), warns us that “It is not only foolish but it is
also dangerous to dismiss the indoctrination of the adventures of Harry Potter
with the excuse, ‘It’s ONLY fiction,’ ‘it’s JUST a book,’ something without a real agenda. The agenda of J. K.
Rowling is very real — she is writing to instill in children a
familiarity with occult ‘truth.’”
The
Nature of Rowling’s Beliefs and Savior
With this final book came the clues to
Rowling’s ‘Christian’ beliefs. Ponder these comparisons:
1.
Reimaging Salvation and Ignoring the Cross
The
true Christ was holy and sinless; Harry Potter was neither. From an occult
perspective, he was a relatively “good” wizard, but his life and
associations model the dark evil forces arrayed against God from the beginning
of time. His powerful magic is an extension of his own will -- exercised not by
faith in God, but by willful projection of an occult power usually channeled
through a magical object. Representing the “beautiful side of evil,” as Johanna
Michelson called it long ago, his supposed likeness to Jesus is a mockery of
our Lord.
Remember how God views occult practitioners:
“...he practiced soothsaying, used
witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil
in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.” (2 Chronicles 33:6)
2.
Triumphing Through Human Effort, Not God’s Grace
The
saving work of the true Christ was finished on the cross. In contrast, Harry
killed Voldemort after his near-death experience. As a wizard, his “good deeds”
relied on human strength and forbidden magical formulas used by sorcerers or
occultists through the ages: mental concentration,
purposeful visualization, and
willful projection of an occult
force -- usually channeled through a magical
object.
“...what
communion has light with darkness? ... ‘Come out from among them and be
separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)
3.
Redefining the Power of the Blood
Christians
are redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish.”
(1 Peter 1:19) But Harry shed no
blood, nor was sin an issue with him. But in today’s postmodern, biblically
illiterate church, Harry is “good enough” and “near death” works as well as
real death. Who cares about the facts, when the fantasy feels so good?
“If
we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do
not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we
have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1
John 1:6-7)
4.
Seeking Help from the Dead, Not God
Unlike
Jesus who knelt in prayer to His Father before facing the cross, Harry met with
the wizards he loved before his false death. His murdered father, mother, and
special friends walked and talked with him before his surrender to Voldemort.
Afterwards, he met with the dead (yet alive) Dumbledore. These encounters
illustrate necromancy -- the forbidden act of communicating with the
dead. Can authors who commend what God
abhors be followers of Christ?
“There
shall not be found among you anyone who... conjures spells, or a medium, or a
spiritist, or one who calls up the
dead...” (Deuteronomy 18:11)
5.
Loving Unholy Forces, Not God’s Holy Ways.
Ultimately,
any comparison between the world of witchcraft and the Kingdom of God is
meaningless. Harry’s actions are accomplished in an occult context that is
abhorrent to our Holy God. The domain of darkness will always clash with God’s
way, truth and life! [See my article God’s
Way versus Our ways] “Abhor what
is evil. Cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)
Conclusion
Since few mythical saviors have more power to draw crowds than Harry
Potter, it’s not surprising that Rowling’s message is praised as a “launch
pad” for “exploring Christian themes.” All the more, we need to be on guard
-- always ready to test what we hear by the light of God’s Word. “Beware
lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the
tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not
according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
God’s
Way to Victory
Unlike Harry’s fans who relish occult
empowerment and magical skills, the friends of Jesus can delight in the peace
and promises of God:
“And
you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also
we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath,
just as the others.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His
great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...
and raised us
up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come He might
show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus. For by grace
you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:1-9)
For
”I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Berit Kjos is a respected researcher, the
author of many books and magazine articles, and a concerned parent (and
grandparent) who has extensively studied religious trends, today’s social
changes, the roots and branches of the United Nations, the rising worldwide
management system, and – most alarming of all -- the transformation of the Church.
Kjos has given workshops and seminars at
conferences such as the Association for Christian Schools International and
CHEA. She has spoken at conferences for such groups as The Steeling of the
Mind, The Constitutional Coalition, Child Evangelism Fellowship and Concerned Women
for America.
Kjos’ book, Brave
New Schools, surveys the scene in today’s
public schools and provides guidelines for parents who are concerned about
their children’s education. Kjos shows how myth, feeling, imagination, and
politically correct stories are replacing truth, facts, logic, and history in
the classroom. She is also the author of A Twist of Faith, Your Child and the New Age, Under the Spell of Mother Earth, and A Wardrobe from the King.
I highly recommend readers visit her website
at www.crossroad.to/.
