Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick

Richard Abanes

Horizon Books, 2001 - Literary Criticism - 275 pages

Harry Potter books are flying off the shelves of secular bookstores at an astonishing rate. Some evangelicals are buying them, too. Should Christian parents be exposing their children to these "wizard-in-training" manuals? Is there a sinister side to Harry Potter and his pals that is spiritually dangerous for young readers?

Characterized by astronomical publishing statistics, controversy and opposing voices, the Potter phenomenon begs the title question of this book: Is it a harmless fantasy or is it a dangerous fascination? The book responds by cataloguing the various forms of occultism included in the first four books, offering scriptural responses and discussing the psychological and spiritual dangers associated with the Rowling volumes.

The latter half of the book includes:
-- an overview of good and evil from the Garden of Eden through cultures ancient and modern
-- a mini-encyclopedia of various occult practices, with special attention to those glamorized in the Potter books
-- an explanation of the difference between the Potter books and those written by C.S. Lewis or Tolkein, for instance.

Finally, the book explains why God has forbidden involvement in the occult and takes a hard look at America's present propensities for the dark side -- a fact the interest in and content of the Potter books all too obviously corroborate.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER: 11
• Sorcery in a Stone A Brief Summary: 13

About the author

Richard Abanes is a freelance journalist and investigative reporter specializing in cults, the occult, world religions, and new religious movements. He is a former cult member but now is a devout Christian. Abanes was a researcher with the Christian Research Institute and founded the Religious Information Center (RIC) of Southern California. He has been a guest on radio and television talk shows including Hard Copy, EXTRA and Rolanda. He has been cited as an expert on religion and cults by the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Waco Tribune-Herald, and Christianity Today. Abanes has authored several books including American Militias: Rebellion, Racism and Religion, Defending the Faith: A Beginner's Guide to Cults and New Religions, Journey into the Light: Exploring Near-Death Experiences, and The Less Traveled Road and the Bible: A Scriptural Critique of the Philosophy of M. Scott Peck. His feature articles, news stories, and video reviews have been published in national magazines, including Bookstore Journal, Christianity Today, Charisma and Christian Life, Ministries Today, and Christian Research Journal.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick; Book 5 of And the Bible series
• Author: Richard Abanes
• Publisher: Horizon Books, 2001
• ISBN: 0889652015, 9780889652019
• Length: 275 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / Children's & Young Adult Literature; Literary Criticism / Horror & Supernatural; Literary Criticism / Subjects & Themes / Religion; Religion / Christian Living / Spiritual Warfare