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News Watch: Topical

How Christian is J.K. Rowlings?
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for November, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA (ANS) -- J. K. Rowling made a recent statement that “Christian inspiration” played a role in her writing of the series of Harry Potter books.

Whatever J K Rowling may say about inspiration for the books, the true judgment of the books should rest on what they themselves present. I don't doubt Ms. Rowling's sincerity, but if it is authentic Christianity that inspired her, would she have created a child hero who practices occult arts that are clearly condemned by God's word? Harry and his friends casts spells, take a class called Divination, communicate with the dead, and learn how to mix magical potions. In fact, they are in school to hone their practice of the occult.
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Outing Dumbledore Sparks Fierce Debate
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for October, 2007

J.K. Rowling is back at the centre of a fierce debate after revealing Harry Potter's mentor is gay

Writer J.K. Rowling's revelation about the gay private life of a dead – and fictional – school headmaster in her popular Harry Potter series of books is conjuring both criticism from those who already wanted the books banned and calm acceptance from those who applaud her for not making it a big deal in the first place.

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Harry, Yoda, and Yoga
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for August, 2007

Harry, Yoda and Yoga
Marsha West

Quicker than you can say “Quiddich” a wizard’s broomstick rocketed to the sky and inscribed a smoke trail message for all the world to see… Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows…has arrived! The long-awaited book was released at the stroke of midnight on July 21, putting an end to the suspense. The Potterites, under Harry’s spell for 10 years, now know his fate.

Parents waited in long lines with their youngsters for hours on end so that little Danielle would have first crack at reading the seventh and final book in J. K. Rowling’s phenomenally successful Harry Potter series.

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Harry Potter and the Fire-Breathing Fundamentalists--Aug. 2
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for August, 2007

(SEE OUR "HARRY POTTER" CATEGORY TO SEE THE DANGER AND DECEPTION OF THIS BOOK SERIES AND FILMS.)

SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses the Harry Potter book series and contains spoilers including the final book just released in bookstores. Do NOT read if you do not want to now how the Harry Potter series ends.

KKLA is the largest Christian talk radio station in America. I hold a dubious record there – I am responsible for causing the largest number of complaint calls the station had ever gotten in a single day. The topic? Harry Potter.

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Why Everybody's Wild About Harry
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

The Harry Potter Sensation

Why everybody's wild about Harry.

This past week my youngest son really kept Shabbos. Don't get me wrong - he keeps Shabbos every week and there's usually no temptation otherwise. But last Shabbos afternoon, the mailman delivered the final installment of the Harry Potter series, and according to Jewish law since it was delivered on Shabbos, he had to wait until sundown to open it. Now that's keeping Shabbos!

What is the attraction of the series? (There must a million blogs trying to answer that question!) Why were so many lining up at midnight for their copy? Across the globe they were clamoring for it. My son in the IDF (when do they have time to read?!) bought a copy Saturday night and it's being passed around the unit since the Hebrew version doesn't come out until December.

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Pottermania in Beatle-esq Style--Matrisciana
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

Pottermania in Beatle-esque style!

author: Caryl 07 24th, 2007

America hasn’t experienced this past weekend’s type of national hysteria since the British “Fab Four” Beatles musical group invaded its shores over 40 years ago. British author of the Harry Potter series, J.K Rowling, may even have topped Beatlemania with her 10 year span of seven books spread over 4,100 pages, sold over 325 million copies worldwide, and published in 62 languages.

Certainly Hollywood’s Warner Bros. were disappointed that the fifth Harry Potter movie “The Order of the Phoenix” (out last week) got robbed of much anticipated dollars after the hype invested in its release. Dan Fellman, head of Warner distribution said fans, “wanted to get that book Saturday, lock themselves in the house and read it, because they didn’t want their other friends by Monday telling them who made it and who didn’t.”
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Harry's Last Battles and Rowlings' Beliefs--Kjos
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

Harry's Last Battles & Rowling's Beliefs

A review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

By Berit Kjos - July 24, 2007

"Days before the release of the seventh and final novel in the series, youth leaders are being told they could use the popularity of the Potter books and films as a 'launch pad' for exploring Christian themes."[1] 'Use Harry Potter to spread Christian message'

"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....

"...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."[2] Abigail BeauSeigneur

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Harry Potter and the End of the Road
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

HUMAN EVENTS

A journey that began over a decade ago, with lines of a story written on napkins at a coffee shop by a woman who was too poor to buy proper paper, finally reached its end this week, with the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which had a record 12 million copy first-run printing), the seventh and final installment in the series about a young orphaned wizard that took the world by storm, reawakening children to the joys of reading and making the author, J.K. Rowling, one of the richest women in the world.
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Hary Potter's God Complex
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

Harry Potter's God complex

By Jeff Diamant
Religion News Service

I had never read a Harry Potter book when an editor buttonholed me with a plea: Would I, a newspaper religion reporter, write about religious imagery in the series?

A force-feeding of all six books ensued. After 3,362 pages and weeks of late nights, I can say I like the series.

I even understand the intrigue that's leading people to bet on the ending — specifically, on whether the young wizard Harry lives or dies in the last volume, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which comes out next Saturday.

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Harry Potter: Harmless Novel or Doorway to Occult?
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

Harry Potter: Harmless Christian Novel or Doorway to the Occult?

CBN.com

CBN.com - With the release of the newest Harry Potter film this week, and the upcoming final book in the series just days away, the debate about Harry Potter is heating up again. Some parents have called for the books to be banned, while others – including some Christians – have embraced the fantasy series. In fact, many fans of the series have argued that the books are actually Christian novels that are valuable for children to read. Author Richard Abanes says this couldn’t be further from the truth.

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The Potter Controversy
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

The views expressed on this page are the opinions of the various authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Broadcasting Network. Leading Christian thinkers have disparate views on the Harry Potter products, and how Christians should respond to them. We have offered several different viewpoints so that you, the reader, can prayerfully decide what is the correct response for your family. View Full Article

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The Deadly Magic of Potter Movies--Kjos
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2007

The Deadly Magic of Potter Movies

The Order of the Phoenix is not "just fantasy!"

by Berit Kjos - 2007

"...it can't be much darker - or more dramatic - than the challenge the young wizard faces with the re-emergence of Lord Voldemort.... Claiming to have seen the mysterious Voldemort, Harry is met with disbelief and derision ... and the suspicion that he's a liar rapidly spreads through the school. More than ever before, the thing that makes Harry special also makes him an outcast."[1] Movie review

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Potter Final Book: Can Anyone Fill the Void?--USA Today - June 17
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

(NOTE: SEE OUR "HARRY POTTER" CATEGORY FOR EXTENSIVE INFORMATION AND CAUTION.)

The book of the summer?

It's a no-brainer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling's grand finale.

It all starts — and ends — when a record-breaking 12 million copies go on sale July 21 at midnight.

Booksellers know what they're in for.

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Witchcraft Conspiracy Widens
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

In one month, witches and wizards will flock to bookstores and movie theaters to honor their leader, Harry Potter. While their summer gatherings should be peaceful enough, no one should be fooled into thinking we non-magic folk are safe.

Soon the wizarding community will direct its network of evildoers from a new, grand training ground in Orlando. That's right: Florida harbors sorcerers.

In 2009, "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will open just blocks away from Disney World, a haven for thousands of children.

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A Summer of Potter
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

Summer of Potter: A Book, A Movie, and a Theme Park
This post was written by Laura Smith on 1 June, 2007

Harry Potter fans all over are saving both their allowance and their excitement for what will prove to be a huge summer for the franchise. Not only is the fifth movie based on the books, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” set to premiere on July 3, but the seventh and final book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will be released on July 21. Now there is talk that Potter author J.K. Rowling has approved the creation of a Harry Potter theme park set to open in Orlando, Florida in 2009. With the boy wizard having become the most popular fictional character around, Mickey Mouse should be
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New Potter Film to Open
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- Good news for Harry Potter fans marking off the days to the release of the boy wizard's next movie.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth movie based on the best-selling books, will open in North American theatres July 11, two days earlier than previously scheduled.
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More on Potter Theme Park
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

TOLDJA SO! Harry Potter 'Theme Park Within A Theme Park' Announced by Warner & Universal (See First Peek) View all information

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Harry Potter Theme Park to Open
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2007

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Libraries Must Follow Rules of Secrecy to Get New Potter Book--Fox
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for April, 2007

The publisher of the new Harry Potter novel has strict rules for libraries handling the book this summer.

Among them: Libraries must limit the number of employees who handle the books before the July 21 release and provide names and contact information for each branch manager, according to the contract from Scholastic Inc.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the final book in J.K. Rowling's popular series about the boy wizard.

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Another New Potter Book in July
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for February, 2007

LONDON (AP) — Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last of seven installments of the boy wizard's adventures, will be published July 21, author J.K. Rowling said Thursday.

Rowling announced the publication date on her website.

Bloomsbury, her British publisher, said it would publish a a children's hardback edition, an adult hardback, a special gift edition and an audio book on the same day.

Bloomsbury noted that this year is the 10th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
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Witch School to Open
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for August, 2006

In the "Harry Potter" series, the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sits in a mystical Scotland location, shrouded by magic that hides it from unknowing humans.

Starting next week, in the unlikeliest of places, a real witch school will open its doors to the public in a place known as the Sweet Corn Capital of the World.

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Potter Influence Goes Unchallenged in Most Homes and Churches
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for August, 2006

Harry Potter’s Influence Goes Unchallenged in Most Homes and Churches

(Ventura, CA) – Each generation has its popular legends and heroes – from Superman to G.I. Joe, and Rambo to Luke Skywalker. Through the years, these stories and many others have formed a type of American mythology.

One of the country’s newest heroes is Harry Potter, the coming-of-age wizard who stars in J.K. Rowling’s imaginary world. Featured in a decade-long stream of novels and movies, the child wizard has generated a massive following among today’s youngest Americans. According to a study conducted by the Barna Group, exposure to Harry Potter – including reading at least one book or watching at least one movie – has doubled in the last three years. Currently, more than four out of every five teenagers (84%) have personally read or watched Potter.

Missing in Action?

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Harry Does His Magic--Christianity Today
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for November, 2005

Harry Does His Magic. Is That Good or Bad?

Harry Potter is back on the big screen—and already the fourth-best opening film of all time, at $102.3 million. And right along with it, the ongoing debate among Christians—including film critics—about the merits of J. K. Rowling's increasingly popular literary and cinematic phenomenon has begun again

How does Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire measure up to the other films in the series? Most critics say it's either the best or second-best, praising director Mike Newell for adding richness and depth to such mainstream entertainment. But they also agree that, as Harry grows up, the films are dealing with problems that require more mature sensibilities. Thus, Goblet of Fire earns its PG-13 rating, with some truly frightening sequences.

Peter T. Chattaway (Christianity Today Movies) focuses on how the series and its central figures are changing. "As our characters have grown up, so has their sense of humor, which relies less on gross-out gags and more on gags that aim below the belt. … But there are also moments of quiet, tender sorrow and joy … However … the film completely fumbles the ball at the most crucial moment." He goes on to criticize the climactic sequence of the film.

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The Harry Potter Controversy--CBN
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2005

Some Harry Potter fans have argued that the books are Christian novels that are valuable for children to read. In a recent interview, Author Richard Abanes says this couldn’t be further from the truth.
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Harry Potter Mania is Sweeping the World
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2005

New York - One month before the release of the sixth volume in JK Rowling's hugely successful Harry Potter series, online retailer Amazon.com said on Wednesday that advance orders had topped the half-million mark.

A total of 568 000 copies of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince have been ordered online and at US syndicated store sites, such as Borders.com, Amazon said in a statement.
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Harry Potter Occult Warnings
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2005

A teachers' leader has warned young Harry Potter fans about the risks of "dabbling" in the darker side of the occult.
As the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is about to appear on cinema screens across the United Kingdom, a warning about the dangers of the supernatural has been issued by Peter Smith, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.

According to Mr Smith, children who had enjoyed the magic and wizardry of the stories should be careful about extending their interest in the occult
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Harry Potter: What's in a Name?
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for May, 2005

Understand The Times Radio Commentary
by Roger Oakland
www.understandthetimes.org

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Everyone is talking about Harry Potter. Suddenly, the name Potter is synonymous with terms like wizards, goblins, witches and sorcery. The world is fascinated by this character, born in the imagination of author J.K. Rowling. How did she come up with the name Potter? Is there more to the name that would be important to know?

Someone once told me, researching is about connecting the dots. First you gather information. After this information has been assimilated and evaluated, associations are then made. Once in awhile, something clicks and an idea comes together that is important. Recently this happened to me.

For years I have been following the rising interest in the supernatural and how Satan has been seducing our generation. When the Harry Potter phenomenon hit, it was just another example. Being occupied with other research, I placed Harry Potter on the shelf. But now this has changed. Harry Potter is extremely dangerous and people must be warned. This is why.

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New Potter Book Out in July, 2005
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for December, 2004

December 21, 2004

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Already a #1 Bestseller

It's been less than 12 hours since the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and publication is more than 200 days away (see countdown above), and the book is already the #1 Bestseller at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Thanks Jutti! (Click below for screencaps, provided by Jutti.)

Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble

Earlier today, a Dutch fan site e-mailed to say that Scholastic told them that Half-Blood Prince was 38 chapters long; we've just had word from a Scholastic rep that the e-mail was "an error," and that "the book is just beginning the editing process and we will announce number of chapters later."

posted by Melissa Anelli at 03:09 PM - (Top of the page)
Comments (33) / TrackBack (0) Terms of Use
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Good for Business

Today's news of a release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is good for business, at least those in the bookselling business. MSNBC has this report with a quote from an official from Barnes & Noble who said:

"Sales from the last Harry Potter book grossed as much as a major Hollywood movie in its first week of release," Steve Riggio, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble, said in a statement Tuesday.

"We expect this next book in the series to make publishing history once again. We've already collected 500,000 e-mail requests from our customers waiting to be notified of the date of the next book so this announcement is very welcome news for readers everywhere."

Meanwhile stock prices for the publishers of the Harry Potter books went up today as a result of the announcement of a release date.

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J.K. Rowling Interview--BBC
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for October, 2004

JK Rowling interview in full

The full transcript of Jeremy Paxman's exclusive Newsnight interview with Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, broadcast on BBC Two on Thursday 19 June.
JP: So this is it?

JKR: This is it.

JP: Are we allowed to look inside it?

JKR: Hmmmm. Yes a bit. You can have a look there... yes so, that's it.

JP: How many pages

JKR: 766... All with writer's block, which I think you'll agree is a bit of an achievement.

JP: But do you find the whole secrecy issue, the need for secrecy, a bit ridiculous?

JKR: No.

JP: Why not?

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White House Christmas Theme: Harry Potter
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for December, 2003

Note from Bill:

The following is an excerpt of Larry King's interview of Laura Bush.

KING: We're going to conclude tonight's special edition of LARRY KING LIVE with two segments devoted to the wonderful, beautiful way they've done the White House for Christmas this year, and the first lady continues with us. We're in the East Room.

BUSH: That's right, the East Room. And as you know, the theme is the season of stories. And so we have "Harry Potter" here.

"Harry Potter" has really made kids read. Little boys are really reading "Harry Potter" all around the country. And I think that's terrific.

KING: The world.

BUSH: Around the world, absolutely. I read them all this summer.

KING: You did?

BUSH: And I loved them.

KING: I have no surprise that storybook would be your theme somehow. What do you love about him?

BUSH: Well, I just love how imaginative J.K. Rowling is. That the stories are very creative. They're actually pretty adult. They're also great for adults to read, especially as you get on into the fifth volume. But I loved it this summer.

I had all five of them to read, because I never started them before. So I had her whole body of work to read at once in the summer.

KING: Did you supervise the whole setup of this?

BUSH: I supervised the whole thing. We picked the theme, the season of stories. And of course I picked the stories that I love best.

BUSH: We're here at the really magnificent gingerbread house. This is always spectacular, every year that Roland (ph) has done it, which has been for what, 28 years?

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Potter Author Wealthiest In History
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for November, 2003

Harry Potter author JK Rowling is the best paid author in history, according to a list of Britain's top earners.
Rowling, currently writing the sixth Potter book, earned L125m last year - the equivalent of L388 for each word in this year's Order of the Phoenix.

The author, whose has sold 230m books worldwide, came fifth in the Sunday Times list of the UK's top 500 earners.

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Potter And Christian Worldviews Clash
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2003

POTTER WORLDVIEW NOT COMPATIBLE WITH CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW
By Jan Markell

"Pottermania" is back this summer, thanks to J.K. Rowlings newest book, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." If this is not a problem in your household, count your blessings! It is in millions of both Christian and non-Christian homes where there is a "Potter obsession." Kids are "bewitched" with Harry, pun intended. The books have sold 200 million copies in 55 languages. The author ranks in wealth with the Queen of England from the sale of books, movies, trinkets, etc. Rowlings is now worth over $500 million. How has she done it? By seducing kids. O.K., now a bundle of you are mad at me. Go ahead and be that way. If I can spare one kid from being lured into the evil world of the occult, I can live with a few of you thinking I'm a fanatic.

The fifth book was released at Midnight on Summer Solstice, June 21. Coincidence? No. This whole series is so shrouded with the blatant occult and occult symbolism that this was anticipated long ago. The Solstice dates are big with today's pagans, witches, and Satanists. These dates often require a blood sacrifice that night as has been the case with Solstice dates for centuries.

Visit a bookstore on the night of the release of one of these books, although now you'll have to wait a while. If there is absolutely no occult link to Potter, why are small children asked to stay up past Midnight? Why do the kids, parents, and store personnel dress in diabolical costumes glorifying witchcraft? And some of you Christian parents, why are you among them all dressed the same, going along with this evil marketing scheme that glorifies only the world of darkness when we are to be beacons of light? Aren't we supposed to expose the deeds of darkness and not participate in them? (Eph. 5:11)

Both Christian and non-Christian parents tell me that Potter is harmless fantasy, allegory, and that it's getting kids to read. They will argue that kids are smart enough to know the difference between fantasy and reality, but are they? How about all the kids in the world who are into Potter and who are also spiritually illiterate? Harry is their worldview. If it's real in Harry's world, then what happens in his world can happen in theirs. I have dozens of quotes from kids confirming this. They long to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, but as with Santa Claus, when told it doesn't exist, many sink into a depression or refuse to believe it.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is 870 pages long. That should keep kids mesmerized all summer and beyond, as many of them read it up to a half-dozen times. In this book Potter and friends are now in their fifth year of occult training at Hogwarts. They're much more sophisticated in their understanding of the dark arts and more rebellious towards authorities. They continue to lie, steal, cheat, break the rules, and often get rewarded for that behavior. They are engaged in blatant evil, but since Harry is the hero, he represents "good evil." So we have "good evil battling bad evil", or as some would say, "good witchcraft defeating bad witchcraft." In the end the winner is witchcraft and evil! If Harry has to use stronger, meaner witchcraft to win in any conflict, that is just great. Bring it on: "Advanced Witchcraft 401." Much of what is happening in all of Potter takes place in the real world of the occult. That's what your kids are reading.

Sadly, some kids who don't really want to go along with this mayhem often face rejection from their peers; thus Christian kids and parents compromise their faith and ignore legions of Scripture verses that tell us to flee all things occultic. Popularity with peers often trumps Biblical mandates. What starts out as seemingly harmless fun at a young age could mean that same child is totally lured into the dangerously dark world of evil a decade from now. It's that old "slippery slope" and those slopes never tilt upward.

So parents, beware. You are being seduced, too. You could even have some literal blood on your hands some day. Sensationalistic? No,welcome to the occult-saturated 21st Century. The devil wants to get his licks in while he still has some time left, and he knows it is running out. Mom and dad, if you don't act, Harry Potter will seduce more kids than the Beatles and Star Wars combined. And J.K. Rowlings knows it in spite of her denials that she has any occult knowledge.

Let the buyer beware. Eternity could even be at stake.

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Real Life Witch Becomes Part of "Shared Universe" With Harry Potter
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2003

Harry Potter: The witch's view

Real-life witch Marysia Kolodziej, from Tooting, south London, was one of the first to pick up the new Harry Potter book at midnight. Here, the 27-year-old introduces herself, before she reviews The Order of the Phoenix.
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The Occult and Harry Potter: Ankerberg
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2003

The Occult and Harry Potter

Many critics have said that no actual occult practices or teachings can be found in the Harry Potter books. Others have said that, while there may be things that resemble actual occult practices, they are harmless.

We believe that both statements are incorrect. We believe that readers, including children, are finding out about genuine occult rituals and, in fact, are being shown that these practices have actual power they can learn to use in their own lives
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Questions About Harry Potter: Ankerberg
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for July, 2003

1. What is Witchcraft?

If we want to determine whether or not the Harry Potter books are presenting the principles of Witchcraft, we need to define what Witchcraft is. The Encyclopedia of Witches & Witchcraft states: "Witchcraft is not unified or cohesive by any means. There's no central authority or liturgy. Various traditions have their own rituals, philosophy, and belief.... It has become increasingly acceptable to initiate oneself into the Craft and practice alone rather than as part of a coven...."

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Rowlings Taps Into Spiritual Purification, Illumination,and Perfection
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2003

J.K. Rowling, Inkling?

Harry Potter froze in terror as the hellish Dementors rushed to suck out his godfather's soul.

But he was not powerless, because he had learned the Patronus Charm for use against the evil ones. So the boy wizard focused on a joyful memory and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"

Salvation arrived in the form of a dazzling silver animal that defeated the ghouls and then cantered across the surface of a lake to Harry. It was as "bright as a unicorn," but on second glance was not a unicorn. It was a majestic stag that bowed its antlered head in salute and then vanished.

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Paganism, Witchcraft On Rise In UK - Harry Potter Boosts Membership - "MSNBC"
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2003

Paganism, witchcraft on rise in UK

TV shows, Internet, Harry Potter boost membership
White witch Kevin Carlyon is seen performing an invocation on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland in an attempt to summon the Loch Ness Monster, on June 13.

LONDON, June 19 - Paganism and the ancient art of witchcraft are on the rise in Britain, experts said on Thursday as the summer's most celebrated Pagan festival approached.

TELEVISION, THE INTERNET, environmentalism and even feminism have all played a role in the resurgence, they say.

Soaring Pagan numbers have churches worrying and calling for stricter controls on cult TV programs and films that celebrate sorcery like "Harry Potter," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch."

Record attendance is expected at dawn on Saturday morning at the mystical megaliths of Stonehenge, where Pagans have celebrated the summer solstice for thousands of years.

The trend has worried some of the Protestant church's more traditional elements.

"The rise of interest in Paganism is damaging because it normalizes spiritual evil by presenting it as mere fantasy and fiction," said Reverend Joel Edwards of the Evangelical Alliance, a grouping of some one million UK Christians.

Who's going to die in Harry Potter?

"The Evangelical Alliance calls on government and TV regulatory bodies to monitor programs which promote or glamorize Pagan issues," he told Reuters.
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Thirty thousand are expected to dance in the sunrise on summer's longest day at Stonehenge, says English Heritage, which manages the site, nearly four times the number in 1990, when it re-opened to the public after many years.

Scholars believe the ring of 20-ton stones was built between 3,000 and 1,600 BC as a sacred temple. Many of the revelers will be there just to party, but among them will be druids, who believe in spiritual enlightenment through nature, and witches who practice Wicca, harnessing nature's power as magic.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is the boy-wizard star of author J.K. Rowling's series of children's books by the same name. The character is orphaned as an infant when an evil nemesis murdered his wizard parents. Harry survives, living with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, unaware of the legend surrounding his childhood. A mysterious invitation arrives on his 11th birthday, inviting him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The movie follows Harry during his first year at the school, where he discovers the world of magic.

Hermione (Emma Watson) is booksmart and bossy. She is the first in her family to discover magic. She is unusual because she has the gift of magic but was born to non-magical parents, or mere muggles. Professors at the school consider her a star pupil who plays by the rules and tutors others. Classmates often see her as a know-it-all (some ridicule her for her muggle roots), but she's loyal and fearless when it comes to her friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.

Ron (Rupert Grint) comes from a long line of wizards, most of them distinguished alumni of Hogwarts. The Weasleys are poor, so Ron wears hand-me-down robes to class. He befriends Harry Potter and Hermoine Granger in his first year at magic school. Ron isn't the brightest student; he's often more interested in chess and Quidditch than controlling his powers.

Draco (Tom Felton) is a sly young student at Hogwarts from a rich and aristocratic wizard family. His prominent father hides a dark past and Draco takes an immediate disliking to Harry Potter and friends. Draco and his loyal sidekicks do their best to make life miserable for Harry.

Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) is a gentle half-giant, twice as tall as the average man. Once a student at Hogwarts, he is now the groundskeeper. Hagrid teaches a course on magical creatures, like dragons, which is a personal passion that also gets him in deep trouble. Despite his rough edges, Hagrid is loyal and protective of Harry Potter.

Dumbledore (Richard Harris) is the headmaster of Hogwarts School and one of the world's leading wizards. Wise and omniscient, Dumbledore is more than 150 years old. He invited Harry Potter to attend Hogwarts and keeps a protective eye on his prize pupil, in part because Harry?s origins make him a target for the evil Voldemort (He-Who-Cannot-Be-Named).

Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith) is the stern, demanding deputy headmistress of Hogwarts. She is loyal to headmaster Dumbledore and teaches transfiguration, a magical ability that allows her to transform into a cat. Like any good witch, she assigns plenty of homework -- and punishment -- to misbehaving students.

Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) is the enigmatic potions professor at Hogwarts who would rather dabble in the Dark Arts. He intimidates students, particularly Harry Potter. Snape heads Slytherin House, a dormitory of students grouped by similar traits.

Quirrell (Ian Hart) is a young and seemingly sickly Hogwarts teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts, a class that shows students how to resist malevolent magic. Quirrell always wears a turban. He is a distinguished wizard with a passion for literature, but also a cohort of Professor Snape.

Harry Potter lives outside London with his aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley (Richard Griffiths). They find Harry a constant irritation and embarrassment because strange things always seem to happen when he's around and they?d rather not think about why that is. Their son, Dudley (Harry Melling), is a portly and spoiled bully who constantly picks on Harry.

The Dursley home

Harry Potter lives with his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, at Number 4 Privet Drive in Little Whinging just outside London. Petunia keeps the house impeccably clean for her family. The fireplace has been boarded up and replaced with an electric fire, symbolic of just how different the Dursleys are from wizard folk.

Kings Cross Station

Aspiring magicians must catch the Hogwarts Express to school at Kings Cross Station in London. The train arrives at platform Nine and Three-Quarters, accessible only by running full speed through a wall between platforms nine and 10.

Diagon Alley

Only wizards know about a secret passage to this magic bazaar hidden in a London alley. Those who enter can walk the cobbled street shopping for spell books, potions and Quidditch supplies. Harry travels here to buy witchcraft school staples such as a cauldron, messenger owl, flying broom and the all-important custom-fit wand.

Hogsmeade

This picturesque village of thatched cottages and shops is the only wizard-only town in Britain. It's located across the lake from Hogwarts and is the last stop on the Hogwarts Express train, which carries young wizards and witches off to school. Students stop by Hogsmeade for magical treats, gags and clothes.

Hogswart Castle

Avid Harry Potter fans speculate that Hogwarts Castle, which houses Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is somewhere in Scotland. It's a magical place invisible to muggle eyes. The ominous and sprawling castle sits atop a cliff overlooking a lake. Inside is a maze of dungeons, classrooms, secret passages and hidden lairs. Students live in dormitories inside the castle's towers.

Forbidden Forest

A large, dark wooden refuge for dangerous magical creatures lies just west of Hogwarts Castle. It's a dangerous place, even for wizards, and Hogwarts students are strictly forbidden from entering. The half-giant Hagrid lives in a hut at the forest's edge and moves fearlessly among trolls, werewolves and giant spiders lurking in the trees.

Arithmancy: Foreseeing the future using
a mathematical foundation.

Asphodel: A powered root used in potions.

Bezoar: An antidote to a poisonous potion.

Fidelius: A complex spell to hide somebody inside the memory of a faithful friend so that this person cannot be found by anybody but this person.

Golden snitch: The ball that Quidditch players try to capture. It's is very fast and difficult to catch.

Knut: The bronze currency of wizards.

Ministry of Magic: The London-based quasi-governmental agency responsible for hiding the Wizarding World
from everyday citizens.

Mirror of Erised: A magical mirror that reflects
the looker's desires.

Muggles: Non-wizards, non-magical people. Examples are Harry's aunt and uncle, the Dursleys.

Parseltongue: The language of snakes.

Quidditch: A wizard sport in which two teams compete on flying broomsticks. There are seven players on each team and four balls (about the size of soccer balls). It ends after the "snitch" (a ball) is caught.

Sorting ceremony: An event that takes place upon entrance to Hogwarts to divide students into four groups: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The sorting depends on the character of each student, which is divined by a magical sorting hat. Students live and study with others in their group throughout their time at the school.

Reports from London say some youngsters were snoozing by hour 2 of the new Harry Potter film. Avoid that scenario by following these tips from Robin F. Goodman, clinical associate professor at New York University's School of Medicine and director of www.AboutOurKids.org and Public Education Programs at the NYU Child Study Center.
Follow that biological clock: Go when your child is likely to stay awake -- after some fresh air, after a nap, before a big meal.

Get your child involved: Talk about the story and characters ahead of time.

Let your child be the "reviewer": Offer some questions to think about during the movie, to discuss afterward.
Plan ahead for sagging energy: Bring along a favorite quiet game, drawing materials or snacks.

Make sure your child is dressed comfortably.
Remember: You can always see the movie again: Bathroom runs, a dozing child and other interruptions may mean some missed scenes. Don't let them spoil the fun.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP

At least 10,000 Pagan witches and 6,000 Pagan druids were practicing in Britain at the last estimate in 1996, said history professor Ronald Hutton at Bristol University. He too suggested the number was rising. "Both the witches and the druids were always heavily outnumbered by what I'd call non-attached Pagans," he told Reuters. "There are perhaps 100,000 to 120,000 in Britain."

Paganism has been rising in the UK since the 1950s, Hutton said. "It's a religion that meets modern needs," he added. "Traditional religions have so many prohibitions: Thou shalt not do this or that. But Paganism has a message of liberation combined with good citizenship."

He pointed to the ancient Pagan motto: "An (if) it harm none, do what you will."

Matt McCabe of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) said his order had grown from a few hundred in the late 1980s to 7,000 worldwide today. Much of the growth he put down to the appeal of remote learning via the World Wide Web.

"People are very reassured by the structured learning we can offer via the Web," he said.

The 1970s environmental movement also had an impact, said McCabe, with a lot of environmentalists attracted to Paganism because of its veneration of nature.

Hutton said feminism in the 1980s had a similar effect, with women drawn to the female god-figure that is also worshipped. Then in the 1990s came the TV programs "Buffy" and "Sabrina," about teenagers with supernatural powers.

"Anything that makes teenage girls feel powerful is bound to go down well," joked OBOD?s McCabe.

Kevin Carlyon, High Priest of British White Witches said "Harry Potter" in recent years had continued the trend, helping create what he called "the fastest growing belief system in the world." But it was not all good, he added.

Fresh back from a trip to Scotland to lift an old hex from the Loch Ness Monster, he warned teenagers against joining witch covens too young.

"There are some bloody weird people out there," he said.

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Most Evangelicals Like Harry Potter - Christianity Today
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2003

Weblog: Most Evangelicals Like Harry Potter. Really.

We still like Harry Potter,and we're getting tired of being asked why we hate it.

Yesterday, Weblog got a call from MSNBC's Buchanan and Press show. They were putting together a segment on Christians' response to the Harry Potter books since the fifth book in the series is being released Saturday. The booking producer had heard that Christianity Today had published some articles about the books. Would we be interested in talking about them?

Certainly, Weblog said, and directed the producer to this page, which has all of our Harry Potter coverage (as well as articles from our sister publications) neatly arranged in chronological order. I summarized our point of view: we like the Potter series because . . .

Sorry, she interrupted. We're looking for someone who opposes the books. That's not you, huh?

No. That's not us. It's not much of anyone,as we've repeatedly explained, criticism of Harry Potter is coming (indeed, has always come) from individual parents. There's no organizational opposition to Potter,even from groups that comment on just about every issue under the sun.

Too bad television news rarely cares about what's really going on in the world. If the producer had done a simple Google search, she would have found a great article from Reuters.

"The evil Lord Voldemort may still have it in for the boy wizard, but the lawyers, preachers and family groups seem ready to give it a rest," writes Broward Liston, who usually reports on space matters. In fact, he notes, "many conservative Christians have come to embrace the books, in part drawn by a portrayal of evil that has grown increasingly sophisticated, almost Biblical, with each book."

Even former critics of the book are silent this time around. "I've moved on. I have other things to do," says Richard Abanes, author of Harry Potter and the Bible. "Within the Christian media and the Christian community, there is much less vocal response to this new book. I don't particularly think we're going to see any more huge book burnings and demonstrations and lawsuits and things like this. I think everybody already knows where they stand on Harry Potter."

That's not to say that there aren't evangelicals who aren't concerned about whether the Potter books will encourage kids to try witchcraft, especially with articles like this claiming that the books are, at least in part, responsible for a surge in paganism in the U.K. But if shows like Buchanan and Press send camera crews to show book burnings Saturday night, they'll be very lonely.

Nightline examines preaching evangelical teens
Okay, having let off some steam about television news, it's time for Weblog to calm down and praise ABC's Nightline, which daily demonstrates that serious reporting can be done for television. In a two-night Nightline series called "The Messengers," the network returns to a subject it hasn't done much with since it laid off religion reporter Peggy Wehmeyer two years ago

The program, which begins tonight, follows the American Association of Christian Schools preaching competition at Bob Jones University, and by all accounts it's very good.

"What makes this story such an inspired choice for Nightline is the window it gives into what is not just a belief system for tens of millions of Americans, but a way of life," says the Kansas City Star's Aaron Barnhart. "These young men embody a dilemma faced by evangelicals. They want to follow a godly path in a society that has a very different idea of success."

That was the whole point, says executive producer Leroy Sievers. "Our goal with this series is not only to tell a great story but to begin to pay more attention to a large community in this country that often goes uncovered," the Rocky Mountain News quotes him saying.

They succeed in that goal, says the Chicago Tribune's Steve Johnson. "Religion in general and evangelical Christianity in particular are rarely covered in mass media, unless somebody has been caught in an act of blatant hypocrisy," he writes. "Nightline's achievement here is to take us into this world when it is behaving in a fashion closer to the norm. . . . Nightline's hard-bitten Washington insiders paint their portrait of these teens and their backgrounds with compassion, with an honest search for understanding and, yes, with grace."

Perhaps Nightline's smartest decision was to avoid narration, says Elizabeth Jensen of the Los Angeles Times. "It's a world some viewers are sure to find intriguing and others will find controversial- some of the subjects in the report say so themselves-but what we don't hear is any kind of judgment, outside commentary or even basic journalistic 'here's what critics think' questioning about the boys and their calling."

Some articles make it clear that television is hurting from the lack of religion reporters like Wehmeyer, whose job it would be to find compelling stories like this. The idea for this series didn't come from anyone at ABC News, but from commercial producer Matthew Kaufman, who attended the preaching competition in 2001.

"It's high time we started doing more" reports on the evangelical community, Sievers told the Los Angeles Times. Maybe this will be the start of it, says The Baltimore Sun, noting that observers think religion coverage is improving in public broadcasting and the print media. "There have been great strides in the complexity and diversity of the kinds of coverage," Religion Newswriters Association Executive Director Debra L. Mason tells the paper.

A few other papers cover the competitors profiled in the Nightline broadcast, but Weblog won't spoil the ending.

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Boy Wizard Changing Teens Into Witches
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2003

JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY
Boy wizard changing teens into witches?
Wiccan group says Potter books boost interest in witchcraft

Posted: June 11, 2003

(c) 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Harry Potter books have helped increase interest in witchcraft around the world, say representatives of a Wiccan group sponsoring a witch convention in Scotland this summer.

The Wiccan group, Children of Artemis, has coordinated this year's local gathering of witches to be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

"There is a growing interest in the Wiccan religion, and there are thousands of us already in Scotland," organizer Pauline Reid told the London Sunday Mail.

"Harry Potter has also had a positive effect. But we don't let anybody join until they are 18."

Filmmaker and occult expert Caryl Matrisciana spoke with WorldNetDaily about her documentary covering Harry Potter's influence on children.

The video documentary details numerous similarities between the spells and magic used by Harry Potter and those used in the witchcraft of the Wiccan religion. Such striking similarity, said Matrisciana, is evidence that the author, J.K. Rowling, has meticulously researched Wicca and included its tenets in her children's books.

Some children who read the books, often more than once, may find themselves attracted to the magical world Harry lives in, she said. In attempting to create their own spells and charms, kids may turn to other books that teach witchcraft.

The boom in witchcraft has also been attributed to teen-agers watching TV shows like "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and "Charmed."

As WorldNetDaily reported, a 2002 study by Barna Research Group Ltd. indicates 86 percent of kids watch supernatural-themed movies or television shows on a regular basis.

Mark Matlock, minister with Wisdom Works Ministries and commissioner of the study, told WND there is a relationship between those who are drawn into the Harry Potter craze and those who have experimented in occult-type activities, but he says it doesn't necessarily mean the Harry Potter influence always causes kids to delve into witchcraft.

Scotland's "Witchfest" will take place at Langside Halls in Glasgow next month, and a Europe-wide gathering will take place in London in November. The Children of Artemis say it will be the largest European witchcraft and Wicca event in recorded history.

The group touts the coming Witchfest as "an amazing event, with talks, workshops, stalls and great entertainment."

"My greatest concern is that godly fear that protects mankind from dabbling in the spirit world is being taken away from children who read these Harry Potter books. The terrors and horrors of black magic and occult practice, rituals, ceremonies and demon possession are being normalized," Matrisciana said.

"Alarmingly, the Potter books are engaging in pagan discipleship, disciplining our children to spiritual alternatives and also turning them away from the biblical principles and God's protection."

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The Video of Understanding - Occult Fantasy.
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for June, 2003

A video about WHY ANYONE,especially children,should think twice before picking up these occult fantasy books. Watch this video FIRST before you decide to buy the books or go to the movie. (Click on the picture to read the video cover description.)

Most folks find Harry and his adventures in the fantasy world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft to be a lot of fun. But are they right? Is it just fantastic fun with a little Halloween spookiness worked in? If not, then this literary series could be a fun-filled correspondence course in the subtle evils of the occult in disguise. In short, Harry Potter could be very dangerous for any reader's spiritual health.

The occult fantasy of the Harry Potter stories is full of genuine pagan spirituality as actually practiced in witchcraft (Wicca) and sorcery. Using a "talk show" format illustrated with many graphic references, Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries interviews veteran education consultant Wendell Amstutz, President of the National Community Resource Center, and William Schnoebelen, who ministers to those suffering from occult addiction. Featuring the personal experiences of these commentators with the occult, this video gives viewers solid answers to important questions concerning the Harry Potter book and movie entertainment series.

While the video focuses on the Harry Potter books and movie, it also conversationally presents important Christian concepts and principles that should be applied to all entertainment choices. The printed supplements included with this video summarize the main points presented and also provide materials for further study, including Bible verses and Harry Potter page references for the over 60 occult practices and beliefs found in the first four books.

You'll find this video in our catalog

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Harry Potter, Christ Figure?
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for May, 2003

Professional Harry watchers on whether J.K. Rowling's hero is meant to resemble Christ

For the release of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Beliefnet invited a group of experts to discuss the Potter phenomenon. One topic: did Harry's creator, J.K. Rowling, intend the similarities our group found between Harry and Jesus?
Authors often give fictional heroes Christ-like attributes--Billy Budd's death on the yardarm, Hemingway's old fisherman shouldering his mast--to give them mythical depth. Is Harry a Christ figure? The answer may dictate how we think about him--and tell us what to expect from upcoming books.

View Full Article: http://www.beliefnet.com/frameset.asp?pageLoc=/story/116/story_11681_1.html

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Study: Potter Readers More Occultic
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for March, 2003

Research finds teen-age devotees interested in witchcraft.

By Mandi Steele
(c) 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
Teen-agers who have read Harry Potter books or have seen the Harry Potter movie were more likely to have experimented with psychic or occult activities than those teens who had not, a recent study found.

Results from a survey given in late March on teens and the supernatural are still being released by WisdomWorks Ministries, an organization that holds nationwide conferences for teen-agers and parents on "how to view life from God's perspective." WisdomWorks is calling the results that have been determined thus far "significant."

View Full Article: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28124

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Harry Potter, Sorcery and Fantasy
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for February, 2003

By Marcia Montenegro
Written June, 2000
Harry Potter is a character in a series of books written by J. K. Rowling about a young boy who discovers he is really a wizard, in other words, a sorcerer. Four books have come out in the Harry Potter series, with 3.8 million copies of the fourth book being released in the U.S. on July 8, 2000. Worldwide, 35 million copies of the first three books are in print, with about half of total sales in the U.S.

Rowling has been hailed as a clever, imaginative writer whose books have enticed children into reading again. This is no doubt true. However clever or imaginative the stories are, they do center on a character who is learning the arts of sorcery and witchcraft. One defense, or minimization of the sorcery in the Harry Potter books, is that the stories are just a normal part of a child's fantasy world. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis are often brought up as examples. But are Tolkien and Lewis the standard for discernment? Even so, Lewis did not endorse the occult. And if Tolkien did, does that make it okay? (When I was an astrologer, my witch clients and friends loved Tolkien, by the way). Yes, Lewis and Tolkien wrote fantasy novels that included magical elements, but the question for Christians should be, is the fantasy (in any story) centered on the occult, and what does God say about the occult?

It is pointed out that Harry Potter represents good fighting evil, and therefore, in the context of fantasy, this is okay. These views, however, raise several questions: Is the sorcery and magic in Harry Potter just fantasy? If not, are fantasy stories using occultism as a model healthy reading? Is it Biblical to accept the use of "good" magical power if it is used to fight evil? Is there such a thing as "good" sorcery? Any popular children's book set in an occult environment offering a hero who practices the occult arts warrants careful examination and a Biblical response. Occult sources are used for this article to make the point that occultism is real and is part of a serious practice, philosophy and spirituality that is opposed to historic, Biblical Christianity.

View Full Article: http://cana.userworld.com/cana_harrypotter.html

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Straight Talk on Harry Potter
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for February, 2003

By William J. Schnoebelen
No book in recent years has attracted the success of the celebrated "Harry Potter" series. Supposedly these children's novels, written by a woman in Britain named J. K. Rowling, have made her one of the wealthiest women in the world. She has written four books, the latest being HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, which weighs in heavier than some laptop computers. In total, her books have sold more than 30 million copies.

Her appealing hero is Harry Potter, a nerdy orphan boy whose parents were killed when he was very young by an evil wizard named Voldemort. From this encounter, he has a lightning bolt-shared scar on his forehead is raised by dull, cruel relatives (an aunt and uncle) who are "Muggles," the Harry Potter term for non-wizards who don't like or believe in magic and who tend to persecute those who do.

View Full Article: http://www.withoneaccord.org/store/potter.html

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Potter Prompts Course in Witchcraft
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for February, 2002

A growing interest in sorcery and witchcraft generated by the Harry Potter stories has prompted an Australian university to launch a special course open to the public. The 12-week course at Adelaide University will explore the witch doctors of Africa, shamans from the Amazon and Zambezi valleys, witches from the 16th century and others who practice magic rituals.

View Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/newsid_1827000/1827166.stm

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Harry Potter's Healing Powers
--> Posted to Harry_Potter for November, 2001

BBC News 11/14/2001
The magic of Harry Potter is spreading into hospital wards."J K Rowling's books about the young wizard are helping children deal with their own experiences and anxieties," say staff at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The hospital's Mildred Creek unit helps children aged between seven and 14 who have psychological difficulties, such as eating disorders or behavioral problems.
The hospital has also used the books to help in a practical way. A child was recently helped by using 'Harry's magic' to develop a spell to overcome their fear of needles.

Children, like all people, have problems and seek power to solve them quickly. Even "small" problems like winning a game or like getting a particular toy or receiving desired attention. The occult offers "quick and easy" solutions without requiring growth in Christian character based on the biblical principles of dying to self and humble service in truth and love.

View Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1654000/1654902.stm

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