The Harry Potter Series and the Bible
The Harry Potter series by British author J.K. Rowling are full of stereotypical magic, witchcraft and wizardry. The characters practice casting spells, reading crystal balls, etc. In these series, there is no higher power to answer to. Unlike other fantasy children’s stories that contain witches and the like, such as C. S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia,” the Harry Potter books do not have a positive biblical view. The distinction between good and bad is not clear as both the “good” and “evil” characters participate in different types of witchcraft and magic.
The Harry Potter series contain some positive messages that are packaged in – witchcraft – that is directly denounced in Scripture. The Bible clearly condemns all kinds of witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism. In the Old Testament we read, “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
The Lord declared, “the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people” (Leviticus 20:6). “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them’ ” (Leviticus 20:27).
And in the New Testament we read, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
In fact, those that practice magic and sorcery (witchcraft) will not go to heaven. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). “By your magic spell all the nations were led astray” (Revelation 18:23).
The Harry Potter series not only teach anti-Christian lessons on the occult, but also moral relativism, and desensitize children to profanity. The Lord, in Philippians 4:8 invites His church to “fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.”
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
