Oh dear.
I've just read the article on Harry Potter by Father Aguilar in the Register.
While he had some good points on the virtues in Harry Potter (self sacrifice, the value of a large family, etc) I wonder where he got the idea that Potter had gnostic philosophy?
As I read his analysis I wondered if we'd read the same books.
The Harry Potter books have far more a Christian Philosophy than a gnostic one. The body is respected and valued. There is no "secret knowledge", rather magic is a sort of technology. I do wonder if some of the Potter Critics go into the books with the notion of "magic" as a spiritual enlightenment, and thus misread what is there.
The only inner quest going on is the one for virtue. Harry is not seeking his "inner wizard" but his inner human being. He goes on a journey from fear, lies, and deceit, to courage, honesty, and mercy.
THAT is the story and philosophy in Harry Potter.
And it's one reason why I love these books. They are not perfect books, but they are very deep, basically Christian, and better than so much that is out there.
If you get them for your children, read them together. I personally feel these are books for older children and adults, not because of problems in the book, but because the books are very complex and the moral story in them might be missed by younger children.
My hat is off to J.K. Rowling for writing such a fantastic, moral, and Christian story for this time.
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5 comments:
Interesting. Many Catholic homeschooling mothers share your same feelings about this.
I've been blogging about it for a....well, a long time. Even wrote a book about it.
Welcome to the blogosphere!
Well said, Mindi! I, too am a Catholic Homeschooling mom. I have found that most of my circle has enjoyed the books, if they have read them, and some have delved beyond the surface to the morality set forth in the books. I have not blogged about it, but I enjoy reading others comments on the subject.
There is a blogroll of Catholic mothers that is called Catholic Mothers online. You can find it here: http://bloggingcatholics.blogspot.com/
I am not a homeschooling mom, but I welcome you to the blogosphere nonetheless! I am Catholic, I am a dad, and my mom is a homeschooling mom, but, alas, I am a product (mostly) of public education. Whatever my flaws from that, I do love Harry Potter.
Catholic Blogs and St. Blogs Parish are also blogrolls you may be interested in (if you haven't sent them your URL already).
Best,
Kyle
Comments! Someone is reading! Thanks for your welcomes. :)
I assume a blogroll is a directory? It sounds like some sort of questionable deli meat (blood tongue, olive loaf, blogroll). Forgive me, I'm very new at this! :)
Excellent post, Mindi! Welcome to the wonderful world of blogdom. :-)
I've only been blogging for about a month myself (http://theblueboar.com) so I'm learning by doing as well. St. Blog's, also called the Guild of Commmon Sense, is, so far as I can tell, an association of Catholic bloggers. Go to just about any Catholic blog and find the link to it on the side rail.
And if I totally flubbed the instructions, which is likely, please forgive me.
Oh, and also, welcome to the War for Harry Potter. We're all on your side. :-)
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