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So last night at about 1 AM, I finished reading the 7th book of the Harry Potter Series. It was good, it was long, and I’m glad it’s over. Why?
JK Rowling is not CS Lewis.
The 7 books were certainly fun to read, and mostly well-written, and had good continuity. They were also quite creative. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, there’s nothing there. No deeper meaning, no eternal hope, nothing. In contrast, I thought of the end of Narnian time in “The Last Battle”: what a picture of heaven, with perfect sweetness that only gets better as eternity increases. What a hope to be drawn into the fullness of communion with God Almighty!
In contrast: [click here only if you want to have the ending of Harry Potter to be spoiled]
It’s funny, because Voldemort keeps saying “what’s your big secret? love?”, and I end up asking the same as well. Because true love is from God alone, and that very love leads us to repentance, and that this response to God’s love results in eternal life. Harry might have the first part of that somewhat down, but leaves out the equally important last two.
When the sun sets on this story, the ends justify the means, everyone can go back to their own lives, and it’s funny and acceptable to break the rules, as long as you don’t break them too badly. (no repentance, no need for forgiveness if you’re not caught)
Harry Potter is the hero because he’s bad but not too bad, and good when it counts. This might be an attractive philosophy to buy into, but it’s definitely not a Christian one.
By far, I prefer the example of the woman from Perelandra, who lives out the temptation of the garden of Eden and gets it right, upholding purity, complete obedience to God, and heavenly love as the highest and noblest of desires.
, and he was even taking requests when we were there.