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2007-09-18 issue:

Finding Christ in Harry Potter

by Ryan Ahlgrim

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Spoiler alert: The following article reveals the ending of the last Harry Potter novel.

On a recent Saturday evening, two children, two teenagers and six adults from my congregation gathered to discuss Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the popular series. Of all the Harry Potter books, the last one seemed to me to have the most in common with the Christian faith, so I opened our book discussion with the following question: “Did you notice any Christian symbols or message in this book?”

Immediately a 10-year old girl responded, “It’s the story of good versus evil but without being overly religious.”

“Harry has to sacrifice himself to win,” added one of the adults. “He’s like Jesus.”

“But Harry is just human,” another adult pointed out. “He’s not divine like Jesus. Harry doesn’t directly represent Jesus the way Aslan the lion does in the Narnia stories.”

So began our discussion of the possible Christian content of the seventh Harry Potter novel. Over the next hour and a half, group members found several similarities between Jesus and Harry: Both are humble and selfless; both are nonviolent and refuse to kill; both are destined to die as part of a larger plan to defeat evil; both reject the use of supernatural power to avoid death; both go to their deaths willingly and defenseless; both die at the hands of evil; both come back to life; both decisively defeat the power of evil.

In addition to these striking similarities between the way Jesus and Harry defeat evil, the book contains two key quotations from the New Testament: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21) and, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). These two verses are found on tombstones in a cemetery, linking the themes of the novel to a Christian worldview.

Our group debated whether author J.K. Rowling purposely inserted the symbol of the cross into her story for Christian reasons. For instance, when Harry buries a memento of a dead friend under a tree, he marks the spot with a cross. Later, Harry finds in an icy pond a “great silver cross” that turns out to be a special sword necessary for destroying evil. One of the last chapters of the book, which depicts Harry in a heavenly kind of place after he dies, is titled “King’s Cross.”

Reconciliation with former enemies is also a major theme of this book. Though some enemies perish (usually through their own evil acts), others are redeemed, including some former followers of “the dark lord.” Surprisingly, Harry experiences a measure of peace with his bullying stepbrother as well as with his primary peer opponent, Draco Malfoy. The story is largely consistent with the New Testament message of peacemaking and loving one’s enemies.

“But aren’t the Harry Potter books about sorcery and witchcraft?” I asked.

The group didn’t think so. They pointed out that the book does not depict “real” witchcraft. Instead the world of magic in the Harry Potter books functions as a metaphor for a larger reality than what’s visible—a spiritual reality that nurtures faith and hope, friendship and love. It would be disturbing if the Harry Potter books influenced children to pursue occult activities. But if these books point us toward God’s kingdom, a reality that is everywhere but often unseen, then we have reason to be grateful for these books.

Ryan Ahlgrim is pastor of First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis.

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