Contents

  Contents  1

1.  Introduction  3

2.  Harry Potter a Short Overview  4

3.  Definitions  5

3.1.  Magic  5

3.2.  Occultism  6

3.3.  Satanism  6

4.  Magic Mythology and Supernatural Elements in Harry Potter  8

4.1.  Religious Implications  8

4.2.  Mythological Elements  9

4.2.1.  The Saviour who was Saved  9

4.2.2.  Power of the Names  10

5.  Discussion  11

5.1.  Arguments against Harry Potter  11

5.1.1.  Manners and behaviour  11

5.1.2.  Non-compliance with the Bible  12

5.1.3.  Relations and Seduction to Occultism  12

5.2.  Arguments for Harry Potter  13

5.2.1.  Friendship and Courage  13

5.2.2.  Children read  13

5.2.3.  Nonseriousness  14

6.  Conclusion  15

  Bibliography  17

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1. Introduction

Harry Potter is a phenomenon. Children and adults all over the world are involved in the Potter-mania and his group of followers grows more and more. Five books have already been published, and there are supposedly two more to come. Parents are glad that their children picked up reading again, and the books are also regular read in schools. But recently there has been a discussion about to ban the Harry Potter books from the reading lists in American schools.

These books’ opponents accuse them of glorifying occultism and Satanism and therefore being anti-religious and anti-educational. Their supporters defend them by designating them harmless and valuable children’s literature.

But is Harry Potter really that harmless? After a short outline about the books, this work will define the words ‘magic’, ‘occultism’ and ‘Satanism’, examine how they are treated in the Harry Potter books and discuss if those are really a kind of a gateway drug to Satanism for children.

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2. Harry Potter – a Short Overview

The books were all written by British authoress Joanne Kathleen Rowling and they mainly deal with the life and adventures of a young wizard called Harry Potter.

As his parents died when he was a baby, he lives with the Dursleys, who are his aunt Petunia, his uncle Vernon and his cousin Dudley. They are ordinary humans, called “muggles” in the tongue of the wizards and witches and this is a fact which they attach much importance to. Harry’s life with them is not quite enjoyable, as he is treated very badly, for instance he has to live in a small chamber under the stairs, never receives anything he likes and is being disowned by his relatives.

When he is eleven years old, he finds out that he is a wizard like his parents before him and that he will be taught the proper use of these magic powers in a special school called “Hogwarts”. There he meets his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his teachers Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall as well as Hagrid for the first time. But he also gets in contact with less friendly characters like a boy called Draco Malfoy, who is rather evil-minded.

In every story Harry experiences an adventure together with his friends, in which an evil character is involved, especially a bad wizard named Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry’s parents. But he always arrests that evil in the end of the stories.

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3. Definitions

In order to obtain a better understanding of the subject, this chapter will provide definitions for the terms magic, occultism and Satanism.

3.1. Magic

“Magic (also called ‘magick’ to distinguish it from stage magic) is a way of influencing the world through supernatural, mystical or paranormal means” (Wikipedia).

In several human communities, especially in aboriginal tribes, magic has ever been a part of what we are calling religion today. People that were able to, like shamans or priests, contacted the idolized spirits just like priests of recent churches transfer God’s will to the people.

In the history of today’s world religions, there formerly existed magical practices and beliefs, and some are still part of various religious groups in all corners of the world. The belief in magic and especially the fear of it have become obvious in the Medieval Inquisitions, when the Christian Church punished and killed several people that were guilty of or supposedly using witchcraft. 1

Witchcraft is a form of magic using supernatural powers that lie beyond the abilities of an ordinary human being. Judaism, Christianity and Islam consider it a very bad and negative attitude. Yet, most witches and wizards today, like the order of Wicca, attach much importance to being “white witches”, which means that they use their power and skills for positive purposes.

1 “Magic.” Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28paranormal%29.

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