Customer Reviews

The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Leader's Guide for Group Study

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book gives parents and youth leaders a way to redeem the Harry Potter stories, while also warning kids about the dangers of real witchcraft and distinguishing between fantasy and reality.

I had the pleasure of seeing Connie Neal speak in person a few years ago. I had read her book prior to the event. There was quite a mixture of people in the room: christians, jews, atheists, wiccans, etc. Everyone seemed to find the talk quite interesting despite their differences in religious beliefs. What struck me most about what she said is this: (I'm paraphrasing) in a work this size you can find almost anything you look for. Every religion or political cause could find something to back up their claims. (Kind of like the bible, in my opinion) Does Ms. Neal really think Jo Rowling purposely wrote biblical teachings into Harry Potter? Nah. But, the comparisons are fascinating and there are definately some moral lessons to be learned from the books.

The Leader's Guide highlights relevant topics for youth and young adult study groups (as well as older adults), providing good links between scenes in the Potter books/movies and Old/New Testament passages. Our college age group found the study questions to be thoughtful and provocative discussion starters around the topic of moral development and faithful decision making. The leader appreciated specific page numbers of the Potter series and scene suggestions in the movies. The author's willingness to address the controversy over Christians reading the Harry Potter books was articulate and helpful. We found the leaders guide to be accessible by and valuable to members of other faith traditions as well.

What a disappointment, and from someone trying to claim Christianity. Not only is this book rubbish, Jesus must weep at the thought of such garbage.

Rick in Orlando