There's Something About Harry: A Catholic Analysis of the Harry Potter Phenomenon [Audio Cassette]

Patrick Madrid (Author), Michael O'Brien (Author), Toni Colins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 2002

Harry Potter mania is sweeping the country. Many Catholic parents have serious questions about whether they should allow their kids to see the new HP movie and let them read (or keep reading) the HP books. You won't want to miss this powerful new commentary on the Harry Potter craze. Cut through all the hype and all the posturing, pro and con, and discover what the Church really teaches about such things, and get the facts parents need to know in order to properly guide their children.

Some well-known Catholic writers have weighed in favorably toward Harry Potter, while other Catholic leaders have raised the warning that there are subtle but real dangers involved with them, pointing out that the witchcraft and wizardry presented so appealingly and realistically in the books is highly problematic, especially for Catholics (cf. CCC 2117).

There's something about Harry that all Catholics should be aware of. Are you informed about the real issues surrounding these extremely popular books and movie? In this exclusive, new two-tape series, Envoy magazine's Patrick Madrid, is joined by respected Catholic author and commentator Michael O'Brien, and by noted Catholic writer Toni Collins. Together, they take you inside the real issues at stake and offer the solid, calm, carefully considered facts. Don't miss this one!

2-tape audio set

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick Madrid is the publisher of "Envoy" magazine and its website, an award-winning journal of Catholic apologetics. He is a best selling author whose books including "Pope Fiction," "Search and Rescue," "Where Is That in the Bible?," and the "Surprised by Truth" series. He is also the host of two EWTN television programs, "The Truth About Scripture and Tradition" and "Pope Fiction."

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Surprised By Truth Seminars (January 2, 2002)
• ISBN-10: 1931973024
• ISBN-13: 978-1931973021
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,615,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

PATRICK MADRID is a life-long Catholic. He has authored or edited 16 books on Catholic themes, including Search and Rescue, Where Is That in the Bible, and the acclaimed Surprised by Truth series.

In the fall of 2012, he will release four new books with four different publishers: Our Sunday Visitor, Servant Books, Saint Benedict Press, and Random House.

Since 1996, Patrick has published Envoy Magazine, and he also serves as the director of the Envoy Institute, which is dedicated to teaching Catholics how to explain their Faith more intelligently, defend it more charitably, and share it more effectively.

Commenting publicly on the effectiveness of Patrick's approach to doing apologetics, Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop Emeritus of New York, said, "How do you bring a friend or relative back into the Church? First you pray. Then, you follow Patrick Madrid's advice in [his book] Search and Rescue."

Prior to launching the Envoy apostolate, Patrick worked at Catholic Answers for eight years (1988 to 1996), where he served as vice president.

A veteran of a dozen formal, public debates with Protestant ministers, Mormon leaders, and other non-Catholic spokesmen, he has presented over 2000 seminars on Catholic themes, in English and Spanish, at parishes, universities, and conferences across the U.S. and around the world.

Patrick hosts the Thursday edition of EWTN's "Open Line" radio broadcast (3-5 p.m. ET), heard on approximately 195 AM & FM stations across the country, as well as on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 130 and globally via shortwave.

Patrick earned a bachelor of science degree in business at the University of Phoenix, as well as a B.Phil. in philosophy and an M.A. in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum (Columbus, OH).

He teaches theology and apologetics as an adjunct professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

His website is www.patrickmadrid.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The time as come to allow imagination out., May 13, 2002

By 

Anthony D Deyoe (AuSable Forks, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There's Something About Harry: A Catholic Analysis of the Harry Potter Phenomenon (Audio Cassette)

The controversy and anti-"Potter" views over these marvelous books have been widespread. I say that the only evil that is being brought about is being captured in this book. Harry Potter is a wonderful way to allow kids to explore their imagination. The main thing in schools (I being a teacher) is having the students read. These books not only are a good source of vocabulary but are so perplexing that students cannot put them down. Allow the students to have creative imaginations and let us not strive to keep them contained in a truly unreligious world that we live in. More and more religious beliefs are stifling the very fabric of American society. I too am Christian. But magic and wizardry are not real and never will be. To say these books are evil is to denounce science. Let kids be kids and may the grown ups that run this world not forget that we were all children not so long ago.

14 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars It must stop, May 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: There's Something About Harry: A Catholic Analysis of the Harry Potter Phenomenon (Audio Cassette)

While I admit, in our pop-culture world, the marketing of Harry Potter has reached an insane point, this does not take away from the fact the Harry Potter legend is as good as The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and many other fantasy tales that take us back to that feeling of childhood wonder. Catholics and other Christians who prefer to avoid Potter mania need to leave the harmless fairy tale alone. Harry Potter will no more destroy or alter a child's religious belief than Cinderella or Star Wars.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, July 18, 2005

By 

Gregory Goodman (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There's Something About Harry: A Catholic Analysis of the Harry Potter Phenomenon (Audio Cassette)

Before I read this book I felt that there was nothing wrong with the Harry Potter series if you took it for what it is: fiction. But I soon realized after reading this particular book and MANY others defending both sides of the argument, that they are a real danger. Although fiction, the Harry Potter series has a profound effect on the reader at the subconcious level. It may sound like total nonsense but these books provoke an almost insatiable desire to gain these powers for ones self, which then leads one to look into such things as Witchcraft and the Occult. It may seem far fetched, but it's incredible how much of an effect media like Harry Potter can have on an individuals starting at the subconcious level. It's completely undetectable, making it an even greater threat. This book is excellent because it raises awareness of this real danger not only for Catholics, but for everyone with a solid Christian faith.