Harry Potter Stirs Controversy: 'The Order of the Phoenix' the Darkest of the Series

Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix leads Harry deeper into the world of Lord Voldemort, where violence and horrific imagery is commonplace. Conservative religious individuals often stand against the Harry Potter series, proclaiming that the subject of witchcraft goes against God and is heretical. Such notions are silly. Whatever the frame used for the story, the fundamental truth of the series is that it is written with a good versus evil approach, with much temptation in between. These fastened roots of the story seems more linked to the religious story of Jesus Christ than they do to anything anti-Christian or anti-religious. It's ludicrous how some people cannot see the fire beyond the smoke.

Nevertheless, the Harry Potter series has sparked much discussion and debate. Though it seems to be primarly written for late elementary school and junior high, the books themselves get darker and more adult the further into the series one reads. Similarly, the movies have taken a dark turn. The scenes are becoming more violent, the characters more nervuos, and Harry is becoming more conflicted and angry. Yet, these things are appropriate. As the audience follows Harry's story through the movies and books, they watch him grow up and in a way grow with him. He's not the small child he was in the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Harry is interested in girls, he is facing even more adult issues and facing them in such a way where he understands their significance and can no longer rely on childish innocence. On top of that, he's at the age where he's hitting puberty.

The biggest complaint of the series, especially the most recent couple of movies, is that the movies don't always follow the book very well. This is because each book is longer than the previous book and it gets to the point where all the plot lines of the book can't possibly be crammed into a two hour or so length. As a result, The Order of the Phoenix sometimes seems a bit rushed and lacking in story. However, it's still a fun addition to the series and features some impressive special effects.

The avid readers of the Harry Potter books will continue to chastise the movie-makers attempts at translating the novels into film; the conservative Christians will continue to shun the works for their frequent reference to witch craft; yet crowds will continue to flock to see the movies and talk about the books at the office water coolers or cafeterias. The simple reason for this is that Harry Potter's story is unique and well-crafted and deserves the attention it gets.

Apr 20, 2009 2:35 PM

Guest :

"Conservative religious individuals often stand against the Harry Potter series, proclaiming that the subject of witchcraft goes against God and is heretical. Such notions are silly." Have you ever read the Bible? Witchcraft does go against God and is heretical. Read Lev. 20:6, Deut. 18:9-12, Isaiah 47:8-15, and Gal. 5:19-21. Also note Acts 13:6-12, a key example of why witchcraft is frowned upon--because it takes people from the truth. also, in Acts 19:13-20, it shows how those who used "good" along with their sorcery were punished. Say what you will. I understand you "enjoy" Harry Potter; I also understand you see it is "good versus evil." However, we need to define "good." In Mark 10:18, Jesus himself says to the man who calls him "good teacher": "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone." Therefore, is Harry Potter truly "good versus evil" or just Harry and his ways versus a darker, more obvious evil? I see the latter. What is silly is a simple "man" thinking that his ways are better than God's. Just because it is "entertaining" does not make it "good." I hear some people get a rush out of torturing others, as exemplified in the "Saw" movies--that doesn't make torture and murder "right," even if some do consider it "entertaining."

Apr 20, 2009 3:34 PM

Phil Partington :

Thanks for your comments.

You kind of dance around a point, but let me try to retort.
First, Shakespeare said it best when he declared in Merchant of Venice that "even the devil can quote Scripture for his purpose." The Bible isn't to be taken out of context, and witchcraft or magic in Harry Potter is used as a stage for a larger story, not a declaration against God.

And, though it is true that Scripture says that "only God is good," that does not mean that people cannot make good acts. Remember, humanity is created in His image, according to the Bible. That being said, goodness is relevant among humanity. If it were not, what would be the point of free will?

I like Samuel Taylor Coleridge's take on it in his epic poem The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner when the mariner blesses the cursed creatures unaware. Don't know if you've read the poem, but it alludes to the fact that the narrator could not have done an act of good without God willing him to, because God is goodness.

That being said, people read too far into the witchcraft of Harry Potter, and as a result, they miss out on a greater story, which is sad. Religious individuals get so wrapped up in the nuances of the institution, that they forget the meaning behind the words. The Bible contradicts itself in fact frequently. That is because Jesus' message is rarely in the facts. It has to be that way. Imagine explaining to a cockroach complexities of our world. It's impossible, and not just because cockroaches can't talk :P. In order for our finite, feeble minds to grasp the concept of heaven...even a little bit...the messages had to be given as fables, stories, poems...methods that explain what heaven is like, not what heaven is.

For this reason, it's a wishy-washy argument to throw Scripture at the Harry Potter series and try to relate the two out of context.