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http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/OnlineDiscipleship/HarryPotterControversy/GinaBurkart_HalfBlood.asp

By Gina Burkart
Author, A Parent’s Guide to Harry Potter

CBN.com - Like more than 6 million readers, I pre-ordered my copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I pondered what its pages would hold. What direction would Harry take in year six of Hogwarts? What new information would be revealed in his battle of good vs. evil? What lessons would be learned?

As I immersed myself in the book, I again found myself connecting with Harry. I found it eerie how the Prime Minister’s conversation with the Minister of Magic paralleled so many recent events—especially since the bombings at King's Cross (location of Platform 9 ¾) happened so closely to the release of the sixth book. Needless to say, Tony Blair held up much better to the tragedies than the fictional Prime Minister. I quickly scribbled a note in my book about the connection so I would later remember to ask my children about it sometime in the future when we were reading together. I believe it may give me a window into how they are perceiving and reacting to recent world events.

Other lessons presented themselves as well. The sixth book gives us the opportunity to talk about souls, eternal life, death and loss, coming of age, relationships, friendship, fears, school, war, tragedy, and much more. Importantly, this book continues to emphasize the power of love. Not only is it woven throughout the entire book, several pages are devoted to the subject. This is important because love is the foundation of the Christian faith. God is love. Thus, it is God that Voldemort cannot understand, and it is God who protects and lives on in Harry.

Pope Benedict’s letters from a few years ago (before he was pope) voice concern that Harry Potter has the potential to undermine Christianity. Unfortunately, everything in life has the potential to undermine Christianity. It is our responsibility to bring our faith to all we encounter. Likewise, we should teach our children to do the same. I have found many Christian connections in the Harry Potter series. The sixth book is no different. Here are just a few opportunities present in the new book that could be used to connect the story with Christianity. I have found that stopping and talking about these types of connections with my children brings us closer together, encourages them to talk to me about their lives, and develops Christian critical thinking.

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"Harry Potter Books: Christian Lessons from the Half-Blood Prince" | Login/Create Account | 1 comment

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Re: Christian Lessons from the Half-Blood Prince
by WayaGola on Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 06:37:43 PDT
(User Info) http://www.potterwatch.com/

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