But many people of faith who have delved into the Harry Potter novels champion them 鈥� including Dr. Greg Garrett, a professor in English at Baylor University, in his new book 鈥淥ne Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry Potter.鈥�
In the book, Garrett 鈥� who has described J.K. Rowling鈥檚 epic as 鈥渢he best and most powerful contemporary retelling of the gospel narrative鈥� 鈥� takes a look at how the controversy and universally-powerful subject matter have made the Harry Potter books both the most-read fiction in history and the most-banned books of the 21st century.
Along with questions of good and evil, J.K. Rowling, author of the Potter novels, has much to say about modern society in her books, Garrett says.
Throughout the saga, 鈥淩owling pokes fun at celebrity culture and at the way the media fuel celebrity in an incestuous cycle that helps sell their own products,鈥� he writes.
Garrett draws parallels between Potter鈥檚 magical world and the reality of today鈥檚 world, which 鈥渃annot differentiate between 鈥榟eroes and celebrities.鈥欌�� Harry was born to parents who opposed evil and sacrificed their lives for their infant, thus becoming 鈥淭he Boy Who Lived.鈥� He also was left a small fortune by his parents (although he spends it frugally on everything but candy).
鈥淟ike a prince, then, or like the scions of the rich and famous, Harry could have grown up gawked at and fussed over his whole life without having had to do anything to earn such approval,鈥� Garrett writes.
But 鈥� as Harry Potter fans know 鈥� he grows into 鈥渁 very human, but very noble, person from whom we can learn much about heroism and sacrifice.鈥漀ov. 12 is Harry Potter Fan Appreciation Day in Canada.
Garrett, who has degrees in English and theology, also is author of 鈥淲e Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2鈥� and 鈥淭he Gospel According to Hollywood.鈥�
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