To the dismay of many, the sales of children’s video games and internet products have been interrupted by magic. It’s the release of the seventh and final book of J. K. Rowling’s fantasy with Harry Potter and company. The newest book, Deathly Hallows, cast a Potter magic where millions of people from continent to continent bought over 8.3 million copies. Some businesses were stopped, television sets were closed, and internet services slowed down while hungry readers read on and on. The latest report claims nine million books plus.
I am impressed with the number of sales in such a short time. With the recent release and success of a movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix there will be an ever-growing interest in J. K. Rowling’s work. The makers of creative games and toys will figure out how to cash in on this new golden calf. I wonder about this phenomenon.
As a religious person I know that religions are full of stories of witchcraft, spirits, battles between good and evil. Men and women appear every once in a while and hocus pocus, they split seas, bring bread from heaven, float arks of animals, strike stones for water. Some even raise the dead, heal the sick, and bring food to the famine stricken. On the other hand some bring destruction and plot evil. They build dungeons of doom and are stopped at the very last moment. Tales of kings and queens, masters and witches are found in the Old Testament together with stories of earth swallowing villains and disappearing characters. All this is clearly recorded and taught in religious schools.
So I ask, what is all this commotion about? Why indeed have the wonders of Harry Potter been able to capture the world’s imagination? What magic, if any, does J. K. Rowling possess? Surely religion has more to offer.
For the past years religious leaders have deplored this series. Some have outright condemned them as blasphemy and anti religious. Religious leaders have printed and debated the matter and can be found on talk shows and in the mass media. Even AOL ran a survey to its readers asking for ideas and responses to the accusations of Rowling’s book. The survey seemed to be asking does the book bring witchcraft or is it just fun?
The debate will go on for years.
On a positive note, we have the country reading like never before. Maybe this will start a revolution and people will become more literate and libraries will flourish. On the religious side I believe there is a powerful lesson to be learned from all this.
Religious institutions have failed in a big way. Houses of worship have been bemoaning the lack of attention they once commanded. The masses are not attending services. On a Saturday and Sunday families would gather for prayer. This is not happening. I still remember posters placed in public areas with a message that read “Families that pray together stay together.” Now if we only had the Harry Potter magic we would have full houses of worship.
What we must do is create a religious movement that has the Old Testament taught in an exciting, interesting, and authentic fashion. Religion needs to come alive. I am not suggesting that Harry Potter’s name be changed to a Jewish one, e.g. Hershel Pottervich. All I am suggesting is that the best sellers has been the Bible, translated in every language known to man. Instead of worrying about how Harry Potter’s magic works we need to bring out the Bible’s magic. Let humankind allow their imaginations to run wild and discover that the Bible, God’s magic is the best seller. Instead of condemning and being jealous of Rowling’s series we need to take notice and learn a much needed lesson. People will read and believe in the supernatural but it is up to religious institutions to make it interesting and lively. They must jump on the bandwagon with a positive spin to this phenomenon.
Faith and hope is real while fantasy and magic is not. True, at times, God’s actions may be frightening and trying but everything works out in the end. You can read about it in the good old Bible which still is a best seller in over 70 languages and can be found in any part of the world. All bookstores carry it and it is in stock at all times.