Wicca and     Image found at http://www26.brinkster.com/wicca4/secondpage.htm    Harry Potter
           Wicca is becoming more and more popular in recent years, due in part to its continued appearance in mainstream culture.  The subject of Wicca can be very controversial, but also generates a lot of interest. The Harry Potter books have been the latest craze in entertainment for children.  However, the books have recently been under suspicion and criticism as they supposedly promote witchcraft and Wicca.  People have claimed that Harry Potter is a Wiccan, that J.K. Rowling herself is a Wiccan, that the books were written with the intent to corrupt children, and other various assertions.  
There is Wicca in the Harry Potter books!
 Harry Potter is an innocent child!
        
  • "I think the Harry Potter books are an attempt by Wiccans to recruit young children into the practices of witchcraft. Most other fantasy books for children transport them to other worlds (Chronicles of Narnia comes to mind) where magic happens. These books take place right here in this world and make children believe they can do magic in this world. The Bible tells us that engaging in witchcraft is a sin, I don't think these books are a good idea for Christian kids. If they like the Harry Potter books, get them the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis instead."
         http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/previousyears/aa071200a.htm


Image found at http://www.dnbpublishing.com/harry-potter-movie.gif
 
  • Robert S. McGee, a pastor at Merritt Island's First Baptist Church, helped make a video entitled "Harry Potter- Witchcraft Repackaged: Making Evil Look Innocent".  He believes that the Harry Potter books encourage children to take up witchcraft, and that the books provide a "a gateway to Wicca".  McGee states that: "The books are an accurate presentation of witchcraft, spirit possession and spell.  These children read these books over and over, and what happens when they go to sleep at night? They dream. They dream about casting spells."      
  • http://www.floridatoday.com/news/local/stories/2001/aug/loc080401d.htm
  • Some common complaints about the Harry Potter books are that the symbols and spell are similar to those in the Wiccan religion, that the lightening bolt on Harry's forehead is half of the Nazi swastika, that the book teaches that witchcraft is for young children, that there are phallic symbols in the Wicca religion, and that those who engage in witchcraft are bad people.                                                                                                                                        http://www.floridatoday.com/news/local/stories/2001/aug/loc080401d.htm      
  • "The only 'real' witchcraft elements in the books, are the real stereotypes that have dogged Witchcraft for decades. Flying around on broomsticks, pointed witches hats, and the shooting of lightning from magic wands, to name a few."        http://paganwiccan.about.com/library/blharrypotter.htm?terms=wicca+++harry+potter
  • Wiccans believe that to accomplish what one desires, one must communicate with nature and other living things, and channel that good energy to get your wishes.  There is no mention of this in Harry Potter, it appears in the book that people simply get their magic from the wands and other objects.
  • In Wicca there is the belief that anyone can become a witch.  If one is devoted to the craft then he or she can become a true Wiccan.  In Harry Potter there are two groups of people, magic people and Muggles.  The Muggles can never become witches, so this directly contradicts Wiccan beliefs.
Image found at www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/harry-potter.hpgn

Harry Potter!
Image found at www.top5s.com/images/harry%20potter%20photo.jpg

  • The author of the books, when asked about her views on witchcraft and Harry Potter, states that: "I have met thousands of children now, and not even one time has a child come up to me and said, 'Ms. Rowling, I'm so glad I've read these books because now I want to be a witch."                                                                            http://www.gospelcom.net/apologeticsindex/p03.html
 


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Jessica Friedman & Carlin Weaver