Potter’s Field

Harry doesn’t always make money magically appear

Harry Potter and the Bible and What’s a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? may be getting media attention, but some muggles are feeling more wizened by the wizard. The Entertainer, Britain’s largest independent toy retailer, expects to lose £500,000 (about $750,000) because its owner, Gary Grant, won’t sell Potter merchandise.

“I have to uphold my Christian values in my private and my public life,” Grant told London’s Daily Telegraph. “The Bible is quite clear: Avoid that which even appears evil. It doesn’t say avoid only that which is evil.”

Meanwhile, Harry’s American publisher is reportedly considering a lawsuit against Jews for Jesus for copyright and trademark infringement. “If you like Harry Potter, have we got a book for you” begins an organizational tract promoting the Bible. But Harry will have to wait in line: Curious George’s publishers have already sued the messianic ministry for a similar stunt.

Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

The full Daily Telegraph article is online at the Apologetic’s Index. The site also has extensive articles, links, and resources on the Harry Potter controversy.

Harry Potter and the Bible and What’s a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? are available from Christianbook.com.

At the official Harry Potter movie site, you can buy everything from the Quidditch take home game to wallets.

The Toyshop.com is the online store of the British retailer, The Entertainer.

Christianity Today sister publication Christian Parenting Today analyzed the series for everything Christian Parents need to know about the books.

Previous Christianity Today articles on the Harry Potter debate include:

The Perils of Harry Potter | Literary device or not, witchcraft is real—and dangerous. (Oct. 23, 2000)

Virtue on a Broomstick | The Harry Potter books, and the controversy surrounding them, bode well for the culture. (Sept. 7, 2000)

Opinion Roundup: Positive About Potter | Despite what you’ve heard, Christian leaders like the children’s books. (Dec. 13, 1999)

Parents Push for Wizard-free Reading | Bestsellers now under fire in some classroom. (Dec. 13, 1999)

Why We Like Harry Potter | The series is a ‘Book of Virtues’ with a preadolescent funny bone. (Dec. 13, 1999)

Also in this issue

Bush's Defining Moment: The President, facing a grief-stricken nation under attack, finds his voice and his mission.

Cover Story

Bush's Defining Moment

Tony Carnes

Over Enlarged Territory

Rally Round the Flag

Christianity Today Editorial

Editorial

Blame Game

Christianity Today Editorial

Love & Marriage

Richard A. Kauffman

High Court Injustice

Jeff Sellers

Has God Played Fair?

Grounded

A Storyteller's Apologetic

Susan Wise Bauer

Power Punch Praise

Todd Hertz

Wake-up Call

Rising to the Top

Todd Hertz

Something to Talk About

Todd Hertz

Return of Kevin Max

Todd Hertz

Australia: 'Shooting Gallery' Draws Opposition

Dave Crampton

Quotation Marks

Manuskipped

Readying for Takeoff

Come On

Briefs: North America

Briefs: The World

Columbia: Missing Missionaries Declared Dead

Deann Alford

Under The Sun- First Page

Under The Sun-Second Page

Andy Crouch

'Be Fruitful and Multiply'

Raymond C. Van Leeuwen

News

Extreme Days for Megiddo

News

Lord of the Megaplex

Steve Rabey

Wire Story

Moscow Bans Salvation Army

Keston News Service, Religion News Service

Young Men Gone West

Review

Something to Talk About

Todd Hertz

Review

Power Punch Praise

Todd Hertz

Review

Rising to the Top

Todd Hertz

Review

Return of Kevin Max

Todd Hertz

Blood, Sweat, and Prayers

Make Love and Babies

Sam and Bethany Torode

News

Go Figure

The Truth About Sex

Jenell Williams Paris

Catching Up with Hispanics

Rodolpho Carrasco

meetingGod@beliefnet.com

Lauren F. Winner

Congress: Justice Delayed

Art Moore

Vouchers: High Court to Take Up Vouchers

LaTonya Taylor

RU-486: Doctors Slow to Prescribe Abortion Pill

Medical Cost Sharing: Medical Cost-Sharing Ministry Is Recovering

Chuck Fager

Small Churches: Empty Pulpit Crisis

Ken Walker

Evangelism: Adaptable Alpha Course Draws Praise and Worry

LaTonya Taylor

Pakistan: Christians Fear Muslim Backlash

Afghanistan: Caught in the Crossfire

Sheryl Henderson Blunt

View issue

Our Latest

Let There Be Hope

Chad Bird

God is still at work amidst darkness.

Christmas in Wartime

Daniel Darling

How can Christians possibly pause for Advent in a world so dark?

Hold On, Dear Pilgrim, Hold On

W. David O. Taylor

Isaiah speaks to the weary awaiting light in the darkness.

Dirty Frank

E.M. Welcher

Sometimes God sends prophets. God sent me a dog.

Living in the Dark Space

Heather Thompson Day

We can’t always see the light when we are in the dark. But the light can always see us.

Held Together by a Cornerstone

J.A. Medders

The validity of Christianity is not based on our experiences; it’s based on him and his Word.

These Dark Days

Jeremy Writebol

Left to our own ruminations, it is hard to see Jesus’ light.

So Shall It Be

Jonah Sage

Our waiting is never in vain.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube