CT Movies has received quite a bit of feedback in recent days about the Harry Potter franchise, from Christians who think the series is harmless fun to those who believe it's straight from the Devil. There are plenty of comments—pro and con—on our review of the latest HP film, and last week's newsletter—which noted that a reader had essentially blamed CT Movies that his 6-year-old daughter was trying to cast spells, a la Harry Potter—sparked many more. Here's a sampling of reader reactions:

Is a child in the back yard "casting spells" any more troublesome than pretending to bein a shootout at the OK Corral (my son will make a gun out of anything)? I think you run into more problems when you suppress imagination. My children understand that Harry Potter is a fictional character. Maybe I am not a very good Christian, because my children run around the house with a dowel rod saying "Wingardium Leviosa" and pretend that things are flying about. I see this as fiction and nothing else. It troubles me that people today cannot make that distinction.

Peggy Duffield

All spellcasting is bad. There is no good spellcasting. We get our miracles, blessings, healings, etc., from GOD. We do not get them from Satan.

J. Buck

I am impressed with the deep meanings in the books. There is such a treasure trove of conversation we've been able to have with our kids. Just a couple of days ago we were on a long hike and had about a two-hour discussion of Harry Potter. My 11-year-old daughter came up with several themes: light over darkness, good over evil, love conquers, self sacrifice, friendship, trust, mercy, the importance of family.

Adele Schneider

Potter is unhealthy spiritually and psychologically as it invariably leads to the type of things children from 5-18 find intriguing and will try to imitate. Satan is just copying God. I'm sorry you don't "get" it. I'm unsubscribing to CT Movies.

Rev. Judy Lang

My husband and I have very much learned from the movies, and have known that it has great spiritual application—warfare vs. evil, dark vs. light, martyrdom. We have become so weary of the legalism, the witch hunts, the criticism against the series.

Colleen Stay

I am a senior pastor and a parent of four children ages 7-13, and I will not let my children read the Harry Potter books. I believe that they are wrong for many reasons—calling evil good and good evil, portraying witches as good, and opening the door for children to get involved in the occult. There is so much good Christian fiction and fantasy literature out there, why would you want to expose even one child to this darkness? Please don't put any more positive reviews about these books and movies on your site.

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Chris Jordan

I don't see the harm as I am a mature Christian and I can determine for myself through the word of God what is real and what is fantasy. To me, if the movie or program is well made, then it's just entertainment. It's the job of the parent, not a movie critic, to guide your child through a story like Harry Potter.

Laverne Helfert

I could cry every time I see a Christian commentary stating that Harry Potter is fine. I think we as Christians are getting wimpy about taking a stand against the occult and should take a step back and re-evaluate. Aren't we "sugar coating" witchcraft and calling it safe entertainment simply because Hollywood knows how to engage us?

Jeanine Packett

I have no hard and fast "line" that decides what I and/or my family will and won't see or read. To avoid all media contact with occultism seems to contradict with Paul who looked at the idols (though it provoked him) and quoted pagan works of literature at Athens (finding redemptive or true ideas in the blasphemous, evil and dangerous idolatry of the pagans). To avoid all contact with occultism would seemingly require one to "go out of the world." But, there are definite evil allurements and participations in the occult that Scripture has warned us to have nothing to do with. I have chosen to avoid Harry Potter because it seems so overtly steeped in witchcraft. I know that my standard here is not absolute or necessarily consistent, but people are free (within certain limits) to determine in their conscience before God what they will do with questionable matters.

Greg Smith

I pity the children whose parents will not allow them to pretend to have super powers or magical abilities. There are few qualities that are as important to develop as the imagination, and how can one develop a good imagination if one is discouraged from using it? Movies and books have been our guides to the fantastic worlds of magic and make-believe, helping us to develop the imaginations of generation after generation. Remember The Sword in the Stone or Cinderella? I daresay the average 6-year old who pretends to be able to do magic will find out soon enough that"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" does not bring forth the animals from the forest to clean the house or create a ball gown. I used to pretend a lot of things with my childhood friends, including magic, and I still love Jesus.

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Brad Walston

I find it offensive when other Christians think it is their job to censor what I read and watch or what I allow my children to read and watch. I have read all the Harry Potter books, and my son has read them multiple times. We have seen all the movies together. My son and daughter "play" Harry Potter. They know that it is fiction, just as they know that Superman and Spiderman are not real.They know that Harry came from someone's imagination. I see no difference in the magic in Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. and Harry Potter. However, if a parent believes that their child has not developed the ability to recognized fictional situations then by all means they should not be exposed to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, any Harry Potter movie or Herbiethe Love Bug.The Harry Potter series is pretend and entertaining it is not going to compromise anyone's salvation and there is no need to question someone's heart who reads the books or watches the movies. That is our Dear Father's job.

R.E. Cobb

It greatly saddened me when I read your comments concerning a story that is completely based in magic, a practice the God clearly states as sinful many times in the Scriptures. The focus of Harry Potter's life and education is witchcraft. The Bible clearly tells us witchcraft is an evil we should expel from our lives. Should Christians accept all the bad because there are glimmers of good? If the newest popular superhero is a prostitute by night so that she can save lives during the day does that excuse her sexual immorality or make her appropriate for older children?

Lynette Snyder

My verdict? For older teens and adults only. I am a discerning, mature Christian, quite able to "read between the lines" and not be drawn to any of the techniques of witchcraft so clearly defined in the texts and the films. I am not enticed to dabble with them for I know full well what the Word says about such matters. I am also able to note what is missing from the HP films and books, compared to those of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy (which I would not hesitate to recommend to an adolescent). As another Christian writer noted, in Lord of the Rings you have the non-humans employing wizardry and warning the humans against using these powers [a very biblical concept]. In the HP series, however, it is quite plain to the reader that with proper training, one can learn how to manipulate nature and the spiritual realm to one's advantage. Don't tell me that's not attractive to young kids and impressionable adolescents! So, I believe the HP books and films are a real minefield of dangers for pliable Christian youth, and should be avoided if at all possible till a young person is at least in high school or beyond.

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Sherrie Gumienny

I have never watched any of the Harry Potter movies, nor have I allowed my children to watch them. I believe that when the Bible says to "stay away" from all forms of witchcraft, then I better stay away.

Deb Dykhouse

As a devout Christian, I found so many parallels to my faith in the Harry Potter books. Now after reading all seven books and seeing the six movies, I have an entirely new perspective.I highly recommend hogwartsprofessor.com for insightful Christian insights into HP. I can not imagine my life without Harry Potter, who has taught me about love and self sacrifice. I am more convinced than ever that Harry is a friend to Christians and has helped to deepen my faith.

Bruce Stevens

I do not believe that there is such a thing as "good" magic nor do I believe the Bible supports any such differentiation. It is all an attempt to seduce people into Satanism by making some of it seem acceptable. If that marks me as a radical then count me as proud to be labeled such. I believe your article is symptomatic of the "falling away" from within the church we are warned will happen in the last days. I no longer value your opinion on movies. I also will warn people in my church about what you are doing here.

Ed Vanderberg

I find HP redemptive. As a teacher (and parent) I think the series is wonderful, but like anything profound there is a danger, and it is important to keep in conversations with the kids and find out how they are interpreting the novels. The Bible is a profoundly dangerous book if read in isolation; I would say the Potter series are moderately dangerous if read in isolation.

Carolyn Minchin

Will the Christians who have never even bothered to read these books just stop? You're making Christ-followers look like a group of frightened, devil-behind-every-bush fear mongers! As a children's author (32 published books), I am discouraged at comments intended not only to tear down Rowling's work, but my own. Authors strive to create a world that excites the imagination, and Rowling does that masterfully. All three of my children have read the HP books, discussed Harry as a Christ figure, and watched the movies over and over again. None have turned Wiccan. All three are Sunday school teachers and very involved within their churches. Reading Harry Potter books does not send children into the arms of the Satanists. And to those who freak out if their child brandishes a stick as a wand, I say to them exactly what I say to everyone who has a panic attic over all-things-Harry: My faith is not that fragile. We stand on a firm foundation, not a soap bubble. Look up the word allegory, relax, and enjoy the freedom we have in Christ!

Alane Ferguson

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