God, the Devil and Harry Potter - Hardcover

Advance Praise for "God, the Devil and Harry Potter" "At last! A sensible Christian reading of Harry Potter. ... Remember, even Jesus himself was accused of necromancy by his enemies!" --Harvey Cox, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School, author of" Common Prayers: Faith, Family, and a Christian's Journey Through the Jewish Year" "A great read ... A wonderful antidote to some of the sheer silliness and malice of other religious commentators on the Potter books." --Joseph C. Hough, Jr., President, Union Theological Seminary, New York "Augustine said that Christian truth is ever ancient and ever new. John Killinger has placed Christian truth in a significant new setting, the struggle of good and evil in the Harry Potter novels. His book is a must-read for all who seek to understand these best-selling novels and how the Gospel intersects with them. Creativity abounds, not just in Rowling's novels, but also in Killinger's analysis." --Dr. William B. Oden, resident bishop of The United Methodist Church, Dallas, Texas "John Killinger brings the mind of a theologian and the heart of a writer to the task of successfully uncovering deep Christian values and traditions in the Harry Potter stories. For fans of Harry Potter, Killinger's scholarship can only deepen their enthusiasm. For Harry Potter's naysayers, Dr. Killinger's book adds convincing new arguments to the discussion." ---Robert D. Black, executive producer of "30 Good Minutes" and president of Chicago Sunday Evening Club "It is always such a joy to read a book written by John Killinger. He is a breath of fresh air in a world of oppressive conservatism which sees evil in so many good things. His latest book, "God, the Devil, and Harry Potter: A Christian Minister's Defense of the Beloved Novels," is a delightfully playful and enjoyable diagnosis of the popular Harry Potter series. I am sure others will find the same refreshing experience as I did in thi

John Killinger tells readers why the Harry Potter books, far from corrupting children's morals, actually influence young readers to follow the teachings of Jesus. They are, the author claims, narratives of robust faith and morality. He shows that the world of Harry Potter would be inconceivable apart from the structures of Judeo-Christian theology and that Harry Potter, in his principles and actions, personifies the teachings of Jesus. He also reflects on the possibility that Harry Potter, like Dostoevsky's Prince Myshkin and others, is a witting or unwitting Christ figure who actually battles the forces of darkness for the souls of the faithful. Killinger's argument is not only persuasive but enlightening- and, as the author says of the Harry Potter books, "a whopping good read".