The Beauty of Religion in Harry Potter

These are only selections from the editorial. Click the post title to read the entire piece.

I am always astonished when religious leaders criticize these books. I find them chock-full of things for a minister to love. Consider, a small troupe of young people discover their gifts in life, and learn that you may use your gifts to either bless or curse the world. (It's a basic religious choice.) Without moralizing, the characters make ethical decisions that are excellent examples for readers of any age.

To make good choices, we need help from those who care for us. Harry was marked as a baby by an evil wizard who killed his parents and tried to kill him. He later learns that his mother's love protected him then -- love as the most important force in the universe.

Only a courageous few can say the evil wizard's name out loud and directly oppose his agenda. But isn't that true for us now? Naming evil in any time is courageous and powerful.

The act of sacrificing something you want for a higher purpose is powerful. Most of us do it with great difficulty.

So let's lose any assumptions that the terms "witch" or "wizard" are anti-Christian, anti-religion or promote wrongdoing. And let's set out again with Harry, Ron and Hermione, determined to use our powers for good in the world.