POTTER PILGRIMS

Pope Benedict XVI has made it quite clear to the Christian world that the Vatican does not approve of Harry Potter. In March 2003, he wrote a letter to Gabriele Kuby, a German critic, where he expressed concern about the 'subtle seductions' caused by the book, which distort Christianity in the soul before it can grow properly. One of the many reactions to the boy wizard, the fear that these books corrupt children, was born almost at the same time as Pottermania. Unlike previous fantasy literature, like that of J R R Tolkein and C S Lewis, the Potter books are accused of not presenting the ideal of good versus evil. instead, they make statements like 'death is but the next great adventure', which alarm pious souls as a certain call to Satanism. The books make occult practises seem attractive and fun. Does this mean that Rowling's novels are actually cleverly packaged enticements to the Antichrist?

Divisions have arisen within the Church at several points in history. after all, protestantism was born when Martin Luther led a group of dissenters to a new church, an alternative to Catholicism. If a deacon of the Presbyterian Church can teach a 'Gospel according to Star Wars', why not institute a Church of Harry Potter? The number of followers will be astounding. A quick look at the sales figures of these books will confirm this. The boy wizard is a hero, fighting the forces of evil for the salvation of his fellow-people. And the potter books do play out a battle between good and evil; Harry, under the guidance of Albus Dumbledore, the lead 'good guy', versus Voldemort, the personification of all evil. Voldemort may have told Harry that there is no such thing as good and evil, that there is only power, but Harry rejects this idea. Where is the relativistic morality? He may break school rules or defy authority, but this makes him a realistic hero. If, according to some, the all-too-human wizard is a threat to their God, they should accept this Potterite Church, which gives its people not only a philosophy but also a whole new world to believe in.