Fri 16 Sep 2005
Tim Challies starts an otherwise excellent post with this outlandish statement.
Wicca, and witchcraft in general, have seen a great resurgence in interest over the past few years. There are several factors that have contributed to this, not the least of which is the success of the Harry Potter books and movies.
Where’d that come from?? Are there any actual facts to back that statement up?
Challies baffles me. Just earlier today I read his Friday Frivolities and was grateful for the reminder that Switchfoot’s new album came out, so I hopped on iTunes and bought it. I remember thinking at the time, maybe he is not as fundy as I thought, after all, he likes rock music.
And then this. Sheeeshh.
I ask again. Are there any facts there?
Scott
September 16th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Hey, cut a guy some slack. It was a fairly uninteresting post on an uninteresting book. I had to spice it up somehow!
I think it is fairly common knowledge that many people have expressed interest in witchcraft based on the Harry Potter books. You do not have to look far to find information about it. Having said that, perhaps I should put together a post that is bound to make all sorts of people (including a set of triplets) quite angry with me.
September 16th, 2005 at 3:47 pm
Incidentally, I am no fundy (or not in the negative sense you seem to use the word). I’m quite sure my taste in music (two types, loud and LOUDER) preclude me from being a fundamentalist. More of a funkdamentalist, I guess.
September 16th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Tim
Fairly Common Knowledge? REALLY??
The only place I have ever heard that was the satirical article at the Onion a few years ago, that many stoopid evangelicals thought was real and emailed all over the internet.
Scott
September 16th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
You know, it never ceases to amaze me how steamed up people get over this issue…
September 16th, 2005 at 4:30 pm
Tim,
I do not believe there is any credible scholarship that can support the claims that Pagan religions are even growing much less that HP is to blame. I believe that most of the claims regarding the growth of Pagan religions come from two highly biased groups. Christian groups that seek to anathematize the HP series or Pagan groups themselves who have a product to sell. Paganism has certainly become more visible over the last dozen years or so. But the sources I have read indicate that the internet is mostly to blame for this increased visibility. If Paganism is on the rise, blame can probably be more squarely laid at the feet of the post-modern aversion to organized religion.
The HP books are a part of a rich and frequently Christian tradition of fantasy literature including Tolkien and Lewis. I am even willing to acknowledge that there are some differences in the use of magic in those works that differentiate them from HP. And yet,the magic in HP does not resemble real occultic practice. At all. Just think of Harry and crew as superheroes who go to a British boarding school to hone their skills.
Steve
September 16th, 2005 at 4:37 pm
Tim,
I agree. I think this debate needs more objective, dispassionate voices. They are hard to find though.
Steve
September 16th, 2005 at 4:37 pm
Tim,
I am not steamed up. really.
Scott
September 16th, 2005 at 4:58 pm
Since the main thrust of Harry Potter is that he (and his friends) are trainnig to become witches and wizards, there’s not much of a debate that it has sparked interest in people wanting to learn more about the subject. Whether that is good or bad is what’s up for debate, and I’m looking forwward to reading the book for more information.
September 16th, 2005 at 5:04 pm
Warren,
Anyone turning to the occult to learn how to fly on a broomstick or disapparate or feed blast-ended skrewts or about the care and feeding of Hippogriffs will be sorely disappointed.
Steve
September 16th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
Another thing Warren:
The issue which you so casually dismiss (”there’s not much of a debate…”) is exactly what is up for debate. (”Whether that is good or bad is what’s up for debate…”)No Christian that I know would argue that an increased interest in the occult is good! So that is definitely not up for debate. You have the issues exactly reversed!
Steve
September 16th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
Warren,
Is there not much debate that people are wanting to find the wardrobe so they can go to Narnia? Have you read the books?
Scott
September 17th, 2005 at 7:02 am
It might actually be fair to say that more people have “expressed interest” in witchcraft since the release of the Harry Potter books. But it would not be fair to say it has contributed to the rise of paganism and witchcraft (if any such thing is actually happening, which some statistics dispute).
As has been hinted at, there’s very little, if any, similarity whatsoever between the “magic” of the Harry Potter books and modern day Wicca. The former is a literary device, used by authors, Christian and non-Christian, down through the centuries. Harry Potter no more encourages us towards witchcraft that Shakespeare, Dickens, Lewis, Tolkien, or Disney.
Anyone deciding they want to become a witch or wizard after reading Harry Potter will be sorely disappointed if they run to Wicca. “What? You mean there’s no such thing as Skiving Snackboxes? I wanted to skip work tomorrow. And there’s no alohomora spell? ‘Cause I lost my car keys. And I REALLY wanted one of them house-elves. The laundry is piling up.”
September 18th, 2005 at 8:28 pm
Does Lord of the Rings inspire people to become wizards? To smoke pipeweed?
September 18th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
When I was younger, Dungeons and Dragons was popular. I remember being in a tizzy, worried sick about my brother who enjoyed the game. Twenty years later, I am happy to report that he is not worshipping Satan, and he never was, in spite of the threats within Christian circles at the time.
It seems to me that The Left Behind series has spawned more of an interest in demons and occult activity than Harry Potter has. Out of all three of my children and their many cousins and friends who have read the books, watched the movies, bought the spin-off games, etc., not one has become interested in witchcraft. We don’t own any magic wands, and no spells have been cast, although I’m sure some of my children wish they could cast a spell to make their brothers less annoying….
CM
September 21st, 2005 at 2:45 pm
[…] ed onto the “Harry Potter is influencing people become witches” bandwagon, and The Fat Triplets have started a discussion about it. Challies hinted at a future post on the subject that would […]