Whether or not you believe in magic, it is fairly obvious that when writing the Harry Potter series, author J. K. Rowling combined the ordinary elements of daily life with fantasy. Her images are vivid and her stories are not without messages concerning the consequences of irresponsible or egocentric behavior. The fact that her protagonists are young people in no way diminishes the lessons to be learned.
Perhaps Ms. Rowling was too proficient an author. Perhaps the worldwide popularity of her books and the movies of them that followed, and those that are in progress were too real for some of us. Unfortunately, there are those who refuse to “suspend disbelief” just while turning the pages of the Harry Potter series, and insist that any references to magical arts are part of intentional hidden agendas, which call into question any religious beliefs we may hold.
This attitude toward literature is very sad indeed. As children, we ask our parents nightly to “tell stories,” and are comforted by their tales of fairies, sleeping princesses and kindly, industrious dwarfs. We enjoy these stories without fear, as we are unafraid of any place our imagination might take us. Our love and trust in our parents and the values they teach, sometimes through the use of fantasies, provides us with a secure foundation for any dream we might have. We are not afraid.
Let’s hope that Harry Potter, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and other fantasy classics might remain for generations to come, untouched by fear-based religious dogma
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