The Gospel According to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous SeekerThis is a light-hearted yet serious-minded consideration of the themes in the popular Harry Potter stories. Connie Neal explores Harry Potter's world and stories alongside the biblical characters, stories and grand themes that can captivate our imaginations and satisfy our longings for another world beyond our own. Contrary to those who reject the series as a threat to the Christian faith, the author demonstrates how the lessons in Harry Potter not only echo many of the stories in the Bible but also reinforce the central messages of Christianity. Chapters include 'Dobby's Sock and Other Tales of Redemption' 'The Curse of Death and the Boy who Lived' and 'The Elixir of Life and the Quest for Immortality'. |
Contents
The Curse of Death and the Boy Who Lived | 6 |
A Lightning Bolt Scar | 8 |
Scars Can Come in Handy | 10 |
The Unstoppable Invitation | 12 |
A Door to an Unseen World | 15 |
First Stop Gringotts | 17 |
Getting onto Platform Nine and ThreeQuarters | 19 |
The Sorting | 22 |
Fred and George and Original Sin | 65 |
The Department of Mysteries | 68 |
The Rat Who Betrayed Harrys Parents | 71 |
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 73 |
Introduction to Book Four | 75 |
A Murderer from the Beginning | 77 |
Harrys Dreams Warn of Danger | 79 |
The Muggle Protection Act | 82 |
Dumbledores Dire Warning | 25 |
Hagrids Temptation | 27 |
Dangerous Designs of the DragonEgg Dealer | 30 |
The Quest for the Sorcerers Stone | 33 |
Harry Ron and Hermiones Soft Landing | 36 |
This Isnt Magic Its Logic | 39 |
Professor Quirrells Defense Against the Dark Arts Lessons | 41 |
Hagrids Remorse | 43 |
Harrys Battle with the Dark Lord | 46 |
Why the Evil One Could Not Touch Harry | 48 |
A LastMinute Change of Decorations | 49 |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 51 |
Introduction to Book Three | 53 |
In the Company of Albus Dumbledore | 54 |
Let the Feast Begin | 58 |
Grim Omens of Death Prove Misleading | 61 |
MadEye Moodys Ironic Warnings | 84 |
The Only Known Survivor of the Killing Curse | 88 |
Harrys Heroism in the Triwizard Tournament | 91 |
News from the World Beyond | 93 |
The Death Eaters and the Dark Mark | 96 |
The Wrath of Albus Dumbledore | 102 |
The Truth Will Be Told | 105 |
The Kiss That Cost His Soul | 107 |
The Parting of the Ways | 110 |
We Are Only as Strong as We Are United | 113 |
What Will Come Will Come | 115 |
Dumbledore Welcomes All Who Wish to Come | 119 |
Afterword | 123 |
Notes | 127 |
Acknowledgments | 128 |
Common terms and phrases
Albus Dumbledore Barty Crouch Jr battle believe Bible says Book Four Book Three called Chamber of Secrets Christian curse of death danger Dark Arts Dark Lord Dark Mark Death Eaters declared dementors disciples Dobby dragon Dumbledore's faith fantasy forces of evil Fred and George friends Fudge Gilderoy Lockhart Ginny give God's Gospel According Gryffindor Hagrid Harry and Ron Harry Potter Harry Potter books Harry Potter stories Harry's world heart heaven Hermione Hogwarts Holy Spirit house-elves human Jesus Jesus Christ John Killing Curse kingdom knew lives look Luke Mad-Eye Moody magical Malfoy Matt Ministry of Magic Muggle murderous occult omens Professor Quirrell prophecy prophet Quidditch religious revealed Riddle righteousness Rita Skeeter Satan scar Seeker side sinner sins Sirius Black Slytherin someone Sorcerer's Stone soul teaching Testament themes things told Tom Riddle truth Uncle Vernon warning Weasley wizarding world wrath