Is Harry Potter A Harmless Fantasy
 Or Wicca Training Program?

Rev. Louis P. Sheldon Chairman, Traditional Values Coalition Washington, DC - The popular "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling has sold 100 million copies worldwide and this November, Warner Brothers is releasing "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

With a lot less fanfare and a significantly smaller budget, California-based Jeremiah Films (jeremiahfilms.com) has just released a documentary on Harry Potter: "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged." The video, narrated by author Robert S. McGee, and occult researcher Caryl Matrisciana, takes the viewer on grim journey into the world of witchcraft, goddess worship, and occult symbolism-all messages conveyed in the Harry Potter books.

Christians are rightly concerned about the spiritual messages being conveyed through the Harry Potter books. Wicca or witchcraft is clearly condemned in both the Old and New Testaments as an abomination to God. Practitioners of Wicca worship mythical goddesses, including the goddess "Gaia" (the earth), and incorporate radical feminism and homosexuality into their practices. According to feminists Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor, in "The Great Cosmic Mother," "The original witch was undoubtedly black, bisexual, a warrior."

Daniel Spencer, a professor of philosophy and religion is author of "Gay and Gaia: Ethics, Ecology, and the Erotic." Spencer argues that homosexuality and earth worship must be synthesized to create a new eco-homoerotic moral ethic to rule the world. He also condemns Christianity as an oppressive religious system and a threat to this new world religion. As theologian Dr. Peter Jones has written in his book, "Spirit Wars: Pagan Revival in Christian America" (spirit-wars.com): "While not all homosexuals are overtly anti-Christian-indeed some claim to be Christian-one may not underestimate the role of homosexual theory in the normalization of paganism in the Christian West."

In addition to worshipping the earth and advocating homosexuality, witches also believe in abortion as a sacred act. "The Sacrament of Abortion," by Ginette Paris applauds the goddess Artemis for justifying the taking of human life.

While the themes in Harry Potter's books do not expressly advocate homosexuality or abortion, these are philosophical beliefs deeply embedded in Wicca. The child who is seduced into a Wicca through Harry Potter's books will eventually be introduced to these other concepts.

Regrettably, corporate America has now joined the Harry Potter juggernaut. Companies like Sears and Coca Cola are providing the Harry Potter movie and marketing empire with millions in advertising revenue and spin off products. Christian customers should make their displeasure known to these companies.

Both Christian and non-Christian parents would be well-advised to take a long, hard look at the Harry Potter series before allowing their children to read them. Two good starting points would be: "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged," and Dr. Jones' "Spirit Wars." Parents and pastors should be deeply concerned about Harry Potter's influence over children by introducing them to a pagan religious system that promotes abortion, homosexuality, and earth worship.

Churchgoers should encourage their pastors to show "Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged" to their congregations. And if a pastor discounts the danger of Harry Potter to his flock and refuses to show the video, attendees may want to prayerfully consider finding a church that is more serious about spiritual warfare.

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Traditional Values Coalition is an inter-denominational public policy organization comprising over 43,000 member churches. For more information call Steve Aiken at (202) 547-8570. TVC, 139 C Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Web address: www.traditionalvalues.org.