I have never let my kids read any of the Harry Potter books, but I took all four of them, 10 and under, to see The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe when it was released. Nancy Drew books scare my daughter, but she watches The Wizard of Oz without fear. So what makes some Christians fearful of fantasy fiction? I’m not sure it is a rational fear at all, and though Christians must always use discernment when deciding what to let their children read or view, I know I reacted merely out of what I thought was ok, not what I had researched.

I guess I was afraid of Harry Potter. Afraid of what was in those tantalizing stories about a boy attending a school for witches. Afraid that my kids would be up at night with nightmares of dragons, monsters and mayhem. Afraid that I wasn’t honoring Christ.

So I just said no to Harry Potter and left it at that. Maybe I was just being lazy, not wanting to take the time to read them myself, not wanting to explore the possibility they might have value for my children; teachable faith-filled moments I could use, or even evangelical opportunities.

I am certainly not alone. It seems to me that Harry Potter is a love ‘em or leave ‘em kind of phenomenon. Christians either love the stories, or hate them. Embrace them or fear them.

Harry Potter was first written by J.K. Rowling in 1997, and to date has sold over 300 million copies worldwide, mainly to children who are willing to dress up in costume and stand in line all night to get their hands on the first copy of the next edition in the 7 book series.

Many Christians have done as I have. Just banned the books form their homes for fear that reading about a young boy attending the Hogwart School, learning witchcraft would promote evil ideas, and pull children away from faith in Christ. Somehow, we believed the mere presence of witches or magic made the story intrinsically evil in nature.

Though some Christian groups in the US have denounced the series forpromoting Satanism, Focus on the Family ministry spokeman Paul Hetrick said, "[The Harry Potter series] contains some powerful and valuable lessons about love and courage and the ultimate victory of good over evil. [However}, the positive messages are packaged in a medium — witchcraft — that is directly denounced in Scripture." So is it worth our time to even pursue reading them? I’m not sure.

In an article on Americandaily.com (8/9/04), writer Jeremy Reynolds stated, “The old admonition to not discuss religion or politics now has a new addition in the evangelical Christian community: Harry Potter. Mere mention of the very name polarizes the evangelical Christian community. You are either for the books or against them. Nobody is neutral about Potter. People either love the books or hate them.”

In his book Looking for God in Harry Potter, author John Granger discusses his own Harry Potter journey from fear factor to faith factor. He set out to read the Harry Potter books himself for the sole purpose of giving his 11 year old daughter a very specific laundry list of reasons why she would not be allowed to read the Potter series.

What he discovered was, "[Harry Potter is] a story that resonates with the Great Story for which we are all designed ... Harry is a Christian hero parents can joyfully share with their families," Granger stated," J.K. Rowling's books are filled to the brim with Christian themes, imagery, virtues and meaning, implicit and almost explicit, and this is the reason, oddly enough, that the books are so popular. The human heart longs for experience of the Christian message, even imaginative experience, and Harry Potter ‘smuggles the Gospel' better than anyone!" Granger contends that the Potter novels are about “…choosing the right path, though it is difficult, so that love will have the victory over death.” That sounds like something I might want my kids to read.

After seeing the movie based on The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, I spent hours discussing faith in Christ with my 2 older daughters, 10 and 8 years old respectively. The movie had sparked a deeper understanding in their hearts of what Christ had done for them, as they watched Aslan give up his own life for Edmund. We talked about life in Narnia, longing for home, growing up, the evil that had to be confronted, the children’s bravery and courage in confronting that evil, and how they can walk more closely with Christ every day.

Since my children gained so much from Narnia, I began wondering if there were other fantasy fiction stories they would enjoy, books that would spark their little minds and hearts, and lead them to know Christ more personally. Fantasy fiction books like Harry Potter. I wonder if there is an intrinsic value in fantasy fiction, consistent themes of good over evil, life lessons our kids can learn wrapped up in a make believe story with talking creatures and white witches?

In his book The Soul of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, author Gene Veith states that “…the genre of fantasy has become increasingly popular, both in children’s literature and in books, TV shows, video games, and movies…” (p. 123). Veith delves deeply into why some Christians reject all fantasy, worrying that any story featuring magic or anything supernatural may push children to join the occult, and leave their Christian faith behind. In fact, Veith says that fantasy literature can in fact be used as evangelical tool, bringing non-believers into a very real discussion about faith in Christ.

Fantasy is not new, especially to children. As a little girl, I loved watching The Wizard of Oz, and though I cringed when the wicked witch of the west rode her broomstick in the sky, I cheered out loud as Dorothy defeated evil with good, the lion got his courage, the scarecrow his brain, and the tin man his heart. And when Dorothy finally discovered that there was no place like home, I realized how blessed I was to have a home.

Though I wasn’t brought up in a Christian home, there was something that drew me to that story, something that attracted me to the plot. “The world of the fairy tale is a realm of rigorous moral order. When used rightly, fantasies can help instill that moral order into a child’s personality,” (Veith, p. 139). In fact, even as a child, I had a longing for home beyond my earthly home. Though I did not yet know Christ, Christ knew me. Though I had no idea what salvation in Christ was, I longed for a home unlike one I had ever known. The seed was planted. There is just something in all fairy tales that makes us long for home, our Heavenly home, a better place where there good prevails over evil. That is just a part of the human makeup (Veith, 125).

That’s where the most powerful evangelism can begin. Person to person. Child to child. How many millions of children who don’t yet know Christ do know Harry Potter? How many children who may never attend church may be willing to go to watch a movie like The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe? And how many opportunities do you have with your children to truly sit down and discuss their faith in Christ.

I am not saying that every Christian parent should let their children read every fantasy fiction book that exists, or that the Narnia or Potter series of books are a perfect fit for every Christian family.

What I am saying is that Christian parents should not let their fear of fantasy fiction paralyze their search for faith factors that lie within great stories. People relate to stories. We have a better understanding of life when we see it being lived rather than told to us. Jesus knew this - he was one of the best story tellers of all time, teaching us about love and forgiveness through parables.

I have no doubt that these stories are touching the hearts of millions of children around the world, Christians and non-Christians alike. My hope and prayer is that Christian parents don’t allow their fear factor to prevent the faith factor from planting seeds of faith in young readers. And beyond Narnia, there is a best selling series of books I might just have to read for myself to see if I can find that faith factor hidden between the lines of a charming story about a boy who discovers that good will be victorious after all.