Connie Neal

This is an interesting book that brings together Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter in order to talk about the Bible and the hero journey in our own lives. I was definitely skeptical going into it because so much as already been said about Harry Potter and the hero's journey as well as Harry Potter and Christianity. (I know the same is true for Star Wars and Narnia as well but I haven't personally read anything like that about these works before). However I think that this book has a very good take on the subject.
There are a few things that bothered me a bit about this book. The first is that there are a few times when the author compares being a Democrat to being evil. Now, I certainly think that there are plenty of relevant topics if you want to compare these works to politics. But the author states that not believing in the non-existent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and not believing that Voldemort had returned to power are the same and that that implies that those who didn't think we should have gone to war in Iraq are sinners. That argument doesn't follow.
There are also quite a few inaccuracies in the book. There are many little things I noticed about Harry Potter specifically, but as I know more details to Harry Potter than the average person, I was able to over look most of these since they didn't take away from the message of the work. There were some time-related discrepancies that did bother me. For example, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets can't be a reflection of life after September 11, 2001 because it was published well before then.
Having said all that, I think this book did a very good job of making the Bible more exciting and interesting by relating it well to pop culture. And as this is the main aim of the book, I would say that overall this book is a great success.… (mere)

Book Review: What’s a Christian to do with Harry Potter?
(I originally wrote this for a church newsletter in 2003, and just decided to upload this to here.)
by Connie Neal

Waterbrook Press, c. 2001; Colorado Springs, CO

I was fortunate enough to be in the library one morning when I found this on the “New Books” shelf. I wasn’t out to find a book about Harry Potter, but was just seeing what was new. I have read half of the Harry books already out so far, but hadn’t decided whether I would continue. Although I’m not a parent, I have nieces and a nephew and an interest in writing for children, so I’m interested in what children like to read.

Connie Neal’s position is not that of a witch hunter, but more of moderator or guide to help you make your own conclusions of whether Harry Potter is right for you and your children. She also stresses that if you decide to let Harry Potter into your children’s lives, you should read each book first and then with your children. She provides ways to use the books to help children discern evil in their own world and other fantasy movies and books, tell right from wrong, and even share the Gospel.

She warns that if you or your children are over-sensitive to scary things you may want to hold off or skip it altogether. Each child is different so there may be some in your family that could handle them and some who can’t.

In Chapter Seven, ‘Protecting Kids From Real-World Occult,’ Connie Neal also gives guidelines on dealing with the evil forces in your children’s lives. This is an important chapter whether you are deciding to read Harry Potter or not.

The author’s first concern is not about the books themselves, but the way Christians have gone at each other about them from both sides. Many have criticized them without even reading them. They take rumors and passages they read out of context and build up a case with scripture against the books and their author, J.K. Rowling. This point is stressed in the first chapter and another on the danger of debate.

I know the Christian bookstores have several books about Harry Potter. I can’t comment on them without reading them, but I think everyone should give this one a chance.… (mere)