A companion to the best-selling The Gospel according to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker, this ten-session study, appropriate for youth and adults, explores the religious themes that are prevalent in the popular series of children's books and films. Each session recommends scenes from the DVD and video releases of the first two Harry Potter movies, along with corresponding passages from the books, to facilitate discussion.

The best-selling book series of all time and the best-selling book of all time—do they have anything in common? And if so, might there be a reason for that? Echoes of the Gospel in Harry Potter suggests that there is a profound connection between these two beloved and inspirational stories and, moreover, that it is the connection between the two that has caused them to be so widely read and enjoyed. Each chapter sheds light on this connection from a different angle by unpacking how either an aspect of the magical world, a character, or a theme in Harry Potter echoes the gospel—the story the Bible is telling that finds its climax in Jesus Christ. Whether Christian or non-Christian, well-versed in the Bible or unfamiliar with it, fans of the Harry Potter series will find this an illuminating and captivating read.

Tagline: Now Exploring Books One through Seven

A Presbyterian minister defends the Harry Potter series from conservatives who denounce the books as paganism, demonstrating how they promote the values of faith and morality, and profiling the main character as a Christ figure.

Contrary to those who reject the Harry Potter books as a threat to Christian faith, Neal demonstrates how the lessons in these books reinforce the central messages of the Bible.

The scope and tragedy of the thing : the structure of the series -- More things in heaven and earth : going beyond the normal -- As if a man were author of himself : good against evil -- Be absolute for death : life and death -- Power is made perfect in weakness : power and weakness -- To lay down one's life for one's friends : love and sacrifice -- It is essential that you understand this : freedom and determination -- A pretty boring life : the hidden and the ostentatious -- Telling it like it is : the struggle for truth -- They will see God : purity of heart and purity of blood.

Jesus Potter Harry Christ uses the similarities between Jesus and Harry to re-open the debate over the historical Jesus, arguing that both Harry and Jesus are spiritual metaphors told in the literary form of historical fiction. With hundreds of footnotes and references from both ancient mythology and modern culture, Jesus Potter Harry Christ is a fresh and arresting account of Christian history that is not predicated on the flesh and bones of a historical founder. From ancient mystery religions to modern fairy tales, from fictional Hogwarts to the ruins of Jerusalem, Derek Murphy, PhD in Comparative Literature at one of the world's top universities, zooms in on one crucial question: How do we separate the obviously mythical literature of Jesus Christ from the historical man himself?