New HBO Harry Potter series means a fresh generation of Christians are divided once again

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published in 1997 by Bloomsbury Publishing, and now, the popular series is getting a screen re-vamp. Would you let your children watch it? Will you be watching it? Jemimah Wright considers why Christians have such differing opinions.

Over twenty years ago a friend recommended a new series of books, that would help me switch off at night. She gave me a copy of J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. My friend was right, the book was gripping enough to keep me reading, and momentarily forget whatever thing was stressing me at the time. I think I was aware of some controversy at the time with themes of witchcraft, but I don’t think I felt it was too dark to read.

I didn’t read the rest of the series, but I did watch some of the films, until, chicken that I am, they got too scary for me. If I feel the need to start praying under my breath in a cinema, its a sure sign the film is probably not one for me.