Magic, Muggles & Methodists: Peachtree Road Discusses Potter
When it came time for Peachtree Road UMC to pick a light, pop-culture topic around which to develop a family Bible study the decision was easy: Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and last installment of the mega-selling book series, was released July 20 at midnight, just a few weeks after the opening of the movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” (based on the fifth book).
Peachtree Road’s three-week Wednesday night Bible study, “Magic, Muggles & Methodists: A Christian Discussion of Harry Potter" started July 11. The study revolves around discussion of the Christian themes and imagery in the Harry Potter series and is led by guest speakers.
“We’ve pulled out scripture and discussed themes from the book," said Nancy Johnson, associate minister. “We looked at hidden identity—a theme found in all the books—and related it to Paul’s description of the old self and the new self. Good or bad, we’re all becoming something new.”
Self-sacrifice (Harry’s mother's), prejudice (mud-bloods versus pure-bloods), and the consequences of choices (Harry’s versus Voldemort’s) have been popular discussion points the last two Wednesdays. The group also spent time discussing why the series has elicited such strong reactions on both sides; especially why it has been challenged and even banned.
“Harry Potter and the Hidden Story” is the title of the last session, which will be July 25 in the Forum Classroom at 7 p.m., and the community is invited. The leader will be Dr. Kathy L. Dawson, Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary. If you didn't make it to the bookstore at midnight, don’t worry. The group has made an important covenant: those who read the last book before Wednesday (including Johnson who plans to read it cover to cover this weekend) will not say or do anything to reveal the ending.
—Sybil Davidson