Christian clues in Harry Potter In his book Finding God in Harry Potter, John Granger illuminates some of the striking examples of Christian meaning in the series. Here is a small sampling: Gryffindor, the name of Harry’s dormitory, has Christian implications: It is named after its founder Godric Gryffindor, whose first name means godly or worshipful, and it contains the word griffin, a mythological figure and common symbol for Christ (like Christ, the griffin has both an earthly and a heavenly nature; it is half lion and half eagle). Slytherin, the dormitory of Harry’s enemies, bears the mascot of a serpent. The villain of the books, who is also associated with Slytherin, is Lord Voldemort, who has serpentine features as well as a pet snake. The books recount a constant battle between good and evil, not only between characters, but also within Harry himself. Harry is depicted as the counterpoint and figurative twin to Voldemort, the villain of the series.Thus the protagonist struggles, as do all humans, between the good and evil in one’s own nature. Harry is a name affiliated with royalty — several English kings bore the name — and, therefore, with being the heir to a great kingdom. Harry’s last name, Potter, may be viewed as a reference to God, who is sometimes called “the potter” in the Bible (e.g. Isaiah 64:8). Pronounced, potter also sounds like the Latin pater for father, as in God the Father. Harry Potter may therefore be read as Heir to the Father. Granger writes, “Harry Potter is not the Son of God as Jesus Christ is, but in the manner that you and I are sons of God. Harry is the fallen man seeking to be both image and likeness of God.”

I explained this to friends who encouraged me to write a book they could share with other friends who loved or hated Harry. This book has been published as Looking for God in Harry Potter. In it, I describe how and explain why the books have become so popular; the human heart is made by Christ for Christ — and our hearts, hardened as they may be, resonate with the Christian themes, artistry, and meaning of these books, all of which echo the great story of Our Lord’s Incarnation and Resurrection. Each book, for example, ends with Harry’s confrontation with evil — and Harry loses every single time and dies a figurative death. He is saved from death by love and a traditional symbol of Christ, and, in case you miss the reference, in the first book he rises after three days!

The most interesting thing about these books for me, however, isn’t the artistry and faith of the author, though I find them remarkable, to say the least. Father Don Peter Fleetwood of the Pontifical Council for Culture and many other literate Catholics have noted the Christian meaning and goodness of these books. What stays with me is the salutary effect these books have had on my children.

C. S. Lewis once explained the bad behavior of one of his child characters as being the unhappy result of the boy’s “not having read the right books,” namely, stories about knights in shining armor slaying dragons and rescuing fair maidens. My children love King Arthur and Robin Hood (especially the Howard Pyle versions) and our yard often has several of them acting out their favorite stories from these books as well as Harry Potter. I think my neighbors know all the spells in the books from hearing the Granger kids yell them across the lawn. “Expecto Patronum!”

I didn’t think much about this until the day I had to leave some papers with an unpleasant business associate. My 10-year-old daughter Sophia was with me in the van on the way to her violin lesson, and she could tell when we pulled into the business’s parking lot that I was uncomfortable about the man I was going to see, however brief our meeting would be. She asked me why I looked upset and I explained that I was just nervous about my errand, but that I would be right out to take her to her lesson.

She got out of the van with me, I assumed to rollerblade around the empty parking lot. No, she was determined to come in with me and skated up to the door. “Of course, I’m coming with you,” she said. “You know, Daddy, just like Harry Potter; friends don’t let friends face danger by themselves.”

My children are reading the right books. Entering the building with my daughter and comrade- in-arms, I had to think that the Harry Potter novels are some of the best. CD

John Granger is an author, speaker, and teacher of the Great Books.He is the Harry Potter professor at Barnes & Noble University, where he teaches a course on how to teach children literature using Harry Potter. His latest book is Looking for God in Harry Potter.