Who is Harry Potter?

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A lady asked me at the Southern Diocese Family Convention, "Anba Youssef, what do you think about Harry Potter for the children?" My reply was "Who is Harry Potter?"

Upon asking others in the Diocese that are familiar with the book (and now a movie I am also told), these are the facts that I have collected regarding a small orphan boy named Harry Potter:

1) He is born a wizard with parents who have been murdered.
2) He carries a deep flesh scar on his head from an evil person who murdered his parents and is now seeking to murder him
3) He converses with snakes
4) He attends a school of wizardry and black magic, can ride a broom, and practice witchcraft with ease
5) Befriends other small wizards his age who can perform special feats of wizardry almost as well as he
6) Some say it is sorcery actually not wizardry that he performs; both have connotations of black magic
7) A unicorn is killed within the plot of the book/movie and the blood is drunk of this dead animal to restore youth and life to another human
8) Evil and ominous creatures are throughout; one lady stated that her son kept his eyes covered for most of the movie and could not sleep alone for nights
9) The adoptive parents of Harry Potter abuse and neglect him
10) A wrong move in a "game" of chess can result in a someone's head being cut off swiftly and unmercifully with a sword

These are only points derived from conversations of others. I cannot image a parent encouraging this type of reading for any child, particularly their own. What type of message does this give to our children? Evil in some forms are acceptable and good?

I do not think so. It amazes me that a mother would not leave surroundings where her child becomes this frightened from "entertainment", showing visible signs with covering his eyes and looking down at the floor and most probably wishing to leave but not wanting to say this in front of older siblings or peers. How did it make her feel when her child could not sleep at night? Is there a message here?

Is this living a Christian life in the modern world? Does this type of reading and entertainment away from God satisfy us? The basic Christian issue here is, is this right or wrong?

Through the grace of God we can become better than societal influences, which surround us by using discretion. Parents should not escape responsible behavior. The parental Christian role of parents is to teach their children the Will of God. His Holy Word, Teachings of the Church, Lives of the Saints, Guidance in selecting reading and program participation, seeking inner peace, and quiet thinking and reason.

"All things are lawful for me but all things do not edify. Give no offenseto the Church of God" (I Corinthians 10:23,32).

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7).

Parenting is a great and serious responsibility.

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

God bless you and grant you wisdom for the sake of our children.

H.G. Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States