Monthly Archives: May 2013

Harley Christianson & the Redemption (a Christian Story about Harry Potter)

Posted on by Claire Violet Thorpe

The following story is based off the short story Henry Shepherd and the Rock of Ages by Richard E. Salisbury.

Also known as the story that offended many Harry Potter fans with its Christian values

This short story was written by Jeana Sollman in the story “Harry Potter Destroyed My Town” and there was a huge uproar over the fact that a Harry Potter-like character converts to Christianity, quits doing magic, dropped out of his Hogwarts-like school, and spends the rest of his life as a Muggle.

In this story, 16-year-old Harley Porter is a student at a magical boarding school. His best friends are Jonathan Nealy and Diana MacArthur. Harley is mostly content with his life, but he is beginning to doubt his place in the world.

He makes a new friend named Jamie Raines, a girl who introduces him to a man named Joshua Christianson. Joshua was once a wizard before his conversion to Christianity when he was 18 years old. He has spent 15 years converting wizards to Christianity and persuading many other people to stop doing magic and instead devote their lives to worshipping God. He was invited to the school to teach the students about magical history, but Jamie and a few other students are secretly learning about God because the teachers and headmaster don’t want the students to learn about God and stop doing magic.

Harley doesn’t have much of a religious belief, seeing as he was an orphan living with relatives who know nothing about his magical life. He also doesn’t know why God should be worshiped when there are so many decent people in the world. Jamie convinces him to join Joshua and his disciples, which he reluctantly does. Harley also clashes with Jonathan and Diana about learning about God and having to forgive Michael Davis (the school bully), who had also joined Joshua and is repenting his own sins.

Jonathan and Diana, alarmed that Joshua and his disciples might be “corrupting” Harley, unwisely inform the school’s high inquisitor, who has a grudge against Joshua. A mob riot ensues and Joshua is arrested for “crimes against the magical world“. After a mock trial, Joshua is found guilty and beheaded. Harley is crushed by the events and vows to quit doing magic. He also breaks his friendships with Jonathan and Diana.

After three days have passed, Jamie tells him that she saw Joshua rise from the dead. Harley doesn’t believe her until he sees Joshua show up in the Great Hall. Joshua explains that he was meant to die and that because of his death, wizards everywhere are learning about God and need help in order to give up magic and live Christian lives.

After a few weeks of teaching, Joshua decides to leave the school and take his message somewhere else. He blesses his disciples and prepares to leave. Joshua tells Harley to reconcile with his relatives and to forgive Jonathan and Diana. Harley agrees to transfer to a Christian school and continue his education. The story ends with Joshua blessing Harley and Jamie and goes on his way. Harley is later seen at his new school and Jamie convinces her guardian to reaffirm his faith in God.

This story, for what it’s worth, illustrates what would happen if Harry Potter were to discover Christianity and turn his back on magic. I’ll have the story uploaded on this blog next month.

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Hairy Polarity and the Sinister Sorcery Satire

Posted on by Claire Violet Thorpe

via Hairy Polarity and the Self-Mocking Fundie Satire.

Here’s a graphic novel which is an entertaining yet cautionary tale against the evils of Harry Potter, but only tamer. A man named Tim Todd has given us this parody, which you can actually buy from his website. He says that if we aren’t careful, we could unleash all kinds of evils in the world.

The story is about a boy named Ari Potiphar, who is a huge fan of the Hairy Polarity series. He and his best friend, Minnie Manger, often spend their time reading the Hairy Polarity books. Ari’s parents, who are rightly concerned for their son’s safety, warn him to stop reading the books and stop hanging out with Minnie, and to spend time with his Christian friends.  Ari disobeys them and he and Minnie are eventually sucked away into a world where the evils of witchcraft are all too real and the kids are forced to battle for their souls.

Before the story ends, both Ari and Minnie learn a huge lesson about being careful of what to read and to listen to their parents. Plus, the author is saying that it’s better to trust Jesus and reject evil.

Maybe it’s best if we listened to our parents and the pastor of the church.

Website to view the book: http://ari-potter.tripod.com/HairyPolarity/

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Henry Shepherd and the Rock of Ages

Posted on by Claire Violet Thorpe

via HSRA.

Henry Shepherd and the Rock of Ages is a Christian parody that mixes Harry Potter and the Da Vinci Code. Henry Shepherd is a misfit who longs to break free from his life and in doing so, he applies to Hemlock School of Sorcery in a magical world. Within a few months, Henry has an encounter with a man named Joshua, who is a Christ-like figure.

After several confrontations, Joshua sacrifices himself and saves Henry. Henry then escapes from prison and flees to an old man’s house. The old man is really Joshua, who commissions Henry to spread the story about his resurrection.

I will have my review of this story soon.

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Top 5: Pre- Harry Potter Reads

Posted on by Claire Violet Thorpe

This list is for those of you who think that the Harry Potter books are too intense for your children, or if you don’t want your children to read the books.

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Rarest Kind of Best

As I wrote yesterday, Harry Potter books (and movies) can be pretty scary and intense for younger children. If your child is intrigued by magic and fantasy, but you’re not certain she or he is quite ready for Hogwarts, here are a few fantasy titles they may be more comfortable with.

(Click on the titles to see full reviews.)


Top 5: Beginner Fantasy Chapter Books

 

1. The Cuckoo Clock by Mrs. Molesworth – age 5+

A very sedate and old-fashioned (1877) story about a girl who visits some magical places and learns to behave herself a little better.

2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum – age 5+

Quite different from the movie – a rambling, weird tale with a few scares and dustups along the way. (NB. some violence: see full review.)

3. Half Magic by Edward Eager – age 5+

One of…

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10 Reasons Hogwarts Is The Worst Damn School Ever

Posted on by Claire Violet Thorpe

In this blog post, the writer is making a point that Hogwarts isn’t the type of school for kids to be attending. Far from it. I’m going to just say that this is very well-written and yet funny at the same time.

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A VERY STRANGE PLACE

Hey everybody, look at that title! If you can’t guess what something called “10 Reasons Hogwarts Is The Worst Damn School Ever” is about, than I officially have to confiscate your eyeballs.

Ahem.

10: “You Know What Would Be Funny? Making People Run In To Walls.”

This is just a minor nitpick, but seriously, what the fuck was up with Platform 9 3/4?!

Think about it: Hogwarts sends letters to these kids, tell them they’re magic, then say “oh, by the way, run in to this brick wall”. What, is the entire admission system run by the Three Stooges?!

Wait a second, that’s a lie. They don’t even say “run in to this wall”, they just say “go to this station that doesn’t actually exist”. The only reason Harry doesn’t assume that the Durleys were playing a practical joke is because he runs in to the Weasleys which is incidentally…

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