Major Spoilers Down Below!
I like thinking and writing about Harry Potter theories (based on facts in the canon, not wild, unfounded, and apocryphal speculation) that aren't discussed a lot. Take the prophecy we learned about in Book 5, Order of the Phoenix. I have a theory that I haven't read much about.
Backstory: At the end of the book, after the death of his godfather, Sirius Black, young Harry is enraged and grief-stricken. He begins smashing objects in Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore takes the blame for Sirius's death. Had he told Harry the whole truth about why Voldemort wanted him dead, Sirius might still be alive.
Dumbledore decides to come clean. He tells Harry about his scar, why he's been so distant all year, and why he must return to his dreaded aunt and uncle every summer.
Because of some ancient charm related to his mother's blood, Harry must return to his mother's sister's home, where he is protected from the Dark Lord. (I wondered about that from Book 1. Why did Dumbledore make Harry return to the Dursleys? The Weasley's would've gladly taken him in. J.K. Rowling made us wait until Book 5 for the explanation).
Dumbledore was distant because he realized Voldemort was practicing Legilimency on Harry through his scar, which allowed him to read the boy wizard's thoughts and emotions. The headmaster surmised that Voldlemort would use Harry to get to him, so he asked Potions Master Professor Snape to give Harry Occlumency lessons. As readers know, Harry hates Snape and hated the lessons. He made little progress.
Continue reading Harry Potter Prophecy Theory
The children's classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, will hit theaters on Friday. Be sure to check out Narnia Web for all the latest news, reviews, and clips.
In other news, the following excerpt is from one of the most balanced Narnia-related stories I've seen in a mainstream newspaper:
Lewis, an atheist turned devout Christian theologian, weaved plenty of religious symbolism into "The Chronicles of Narnia," a seven-volume adventure series of which "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was the first book published, in 1950. The hero of the series, Aslan the lion, is often viewed as a Christlike figure: Aslan dies at the hand of his wicked enemies, is miraculously resurrected, and saves those who believe in him.
But the Narnia books also include plenty of nonreligious mythology and fantasy as they spin out their fairy tales of moral courage and good vs. evil. (Source)
I actually made it to the end of the story without cringing.
People with a bias against Christians, or Christians with a bias against fantasy literature, are quick to point out that C.S. Lewis didn't intend to write the book just for a Christian audience. As I wrote a few days ago, that hardly matters. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe clearly has Christian overtones. In fact, they are obvious.
But if you're an unbeliever who hasn't read the Bible and doesn't know the Gospel message or any such things as "salvation" and "redemption," you can still relate to "Christian" traits like self-sacrifice, honor, loyalty, and love. We believe that everything good comes from God, and Christ-like qualities can be found in any type of literature.
Some think the Christian message is a heavy-handed lecture about hell and damnation. Well, part of it is about hell and damnation, but that's not the whole message! They also believe that to judge others shows lack love. Christ followers know better. We are commissioned to take the Gospel to all men, and part of the message is that unless one repents of his sins and believes that Christ died for those sins, he is under God's wrath and will be eternally damned if he dies still in his sins. We can't judge sin, but we must tell people that they are sinners in need of a Savior.
Now that may sound like fairy tales to unbelievers, but to those of us who believe, it is a joyous, miraculous revelation! God has graciously provided a way for us to avoid just punishment and be reunited with him forever. A holy God washing away the sins of rebellious, contentious, and depraved man. I know of no greater love.
Are you going to see the film tomorrow? I'd love to know what you thought of it.
Related:
(Disney image)
