I don’t follow popular novels — or any current novels, really — so it’s a bit surprising to me that I got involved in the Harry Potter debates. But as it turns out, I have written quite a few articles on the Harry Potter phenomenon, and researching and writing them have been quite an education, as well as an unusual opportunity to trip through memory lane (a lot of the debates around these books echo the debates that I endured over Lewis and Tolkien and Dungeons & Dragons etc. when I was a teen). So, here, for the first time ever, is a list of all the online versions of those articles.
General and related articles:
‘Fantasies and fairy tales speak to our spiritual needs,’ BC Christian News, Dec 2001
‘What Christians Think About Harry Potter,’ Faith Today, Jan 2002
‘Clever Dark Materials anti-Christian,’ BC Christian News, Nov 2002
Books and films:
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (book, dvd)
Reviews: Vancouver Courier, Nov 2001; BC Christian News, Nov 2001
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (book, dvd)
Reviews: Vancouver Courier, Nov 2002; BC Christian News, Nov 2002
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (book, dvd)
Reviews: Christianity Today, Jun 2004; BC Christian News, Jun 2004
Discussion guide: Christianity Today, Jun 2004
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (book, dvd)
Review: Christianity Today, Nov 2005
J.K. Rowling, Quidditch Through the Ages / Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them (books)
Review: Vancouver Courier, Apr 2001
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book, dvd)
Reviews: Christianity Today, Jul 2007; BC Christian News, Aug 2007
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (book)
Reviews: BC Christian News, Jul 2005; BC Christian News, Aug 2009
Discussion guide: Christianity Today, Jul 2009
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (book)
Reviews: ChristianWeek, Aug 2007; BC Christian News, Aug 2007
Richard Abanes, Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick (book)
Connie Neal, What’s a Christian to Do with Harry Potter? (book)
Review: BC Christian News, Jul 2001
Connie Neal, The Gospel According to Harry Potter (book)
John Killinger, God, the Devil & Harry Potter (book)
John Granger, The Hidden Key to Harry Potter (book)
Review: BC Christian News, Jun 2003
John Granger, Looking for God in Harry Potter (book)
Review: BC Christian News (last three paragraphs), Jun 2004
Gina Burkart, A Parent’s Guide to Harry Potter (book)
Review: BC Christian News, Jul 2005
Related blog posts:
‘Narnia — not merely Christian, you know,’ Mar 2005
‘Why no art classes at Hogwarts?,’ Apr 2005
‘Narnia and the meaning(s) of the number 7,’ Apr 2005
‘Harry Potter trailer now online too!,’ May 2005
‘Newsbites: Max Baer’s Harry Jaws,’ Jun 2005
‘Much ado about downplaying Da Vinci,’ Jul 2005
‘Harry Potter — is the secret out? (spoiler-free),’ Jul 2005
‘The Pope vs. Harry Potter,’ Jul 2005
‘Studios and their markets — er, audiences,’ Jul 2005
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,’ Jul 2005
‘Newsbites: Omen! Potter! Korea!,’ Aug 2005
‘Newsbites: Potter! Manderlay! Rossellini!,’ Sep 2005
‘Readers respond . . .,’ Oct 2005
‘Children’s stories and fat children,’ Oct 2005
‘Harry Potter update: ratings, running time,’ Oct 2005
‘“Oh my, they really are growing up.”,’ Oct 2005
‘Four Harry Potter movies in one day,’ Nov 2005
‘Goblet of Fire — the review’s up!,’ Nov 2005
‘“Constant vigilance!”,’ Mar 2006
‘Newsbites: Nativity! Potter! Terabithia!,’ Apr 2006
‘‘His Dark Materials’ gets a release date,’ Jun 2006
‘Newsbites: Compass! Blood! Potter!,’ Aug 2006
‘Newsbites: Antichrist! Hermione! Evan! Alien!,’ Sep 2006
‘I still hate bilingual packaging.,’ Oct 2006
‘Watch and weep, Lewis fans. Or, better, don’t.,’ Nov 2006
‘Narnia spoof features “wise-but-horny lion”,’ Dec 2006
‘Harry Potter 7 gets a title!,’ Dec 2006
‘Newsbites: Harry Potter! Ringtones! Monastery! Prisoner! Disney! Steyn! Hunyadi! Doubt! etc.!,’ Dec 2006
‘Don’t read the book — it’ll only confuse you!,’ Jan 2007
‘Newsbites: Burial! Hermione! 300! Escape!,’ Mar 2007
‘Harry Potter 7 — covers revealed!,’ Mar 2007
‘Hermione Granger — in IMAX 3-D!,’ May 2007
‘Order of the Phoenix — the review’s up!,’ Jul 2007
‘Harry Potter movie just a “trailer” for the book?,’ Jul 2007
‘One Narnia movie every year until 2013?,’ Jul 2007
‘Newsbites: Horseman! Dissent! Brian! Harry!,’ Aug 2007
‘Newsbites: Trek! Wolverine! Rowling! Scorpion!,’ Oct 2007
‘What else can I say, Dumbledore is gay.,’ Oct 2007
‘Newsbites: Shatner! Dumbledore! Politics!,’ Oct 2007
‘Newsbites: Trek! Demons! Aquarian! Rowling!,’ Nov 2007
‘These villains are brought to you by the letter M.,’ Dec 2007
‘Tim Roth almost played Severus Snape?,’ Dec 2007
‘Newsbites: Del Toro! Mary! Rambo! Childhood!,’ Jan 2008
‘Newsbites: Batman! Harry! Justice! Gangster!,’ Jan 2008
‘Harry Potter — seven books, eight movies,’ Mar 2007