The gospel according to Harry Potter

Episcopal Café newsteam member, the Rev. Torey LIghtcap, is making his own news in Sioux City, IA. According to the Sioux City Journal:


As he writes his Sunday sermons, the Rev. Torey Lightcap frequently refers to the books that sit on his rectory's bookshelf.

Among the tomes the St. Thomas Episcopal Church minister keeps within reach are various Bibles, a thesaurus, the works of American mythologist Joseph Campbell and a well-worn collection of Harry Potter books.

Wait — the story of J.K. Rowling's bespectacled student of sorcery is sharing shelf space with Scripture and Campbell's “The Power of Myth”?

According to Lightcap, there's a spiritual side to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's most famous inhabitant, and as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is set to hit movie theaters at midnight, Lightcap is busy conjuring up the gospel according to Harry Potter.

Posted by Ann Fontaine on November 18, 2010 3:56 PM | |
Comments (3)

Sure is. There is theology in the Harry Potter series. I've preached using them myself.

Posted by Christopher Evans [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 18, 2010 5:09 PM

Me, too. Already thinking that the apocalyptic tone of the last book/movie may resonate with early Advent. Can't wait to see the movie tomorrow night!

Posted by Tricia Templeton [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 18, 2010 6:41 PM

I once gave a Harry Potter-themed sermon, using the Mirror of Erised as a way of talking about our deepest hopes for ourselves and others. I got more positive feedback on that one sermon that just about anything I've ever done!

Michael Rich

Posted by Padre Michael [TypeKey Profile Page] | November 19, 2010 11:11 AM

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