The Trouble with Harry

Rating:
Summary: Alarming
Review: As a faithful Catholic I am alarmed at materials like this which give the Catholic Church a bad image, put out as they are by people with a very narrow viewpoint of what it means to be Catholic. This is another example, in my opinion, of someone using the Harry Potter name and popularity to their own ends. While I respect Mr. Arnold's right to his opinion, to label it as "Catholic" is misleading, to say the least. He would do well to read the excellent study "The Hidden Key to Harry Potter: Understanding the Meaning, Genius, and Popularity of Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter Novels" by John Granger if he wants to see how to make an intelligent statement on this issue.

Rating:
Summary: The Truth Hurts
Review: Funny... I had reviewed this audio set last month and it still isn't posted. I just wanted to say that this is the best researched information out there. I doubt the people who reviewed this set even listened to it. Especially the one who says she "read" it, since it isn't a book but an audio set! Matthew Arnold gives a truly Catholic perspective and obviously is educating us Catholics on what that really is. For you "faithful" and "devout" Catholics who I know pray your rosaries every day - try reading the lives of the saints or the early church fathers instead of this disguised "Satanic" Harry Potter trash. Do all for the glory of God. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us!

Rating:
Summary: As a Catholic....
Review: I am a devout Catholic, and I should hope I always will be. I read this book just to see what the author had to say. Becauae you see, I have read all the Harry Potter books and am a huge fan.
Although the book has a good indepth view on his beliefs about the books, I do not agree.
As a Harry Potter fan, yes I like the books. But I know that Harry Potter and the everything in the book is FICTION. I have absolutely no intentions of joining cults and turning to the devil's temptations. My only intent when reading these books is for 'FUN'. I dont think that if I go around trying to do spells and potions that I can be like H.P. I only enjoy them as if they were a book.
Thoguh it was an interesting read, I firmly disagree with what he is trying to put across.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Revealing
Review: I have listened to this tape series. (Note the one person blasting this "book that he read.") Matthew Arnold does a thorough job of analyzing Harry Potter and both sides of it.
In the first tape he looks at the common arguments for the books and against the books.
In the second tape he clearly shows why Harry Potter is distinctly different from Narnia and Lord of the Rings.
In the last tape he explores the occult links in the H.P. books themselves.
This series is definately worthwhile to listen to for its informative style. Anyone who claims to have "an open mind" needs to hear these arguements. It is not hate filled, rather it is a well reasoned, logical argument. Matthew Arnold also comes from an occult background which gives him sensitively to the subject of the occult.
I highly recommend this series for anyone who wants a just the facts analysis of Harry Potter.


Rating:
Summary: trouble? with Harry Potter?
Review: I read the first 2 books in the Harry Potter series and then listened to Matthew Arnold's audio tapes (twice!) I found Arnold's series insightful and well researched. I realized in listening to this audio set that I need to be more critical of what I read, listen to, and watch on television. Matthew Arnold addresses the Harry Potter series, but also the sad fact that many of us have lost the ability to critically analyze what we read. I enjoyed this audio set and have recommended it to many friends who have questions regarding Harry Potter books. It is good not only for Catholics, but all parents who are concerned about good reading materials for their children! A++

Rating:
Summary: "Paganization?"
Review: I'd like to point out the religious discrimination put forth by Mr. Arnold and his critique of paganization.

First of all, the term pagan first came into usage to religious devotees who did not follow Christianity. Many pagan religions, communities, and healers were stomped out in the "witch burnings" which happened to kill more people than the Holocaust. Some people now are trying to find out more about these religions and the values that they hold. Today, paganism refers to a number of varied and scattered religious beliefs vaguely connected to the Western European (and some other areas) indigenous spirituality.

Secondly, Harry Potter does not depict paganism!!! It depicts characters using a fantasy-genre based magic that is presented as a fact of life and not a spirituality. That is simply the placement of the book. If another book was simply set in London, without talking about Christianity, specifically showing Christians, or visiting a church, it would be ludicrous to think that it was promoting Christianity. But this is exactly the type of critique Mr. Arnold makes.

Finally, I would ask you how you would respond to a criticism we ought to be aware of Schindler's List because it promotes Judaism, the Horacio Alger story because it promotes Protestantism, Aladdin because it promotes Islam, or the Lion King because it promotes Paganism (a more realistic claim). Those arguments would be received as discriminatory, hateful, and a bit silly. I hope you respond to The Trouble With Harry in a similar way.

Rating:
Summary: Leave Potter and Rowling alone!
Review: Kids don't read enough books, but they read J.K. Rowling's. Would you prefer your child playing a mind-numbing video game?

There's no disrespect for Christianity in the "Harry Potter" books, and certainly no blasphemy in them, unless you're a stodgy Brit who can't stand seeing British society satirized.

Finally, the villain in the "Harry Potter" books, Lord Voldamort, is a moral relativist. Since evangelical and other conservative Christians despise moral relativism, why would they have a problem with Harry Potter?