This book is not meant in jest – it is not facetious, it is not intended to spread disrepute or ill-will. I am and have been for many years a die-hard Harry Potter fan; I think Rowling is a brilliant writer and deserves all of her success for her genius in creating the world of Hogwarts. At the same time, my teenage obsession with Jesus Christ and metaphysical experiences led me down the road of historical inquiry and investigation into ancient Christianity. In the search for the real, true, historical Jesus, I finally came up empty handed, shattering my faith… or more precisely, elevating to a more universal stance where I can view Jesus as a great idea, a spiritual mythos, which is both very real, very moving and ultimately very valuable.
At the same time there is no denying that Rowling borrowed from many literary and esoteric traditions, including Christianity, and to a great extent may have consciously or unconsciously modeled the form of her Harry Potter epic around the Christian mythos, with a savior who is destined to face evil and willingly sacrifice himself for the greater good.
Although a handful of books have been published on this topic by Christians from a Christian perspective, the similarities between Jesus and Harry are part of an infinitely larger issue that has great social appeal. As I began writing this book, I discovered that thousands of internet users who have already heard rumors and hints about these connections are seeking answers – but apart from a few scattered essays comparing the two figures, no authoritative research investigation has been done. As such, this book fills a necessary gap: due to the popularity of Harry Potter and his early conflict with certain Christian groups, it is inevitable that his final triumph – and its eerie similarity and connection to the Christian passion story – would intrigue readers. And even more important than whether these similarities exist, is the much deeper and more problematic issues of WHY they exist and what this relationship between Jesus and Harry ultimately means.
