Homes, Churches Ignore Potter Influence
by AFA Journal
June 26, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Over the last decade, Harry Potter, the child wizard from the imaginary world of author J.K. Rowling, has attracted a massive following of young Americans who have been influenced by his supernatural escapades. A study conducted by the Barna Group, under the direction of David Kinnaman, found that exposure to the Harry Potter novels or films among young people has doubled in the last three years. "Currently, more than four out of every five teenagers (84 percent) have personally read or watched Potter ... [which includes] three-quarters of all church-going teens (77 percent) and born-again Christian teenagers (78 percent)...," the study said. The study reflects findings from interviews with more than 4,300 teenagers (ages 13-18) over three one-year periods. (Link to study report)
While the majority of teens found no spiritual stimulation but rather "fun-to-read" stories in the Potter books, 12 percent admitted that the contents of the books increased their curiosity in witchcraft. According to the study, "That translates to nearly three million young people whose interest has been piqued." But Kinnaman also noted that many of these teens were already involved in some sort of witchcraft-related activity, reinforcing the fact that many are in desperate need of direction concerning spiritual matters.
For example, only four percent of teens claimed to have received any type of church teaching or discussions about the spiritual themes embedded in the series of novels and films. Specifically, only 13 percent of born-again teens said they received input about Harry Potter from their churches.
In addition, "Only one-fifth of all teens and one-third of born-again Christian teens said they had discussed the supernatural elements of Harry Potter with their parents," the study stated. That means, Kinnaman said, that teens are processing the spiritual themes on their own or only with the help of their peers. "[W]hile the vast majority of teenagers and adolescents find entertainment in Potter, most Christian leaders and parents have responded by either condemning the series or ignoring it," he said. "That response hasn't worked because most teens will still consume the stories .... [Therefore], helping teens to respond biblically to the messages of pop culture -- such as those found in Harry Potter -- is an important function of parents and church leaders."
Additional information on the Barna research is found in a new 47-page resource titled "Ministry to Mosaics: Teens and the Supernatural." It is available for purchase at www.Barna.org.
This article, printed with permission, appears in the July 2006 issue of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
