Harry Potter and Theology:
Love and Lumos
Explore the common ground between the Harry Potter series and the theological foundations of Christianity.
Wednesday Evenings 7:00pm – 9:00pm EDT
In the 1970s when scripture was read in school and church attendance was more prevalent than it is today, Bible stories and a basic familiarity with the catechism served as a shared common text in which theological questions could be explored and debated. That shared common text, however, has not largely survived amongst millennials and those born afterwards even though the questions that it was used to address have remained. Does everything happen for a reason? Is the spiritual world real? Why did Jesus have to die for us?
The Harry Potter series is an excellent means by which the foundations of the Christian faith can be taught and discussed in a diverse multi-generational context. And so, this course will explore the common ground between the Harry Potter series and the theological foundations of Christianity. We will discuss subjects like Platform 9 ¾ and the leap of faith, Dobby’s sock and salvation, free will and the Sorting Hat, Harry Potter as a Christ figure, the universal struggle between good and evil, and the redemptive power of love.
What You’ll Learn
How it works
Learn together
Participate in eight two-hour Zoom sessions with Victor and the learning community. It is expected that participants have read and seen the films prior to the start of the course.
Practice in your context
Full use will be made of multi-media resources, and handouts will be made available for each participant to eliminate the need for taking copious notes.
Reflect in community
There will be ample opportunities for sharing and discussion during class and reflection questions at the end of each session to consider each week.
Instructor
The Reverend Victor Kischak is a muggle-born Anglican priest serving at St. George’s Anglican Church in Guelph. Ordained in 2005, he has served in rural, small town, and inner-city parishes while at the same time teaching courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Homiletics, Children’s Ministry, and Harry Potter and Theology. He has given presentations on Harry Potter at both the University of Oxford and Windsor Castle and is particularly passionate about preaching and drawing connections between pop culture and the scriptures. Before going into ministry, Victor was a health and safety officer for Blackberry and Raytheon, lived overseas in Japan and has a black-belt in kendo. He is proudly a geek, likes making a mess in the kitchen, and enjoys all five of his children equally.