Magic in Literature

• Recently a friend of mine asked me a question about the Harry Potter series of books. They were wondering if there was a problem with enjoying such fiction as a Christian, which I find to be an interesting a polarizing topic in today's culture.
• 
  
• Now, I haven't read the Harry Potter series, per se, but I have read many books of high science fiction/fantasy that also include magic, wizards, and fantastical situations. And from my childhood I loved these books more than any other style, as they have a great deal of imagination and potential in them. But it does raise an important point. Is the wizardry, magic, or the implications of these enough to condemn these books?
• Well, the easy answer is that some Christian leaders would say yes. But I don't agree with that myself. The lumping together of 'magic' into one category and condemning it is simplistic and ignorant. If the stories of Jesus life were told by people in narrative format, they would refer to His miracles as supernatural (which they were) or 'magic'. People call anything they do not understand 'magic' and that is not the same as witchcraft in the least. Demonic energy exists in our world, but things of a fantastical nature that we do not understand may be called magic out of ignorance, but are not really such.

  Many forms of science were once considered magic. Gravity, electricity, magnetism, and several other sciences were once considered 'magic', yet are not considered so any longer.

  What I'm getting at is that 'magic' in the sense of the fantastic or exotic that we do not understand is often mixed with witchcraft, which we do understand and detest as demonic. Magnetism and electricity did not cease becoming demonic when we understood them; instead, they never were. What makes witchcraft evil is not the fact that we don't understand it, or that it is powerful; but instead that it is indeed directly demonic.

  Now, in literature, we like to use our imagination both as readers and as writers. Since we do not know how we can explain the fantastic or yet undiscovered we call it 'magic'. This doesn't mean that it is evil, or even that the author intends for it to be evil. All it means is that the author is writing about something they cannot currently truly explain; therefore we dub it 'magical'. There is no more evil in a unicorn or pegasus than in a pony. None of the three is demonic, nor were they ever.

  Short answer is that I don't believe that 'magic' in literature is same thing as 'magic' in witchcraft. It is just the unfortunate double definition of one singular term. However, I am a firm believer that we are to do as Paul told the Corinthian church; if it bothers you, don't do it. If it doesn't bother, don't let someone talk you into nonsensical empty religion.

  My main issue that I have with the whole argument that 'all magic in science fiction is evil' is really misdirection from the evil that is in literature and popular entertainment these days. By that I mean the loose, debased morality that is implied by many books, movies, or TV shows. Much of fantastical high fiction has a story constructed to teach a moral, build character, and show the concept of good triumphing evil. On the other hand, many shows, movies, and books may not be visibly 'evil' but teach us that sin like lying to spouses, adultery, lust, murder, and revenge are not just to be tolerated, but are justifiable and normal.
  
  It is disturbing how many of those who condemn things like Harry Potter, LoTR, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Sword of Shannara, or any other high fiction accept other forms of media that encourage un-Godly behavior.
  
  In the end, the important thing to remember is that we all answer to God as individuals. If we feel the Holy Spirit telling us to stop, we need to stop. But if we only feel pressure from people who are condemning us, then we must make sure that we are not just being people pleasers. We are not to cause our brothers or sisters to stumble, however, that applies both to doing and not to doing.
  
  My advice is simply this, pray about it and follow the Lord's leading.