logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2021
27m 33s

Harry Potter

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Some Christian voices have suggested that the Harry Potter stories about witchcraft, magic and mythical beasts provide a gateway into satanic practices. But JK Rowling completely disagrees and she was glad that readers were unaware of her Christian faith at the time the books were first published because they might then have guessed the ending of the final book. To discuss the Christian allegory and religious themes in the Harry Potter books, Ernie Rea is joined by Dr Beatrice Groves (Research Fellow and Tutor in English at Trinity College, Oxford), Vanessa Zoltan (co-host of the podcast 'Harry Potter and the Sacred Text') and by author and lecturer John Granger who has been described by Time Magazine as “The Dean of Harry Potter Scholars”.

Producer: Helen Lee Assistant Producer: Barnaby Gordon Editor: Helen Grady

Up next
May 26
The Gospel according to Bob
The Gospel According to Dylan. Sixty years ago, Bob Dylan was on stage at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester when a fan shouted "Judas!" from the audience. Giles is joined by Michael Gray, and writer, poet, philosopher, priest, and blues-singer, Malcolm Guite to discuss the spirit ... Show More
25 m
May 5
Inked
Giles Fraser gets under the skin of the religious significance of tattoos. We hear from Wassim Rassouk - the owner of the oldest tattoo business in the world and head of a family business going back 27 generations.His panel are Revd Wendy Dalrymple, Canon of Ripon Cathedral who h ... Show More
27m 40s
Apr 30
War and Peace
Giles Fraser and the panel discuss religious views on military action and how conflict is justified theologically across different faiths and contexts. They reflect on the personal story of Michael Elstub, and his journey from military service to becoming a Quaker and peace campa ... Show More
27m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2021
JK Rowling
Joanne Rowling, known as JK Rowling, is known globally for writing one of the best selling book series in history. Harry Potter and his classmates now have their firm place in the collective imagination of a generation of readers. She also writes crime fiction under the pen name ... Show More
1h 1m
Nov 2020
Can I Still Read Harry Potter?
Journalist and fan Aja Romano examines their decision to close the books on the boy wizard and hears different viewpoints toward Harry Potter and contemporary readership.Aja Romano has been a Harry Potter fan for many years, but after personally disagreeing with statements by the ... Show More
28m 52s
May 2019
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Book 1 (Unabridged) Stephen Fry
"Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'." Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four ... Show More
8h 44m
Dec 2021
Harry Potter and the phenomenally profitable franchise
It's 20 years since the first Harry Potter film was released and the movies and books have spawned a world of wizard-related retail opportunities. Elizabeth Hotson asks Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films, how he dealt with the pressure of bringing the bo ... Show More
17m 28s
Nov 2022
585: Does the Sorting Hat Divide Students Equally Across Hogwarts Houses? And More MuggleMail
On this week's episode we dig deep into our MuggleMail bag as listeners weigh in on our latest chapter-by-chapter discussions. One voicemail leads the hosts to take sides in a Harry Potter date debate! Plus, we have fun paging through the beautifully illustrated Order of the Phoe ... Show More
1h 12m
May 2019
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Book 3 (Unabridged) Jim Dale
"'Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go.'" When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it's the star ... Show More
12h 15m
Feb 2023
The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling | 2. Burn The Witch
As "Harry Potter" becomes an international phenomenon, it coincides with the culture wars of the 1990s. In the backlash from Christians across America, author J.K. Rowling is accused of mainstreaming witchcraft and poisoning children’s minds. Produced by Andy Mills, Matthew Boll, ... Show More
53m 44s