Harry Potter, St. Augustine, and the Confrontation with Evil

Google Tech Talks
July 10, 2007

ABSTRACT

In the Latin West, explaining the origin, meaning, and response to evil has been a central theological and cultural project, beginning with the magisterial work of St. Augustine in the 4th-5th centuries. If a good God created the world, how did evil enter it? For centuries the greatest minds fretted with such matters. But in the last century, the vocabulary of evil has fallen out of favor with many cultural elites who prefer syndromes to sin and maladjustment to wickedness. Children's literature had also backed off evil for years--too frightening for the young, it was believed. But evil plays a central role in the Harry Potter stories; in them, evil is...

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[ayitspnayo]

Harry Potter is a phenomenally written work of literature, its twists in plot being the most meticulously written I have ever read!

It's fiction, not a subliminal message for children to worship the devil. Get over it, J K is brilliant!

Go speaker in this video :o

[nebrad16]

found this talk most illuminating. Thank you so much. At last i have begun to understand the philosophy of St Augstine.

[HeLpLOstGOdAny1]

interesting lady, perhaps she could spend a little time looking into the Pharmakeia Latin translate = "witchcraft" or "sorcery" aka the Pharmaceutical industry as she appeared to be struggling with the medication 'messing with her system' as she put it. The corporate interests or love of money really don't lead to wisdom or knowledge that is beneficial to us. The move away from natural food production also being a part of the insipid creeping 'evil empire' of corporate agenda

[Darrylizer1]

Harry Potter is evil? Hey if its on the internet I'll believe it!

[xJon2142x]

"Atheism" Enough said.

[thomas5070]

I must say that woman is probably the first Christian I've seen who has told us where Harry Potter actually stands for us, which is in the continuous battle between good and evil, with good always winning :) and Harry being on the good side. It's really just another way on expressing love <3 which is the best gift we probably have. So I take my hat off to the Professor, well done!

[DeathlyDavid]

@Method12321 I think the argument has strayed from the point. I do acknowledge that religion can be beneficial ie. people learning to read to read the bible. But, religion has become in some parts of the world a kind of cult where people are killing each other in the "name of their religion"

[Method12321]

@DeathlyDavid Wouldn't have survived* I hate the return button.

[Method12321]

@DeathlyDavid More importantly I never take miracles seriously for long. I see it in the history is the minds of humanity in their hatreds and hostilities, in their compassion and love, and in our archeology. If there was no God I don't think the 'bible' would have serviced the odds stacked against it.

[Method12321]

@DeathlyDavid 1. European history is skewed perhaps even more then your media says about american history. 2. Gods anything is still religion so that proves nothing for you. 3. Do you know what myth is? Look up the first mean. Seeing as Catholics are mostly what you know no wonder Europe is still screwed over in the head concerning religion. In a XXXX years It could prove to be right. What's the point of playing that game? And I know its not a myth because I know healings have happened. But

[Method12321]

@DeathlyDavid "Islam did have more tech but so what?" lol afraid of my point? Lol the priests? Thats your A material? Thats sad. And religion saved greek and roman ideas as you've said yourself some churches hid the artifacts rendering your own point moot. Like so many Christians, Atheists, Gays and Straights. You take what your told and run with it. Can't be bothered to look for yourself. For all man accomplishes the earlier point being they always fail with time. The two towers, titanic...