Some interesting buzz this weekend on how the Church of England is introducing a new booklet, Mixing it Up with Harry Potter by Owen Smith, as a youth ministry tool for children aged 9-13. The booklet is a twelve session discussion guide. It reminds me of the best traditions in Anglicanism, going back to Augustine of Canterbury, to use the familiar and the comfortable as a tool in evangelization. It also serves as a nice counterpoint to the Roman Catholic and Evangelical officials condemning the Harry Potter books as a paean to witchery. I am mildly cranky that
a 48 page booklet so far seems to cost more than the hardcover edition of the white hot Deathly Hallows book itself, but given the force of the Harry Potter phenomenon I cannot help but think that this will be money well spent for anyone in youth ministry.
No comments:
Post a Comment