The following excerpts are from the blog of a friend of a friend. He — along with some friends — was discussing the question, “What is the great difference between Harry Potter and Anne of Green Gables?” A peculiar question, to be sure. 🙂 But some of his conclusions are very thought-provoking.

The major problem is that those of us who read harry potter (i have not.) do so understanding that harry is not a christian and neither is the author, but many many people read anne without that same understanding. i know i did. and what we read in montgomery’s work is a totally incomplete, ‘unrealistic’ as you would say, mollie, picture of the christian life.

Anne has no faith. Rather, what is worse, her faith is totally in herself. And guess what? It all works out in the end.

If you’re looking for a book’s treatment of sin you need look no further than anne’s self-confidence and you see a completely unrealistic presentation of it and its effects. Anne does not have faith in anything but herself, she has no needs that she cannot fulfill, and her form of ministry does not bring people to a recognition of their sin, but to fulfillment through self-attainment. Certainly, it preaches love, if you like, but only love because we are human, and not because we are images of God.

In a way this makes anne the more dangerous role model. While there are many many christians in america that have a weakness for self-reliance (i know that i am one.) there are comparatively few that have a weakness for witchcraft.

Interesting point, is it not? Is blatant ungodliness any worse than subtle godlessness? Is it not true that it can often be more dangerous to subject ourselves to the subtle, simply because it is subtle? Many a frog has been boiled by gradually increasing the heat. Are we acclimating ourselves to sin by accepting the subtle? Truly something to think about.