A Spiritually Uplifting Story: Learning to Trust in Something More

The Harry Potterseries by J.K. Rowling is one of the most successful in modern times. With over 121.5 million copies in print, it is almost impossible to find someone who has not read the books. If you do, they probably have some argument about how they are “above” the books; they were written for young adults anyways. But what do you do when you are not allowed to read the books for religious or moral reasons? Is there really something bad contained within the books that would make them forbidden on some families reading lists? The recent book by author Donald James Parker brings up this intriguing question: Reforming the Potter’s Clay.


Introducing us to the Morales family, Parker carries us through the process of spiritual and moral discovery as EJ and Pedro read the tale of Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. As they do, they begin to question the simple logic of good and evil that has been presented to them.

“Ok, gang, let’s review. What bad things did we find in this book?” Sal asked.

“Dudley, the Malfoys, Voldemort, Uncle Vernon, and Professor Quirrell,” EJ said.

“And Professor Snape and vomit-flavored beans,” Pedro added.

“Wait. Those are bad guys… except for the beans. Any interesting book is going to have bad and good guys.”

“Right,” EJ said. “So Harry and his friends are the good guys. They were fighting against evil. The magic they used was for good and not to hurt good people.”

…

“Well, to be truthful, I don’t see much of anything here that is really objectionable. Let’s withhold judgment until we read the next one. Maybe things get worse there.”

This reading of the Harry Potter series brings up in Pedro an inner wondering. Does he have magical skills? Or are miracles only acts of God? Complicating this inner quest is the arrival of Adam and his “gang” known as the God Squad. Moving in next door, Adam and his family bring further questioning into the Morales’ family quest to understand good, evil, and how these fit into modern society. Through the community power of the God Squad, however, Pedro learns one of the most powerful lessons a person can: belief in self and in something greater then self.

Reforming the Potter's Clay is not your standard book. Nor is it what some classify as “Christian Writing.” No, that would not be doing it justice, for although the story is built around a family who happens to believe in God, the overall message of the book transcends any particular dogma or singular world view. Rather, it is the universal message told over and over again, albeit in a contemporary and well written story. That universal message is one of inner strength and eternal faith.

I really enjoyed reading Reforming the Potter's Clay. Although I was a little skeptical at first, as I delved deeper into the story of Pedro, Adam, EJ, and the others, I came to see how this inner process of spiritual development and trust has taken place in me. Using the Harry Potter series as a starting point was literary genius, and I commend the author for bringing in such a timeless quest into the modern day. An exceptional read for families or young adults, Reforming the Potter's Clay is a book that all those who are at a pivotal point in their life should read.

Buy Secure from the Publisher's Website.

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