Harry Potter Book Cover Art

Book Review: Jesus Potter Harry Christ

There is no denying that J.K. Rowling’s fantasy children’s series Harry Potter is a global phenomenon. The movies and books broke financial and translation records. The tales have encouraged people of all ages to read and use their imagination. As fantastical as the wizarding world is, the heroes are very human in how they struggle with their emotions and doing what is right. However, it isn’t just the very real people involved with the triumphs and tragedies which make the series so potent. J.K. Rowling tapped into deep human mythology and stories that have been retold throughout history. Stories of courage, friendship, and redemption.

For staunch Christians, I’m sure the cover art alone of Harry Potter with long hair wearing glasses, Catholic style robes , and lightening scar under a glorious crown, is controversial. The art sets up expectations of tongue in cheek rhetoric and argumentative prose scuffing at Christianity. Murphy’s style is quite the opposite and very intellectually respectful.

Derek Murphy points out, and sites sources quoting Rowling, that the story of Harry Potter was influenced by the story of Christ. Throughout the book he shows that the two popular figures have a lot in common including that they are both literary constructions. Murphy presents an in depth look at the religious history, astrological mythology, and esoteric symbolism from Egypt, Europe and the Middle Eastern which influenced the creation of the Christ mythos.

Jesus Potter Harry Christ is a culmination of the author’s decade of religious exploration and studies from Malta to Egypt and South America. Murphy is an ex-seminary student from Portland, Oregon. He is the recipient of a government grant to study comparative religion and he is currently working on his PhD. Murphy has an easy going writing style that takes the reader easily step by step through the historical evidence and ancient myths. For those who are all ready well versed in religion and mythology, such as Pagan Recons or other religion scholars, chapter four “Going Pagan: The Forgotten Prefigures of Christ”, may feel redundant. However, the well documented arguments among early Christians about Christ’s divine nature and even actual existence is fascinating. The most revealing section of the book is Murphy’s presentation of the early Church as a mystery religion with only initiates receiving divine knowledge much like the cults of Orpheus or Pythagoras.

Harry Potter Tribute Exhibition at Gallery Nucleus

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 was the movie to see this weekend, breaking box office records as the biggest opener ever. In sunny Alhambra, CA, Gallery Nucleus set their own records with their “Harry Potter Tribute Show”. The show’s opening night on July 9th attracted over 1,000 Harry Potter fans, who waited hours in a never-ending line to drink butter beers and see 100 original works and inspired paintings by the Potter films. “We’ve been working on this show for over a year, beginning with a Harry Potter art blog,” shared Gallery Nucleus owner Ben Zhu. Most impressive in the exhibit are original paintings by legendary poster artist Drew Struzan and Harry Potter book cover artist Mary Grandpre. All of the artwork was curated by an open submission process that invited fans and professional artists alike to contribute. The Harry Potter Tribute Exhibition shows at Gallery Nucleus from July 9 – August 1, 2011 - Caro .

Hi-Fructose, Volume 20

Our 20th volume of Hi-Fructose Magazine will be shipping in July! With this issue, we present another hearty dose of the best New Contemporary artists working today. This coming issue's line-up is stellar! In this installment we discover cover artist Marco Mazzoni 's fascination with medicinal botany, the amazing sound suits of Nick Cave , we reveal the powerful sculptures of Gregor Gaida , explore the brilliant graphic art of Angie Wang , and then enter B rett Amory 's stark urban landscapes. We then feature the beautifully haunting paintings of Kris Lewis , find the hypnotizing power of Jen Stark 's paper sculptures, become startled by the androgynous fish-eyed portraits of painter Korehino Hino, we get fascinated by the ball point drawings of SHOHEI , then read about Isabel Samaras ' fairy tales gone afoul! Plus Alex Pardee 's new book, the Dorothy Art Collectiv e and more, all in one issue!

Harry Potter Collector's Handbook

Muggles and Magic, An Unofficial Guide to J.k. Rowling and the Harry Potter Phenomenon

Patent, copyright & trademark

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter, the story of a global business phenomenon