Matters Of Theology 1

Within the last week of January, this year, a church in McMinn County, Tennessee, had an irregular service. Posted on Greg Locke’s, the pastor, Facebook account were an hour and seventeen minutes of singing, preaching, and book burning. Some of those books were from the Harry Potter series, as well as Twilight, calling them “demonic influences”. This was to make a stand against the “occultism” that is plaguing the United States. Throughout the service, Locke made many political references throughout the services. Stating that Homeland security was watching them tonight, instead of defending the nation at the border. However, everyone ought to be peaceful unlike the “Jim Jones Koolaid drinkers” make of that as you will.

Although it’s culturally accepted, and in some cases encouraged, to hate the Twilight series, the attack on Harry Potter is a legitimate statement against the culture. And Locke made his thoughts on the status quo very apparent, stating that “this country has lost his mind” and “All you Twilight books and movies. That mess is full of spells, demonism, shapeshifting, and occultism”.

The concern from these Christians that witchcraft is encroaching on their lives is not isolated to this congregation, nor is it isolated to Christianity. In 2018, both Catholic News Agency and Christian Post reported on the rise of self-identifying witches in the U.S. from a few thousand in the 90s, to over one million in 2014. It’s said, in the Christian Post article, that the younger generations are spiritually hungry and are engaging in Satanic practices, and that the market is capitalizing, pointing out the “Starter Witch Kit” that used to be sold by Sephora. Also later in 2018, a witch service was held in the Catland bookstore, in Brooklyn, to Hex then-Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. With this context in mind, it’s understandable why this congregation would feel the need to make a stand against the “occult Joe Biden.” meaning to say that their secular and spiritual oppositions are one entity.

It’s not only Christians that are fighting against the “occult”. It was reported in 2016, that Saudi Arabia had banned the Harry Potter series, and that their religious police force-the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice-undergo a five-day course in how to combat witchcraft. Ironic, that they would teach defense against the dark arts. Some of the darkness defeated includes suspicious animal carcasses determined to have cursed a family, and those that use the Quran in a disrespectful manner.

Such provocation against such a cultural icon as J. K. Rowling’s boy who lived, wouldn’t garner much sympathy for Locke’s cause to obtain mainstream momentum. I am confident that we won’t be copying Saudi Arabia any time soon. Especially in a country with a growing witch population, this event could even cause more people to self-identify as witches.

Bibliography:
Al-Bawaba. “Defense Against the Dark Arts: Saudi Religious Police Trained to Fight Magic.” Al Bawaba, 16 Feb. 2016, www.albawaba.com/loop/defense-against-dark-arts-saudi-religious-police-trained-fight-magic-806102.

BBC News. “New York Witches Place Hex on Brett Kavanaugh.” BBC News, 21 Oct. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45928212.

Pyzer, By Zack. “Expelliarmus! Saudi Police to Learn Anti-Magic Tactics.” The Jerusalem Post | JPost.Com, 18 Feb. 2016, www.jpost.com/middle-east/expelliarmus-saudi-police-to-learn-anti-magic-tactics-445387.

Ramirez, Alejandro. “They’re Burning Books in Tennessee.” Nashville Scene, 3 Feb. 2022, www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/theyre-burning-books-in-tennessee/article_1f8c631e-850f-11ec-bc9f-dbd44d7e14d7.html. Rousselle, Christine. “Number of Americans Who Say They Are Witches Is on the Rise.” Catholic News Agency, 23 Dec. 2021, www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/39740/number-of-americans-who-say-they-are-witches-is-on-the-rise.

Showalter, Brandon. “Witches Outnumber Presbyterians in the US; Wicca, Paganism Growing ‘Astronomically.’” The Christian Post, 10 Oct. 2018, www.christianpost.com/news/witches-outnumber-presbyterians-in-the-us-wicca-paganism-growing-astronomically-227857.

Surkes, Sue. “Saudi Religious Police Undergo Anti-Witchcraft Course.” Times of Israel, 18 Feb. 2016, www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-religious-police-undergo-anti-witchcraft-course.