Reviews

REVIEWS

BOOKS

Well worth reading

Harry Potter and the Bible, The Menace behind the Magick, by Richard Abanes. Horizon Books £9.99

I HAVE a vivid memory of seeing a small boy and his mother deep in conversation while pressing their noses against a bookshop window. The boy was saying, “Please, Mum, can I have all four books …”

Such is the phenomenon that is Harry Potter!

In this book Richard Abanes examines the four Potter novels and asks if they are "Harmless Fantasy or Dangerous Fascination?" It is a question that Christian parents will want to reflect on if their children want to read the Harry Potter Series.

Harry Potter and the Bible is a thoroughly researched and well-written exploration of Harry’s world. Each of the four novels is briefly and accurately summarised in separate chapters. In between are chapters taking a closer look at the novels, examining their symbolism, ethics, and suitability for a suggested readership of six years and up.

The rest of the book examines links between the Potter books and occult symbolism and thought.

There is a useful chapter comparing JK Rowling and the authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. Abanes suggests that the use of a mythical world by the latter authors assists children to create a distance between what is written and their own lives. By contrast, in the Potter books Harry inhabits a world so much like our own that it is hard to establish this distance.
This is a book well worth reading. However the author fails to convince me that JK Rowling has a hidden occult agenda or that her books will inevitably produce a generation attracted to witchcraft.

John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex

VIDEO

Action-packed Praise - 13 high energy songs with John Hardwick (ACM Studio). £12 including postage from John Hardwick, 12 Normanton Way, Histon, Cambridge CB4 9XS.

Have your youngsters had their fill of Disney and singalong-a Barney the Dinosaur? If so, it could be time to invest in some fun that combines energetic kids' worship songs with plenty of actions to keep 'em fit!

John Hardwick is a seasoned (yet youthful) children's worker and songwriter, and he leads this bouncy collection of kids favourites old and new with huge enthusiasm. Assisted by a gang of colourfully attired youngsters, it's 38 minutes most under eights will find a great deal of fun.

Just be warned: if you're less than fond of action songs, steer clear of the lounge when this one's on or you'll get roped in.

Produced by ACM Studio with the support of Children Worldwide, and Counties, the video features the kind of songs you're sure to have sung if you've been anywhere near a Spring Harvest Kids Praise songbook: God's people (aren't super-brave, superheroes), Made in the image of God, Nobody's a nobody, Jesus never, never, never turned anyone away, and more.

Good fun. My five-year-old likes it anyway!

Russ Bravo

MUSIC

Pick of the crop

Redemption, by David Gate. Emerge Series (Survivor Records), CD £6.99
Prototype, by Kindle. Alliance Music, CD £3.99
Dee Moore, by Dee Moore, Agape Music Ministries/Divine Intavention, CD £5.99 inc. p.& p., from Dee Moore, PO Box 8881, Great Barr, Birmingham, B42 2DX
Take Back The Beat, by The Tribe, Alliance Music, CD £3.99

Perhaps even more than in the mainstream, CD or cassette albums remain the staple Christian music market product, but sometimes singles, EPs and mini-albums have a role to play – boosting the profile of new artists, or whetting one’s appetite for a major new release.

Here’s the pick of the current crop:

David Gate is the latest songwriter from the Soul Survivor stable – he leads worship at their Harrow church, and his Redemption mini-album offers a seven-song taster of his work at a budget price. No prizes for influence-spotting – Redman-like vocals over a Delirious?-soundalike backdrop, and songs ranging from the dynamic urgency of Draw Me Near and King Of Glory to the intimate Be Still.

With or without Matt Redman as co-producer, I’d have preferred a more distinctive sound, but fans of the Soul Survivor genre are sure to love it.

Guitarist Dan Boreham also has links with Matt Redman and Soul Survivor, playing on a clutch of their albums, but he’s recently been focusing his attention on the band Kindle, whose debut EP is aptly named Prototype. On Days Like These and Gone Crazy Dan takes the opportunity to go at it full throttle – guitar-driven rock isn’t the half of it, but the Radiohead-influenced Here I Stay reveals another side to Kindle’s musical persona. Judging by their reception at Spring Harvest, they’re set for a promising future.

Gospel artiste Dee Moore could well be another rising star. Five tracks (three songs and two remixes) had me convinced of the Birmingham-based singer’s potential – great vocals, quality contemporary R & B production, and a confident faith: “I won’t be defined by the enemy, I’ll only be defined by what my Saviour says” (Defined). Why isn’t this 23-year-old signed to a major gospel label? She certainly should be.

It’s their first outing with a new line-up, and they’ve now adopted their longstanding nickname, but The Tribe need little introduction. Their single Take Back The Beat paves the way for an identically-named album release next month.

Whilst the title cut (supplied in both audio and CD-ROM video formats) retains much of the singalong flavour of a classic WWMT anthem, featuring Emma Owen as rapper-in-chief, there’s more of an R&B feel to Shout It Out, and with it the chance for ex-MiC boys Quintin Delport and George Mhondera to show their mettle. Which way are The Tribe heading? I’ll await the album with interest.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities for the charity InterAct

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS BOOKS Well worth reading Harry Potter and the Bible, The Menace behind the Magick, by Richard Abanes. Horizon Books £9.99 I HAVE a vivid memory of seeing a small boy and his mother deep in conversation while pressing their noses against a bookshop window. The boy was saying, “Please, Mum, can I have all four books …” Such is the phenomenon that is Harry Potter! In this book Richard Abanes examines the four Potter novels and asks if they are "Harmless Fantasy or Dangerous Fascination?" It is a question that Christian parents will want to reflect on if their children want to read the Harry Potter Series. Harry Potter and the Bible is a thoroughly researched and well-written exploration of Harry’s world. Each of the four novels is briefly and accurately summarised in separate chapters. In between are chapters taking a closer look at the novels, examining their symbolism, ethics, and suitability for a suggested readership of six years and up. The rest of the book examines links between the Potter books and occult symbolism and thought. There is a useful chapter comparing JK Rowling and the authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. Abanes suggests that the use of a mythical world by the latter authors assists children to create a distance between what is written and their own lives. By contrast, in the Potter books Harry inhabits a world so much like our own that it is hard to establish this distance. This is a book well worth reading. However the author fails to convince me that JK Rowling has a hidden occult agenda or that her books will inevitably produce a generation attracted to witchcraft. John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex VIDEO Action-packed Praise - 13 high energy songs with John Hardwick (ACM Studio). £12 including postage from John Hardwick, 12 Normanton Way, Histon, Cambridge CB4 9XS. Have your youngsters had their fill of Disney and singalong-a Barney the Dinosaur? If so, it could be time to invest in some fun that combines energetic kids' worship songs with plenty of actions to keep 'em fit! John Hardwick is a seasoned (yet youthful) children's worker and songwriter, and he leads this bouncy collection of kids favourites old and new with huge enthusiasm. Assisted by a gang of colourfully attired youngsters, it's 38 minutes most under eights will find a great deal of fun. Just be warned: if you're less than fond of action songs, steer clear of the lounge when this one's on or you'll get roped in. Produced by ACM Studio with the support of Children Worldwide, and Counties, the video features the kind of songs you're sure to have sung if you've been anywhere near a Spring Harvest Kids Praise songbook: God's people (aren't super-brave, superheroes), Made in the image of God, Nobody's a nobody, Jesus never, never, never turned anyone away, and more. Good fun. My five-year-old likes it anyway! Russ Bravo MUSIC Pick of the crop Redemption, by David Gate. Emerge Series (Survivor Records), CD £6.99 Prototype, by Kindle. Alliance Music, CD £3.99 Dee Moore, by Dee Moore, Agape Music Ministries/Divine Intavention, CD £5.99 inc. p.& p., from Dee Moore, PO Box 8881, Great Barr, Birmingham, B42 2DX Take Back The Beat, by The Tribe, Alliance Music, CD £3.99 Perhaps even more than in the mainstream, CD or cassette albums remain the staple Christian music market product, but sometimes singles, EPs and mini-albums have a role to play – boosting the profile of new artists, or whetting one’s appetite for a major new release. Here’s the pick of the current crop: David Gate is the latest songwriter from the Soul Survivor stable – he leads worship at their Harrow church, and his Redemption mini-album offers a seven-song taster of his work at a budget price. No prizes for influence-spotting – Redman-like vocals over a Delirious?-soundalike backdrop, and songs ranging from the dynamic urgency of Draw Me Near and King Of Glory to the intimate Be Still. With or without Matt Redman as co-producer, I’d have preferred a more distinctive sound, but fans of the Soul Survivor genre are sure to love it. Guitarist Dan Boreham also has links with Matt Redman and Soul Survivor, playing on a clutch of their albums, but he’s recently been focusing his attention on the band Kindle, whose debut EP is aptly named Prototype. On Days Like These and Gone Crazy Dan takes the opportunity to go at it full throttle – guitar-driven rock isn’t the half of it, but the Radiohead-influenced Here I Stay reveals another side to Kindle’s musical persona. Judging by their reception at Spring Harvest, they’re set for a promising future. Gospel artiste Dee Moore could well be another rising star. Five tracks (three songs and two remixes) had me convinced of the Birmingham-based singer’s potential – great vocals, quality contemporary R & B production, and a confident faith: “I won’t be defined by the enemy, I’ll only be defined by what my Saviour says” (Defined). Why isn’t this 23-year-old signed to a major gospel label? She certainly should be. It’s their first outing with a new line-up, and they’ve now adopted their longstanding nickname, but The Tribe need little introduction. Their single Take Back The Beat paves the way for an identically-named album release next month. Whilst the title cut (supplied in both audio and CD-ROM video formats) retains much of the singalong flavour of a classic WWMT anthem, featuring Emma Owen as rapper-in-chief, there’s more of an R&B feel to Shout It Out, and with it the chance for ex-MiC boys Quintin Delport and George Mhondera to show their mettle. Which way are The Tribe heading? I’ll await the album with interest. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities for the charity InterAct © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.