Eighth Day Symposium - Imagination and Soul: Harry Potter, Twilight, and Spiritual Formation

January 2011

The extraordinary popularity of the Harry Potter and Twilight novels is not due to interest in the occult or a fascination with vampires, but is instead indicative of our secular culture’s hunger for the transcendent. Despite the literary and spiritual dimensions that have made both works so popular, however, the two authors approach their work from two distinct views of orthodox, creedal Christianity.

If you have ever wondered what to think about the Potter and Twilight phenomena, or if you have struggled over whether or not to let your children read the books, you’ll want to listen to these lectures from the Eighth Day Symposium. Sponsored by the Eighth Day Institute and featuring John Granger, “the dean of Harry Potter scholars,” this new event took place in Wichita, Kansas, on January 29, 2011.

In addition to lectures on Potter and Twilight, the Eighth Day Symposium included talks on classical education, reading, and the Great Books. Special thanks to St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral for hosting the event.