JK Rowling could never have imagined in 1990, when the thought of Harry Potter first appeared to her, how much this fictional character would capture the hearts of readers around the world. Likewise, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series had a resounding effect on its readers, some even going so far as to learn the Elven language created by Tolkien himself. Both of these fantasy works, while incredibly different, are very similar in their Christian themes and the underlying message they read. Probably the most debatable thing among fans is whether or not the Harry Potter series is a Christian work, let alone whether it contains Christian themes and undertones. Many, both in the evangelical and non-evangelical world, seem offended by a thought like this. Half offended that the Gospel story could be hidden within the confines of a book of witchcraft, the other half offended that a book of witchcraft and magic could carry a Christian message. Yet to Rowling herself the Christian themes seem to be quite obvious. Whatever party you may find yourself on, it is clear that the Harry Potter series is a Christian work, due to JK Rowling's deliberate use of evangelical themes, biblical references, and biblical allegorical figures placed throughout the books . When asking whether the Harry Potter series is a Christian work or not, it is important to clarify what exactly the determining factors are for considering something a Christian work. This is difficult, however, because there are so many broad examples of Christian works and allegories that have been written and no direct outline to clarify what they are. What is evident in Rowling's series, however, are the distinct gospel themes depicted. Ideas such as those slowly weakening... middle of paper... and sacrificial love found in Harry Potter as well as the notions of Mercy and Providence shown in both series, it is evident that these are Christian Literary Works . This obviously has never been a problem for both Tolkien and Rowling. Tolkien himself stated that, although The Lord of the Rings never explicitly says the word God, it was a Catholic work. Rowling similarly leads her readers to believe that she intentionally included the gospel message in her writing of the Harry Potter series. Rowling and Tolkien believe that it is through the writing of true fairy tales that readers' hearts begin to long for the true story we are all called to experience. The desire for a sacrificial kind of love, as seen in Harry Potter and by Sam-Wise in The Lord of the Rings, invites readers to the true story of love that awaits all, the story of Jesus Christ..