A Norwegian church that included the popular Harry Potter character as a theme in the worship service has raised some questions among Norwegian priests, reports said on Wednesday.
Priests and young members of the congregation in the 12th-century Berg church in Halden, south of Oslo, helped put together the service with the theme Harry Potter Meets Jesus.
The church was packed and many of the congregation had dressed up as characters in the Harry Potter films, newspaper Vart Land said.
Organist Michael Servant played theme music from the movies while the priest, vicar and many children walked in procession dressed in red and black gowns.
The latest film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, premiered on Friday in Norway — the day after the sixth Harry Potter novel was published in Norwegian.
Theologian Hakon Stornes, a youth priest in Bergen, western Norway — who has used theatre performances in services for children and youth — was one of the critics.
”The church has enough good stories,” Stornes said, noting that he has made good use of Noah’s Ark and St Francis of Assisi.
His other criticism was that ”Harry Potter’s literary universe is set in a magical adventure land, far from what children and youth today experience as relevant for their daily lives”.
Berg church vicar Per Chr Solberg said the service was a success and attracted many children who do not normally attend church.
About 85% of Norway’s 4,5-million inhabitants are baptised members of the state Church of Norway. — Sapa-DPA