Is Halloween good for more than a sugar-induced high? Can you really share your faith using Halloween?? While this may sound like a contradiction in terms, with a little forethought, the ghosts and ghouls of Halloween can be a natural conversation starter for talking about the spiritual dimension.

Christian views of Halloween vary dramatically from a fun-filled, sugar high for little kids in cute costumes to an evil holiday which focuses on the occult, devils, and all things dark and demonic. So out of respect for those divergent opinions, approach this topic with your friends in the way that best fits you. But don't let the opportunity for a conversation about the spiritual dimension and eternal life slip by!

Halloween was originally known as the Festival of the Dead and was a time of fear and fright. The ghosts, goblins, and the Grim Reaper-esque characters that inhabit the holiday provide an easy transition into the topic of what happens when we die and whether we should be afraid of dying. Take the opportunity to share with your friends some of the truths of the Bible when it comes to the topics of death and dying. Check out some of these verses: more >>

The wildly popular Harry Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling, have already been blasted by Christian conservatives for glamorizing witchcraft and the occult. The fantasy series is now charged with encouraging homosexuality following the author’s announcement that one of the novels’ main characters is gay.

Roberta Combs, president of the 2.5 million strong Christian Coalition of America, said she was disappointed that Rowling chose to label Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as gay.

“It's not a good example for our children, who really like the books and the movies. I think it encourages homosexuality,” said Combs, who has called for a ban on the seven-book series. more >>

After years of averting questions on whether Christian themes were present in her wildly popular Harry Potter books, author J.K. Rowling finally opened up this week about the Christian allegory in her latest book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

During a press conference at the kick-off of her “Open Book Tour” on Monday, the British author told reporters that while religious themes were always present she purposely refrained from referencing any particular religion in order to conceal the ending.

“To me, [the religious parallels have] always been obvious,” Rowling said. “But I never wanted to talk too openly about it because I thought it might show people who just wanted the story where we were going.” more >>

In response to media speculation, Focus on the Family (FOTF) posted a statement on its website this weekend titled “Dr. Dobson: 'What I Think About Harry Potter.'”

In the statement, the conservative pro-family ministry explained that FOTF founder Dr. James Dobson has never endorsed books or films from the megahit fantasy series, and that many papers mistakenly reported that he had given them an OK for Christian families.

The posting directly confronts the Washington Post, which published an article about what Christians think of the craze, and how the reporter had incorrectly assumed that Dobson favored the boy wizard. more >>

Kids around the globe dressed in wizard hats and Hogwarts school uniforms complete with capes and scarves got their hands on the final book in the Harry Potter series Saturday morning at 12:01 a.m.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the seventh and final installment in J.K. Rowling's hugely popular series and critics and fans are calling it possibly the best with action-packed drama from the start. With 325 million copies sold worldwide, it's a Harry Potter phenomenon that booksellers have never seen before and may possibly never see again.

But it's a series some Christian parents are still trying to avoid. more >>

Whether Christians may agree with it or not, the newest and final volume of the “Harry Potter” series has come full force into bookstores.

The tension had especially been built up over the past few weeks for the release of the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” and that anticipation came to an end on Saturday at midnight for many.

“Speculation has been mounting for weeks, if not years in fan circles, as to how the final book will conclude the best loved story of the modern day,” explained Christian author Nancy Carpentier Brown in a statement. “Will Harry die? Is Snape really a good guy or bad guy? Will the dead Dumbledore play a part in the last book? Will Harry conquer the evil Lord Voldemort?” more >>