Author of Looking for God in Harry Potter Lectures at Blair

John Granger, the author of several books analyzing J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, was the featured Society of Skeptics speaker on Tuesday, February 24. His topic for the evening was, “The Hidden Key to Harry Potter: Understanding the Meaning, Genius, and Popularity of Joanne Rowling's Harry Potter Novels.”

Granger was born in Corning, N.Y., and grew up in Mountain Lakes, N.J. He attended prep school at Philips Exeter Academy and holds an honors degrees from the University of Chicago, where he studied classical languages and literature. He is currently a teacher of English, Latin and journalism at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pa.

Granger served for six years in the U.S. Marine Corps including postings at the Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, Calif., and at Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan. He and his wife Mary are the parents of seven children. He often serves as a guest lecturer at universities on various topics, and has given more than 100 radio and television interviews.

Granger has taught Harry Potter courses on the online Barnes and Noble University since 2004. He has also appeared as a guest in favor of the Harry Potter books on several radio and TV shows, including CNN. As a proponent of the Christian imagery in the novels, he has become involved in the debate criticizing them as encouraging paganism and witchcraft. Describing himself as “one of the leading authorities on the Harry Potter books as read in the context of English literature,” his specialist interests are the post-modern qualities and Rowling’s use of literary alchemy in the Harry Potter novels.

A full listing of the Skeptics programs is available here.

Updated 2/25/09

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