With book seven, all of our doubts, all of our concerns - both literary and moral - are answered. And answered sublimely. Upon finishing the seventh book in the series, we can absolutely recommend the Harry Potter books to concerned Christians.
Literary Quality: 
Christian Morality: Good/Excellent
Age Appropriateness: Pre-Teen/Teen
For several years now, Christians have debated the reltive merits of each Harry Potter book. But judging a series by an individual volume is ultimately a fruitless case. To do so is to make a judgement before the end of the series. And while there have been justifiable concerns throughout the volumes (having less to do with the much touted "magic" - this is a fantasy novel after all! - and more to do with consequences to actions), by the triumphant end of book seven it is apparent that Rowling has created a work to be savored.
To focus first on the literary quality, HP7 begins with two intriguing quotes, one from Aeschylus' The Libation Bearers, both dealing with life after death, and which indicate that Rowling has been improving the quality of her reading pool. An author is frequently only as good as her bedtime books, and Rowling - particularly in her last two books - seems to have been favoring nothing but the classics. Her language has improved, as has her ability to weave in philosophical ideas throughout the narrative and overarching plot. Now actions serve not only the external action, but the interior action as well. Gone, too, is the overdependence on the CAPSLOCK in lieu of actual emotional dialogue. Rowling displays her best understanding of her characters to date, allowing them to finally feel their age.
While her attempts at writing romance still fail, her ability to write page-turning plot has only improved. Unfortunately, HP7 is in some regards so well written that it makes the first six books seem somewhat like an extended prequel to a series that is just beginning. However, no matter what one thinks of the literary quality of the first few books, Rowling's promise that she had planned the whole series from the start is more than justified as all the plot points are well-resolved, including some points that had seemed extraneous to previous volumes. Hindsight is truly twenty-twenty for the Harry Potter novels.
Morally, Rowling has created a volume that speaks volumes. In HP7, she eloquently and repeatedly defends the virtue of faith, indicates a possible priesthood in the Wizarding world, subtly quotes scripture, places two significant events at a church on Christmas Eve and another at "King's Cross," examines a possible purgatory, reiterates the effect of our choices upon our souls, and concludes with one of the most beautiful Via Dolorosas - Good Friday right through Easter Sunday - to have been written in a popular book of late. And inbetween that, she champions those old stalwart virtues of courage, friendship, hope, family, marriage, new life, responsibility, true liberty, kindness, and on and on.
Lest some fear that HP7 has completely blinded us to any shortcomings, we'll note that while Rowling has progressed significantly from a fun but stock writer to someone who is approaching the throne of Lewis with fear and trembling (the Narnian overtones and turns of phrase are unmistakable), Rowling still has yet to work out all of the theological/plotting knots that get in the way of one another. Harry does perform an unforgivable curse, for which he is not specifically reprimanded (plot winning over philosophy), but perhaps Rowling felt that her themes of a man being able to change might have covered that oversight.
To deal briefly and specifically with the question of whether Harry Potter brings reader to Wicca and other real-life witchcraft, the claim seems patently absurd. Are there those who will read this and believe that they ought to become Wiccan? Certainly, those same people who are predisposed through bad or absent parenting or life crises - the same people who would believe the same thing by reading the Yellow Pages as well as a work of Fantasy. However, it seems clear from the books alone (which will stand the test of time more than the add-on sales schemes), that the quality of redemption and personal responsibility and self-sacrifice and faith and life after death should put Rowling's series on the shelf of any family who so desires.
Note: Some have wondered whether the novels are all appropriate for young children. Most likely, they are not. However, each parent knows his child best. And each parent would do well to share all entertainment (or much) with their children regularly.
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Updated 27 July, 2007
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