[HPforGrownups] Good lord, at it again, and the magazine just arrived in ...

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 6043


----- Original Message -----
From: <nodigio at aol.com>
To: <HPforGrownups at egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 7:50 AM
Subject: Re: [HPforGrownups] Good lord, at it again, and the magazine just
arrived in ...


> In a message dated 11/22/2000 10:22:17 PM Central Standard Time,
> hermione_heidi at hotmail.com writes:
>
>
> > not everybody believes in Jesus Christ and you better remember
> > that.
>
> Threats??????  Whatever for?  Just because one is not a follower of a
> specific religious leader is not a valid reason for making threats.  A
> specific religious creed is not promoted in the HP books.  Although it is
> possible that assorted articles and such containing references to
religions
> and HP which may be of interest to more open-minded members of this list,
it
> is to be hoped one would be mature enough to appreciate the shared
> information.

Although Christianity is not actively promulgated in the HP saga, JKR has
nevertheless plugged into one of its most potent myths, the Redeemer-Child
whose purity shall regenerate the world.  I recall this verse of the poet
Robert Southwell (1561-1595) from its inclusion in Benjamin Britten's
Ceremony of Carols.  Just substitute Harry for Christ and Voldy for Satan,
and you'll see how near a match it is.

This little Babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan's fold
All hell doth at his presence quake
Though he himself for cold do shake
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell he will surprise

With tears he fights and wins the field
His naked breast stands for a shield
His battering shot are babish cries
His arrows looks of weeping eyes
His martial ensigns Cold and Need
And feeble Flesh his warrior's steed

His camp is pitched in a stall
His bulwark but a broken wall
The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes
Of shepherds he his muster makes;
And thus, as sure his foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that he hath pight
Within his crib is surest ward;
This little babe will be thy guard.
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly Boy.

Southwell, a Catholic in the anti-Catholic Elizabethan era, was imprisoned
in 1593, tortured at least 13 times, and was finally hanged and quartered at
Tyburn in 1595.

 - CMC