Calvinism

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 23625

Mike wrote:

>If we can just prove that some Slytherins
>turn out to be good, the question is answered. But is not ending up a DE 
>the
>same as being good--or is it just a sign of that particular variety of
>prudence Voldemort calls cowardice?

No, not ending up a DE isn't good enough, because it might just be prudence 
(most of us seem to think Malfoy Sr. is governed by prudence more than 
principle).  Snape, though, looks to be headed for escape from 
predestination, what with his abandoning the DE path "at great personal 
risk."  That's what makes him the most interesting character so far to me.

First we need to know for sure whether he was a Slytherin and, of course, 
whether he proves to be truly good.

Re: "noble history" of each house:  this could be McG finessing the issue.  
"Noble" should mean "good," yes, but if you were trying to find positive 
words for an ancient institution that had been frankly rotten all the way 
through, this is a word you might choose.  The House could be noble (though 
not good) because Slytherin was a great wizard, the house is 1000 years old 
and has seen a lot of history, their Seeker in the championship year of 1312 
broke his neck in a glorious dive but in his dying moments gallantly held up 
the Snitch (NB to my fellow nitpickers: Wood doesn't say no one's ever died 
playing Quidditch at Hogwarts, just that no one's ever been killed by a 
Bludger at Hogwarts).

Good point by Amanda.  I'd add, especially per Luke's comment, that this 
paradox (our actions are predestined but we feel like we're choosing freely) 
is not limited to Calvinism.  Even people who don't believe in God at all 
have to resolve the determinism/free will problem:  are we all just doing 
what we are "wound up" to do by our previous experiences, the exact 
configuration of the atoms of the universe the moment we were born, etc.?  
Even though we feel like we're making choices?

Dumbledore's comment on Crouch Jr. in GoF stands as the best argument that 
JKR truly believes in choice.  "What that man chose to make of his life," 
not "what he turned out to be like."

It seems to me that JKR herself is feeling the pull of both ways of 
thinking:  strongly believing in choice over predestination, yet enjoying 
the literary convention (a rather boring one IMO) of four Houses, four 
personalities, never mind that the kids are only 11 when they get put into 
their compartments.

Amy Z
who hopes we get some confirmation of good Slytherins and evil Gryffindors 
soon

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If only the hat had mentioned a house
for people who felt a bit queasy,
that would have been the one for him.
     --HP and the Philosopher's Stone
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