Commandments; Christianity of HP

[lucky_kari]

No: HPFGUIDX 31011

> I think 
> it would be worthwhile to do an analysis from the perspective of 
the 
> Sermon on the Mount (e.g. "Blessed are the Peacemakers," etc.), but 
I 
> don't have the spare cycles right now. Heck, I'd like to do an 
analysis 
> from the Eightfold Path (a Buddhist text), but I don't have time 
for that, 
> either.

All right, here is the Beatitudes' precepts applied to Harry Potter. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Poor in spirit I've always taken to mean as not too attached to 
material things. And we see a lot of this in Harry Potter. Ron tells 
Harry in GoF, I believe, that his father hasn't taken a highly paid 
job, because of the non-monetary value of current one. To Fudge, on 
the other hand, money is everything, and Lucius Malfoy becomes 
important because he has it. Then, there is Dudley and the rest of 
the Dursleys, completely tied to their car, Dudley's birthday 
presents etc. Harry has a lot of money, but he isn't too attached to 
it. In fact, he gives away his winnings in GoF. 

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Harry himself, I think, comes in here, mourning for his parents. Also 
Winky, I hope, and Neville. 

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Neville? Winky? The story's not finished enough to find out if they 
are rewarded. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they 
shall be satisfied.

"The Parting of the Ways" distinguishes those who do, from those who 
don't. 

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Harry spares Pettigrew. We don't know yet what the result will be, 
but I think it's safe to say that it will benefit Harry. (see 
Dumbledore's discussion of Harry's deed)

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
 
Harry is definitely pure in heart, as evidenced by his seeing the 
philosopher's stone not for his own desires in PS/SS. Cedric Diggory 
is almost exactly described in these terms by Dumbledore at the 
closing feast. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Although our heroes are going to war, the theme of peacemaking is 
very strong in HP. Dumbledore is the great peacemaker, bringing even 
Sirius and Snape together at the end of GoF. He's seeking to heal the 
rift between the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, between giants and 
people etc. 

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

We haven't seen many people "persecuted for righteousness' sake" yet. 
But we will next book, I'm sure, and it's happened before. Remember 
the Potters and Longbottoms. 

"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all 
kinds of evil against you falsely on my account."

This fits Harry to a tee. The process of reviling Harry for his 
refusal to submit to Crouch's lie has already begun. Rita Skeeter 
has "uttered all kinds of evil" against him, and now that he's defied 
the Ministry, more people are going to. 

Eileen