[HPforGrownups] Re: Harry Potter and the Bible

[Rain Tor]

No: HPFGUIDX 22897

I don't care if I'm not supposed to answer this... 

I think the basis for "adults for Harry Potter" lies
in the fact that the HP books do not paint wizards
(and therefore "us") in simple "black and white"
terms; characters like Snape, are both evil and good,
their motivations are complex. This is not a Christian
tradition, and particularly, given the Free Will vs.
Determinism debate, not a Protestant one (and the
"religious right" are predomenantly protestants).
Clearly and ostensively, HP novels do not contradict
the ultimate Christian Ethic in any way, but this can
only be seen if one can put aside the "Magic",
"paganism", and other ornaments; looking beyond the
"ornaments" for the subtext, has been in the Jewish
clerical tradition for centuries (see comentaries on
Joseph and the Coat of Many Colours)...  

Actually, I think we beat around the bush with the
"Magic" debate.  The Christian Right has tauted the
"utility" of CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia to
introduce the Christian first principles, as it
presents a diversionary mythic and magical narrative.
Those Christians, who perhaps from bordrom at sunday
school would view bible study as work, might be able
to read Christianity if it was presented in a
different and perhaps more exciting and readable
form.... This was, reportedly, Lewis'intention
anyway.. 

I just can't believe that the Christian Right actually
believes the risk of the HP booksd lies in the Magic
content.  

I think the Christian Right's opposition to HP must be
seen in terms of their "rightism", and their
sociological context.  First of all, in the USA, the
Christian Right, by definition are politically
conservative, and predomentantly located in the
Southern United States, in a region that has acquired
the aphorism "the bible belt". I have read a
statistic, that reported that in 1959, 75% of most
prominent members of southern society- who made up the
state and municipal governments, businesses and
church, were tied to the notorious Klu Klux Klan. If
anyone reading this lives in the South, I am sorry to
point it out, and indeed things have changed, but not
completly. WHile the Klan still exists, though not
nearly influential as it once was, there remain strong
xenophobic, and untolerant tendencies. (I have lived
in Texas, I have seen for myself.) Many of which stem
from the Christian Right, a group notoriusly
predominently White (it is not enough to boast of
having a few minorities in the rank and file).  

The image of the deathbeaters (cloaked and Masked),
the Muggle/Wizard dichotomy, Hermione and the
House-Elves, present us with images that resemble the
reality we have experienced in the recent past, and
the present.  Clearly JK condemns xenophobia, and
seems to instruct Kids, to view such intolerance as
essentially "evil"; as Voldemore is closely associated
with the intolerance, indeed he is possibly the symbol
for it. In regions that elected David Duke (ex
granddragon of the KKK) to congress, it might be worth
restricting their kids from the books, if they want
their ideas to succeed them in the next generation. 

JK also touches upon a few elements of "leftism" that
might provoke reaction from the reactionaries among
the "Right" Christians.  I don't know where Rowling
wants to go with the Hermione/Elf issue, but I can bet
this is the first Children's book to hit the USA that
has ever so much as mentioned Unions, Pensions,
Benefits...  Have a look at the USA, which has the
lowest union membership in the industrialized world,
the largest anti-union store in the world (walmart),
and the poorest social safety-net contruct in the G8;
all this and it is the richest nation in the world,
though the income gap between rich and poor eclipses
that of third world-countries, and has been, since the
70's climbing...  There is a strong anti-union
sentiment among the Religious Right, who tend to see
labourism as tantamount to "Godless Socialism"!!

I don't think that people should be afraid of debate. 
If this is indeed an HP fan club, then look to
Dumbledore's assertion that finding "truth" is a
victory in itself: I don't pretend to espouse the
absolute truth in what I have posted, I am hoping a
Southerner or other, who takes exception to my little
theory, helpfully point me in the right direction (so
long it is not in the RIGHT direction).   

I also encourage the group to fight the BAN on dealing
with such issues. The greatest controvery that HP has
generated has been among the Christian Right, how
silly is it that the HP adult discussion group refuses
to discuss it... HP is a children's book. This means
that the book is trice as important, as it will be
read in the formative years of life... So, rather than
taking the subtexts of the book, and the debates less
seriously, and merely satisfy ourselves in speculating
on JK's intentions for the next book, we should
embrace such intellectual discussions...  

Debate does not threaten a view.  Unless one sees
disagreement as a threat to a view. 
 
Reverend Daz Daz        

_______________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.ca address at http://mail.yahoo.ca