Wizard religion (was Excusssse me.)

[bluesqueak <pipdowns@etchells0.demon.co.uk>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48101

 
> Diane said: I can only imagine that it (religion) isn't mentioned 
> in canon because JKR herself is only averagely religious and 
> therefore it just hasn't come up yet.
> 
> This goes for much of the UK where religious is tacit rather than 
> fanatical. I am inclined to agree with your point about being a 
> lapsed Christian (also grins) Christianity has appeared in canon 
> in the form of Christmas so all we can assume really is that  
> Hogwarts is nominally Christian much like the rest of the UK.
> 
> Diane

I'd argue that Hogwarts and the WW are similar in religious variety 
to the rest of the UK. A modern specialist school (which Hogwarts 
effectively is) would be expected to be non-sectarian. 

Religion is so very much in the background in the WW that it appears 
to be a deliberate authorial decision. 

JKR does use various Christian symbols (Harry's wand is made of 
Holly which has been used as a Christian symbol, the Stag that is 
James's patronus is also a symbol of St Godric, Sirius is Harry's 
*Godfather*, Hedwig is the name of a Saint who had particular 
concern for orphaned children, and so on).

This is probably not an accident. JKR is on record as attending 
Church of Scotland services at the time the books were being planned 
(Church of Scotland ref: Interview with Evan Solomon, CBC Newsworld 
Hot Type (21 July 2000) 
(http://cbc.ca/programs/sites/hottype_rowlingcomplete.html); and AOL 
Chat -- May 2000.

Sectarianism is an *extremely* sensitive subject in parts of the UK. 
People can get murdered simply because they happen to be of the 
wrong religion or religious denomination. I can well see JKR 
deciding that giving her wizards (or Harry himself ) a particular 
religious 'brand' would provoke reactions that would interfere with 
the story she wants to tell.

Pip