Wizard religion (was Excusssse me.)

[Jim Ferer <jferer@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48125

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

Why so? Aren't most novels silent about religion? What makes the Harry
Potter books stand out that way? I argue that JKR's books are quite
typical in this.

Pipdowns:" 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)."

Excellent! I didn't pick up on those, except the holly one; and the
St. Godric reference is another point for the Heir of Gryffindor
hypothesis.  And here's another religious reference: St. Mungo's
[Hospital for Magical Maladies].