Harry and Christ (Was Re: veil/Ddore's cowardice? (longish)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 78240

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "James Redmont" 
<jamesredmont at h...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "feetmadeofclay" 
> <feetmadeofclay at y...> wrote:
>  
> > HOWEVER - the idea that Harry will destroy Voldemort through love 
> and 
> > that love is a force within him is NOT a universal theme.  It is 
> very 
> > Christian.  It has nothing at all to do with my beliefs. 
> 



James:
> First I'd like to say I have a degree in history, concentrated in 
> the study of Asian cultures and Hindu/Buddhist/Jain religions.
> 
> Now, if you know anything about eastern religion, it is centered 
> around compassion, which is how they describe the type of love 
> Christ had for humanity.  Buddhists believe those who are very near 
> to enlightenment can choose to stay behind and help others
> (bodhisattvas)...why?  Compassion.  Hindus believe in the universal 
> world spirit, which *is* a force, and is contained in everyone.  
> Dharma - the law, how one should behave...doing what is right, not 
> what is easy.  I could easily write a paper on how Harry Potter's 
> life is a learning tool for Hindus.  It doesn't even matter if she 
> wrote it purposefully from a Christian view.  The whole point of my 
> post was to point out that most religions are nearly the same when 
> it comes to their philosophy, and "love" (which is a word, by the 
> way, and not a v. specific one) is the center of most.  
Benevolence, 
> compassion, love, dharma, right thinking...just because you're 
> familiar with the Christ story, don't think it's the *only* story 
> like that.  A good example?  Read the Ramayana.
> 


Geoff:
Possibly. But Jesus made it very clear that Christianity /was/ 
separated from other ideas of God and life. Look at John 3:16 and 
John 14:6 by way of example.

I believe that true Christianity involves the Spirit of God living 
within a person. It is a personal, inidividual relationship not 
adherence to a religious orthodoxy or "signing up" to a set of rules 
like a club.