Harry and Christ - other beliefs (longish)

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 78256

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "subrosax99" <subrosax at e...> 
wrote:
> I am not a Christian either, and I hate having Christian ideology, 
> particularly the fundementalist sort, rammed down my throught. 
That 
> being said, I don't understand why you are getting so worked up 
about 
> the Harry Potter books. Just because I'm not a Christian, doesn't 
> mean I get all hot and bothered when there are Christian themes or 
> symbolism in a book. I'd have missed out on some of the worlds 
finest 
> literature (and from your previous posts, I gather you know what 
that 
> is.)

I think the Christian themes in the HP books are a natural outgrowth 
of the author's beliefs; naturally, she's going to write about what 
she thinks is true and strong. But I don't think it's a 
surreptitious way of brainwashing unsuspecting children - it's just 
what Rowling thinks.  I'm a Christian myself, and the first time I 
read the books I don't think I noticed any Christian overtones at 
all.  After a while I spotted a few, and then it became a bit like 
an Easter egg hunt, to try to find more.  I think they're starting 
to get more noticeable, but it remains to be seen if Rowling sticks 
with this trend.  The thing about seeing it from a Christian 
perspective is that it can embrace all sorts of things that are not 
obviously orthodox Christianity.  One example, which I just 
discovered by doing a quick web search, is the significance of 
Harry's birthday.  It's been noted that he was born on Lammas, and 
important Wiccan festival.  So I looked it up and found this 
description of the event:  

"The turning of the wheel now brings us to Lughnasadh (LOO-nus-uh), 
also known by its medieval Christian name of Lammas, named in honor 
of the Celtic god Lugh, a name which means "light" or "shining." 
Although somewhat confusing, we are not celebrating the death of 
Lugh (the God of light does not mythically die until the autumn 
equinox), but rather the funeral games that Lugh hosted to 
commemorate the death of his foster mother, Taillte....Lughnasadh is 
the first of the three harvest Sabbats, Mabon and Samhain being the 
other two, which celebrates the ripening grains and corn. With the 
harvest so prevalent, Pagans see the theme of the sacrificed god 
motif emerge. His death is necessary for rebirth of the land to take 
place. Called by many names, "Green Man," "Wicker Man," "Corn Man" 
or just the "Spirit of Vegetation," his essence begins to merge with 
the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new 
growth in the spring.  In old times, it was the duty of the King to 
sacrifice himself for the land, an idea that has been seen in the 
many legends of cultures both new and old, throughout recorded 
history."  Etc., and more interesting stuff.  Now, none of this is 
Christian at all, but a Christian reader will be able to read it as 
a sort of "premonition" of the bigger story of Christ's sacrifice.  
But it's a perfectly good theme all on its own, and it's widespread 
in lots of other cultures.  (Actually, the part that struck me was 
the fact that this festival marks the death of a mother!  That's not 
Christian at all, but it ties in very nicely with the HP story.  I'd 
like to hear more about that, if there are some Wiccan list members 
who can fill us in.)

Wanda