Is This Quote Legit?

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 52831

Hi --

<<<<<<<<While we're rumour-slaying, can anyone find a
reference to  JKR saying that she doesn't want to get
much into her Christian faith, because then people
will know how the story ends? I've heard it about a
million times, and I've gone crazy looking for it. If
it exists, it'd work perfectly into a CHOP post that
I've been holding back for ages till I can find it. If
it doesn't, well and good.>>>>>>>>>>>

I've been meaning to chime in on this subject, as I've seen this "quote" bounced around on the list a fair bit the last few weeks.  I have my doubts that it exists and here's why.  I've just finished reading (and am in the process of writing book reviews for this list) the following books, all of which are positive Christian perspectives on HP:

** The Hidden Key to Harry Potter by John Granger (speaker at Nimbus - 2003)
** A Charmed Life: The Spirituality of Potterworld by Francis Bridger
** God, The Devil and Harry Potter by John Killinger
** The Gospel According to Harry Potter by Connie Neal (speaker at Nimbus - 2003) 

None of these authors make any reference to the "if you know anything about Christian theology and doctrine, you'll know how the series ends" or whatever paraphrase of that quote gets bandied about often.  And, they all made good use of JKR's interviews, so if it were out there, I strongly suspect they would have found it.  

So, I second the challenge for someone to find a Real Source showing that JKR actually said something linking Christian doctrine to her novels (and the ultimate outcome in particular).  I have my doubts that anyone can find it though.  :--)

BTW, I've written the Granger, Killinger and Neal portions of the review and am still working on the Bridger portion.  I hope to get it finished up this week!

Penny


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