Side note: St.Mungos

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 79452


 Geoff wrote:-

> > St.Mungo was leader of a 6th century ecclesiatical community on 
 the site of the present day Glasgow and is considered to be the 
city's  founder.<<<
 

Mochajava13:

<<<<why would wizards name a hospital after a religious figure?  The 
ones that do that here in the US are usually connected to a church 
of some sort.  Plus, St. Mungo's is in London<<<

Many hospitals in Britain are named after saints. They were often 
founded by religious orders hundreds of years ago, and the names 
have lived on despite the fact that they are now part of our 
National Health Service. Examples in London include "Barts": St 
Bartholomew's and St Thomas's.

I think you would have to see the use of the saint's name in much 
the same way as the usage of "Christmas" and "Easter" holidays. They 
are mirroring the Muggle culture around them. The Fat Friar is proof 
that religious figures of wizarding stock did exist. It is not then 
a stretch to suggest that wizarding brethren of St Mungo could have 
founded a wizarding hospital.

>From my point of view, I do not have a problem with the wizarding 
world being superfically, but not overtly Christian as this 
parellels the society I see around me today. If the schism between 
wizards and Muggles occurred sometime around the 14th Century, then 
it is at least wholly possible that the wizarding community of that 
time *were* Christians. It would then not be unfeasible to suppose 
that their 20th century descendants also are; albeit in the same 
kind of secular way as their Muggle neighbours. 

Although the average Briton may not be very religious, England 
itself is officially a Christian country. The Queen, our Head of 
State is also the "Supreme Head" of the Church of England. We don't 
have the religious and secular divide that exists in the US. I think 
that JKR uses religious terminology to reflect British society. 

Religion isn't however mentioned specifically as JKR has choosen to 
concentrate on her own purety of blood issue to show prejudice. We 
are given pointers that religion exists in the Wizarding World just 
as we have evidence that different races exist. We are not given an 
opportunity to dwell upon these issues though as that would draw our 
attention away from the Blood issue which is so important to Harry's 
world.

Ali