Alchemy revisited: OOP prediction confirmed

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 80039

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Ivan Vablatsky 
<ibotsjfvxfst at y...> wrote:
> In message 71509 (Jul. 18) --- Arya wrote: 
> >>I think that the fact that JKR seems to be following the true 
form and definition of an Epic with the septology means that there 
will be many classical "evolutions" or perhaps, milestones that will 
be found in the HP universe. 
>  
> >>Hans' theory is one of several that, I feel, may be superimposed 
to correlate with the past five books and to help predict the 
remaining two. Unfortunately, I have to say, that all of them that I 
have studied and compared to HP, seem to be leading towards the death 
of our beloved Boy Who Probably Will Not Live. :-( Personally, I 
sooooo, do not want this to be so. I love Harry like a true person 
and would mourn his death as surely as I would mourn a living 
breathing soul). 
>  
> >>However, we are repeatedly told by JKR in cannon that there is no 
coming back from the dead to return to life so I think that when he 
does die in Book 7, he will remain--Beyond the Veil.<< 


  
> Hans:
> If HP is a window on to the real Path of Liberation as taught by 
all the historical great spiritual leaders, and I think it is, then 
Harry's journey is exactly the opposite of what you state, and our 
beloved boy needs no mourning from us!
>  

<heavily snipped>

Geoff:
I fear that I must disagree with Hans that Harry Potter is a window 
to the real Path of Liberation as outlined in his posts. If there is 
evidence pointing to such a route, it is the evidence which directs 
readers to Christian belief.

Let's consider some of the things which crop up. In the conversation 
between Harry and Dumbledore at the end of PS (p.216 UK edition):

"'But why couldn't Quirrell touch me?'
`Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot 
understand, it is love. He didn't realise that love as powerful as 
your mother's for you leaves it's own mark. Not a scar, no visible 
sign
 to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved 
us is gone, will give us some protection for ever. It is in your very 
skin
..'"

This echoes the very deepest Christian belief. Our world is a fallen 
one and many events are orchestrated by the devil who, like Voldmort, 
cannot understand selfless love and believes that because of the 
wrongdoing we are all guilty of, we are unable to reach God. Because 
he took on human guise in the form of Jesus, he died to save us. The 
difference with Lily's sacrifice and that of Jesus is that to gain 
the protection, we have to acknowledge what he did on the cross and 
in the resurrection but, if we do and accept him into our lives, it 
leaves a mark – not a visible sign but evidence in our life that we 
belong to God and know his presence.

And then again, a well-worn quote from COS (p.245 UK edition):

"'Yet the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor. You know why that 
was. Think.'
`It only put me in Gryffindor,' said Harry in a defeated 
voice, `because I asked not to go in Slytherin
'
`Exactly', said Dumbledore, beaming once more. `Which makes you very 
different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what 
we truly are, far more than our abilities.'"

This applies in respect of  what I said in the previous passage. 
Becoming a Christian is a choice. We are not born Christian, we are 
not Christians because our family are or because we go to church. It 
is because we are faced with a choice like Harry's – to follow the 
Slytherin path, ie go the way of the world and the real world 
equivalents of Lord Voldemort or pick the true way as indicated by 
Jesus in John 3:16 and John 14:6. The latter verse indicates 
unequivocally the importance of making the right choice.

> Arya:
> >>We have been being trained for this since Book 1 when Dumbledore 
says, "Life is but the next great adventure." that helps us feel like 
Death of a person/character is not so much the end of living but the 
begining of liberation to *BE*.<<
>  

Geoff:
Dumbledore actually said:

"After all, to the well-organised mind, *death* is but the next great 
adventure." (PS p.215 UK edition).

Geoff:
To a Christian, one who has let Jesus Christ come into his or her 
life, death /will/ be the next great adventure. One perhaps 
approached with fear and apprehension but one which will lead to 
eternal life. Like Christians in the real world, Harry makes choices 
which he hopes will help him along the way; sometimes he messes up 
because of his own lack of understanding, patience or judgment, 
sometimes because he places to much reliance in the judgement of 
others. But, as we are protected by the love of God as expressed 
through Christ and the Holy Spirit, so Harry still has the protection 
given him by his mother. 

Stepping down from my pulpit, I too hope against hope that he will 
win through in one piece, because although only a character in a 
book, I have agonised with him, cheered with him and learned with him 
because he has brought back so many memories of the way things were 
when I was his age. Viva HP!