DD as spiritual leader? (was:Canon for BADD ANGST)

[jwcpgh]

No: HPFGUIDX 81254

Laura:
> > I think it's assuming too much to suggest that DD is the 
spiritual head of the WW...there's no evidence that DD has any 
> > interest in, or control of, ritual spiritual practices in the WW, 
> if  any exist, or that the WW looks to him for guidance on all 
moral issues.  
> 
> <snipped>
> 
> Geoff:
> Bear in mind that other writers who were Christians - I am thinking 
> of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis - do not have an overt Christian faith 
> shown in their books, yet where they are coming from is visible if 
> you look carefully. <snip> I have said in previous posts that I see 
Harry as a representative of 
> everyman on his journey - not a Christ-like figure but one seeking 
> the true God. In relation to the Dumbledore/Harry relationship, I 
am 
> reminded of some of the teacher/student pairings which existed with 
> the disciples in the early church and are mentioned in the New 
> Testament. In particular Paul/Timothy and Peter/Mark come to mind. 
> Mark, in his gospel, is certainly believed to be using Peter's 
> memories and experiences to write his version.

Laura again:

But the writer's philoophical stance may not be overtly reflected in 
every action in the book.  Sure, if you read Lewis or Tolkien, their 
beliefs are clear, and for all I know it's the same with JKR (not 
being well versed in Christian theology, I'm happy to defer to those 
with more expertise).  But do you think that DD is supposed to be 
divine?  Or something more than a mere human?  

What I was trying to get at is that JKR seems to be very consciously 
avoiding any overt spiritual framework in the Potterverse.  When 
Sandy suggested that DD is the spiritual leader of the WW, the 
question I had is, how do we know?  What do people do or say to 
indicate that he has that kind of position?  Power he certainly has, 
but I don't see it as the sort of power a spiritual leader would 
have. There doesn't seem to be any kind of coherent ethical system in 
the WW-or am I missing it?  I'm not talking about what we can infer, 
because that's debatable.  I'm talking about any reference to an 
accepted code of moral thought and behavior-that's what seems to be 
missing.  Just because DD may be the most evolved ethicist in the WW 
doesn't mean that he's a "spiritual leader" per se.