religion in the WW (wasRe: the missing godparent)

[sachmet96]

No: HPFGUIDX 88363

Carol wrote:
> But having godparents isn't comparable to using "cool" expressions.
> The word "godparents" has God in it and relates to the ceremony of
> baptism (or possibly some similar rite in other religions). If the 
WW
> has kept the secular elements of Christmas (Father Christmas, aka
> Santa Claus) and Easter candy but discarded the religious elements
> (rather like American department stores), wouldn't they change the
> term "godparent" to something else?

sachmet96:
I think it is compareable to a cool expression. It's kind of like a 
tradition to give a child a godparent who is to take care of it 
should anything happen to the parents.
I had a godparent but neither of us were religious. Why invent a new 
term if there is already one that covers the responisbilities of the 
job (so to speak). I am aware that there is more to a godparent when 
it is seen from a religious point of view, but I have never seen a 
godparent/godchild relationship that is connected in any way to a 
religion.

Carol wrote:
 Notice that they haven't gone
> politically correct by bringing in Hanukkah and Kwanzaa or wishing
> each other "happy holidays." It looks to me as if the WW reflects
> Muggle Britain in, say, the 1970s. I can't tell whether the 
Christian
> elements are wholly secularized or whether witches and wizards marry
> in church (or a synagogue, if they're Anthony Goldstein's parents) 
and
> baptize their children. Maybe JKR is trying to show that her WW has
> nothing to do with Wicca and is really not all that different from 
the
> mainstream Muggle world (despite outmoded instititions such as
> slavery, which existed along with Christianity for hundreds of 
years).

sachmet96:
But we should also consider that Lily was a muggle. We do no know if 
any wizard child does have a godparent. We also don't see Ron getting 
presents from any godparent. (correct me if I am wrong on that I 
don't have the books with me).