religion in the WW (wasRe: the missing godparent)

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 88379

> 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. 

Ginger:  It well may reflect the 70's.  As I am not British, I can't 
say for sure.  Your comment on the 70's caught my interest.  Lily and 
JKR are both products of the 70's.  Lily had Harry in 1980 (81? Can't 
remember exactly).  The 70's would have been her coming of age era.  
If naming a Godparent was the thing to do in the 70's, than she would 
have done so, regardless of what we do in this day and age. 

JKR would have been influenced by the 70's as well.  I feel a bit of 
nostalgia when I read the stories.  Perhaps she writes that way on 
purpose.  When a person writes, they use things that are well-known 
to them.  I know that as a Godmother myself, I could describe a 
Baptism well, but I'd be hardpressed to describe Purim, the 5 Pillars 
of Islam, or the 12 stations of the Cross.  Perhaps it is a matter of 
her own familiarity.  Besides, she *did* need a character that had a 
vested interest in Harry who wasn't family.

Carol continues:
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).

Ginger:
Not that I'm saying that she's actively trying to distance herself 
for Wicca, but I think you are quite right about her leaving it 
vague, and yet similar to the Muggle world.  Personally, I don't 
think the WW seems to have one particular religion any more than the 
Muggle world does.  It's each to one's own beliefs, as far as we've 
seen.  The Dursleys don't seem to have any affiliation, so Harry 
would have been raised without any particular indoctrination.  And, 
as has been pointed out, he does seem to only notice things that are 
right in his face.  He could probably walk by a trio of students 
carrying a prayer mat, a rosery, and broomstick and he'd notice only 
the broomstick.

> 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).

Ginger again:
Good point!  Harry is the only one we've seen with a Godparent.  Ron 
would likely have said something like "Gee, my Godfather never gave 
me a Firebolt.  All I got from him was my pet Puffskein."  Neville 
seems to get things from Uncle Algie rather than from a Godfather.  
No one else seems to have one at all, not even Muggleborns.  

On the other hand, they all seem familiar with the term.  Ron, at 
least, would have been one to ask if he had never heard the term.  
Back to what I said above.  Someone with a vested interest who isn't 
family, fitting into the storyline in a manner with which JKR is 
familiar.  In other words, plot device. 

All of this is, of course, just my opinion.
Ginger, who's Godson is the bright spot in her life-even above HP!