HP and the Bible

[Barb Roberts]

No: HPFGUIDX 97972

Geoff:
>  I have sometimes used references from HP when discussing matters with
>  my church Youth Group to underline certain aspects of belief and
>  action and I become increasingly of the opinion that Harry is very
>  much more like a Christian /believer/ than a /Christ figure/.

At this point in the HP saga, Fawkes, it seems to me, is much more a 
type of Christ than either Harry or Dumbledore.  Besides the phoenix 
is the symbol of the resurrection, Rowling has attributed Fawkes with 
other Christ like abilities.  Fawkes can carry heavy loads (burdens), 
heal wounds, lift heavy spirits (with his song), and dies (for 
Dumbledore).  It is Harry's faith (in Dumbledore, admittedly) is what 
call Fawkes to his aid.  It is Fawkes who can stand up to the the eyes 
of the serpent and provides the weapons to defeat the serpent.  DD's 
true, grown up "army" is named after the Phoenix. Christians in the NT 
are pictured as warriors in Christ's army complete with armor, shield, 
and sword.

A side note, shields seem to have some sort of symbolic importance.  In 
CoS, Harry found Riddle's shield for some unnamed service.  Later, In 
OoP, during an occlumency lesson, Snape is surprised when Harry uses 
the shield charm, because he didn't teach it to Harry for that purpose. 
   It seems that that it was instinct not conscious thought that 
inspires Harry to use this charm.  Later in the book, both Harry and LV 
utilize the shield charm.  In contrast, DD transforms other object to 
act as shields.  Is this use of shields another manifestation of the 
bond between LV and Harry? or is it more than that?

Ivogun