Christianity and HP

[snow15145]

No: HPFGUIDX 112218

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, macfotuk at y... wrote:
> I don't know if I should, as a lapsed catholic and probable present 
> time agnostic/atheist, be starting (or more likely continuing) a 
> thread on Christianity. Even if it's original (which I really 
doubt) 
> I'm somewhat loath to (re-)start a posting topic that could 
generate 
> controversy or else run and run for all the wrong reasons. Even 
so:  
> 
> How is it that Hogwarts always celebrates Xmas? (see also 
> http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2002/apr2002p10_969.html) Jews 
> don't. Muslims don't. Why should wizards? especially when 
> historically the church saw wizardry as devilish? (Satan = opponent 
> of God the father of JC). 
> 
> Of course in HP hallow'een also looms large (how could it not for 
> witches? - something significant always happens on Hallow'een 
(Harry 
> and Nevilles's conception as I've noted before, '*that* night' at 
> Godric's Hollow, NHN's bungled beheading, the troll in PS/SS, the 
> basilisk's first strike in CoS, Sirius' 1st attack at Hogwart's in 
> PoA, Harry's choosing by the GoF, though nothing obvious in OotP). 
> Although halloween has older roots as a solstice than as all 
> hallow's eve, the latter name definitely derives from the idea of 
> saints and a Jesus-based religiosity. Is JKR trying to signify that 
> Hogwarts works on 'good WASP traditions' like any English public 
> school (where pupils, Christian or otherwise, have to sing hymns 
and 
> celebrate Christian festivals like Easter, Xmas, Michaelmas etc, or 
> that wizards aren't as dark as all that because they 'do' Xmas, or 
> what?
> 
> There is a recent thread on JKR's beliefs (based on a mysterious 
> Canadian interview?) suggesting she is a Christian and that she 
said 
> if she stated what she actually believes then we would all know too 
> much about the ending. This is weighed against the attacks by 
deeply 
> Christian folk (whatever you want to name them) suggesting HP is 
too 
> wickedly heathen/dark and wizardry/magic generally is 
> unchristian/unholy.
> 
> Harry doesn't go to church that we see, nor Hermione nor anyone 
else 
> in HP yet it just seems to be assumed that Christianity is a theme 
> present but largely unspoken of/ignored - sad to say (for those who 
> are wholeheartedly Christian) rather like the prevailing view of 
the 
> majority of folk in the real world in the UK or much of the US at 
> least. Many profess to be Christian but do little that is in any 
way 
> religious in a Christian sense, like pray, attend mass, live their 
> lives with Christian values, or otherwise express what are supposed 
> to be firmly held and all pervasive beliefs (faith).
> 
> Any comments? (and PLEASE keep these in relation to the books/JKR's 
> WW and not about Christianity per se such as your own personal 
> views, strongly held or otherwise e.g. Jesus being the sole 
> salvation of humanity or entirely otherwise)
> 
> I note in passing that from the J.K.Rowling.com Edinburgh 2004 
> interview transcript:
> 
> Q: Does Harry have a godmother? If so, will she make an appearance 
> in future books?
> 
> A (by JKR): No, he doesn't. I have thought this through. If Sirius 
> had married
 Sirius was too busy being a big rebel to get married. 
> When Harry was born, it was at the very height of Voldemort fever 
> last time so his christening was a very hurried, quiet affair with 
> just Sirius, just the best friend. At that point it looked as if 
the 
> Potters would have to go into hiding so obviously they could not do 
> the big christening thing and invite lots of people. Sirius is the 
> only one, unfortunately. I have got to be careful what I say there, 
> haven't I?
> 
> Mac now: so Harry was christened ... hmmmmmmmm (I do hope JC isn't 
> supposed to be behind 'that' door at the MoM or else anything to do 
> with the veil).


Snow:
I believe that JKR's Christian parallels in HP are the simplicity of 
choice. It is always up to you to make the choice as to who you 
become under any given circumstance. There are no excuses as to why a 
person becomes bad or good except by choice. We have heard numerous 
personal accounts from people on this list that have overcome 
adversity to make the right choices in their lives. Although Harry 
has several people in his life that help him, when it comes down to 
facing the evil of Voldemort it is always left up to him, literally. 
This evil, as I see it, has actually attached itself to Harry 
mentally the night at GH. Harry has to not only fight the outward 
evil but the inward pain this evil causes. Such is the same with 
Christianity, you may have many a person in support but they cant 
save you
 only you can do that. Whatever Harry has to face
 whatever 
choices he has to make
 he must do it alone.  This is the bible in 
its most condensed version; choices. 

As to why the HP books celebrate specific religious holidays but 
don't attend a full-blown, church going Christian behavior, my view 
is the same as in the real world, which is that people are 
celebrating the holiday as nothing more than the politically correct, 
Santa's coming, buying frenzy holiday and not for the actual 
religious reasons the holidays were meant to represent. 

Snow-loving your earlier find on the possible conception of both 
Harry and Neville on Halloween. I'm curious if JKR even noticed the 
implication.