Christianity and HP

[ivogun]

No: HPFGUIDX 112677

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "mizstorge" <lszydlowski at h...> 
> I'm tackling the Christianity issue by looking for the 'basic
> bedrock  of the Christian faith' described in the Apostle's
> Creed... There may be symbols or allusions  in each work 
> which may reflect or refer back to these tenets that  I'm
> missing, and if there are, please email me privately 
> to discuss  them as I hate to incite the wrath of the House
> Elves with off-topic chatter.     
   
<Sigh> I don't think a reply that centers itself on JKR's "cannon"
can be considered off-topic.  Irritating perhaps, but not off
topic...so I will risk the elve's wrath.

Christian symbols or allusions? The phoenix is common Christian
symbol.  I did a quick Internet search and discovered almost
immediately found this at
(http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/phoenix.htm) which I
excerpted:

(Quote)"...Wherever it is found, the phoenix is associated with
resurrection, immortality, triumph over adversity, and that which
rises out of the ashes. Thus it became a favorite symbol on early
Christian tombstones. In chapters 25-26 of his letter to the 
Corinthians, St. Clement, Bishop of Rome, upheld the legendary 
phoenix as an evidence of Christ's ability to accomplish the 
resurrection of the faithful. He quotes Job as saying, 'Thou shalt 
raise up this flesh of mine, which has suffered all these
things.'...In numerous ways, the phoenix was found to be a 
symbol of Christ..."

(Moi) Notice that Fawkes arrives to save Harry in the CoS after 
Harry shows loyalty (faith) in Dumbledore.  It wasn't Harry's 
knowledge, virtue or ability, but rather it's Harry's trust that 
"saves" him.  When  Fawkes arrives, he gives Harry the hat 
from which Harry pulls out a sword to fight the snake. (Hmm) 

Notice too that in OotP,  Fawkes dies a substitutionary death for
Dumbledore during the big battle and then rises from the ashes.  
Faith, substitutionary death, and resurrection are part of the "basic 
bedrock of the Christian faith," and they appear in the HP cannon
too.  Of course, the phoenix is used symbolically in other religions
too, but Fawkes seems to partake of the attributes peculiar to the 
Christian version.  

Of course, there are a lot of things we won't really know until JKR
finishes all ther books.  There is some inconsistancy on how
Dumbledore fits with both of these allusions, but certainly, JKR has
utilized a traditional Christian symbol.   We will see...  

I really like Geoff's phrase that Harry is 'Everyman,"  I just am not
sold on HP being a Christ figure though.  No, I just don't see that
at all.
  
Barbara Roberts (Ivogun), who hopes, dare I say, prays, that Hurricane
Ivan keeps away and heads somewhere else.